Faith Ann Heinsch

Physical Scientist
faith.heinsch@usda.gov
(406) 829-7342

Personal Summary

After graduate school, Faith Ann Heinsch worked at the University of Montana as a post-doctoral research fellow and research scientist, investigating the impacts of climate change on vegetation growth. She worked on the validation team for the MODIS gross/net primary production model (MOD17) and helped develop modifications to the Biome-BGC ecosystem process model for application to a variety of ecosystems.

She began her career at the Fire Lab as a research ecologist, studying fire behavior and fire danger rating models. With Pat Andrew’s retirement, Faith Ann became the manager of the BehavePlus fire modeling system. Her current tasks as a physical scientist continue her focus on fire behavior and fire danger modeling; science delivery and outreach for the Fire, Fuel, and Smoke Science Program; and climate change education, and outreach.

Selected Publications & Products

Andrews, P. L.; Heinsch, F. A.; Schelvan, L. 2011. How to generate and interpret fire characteristics charts for surface and crown fire behavior. General Technical report RMRS-GTR-253. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Heinsch, F. A.; Andrews, P. L. 2010. BehavePlus fire modeling system, version 5.0: Design and Features. General Technical report RMRS-GTR-249. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.