The Need

On September 22, 2000, more than 79,000 fires had burned an estimated 6,838,748 acres along with hundreds of structures and valuable natural resources. Over 25,000 firefighters, 900 fire engines, 200 helicopters and all available air tankers were deployed on the fire-lines; many of those resources had been fighting fires since early May. Long-term weather forecasts indicated that the hot, dry conditions throughout the west would continue until fall weather brought enough rain to put out the larger fires. Across the west, priorities were set by geographic fire coordination centers for deployment of fire fighting resources based on human safety, protection of property and natural resource values. Determining these priorities required more information than printed maps and situation reports provided. Fire Managers requested a real-time application that provided geospatial information on the status, location, and proximity of wildfires to life, property and infrastructure. A visual representation of the active fires gave Managers a better idea of where to focus resources.