FOFEM (a First Order Fire Effects Model) is a computer program for predicting tree mortality, fuel consumption, smoke production, and soil heating caused by prescribed fire or wildfire.

DOWNLOADS

Installation Files: FOFEM 5.9 (XP) FOFEM 5.9 (Windows 7)

Tutorials and Training (PowerPoint): FOFEM5 Overview, Learning to Use FOFEM5: Basic, Learning to Use FOFEM5: Advanced; FOFEM5 Tutorials

MODEL OVERVIEW

First order fire effects are those that concern the direct or indirect or immediate consequences of fire. First order fire effects form an important basis for prediction secondary effects such as tree regeneration plant succession, and changes in site productivity, but these long-term effects generally involve interaction with many variables (for example,, weather, animal use, insects, and disease) and are not predicted by this program. Currently, FOFEM provides quantitative fire effects information for tree mortality, fuel consumption mineral soil exposure, smoke and soil heating.

FOFEM is national in scope. It uses four geographical regions: Pacific West, Interior West, North East, and South East. Forest cover types provide an additional level of resolution within each region. Geographic regions and cover types are used both as part of the algorithm selection key, and also as a key to default input values.

FOFEM, the First Order Fire Effects Model, is a computer program developed to meet the needs of resource managers, planners, and analysts in predicting and planning for fire effects.

Quantitative predictions of fire effects are needed for planning prescribed fires that best accomplish resource needs, for impact assessment, and for long-range planning and policy development. We have developed the computer program FOFEM to meet this information need.

We anticipate that FOFEM will be useful in a variety of situations. Examples include: setting acceptable upper and lower fuel moistures for conducting prescribed burns; determining the number of acres that may be burned on a given day without exceeding particulate emission limits; assessing effects of wildfire; developing timber salvage guidelines following wildfire; and comparing expected outcomes of alternative actions.

First order fire effects are those that concern the direct or indirect or immediate consequences of fire. First order fire effects form an important basis for prediction secondary effects such as tree regeneration plant succession, and changes in site productivity, but these long-term effects generally involve interaction with many variables (for example,, weather, animal use, insects, and disease) and are not predicted by this program. Currently, FOFEM provides quantitative fire effects information for tree mortality, fuel consumption mineral soil exposure, smoke and soil heating.

FOFEM is national in scope. It uses four geographical regions: Pacific West, Interior West, North East, and South East. Forest cover types provide an additional level of resolution within each region. Geographic regions and cover types are used both as part of the algorithm selection key, and also as a key to default input values.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

Elizabeth Reinhardt, Research Forester; Robert Keane, Research Ecologist

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

FOFEM was developed to meet the needs of resource managers, planners, and analysts in predicting and planning for fire effects. Quantitative predictions of fire effects are needed for planning prescribed fires that best accomplish resource needs, for impact assessment, and for long-range planning and policy development. We have developed the computer program FOFEM to meet this information need.
FOFEM is useful in a variety of situations. Examples include: setting acceptable upper and lower fuel moistures for conducting prescribed burns; determining the number of acres that may be burned on a given day without exceeding particulate emission limits; assessing effects of wildfire; developing timber salvage guidelines following wildfire; and comparing expected outcomes of alternative actions.

PROJECT STATUS

Development is ongoing.

FUNDING ORGANIZATION

FOFEM was developed with support from the Rocky Mountain Research Station and the Joint Fire Sciences Program under program #91-1-8-03.

PUBLICATIONS

Reinhardt, Elizabeth. Using FOFEM 5.0 to estimate tree mortality, fuel consumption, smoke production, and soil heating from wildland fire. 7 p.

CREDITS

• FOFEM 5.0 was developed by Elizabeth Reinhardt and Robert E. Keane of the Missoula Fire Sciences Lab of the Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service.
• FOFEM 5.0 development was supported by the Joint Fire Science Program, the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, and Systems for Environmental Management.
• Larry Gangi, SEM, programmed FOFEM 5.
• Scott Mincemoyer, USDA FS,developed the fuels database.
• Duncan Lutes, SEM,conducted a sensitivity analysis and developed the size class distribution scheme for Burnup, and assembled the diameter bark-thickness relationships for predicting tree mortality.
• Mark Finney, USDA Forest Service, reprogrammed Burnup, and added the smoke computations.
• Melanie Miller, BLM, and Deb Tirmenstein, SEM, tested and debugged FOFEM.
• Dan Jimenez, USDA FS, assisted in the incorporation of the soil heating model.
• Courtney Couch created the artwork used as FOFEM's splash screen on startup.