The name "Firefamily" has long been associated with a group of computer programs (Firefamily 1978, Firefamily 1988, PCFIRDAT, PCSEASON) developed over 20 years by various groups.

FireFamilyPlus, initiated in 1998, replaced 5 independent DOS based programs and provided modern access to both the fire weather and occurrence data and analysis routines.  Complete information about FireFamilyPlus is available on http://firemodels.org.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Larry Bradshaw, Meteorologist

Staff

Stuart Brittain (Systems for Environmental Management)

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

• Provide climatological analysis capabilities for proper application of the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS). 
• Provide analytical capabilities for evaluating fire activity levels associated with different fire weather stations and fire danger indexes.  
• Provide a computational and analysis framework for evaluating new developments in fuel moisture and fire danger assessments.

KEY RESULTS

• Fire Managers have greatly improved their management of NFDRS.
• Significantly improved the effectiveness of National, Regional, and Local Interagency NFDRS training courses which address firefighter safety issues identified in IRMT (A.6).
• Is the computational cornerstone for the S-491 Intermediate Fire Danger Rating Class
• Generates Fire Danger Rating Pocket Cards required in the 30-Mile abatement plan.

PROJECT STATUS

Project oversight is by:

• NWCG Fire Environment Committee, Fire Danger Subcommittee
• NWCG FAMWEB Applications Task Group

Version 4.0 released in December 2009.

FUNDING ORGANIZATION

Funding for development of FireFamilyPlus and supporting material is from Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station and Fire and Aviation Management.

http://gacc.nifc.gov/predictive_services/fuels_fire_danger/fuels_fire_danger.htm

http://fam.nwcg.gov/fam-web/pocketcards/default.htm