The National Fuel Moisture Database (NFMD) and the need for national fuels sampling and data standards

Abstract. The National Fuel Moisture Database (NFMD) is a web-based database and query system that provides easy access to fuel moisture data used in wildland fire management. The data comes from comprehensive fuels management programs run by federal, state and local land management agencies across the United States. The NFMD extends for fuels the “one-stop-shopping” concept established by the Real-time Observations Monitor and Analysis Network (ROMAN). The NFMD produces graphical and tabular displays of fuel moisture – both live and dead – for user-selected sampling sites and fuel types. Since in situ fuel moisture information is an integral part of fire danger and fire behavior analysis and prediction, the NFMD has proved to be an invaluable tool in the management of wildland fire. Better fire danger and fire behavior predictions contribute to better preparedness and fire fighter safety decisions and improve the response to wildland fire that can reduce the costs of managing fire. These benefits can only be realized if the fuel moisture data meets a standard for fuels collection and sampling. Protocols and procedures must be developed for collection of fuels samples (i.e., collection tools and receptacles), processing of samples (i.e., storage, scales for weighing, ovens for drying, etc.) and statistical analysis of data (i.e., sampling frequency, sample size, normalization, etc.) to ensure results are accurate and uniform among geographical regions, across agencies and within fuels types. Interagency efforts are underway to achieve this goal.