Fuel Conditions

(Part B, PMS 236)

Consider fuel conditions ahead of the fire and rank this element low, moderate, or high.

Evaluate fuel conditions that exhibit high rate of spread (ROS) and intensity for your area, such as those caused by invasive species or insect/disease outbreaks; continuity of fuels; low fuel moisture.

The following guidelines can help you determine an appropriate selection for the Fuel Condition:
Low -

• Fuel loading is low.

• Large-scale fuel treatments have reduced continuous fuels.

• No evidence of insect/disease outbreaks.

• Changes resulting from insect and disease outbreaks are minimal.

• Few if any fire return intervals have been missed and fuel complexes are similar to historic levels.

• Invasive species do not contribute to increased fire spread or intensity.

Moderate -

• Fuel load is moderate and supports active fire spread.

• Past fuels treatments may no longer be effective, or recent treatments have temporarily increased dead fuel loading.

• Evidence of insect/disease outbreaks (red needles, dead standing timber, etc.).

• Some fire return intervals have been missed, fuel complexes have been altered and present potential for fires with severity and intensity levels in excess of historic levels.

• Invasive species contribute to fire spread.

High -

• Fuels are continuous on the landscape and will readily support continued fire growth.

• No fuels treatments have occurred.

• Moderate to extensive insect/disease outbreaks and large stands of dead standing timber.

• Significant vegetative changes from the historic situation have occurred.

• The highly altered composition and structure of the vegetation predisposes the landscape to fire effects well outside the historic range of variability.

• Invasive species greatly contribute to uncharacteristic fire spread and intensity.