Course Description - NFDRS Advanced National Fire Danger Rating System

February 19 - March 1, 2013

Course Description

Advanced NFDRS is the next level of analytical instruction above S491 that focuses on the role of fire danger rating in resource decision making, through development of a fire danger rating operating plan. Participants will be provided the skills to analyze and troubleshoot fire danger rating from the fire weather station scale to multiple fire danger rating areas. The course will provide individuals the technical skills to serve as instructors for geographic area level courses for all wildland fire agencies using NFDRS. Advanced NFDRS is a national level course. As such, participants can expect long days, evening and weekend work. In order to receive credit for course, participants must stay through entire course. Students will need to complete approximately 10 to 12 hours of pre-course work.

Vision Statement
The National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) is a trusted decision tool for fire and resource managers. The NFDRS is based upon the integration of the latest fire and atmospheric sciences, climatology, remote sensing, and GIS technology. It is supported by processors and data management systems which are robust and flexible enough to remain state of the art. The NFDRS is easy to use - requiring limited human intervention, minimal in cost, and can be applied through space (locally, regionally, nationally) and time (today, tomorrow, seasonally) across the United States. System access is web-based and outputs are displayed with tabular, graphical, and GIS formats. Fire danger is a description of factors - fuels, weather, topography - which affect the initiation, spread, and difficulty of control of wildfires on an area.

Course Goal
The goal of this training course is to promote better decision-making and planning using the National Fire Danger Rating System. Promote the development and implementation of fire danger rating operating plans at the local level. Develop a pool of technical experts and a cadre for Fire Danger Rating (FDR) guidance and instruction.

Course Objectives

• Through the development of an operating plan participants will demonstrate skills required to design, setup, and manage NFDRS at the local level. These include:
• Identifying the fire problem(s).
• Delineating Fire Danger Rating Areas.
• Verifying input data used for NFDRS.
• Applying NFDRS tools to inform and support fire management decisions.
• Documenting the analysis, decisions, and operational processes.
•  Describe the relationship of NFDRS to other wildland fire decision support tools.
• Demonstrate how fire danger rating supports local, state, Geographic Area and National decision-making.
•  Introduce new NFDRS related technology
• Participants will develop technical knowledge to support Geographic Area NFDRS training and implementation.
  

Target Group
The target audience includes individuals:

• Responsible for resource analysis, decision support and decision making based on outputs from National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) at the local/state/national level and corresponding positions;
• Responsible for Intelligence, Predictive Services, and/or Fire Weather Forecasting;
• Responsible for providing technical support and oversight for NFDRS;
• Who will become geographic area NFDRS instructors;
• With a passion to become the next generation to carry NFDRS forward.

Why Take This Course?

• Compliance with Agency policies for Fire Danger Rating support products, such as Fire Danger Rating Operating Plans
• Items outlined in the 30 Mile Fire Action Abatement Plan.
• Expands and builds on the technical skills provided in S-491, Intermediate NFDRS.
• Hands on development of a Fire Danger Rating Operating Plan
• Understanding the roles of NFDRS outputs, climatology, and fire business thresholds in the decision making process
• Analysis necessary for the preparation of PocketCards

Prerequisites

• Successfully complete S-491.
• Complete pre-course work.

Pre-course work will be posted on the NAFRI web site on November 9, 2012. It will take approximately 10 to 12 hours to complete.

Computer Requirements
Students must bring their Agency laptop to use during the course to connect to the terminal server at NAFRI. If you do not have a laptop available to you, there are in limited supply at NAFRI and are on a first come first serve basis; use of your own agency laptop is strongly suggested. Contact the Course Coordinator if you need to use a NAFRI laptop.
Important Dates
Nominations Due: November 1, 2012
Pre-Course Work Due: December 14, 2012
Notification of Selection: December 27, 2012

Nomination Process
Please see the NAFRI nomination process available at:
http://nafri.gov/pages/nominationprocess.htm.
NOTE: Federal employees should use the IQCS nomination process to submit their nominations.
Course Coordinator: Donna Kreiensieck,(520) 799-8745; fax (520) 799-8785

Tuition: None