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Track: Natural Resources and Conservation
Pat Lineback
Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks
Ash Mountain
Three Rivers, CA 93271
Telephone: 209-565-3725
Fax: 209-565-3730
E-mail: plineback@seki.nps.gov
Corky Conover, Mary Beth Keifer, Tony Caprio
Fire Management and GIS: A Framework for Identifying and Prioritizing Fire Planning Needs
GIS Solution: With limited funding available for prescribed fire, it is increasingly important to optimize selection of critical areas that most need to be burned based on hazard-risk, ecological needs, and cost criteria. This project integrated these criteria based on sound science to help stretch limited funding and identify high-priority burn areas. Methodology: An ecological model was developed that considered optimum burning based on historic fire return intervals within different plant communities. The longer the time interval exceeds known historic fire occurrence, the more important an area becomes for restoring the natural fire regime. A risk model was developed that considers ignition potential, hazard or resistance to control, the value of development, and natural and cultural resources. Finally, a cost allocation model considered the practical cost impacts of burning in different locations of the parks based on a variety of criteria such as distance from roads, fire size, fuel continuity,
availability of barriers, etc. Software: The application was completed in ArcInfo and GRID. The purpose of the paper is to highlight the use of GIS as an effective tool for identifying critical areas, a classical GIS application in an area that has received only minor attention.
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