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Viewing the ERC Graph

Note: The same process is used to view fire danger from the Situation, Intelligence, and Analysis Maps.  Additionally, ERC graphs for specific RAWS stations can be viewed when generating an analysis with most WFDSS fire behavior models.

The Fire Danger Rating Graph displays the Energy Release Component (ERC) for the Remote Area Weather Station (RAWS) that is closest to the latitude and longitude recorded on the Info tab in the left pane and is currently reporting observations. The coordinates on the Info tab are usually those recorded for the incident but you can use the Identify tool to identify a different set of coordinates on the map if you choose. The Fire Danger Rating Graph provides a graphical representation of the current and forecasted daily ERC values in relation to past history for the station. This graph is frequently used to assess fire danger and severity. The graph uses NFDRS fuel model G because it is widely used to display ERC values as it contains all of the dead fuel size classes and both herbaceous and woody live fuels.

You can also view the Fire Danger Rating Graph for the RAWS that you select for STFB and NTFB fire behavior models and to generate ERC classes in FSPro. 

The RAWS identification number, name, and years of data used in the graph are provided in the graph title. The current year's daily ERC values (yellow) and 6 days of NWS (NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE) POINT FORECAST DATA forecast for the station location (green) are displayed with the average (gray), maximum (red), and minimum (blue) values. The 90th and 97th percentile levels are indicated on the graph with horizontal lines. The station location and the incident/point location, as well as the distance between the station and incident/point, are provided above the graph title.

The last observation date recorded for the station is available in the lower right corner of the graph, with the date the image was created by WFDSS. Incident Owners and Editors can save the Fire Danger Rating Graph to an incident's content.

To view the fire danger rating graph:

  1. Navigate to the Fire Danger Rating Graph by doing one of the following:
    • From the Intelligence Map: Choose the Intelligence tab.
    • For a specific situation: From the Incident List > select the incident > click Assess Situation. The Situation Assessment map appears for the selected incident.
    • For a specific analysis: From the Analysis List > select the analysis > click View Information > choose View Landscape. (You must have already created the landscape for the analysis to use this option)
    • For a specific location: From the Incident List > select the incident > click Assess Situation. The Situation Assessment map appears for the selected incident.
  2. Choose the Info sub-tab. 
  3. Click Fire Danger. An ERC Fire Danger Rating Graph of the closest available RAWS to the incident appears in a separate browser window. The straight line distance between the point you clicked with the Identify Tool and the selected station, as well as the elevations for the two locations are shown above the graph.

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Last updated on 4/23/2012 3:43:32 PM.

To save fire danger rating graphs to incident content: 

Users must be incident owners or editors to save a Fire Danger Graph to the situation content.

The graphs are available to add to decision content from the Fire Danger folder, within the Assessment folder, under the incident content folder.

In This Section

Intelligence Gathering

See Also

Setting Intelligence Preferences

Viewing Summary Reports

Viewing the Weather Forecast

Reference

Field Descriptions

Glossary Resources

Spatial Data Reference

Landscape Data Source Reference

Relative Risk Reference

Organization Assessment Reference

Fire Behavior Reference

About the WFDSS Decision Editors