Data Products ›› LANDFIRE National Product Descriptions

13 Anderson Fire Behavior Fuel Models

These original 13 standard fire behavior fuel models serve as input to Rothermel’s mathematical surface fire behavior and spread model (Rothermel 1972). Fire behavior fuel models represent 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. These fire behavior fuel models can serve as input to the FARSITE fire growth simulation model (Finney 1998) and FlamMap fire potential simulator (Stratton 2004). Further detail on these original fire behavior fuel models can be found in Anderson (1982) and Rothermel (1983).

Click here for complete metadata.

Back to National Products

Anderson, H.E. 1982. Aids to determining fuel models for estimating fire behavior. General Technical Report INT-122, United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 26 p.

Finney, M.A. 1998. FARSITE: Fire Area Simulator-model development and evaluation. Res. Pap. RMRS-RP-4, Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO. 47 p.

Rothermel, R.C. 1972. A mathematical model for predicting fire spread in wildland fuels. Research Paper INT-115, United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 42 p.

Rothermel R.C. 1983. How to predict the spread and intensity of forest and range fires. General Technical Report INT-143, United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Reserach Station, Ogden, UT. 53 p.

Stratton, R.D. 2004. Assessing the Effectiveness of Landscape Fuel Treatments on Fire Growth and Behavior. Journal of Forestry. 102(7): 32-40.