LANDFIRE-Fuel Product Descriptions

These original 13 standard fire behavior fuel models serve as input to Rothermel's mathematical surface fire behavior and spread model. The 13 Anderson Fire Behavior Fuel Model (FBFM13) layer represents distinct distributions of fuel loading found among surface fuel components (live and dead), size classes, and fuel types. The fuel models are described by the most common fire-carrying fuel type (grass, brush, timber litter, or slash), loading and surface area-to-volume ratio by size class and component, fuelbed depth, and moisture of extinction.

FBFM13 was produced through a series of workshops held across the nation with fire and fuels specialists to determine surface fuel model rule sets using unique combinations of existing vegetation type, cover, and height. The resultant spatial arrangement of surface fuel models are known as the calibrated FBFM13 layer.

Attribute Table

Attribute tables for LANDFIRE grid data are available on the Data Distribution Site. Generally, these attribute tables provide information pertaining to the grid class value along with class descriptions or labels for these values. Attribute tables, such as the Existing Vegetation Type, provide additional attribute fields that can provide crosswalk links to other classification themes. Color mapping fields are also provided within the attribute tables, providing a standardized, consistent LANDFIRE color mapping schema for these data layers. The attribute files are in comma separated value (csv) format that can be easily converted to other formats to meet user needs.

The attribute tables are provided as a convenience as calculations with grid data will automatically drop attributes. For example, if a grid is clipped, the rowid, value, and count are the only attributes retained. Attribute fields can be reattached to the grid using a join attribute function having the "value" attribute as the link.