Implementation of Fire History and Daily Fire Perimeter Data Layer Standards

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
www.blm.gov

March 13, 2007

In Reply Refer To:
9167 (ST134/FA263) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 03/16/2007
Information Bulletin No. 2007-056

To: State Directors

From: Assistant Director, Fire and Aviation

Subject: Implementation of Fire History and Daily Fire Perimeter Data Layer Standards

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Data Administration Working Group has approved the Daily Fire Perimeter Data Layer Standard, as found at http://www.nwcg.gov/teams/pmo/products/standards/gdl_fire_perimeter/cover.htm, and the Fire History Data Layer Standard as found at http://www.nwcg.gov/teams/pmo/products/standards/gdl_fire_history/cover.htm. These standards were developed by the NWCG’s Geospatial Task Group (GTG) and are an agreed upon minimum interagency national standard. Local field offices may add attributes to meet their needs.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is mandated to data sharing and to adhere to common standards for federal agencies through OMB Circular A-16 and Executive Order 12906, and thus will adhere to the NWCG Fire History and Daily Fire Perimeter Data Layer Standards. The BLM is also required to create and store data in North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). Geospatial data layer standards created by the NWCG’s GTG promote collective decision-making and applications and were developed jointly by federal and state members of the group.

These standards will replace those in Information Bulletin No. OF&A 2000-045, Bureau-wide Fire Polygon Database Update. Field offices will continue to collect perimeters for all fire incidents that are charged to subactivity code 2821 and are 10.0 acres or greater in size, with the exception of Alaska which is directed to map all incidents 100.0 acres or greater. For incidents less than 10.0 acres in size, the point of origin will be captured in the Bureau’s fire reports database in the Wildland Fire Management Information System (WFMI). Data archiving and sharing will follow procedures in Chapter 7 of the NWCG’s Geographic Information System (GIS) Standard Operating Procedures on Incidents (PMS 936/NFES 2809, http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/GSTOP7.pdf. Field Office GIS Specialists not on incidents will post all perimeters on ftp://ftp.nifc.gov/Incident_Specific_Data/ under the appropriate geographic area. A separate information bulletin will provide guidance regarding fuels treatments in subactivity 2823.

Questions or concerns should be directed to either John Gebhard, Office of Fire and Aviation CIO at (208) 387-5164, Janis Reimers, Fire IT Business Applications Lead at (208) 387-5862, or Susan Goodman, BLM’s Wildland Fire Geospatial Coordinator at (303) 236-4242.

Signed by:
Authenticated by:
Jim Douglas
Robert M. Williams
Assistant Director
Division of IRM Governance,WO-560
Fire and Aviation