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Rapid Assessment Fire Data Fills a Critical Gap
Data will Inform U.S. Fire Management Planning and Prioritization

For the first time, moderate-resolution, “coast to coast” data related to vegetation and fuels are available in the U.S. for the lower 48 states. This information, collectively labeled the “Rapid Assessment,” was gathered from 2004-2006 as part of LANDFIRE, a $40 million effort spearheaded by the USDA Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, and The Nature Conservancy. Prior to LANDFIRE, available data have varied considerably across administrative and ownership boundaries, which hindered objective, science-based decision-making and resource allocation at national and regional levels.

LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment data have many uses, including helping managers set fuels treatment or restoration priorities across regions, states or ecoregions. Nature Conservancy staff can use the information for ecoregional planning efforts in the United States. These data may also inform conservation actions at state or multi-state scales.

Rapid Assessment products include national maps of succession class, potential natural vegetation groups, reference fire regimes and fire regime condition class, and vegetation models for 235 ecosystems. Rapid Assessment data were not designed for use at local or project scales and the applicability of data products varies by location and specific use.

The LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment data will fill important data gaps until improved LANDFIRE National products become available. The LANDFIRE National project covers all 50 states and will include more datasets than the Rapid Assessment.