Wildfire hazard potential (WHP) is an index that depicts the relative potential for wildfire that would be difficult for suppression resources to contain, based on wildfire simulation modeling. This dataset produced by the USDA Forest Service, Fire Modeling Institute in 2020 shows WHP at a spatial resolution of 270 meters across the entire conterminous United States, classified into five WHP classes of very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. Areas mapped with higher WHP values represent fuels with a higher probability of experiencing torching, crowning, and other forms of extreme fire behavior under conducive weather conditions, based primarily on 2014 landscape conditions. This WHP dataset is based on outputs of wildfire simulation modeling published in 2020.,

This dataset is the 2023 version of wildfire hazard potential (WHP) for the United States. The files included in this data publication represent an update to any previous versions of WHP or wildland fire potential (WFP) published by the USDA Forest Service. WHP is an index that quantifies the relative potential for high-intensity wildfire that may be difficult to manage, used as a measure to help prioritize where fuel treatments may be needed. This 2023 version of WHP was created from updated national wildfire hazard datasets of annual burn probability and fire intensity generated by the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station with the large fire simulation system (FSim). Vegetation and wildland fuels data from LANDFIRE 2020 (version 2.2.0) were the primary inputs to the updated FSim modeling work and therefore form the foundation for this version of the WHP. As such, the data presented here reflect landscape conditions as of the end of 2020. LANDFIRE 2020 vegetation and fuels data were also used directly in the WHP mapping process, along with updated point locations of fire occurrence ca. 1992-2020. With these datasets as inputs, we produced an index of WHP for all of the conterminous United States at 270-meter resolution. We present the final WHP map in two forms: 1) continuous integer values, and 2) five WHP classes of very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. On its own, WHP is not an explicit map of wildfire threat or risk, but when paired with spatial data depicting highly valued resources and assets such as structures or powerlines, it can approximate relative wildfire risk to those specific resources and assets. WHP is also not a forecast or wildfire outlook for any particular season, as it does not include any information on current or forecasted weather or fuel moisture conditions. It is instead intended for long-term strategic fuels management.

This dataset is the 2023 version of wildfire hazard potential (WHP) for the United States. The files included in this data publication represent an update to any previous versions of WHP or wildland fire potential (WFP) published by the USDA Forest Service. WHP is an index that quantifies the relative potential for high-intensity wildfire that may be difficult to manage, used as a measure to help prioritize where fuel treatments may be needed. This 2023 version of WHP was created from updated national wildfire hazard datasets of annual burn probability and fire intensity generated by the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station with the large fire simulation system (FSim). Vegetation and wildland fuels data from LANDFIRE 2020 (version 2.2.0) were the primary inputs to the updated FSim modeling work and therefore form the foundation for this version of the WHP. As such, the data presented here reflect landscape conditions as of the end of 2020. LANDFIRE 2020 vegetation and fuels data were also used directly in the WHP mapping process, along with updated point locations of fire occurrence ca. 1992-2020. With these datasets as inputs, we produced an index of WHP for all of the conterminous United States at 270-meter resolution. We present the final WHP map in two forms: 1) continuous integer values, and 2) five WHP classes of very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. On its own, WHP is not an explicit map of wildfire threat or risk, but when paired with spatial data depicting highly valued resources and assets such as structures or powerlines, it can approximate relative wildfire risk to those specific resources and assets. WHP is also not a forecast or wildfire outlook for any particular season, as it does not include any information on current or forecasted weather or fuel moisture conditions. It is instead intended for long-term strategic fuels management.

,

,

,

,

,

,

,