The planning area to the right is large enough to contain FSPro modeling outputs and is sufficient in size. The planning area is not the same as a WFSA boundary or a Maximum Manageable Area from a WFIP. It is a planning analysis area. It is not necessarily where you want fire on the landscape, but where the fire may want to move no matter what resources we throw at it.

This planning area is too small. The idea of WFDSS is to plan ahead—it’s a proactive tool rather than a reactive tool. By limiting the planning area to just where you think the fire might go, you are limiting the decision capability of the application. You are also creating more work for yourself because a new decision will be needed each time the fire burns outside the planning area.

This planning area uses tactical lines such as roads, ridgetops or drainages, which is not how planning areas are designed to be used. A new decision is needed each time the fire crosses one of these features. These types of features are best used as Management Action Points (MAPs) within a large planning area. Each time the fire thresholds and the decision is still current.

This planning area is too small because the FSPro outputs are much larger than the planning area. The Values are Risk, a list of values generated by an FSPro run, identifies known values that are located within the model outputs. When your FSPro outputs are larger than your planning area, values identified as ‘at risk’ may not be included in the planning area and ultimately, not addressed in the Incident Objectives and requirements.