Wildfire risk under alternative fuel management strategies: spatial datasets of in situ and transmitted risk for populated areas in north-central New Mexico and Sierra Mountain Range within California

Simulation modeling was used to examine tradeoffs and synergies between hypothetical post-treatment conditions generated according to distinct treatment prioritization schemes (Housing Protection, Federal Risk Transmission, Random) and variable treatment extents. We used stochastic wildfire simulation and computations of exposure to wildfire to compare strategy performance across two very large landscapes - the southern Sierra in California (approximately 28 million acres) and northern New Mexico (approximately 21 million acres). This data publication represents the model results for the two study areas analyzed as well as all input data required to reproduce our analysis. All input data and simulation model parameters were calibrated to represent conditions within the two study areas in 2015.
Despite the recent progress represented by advances in fire simulation, quantitative estimates of risk informing fuels management planning, and risk analysis being used to inform planning that supports operational fire management decisions, a need remains for guidance for designing and prospectively evaluating landscape-scale fuel treatments with protection objectives, resource management objectives, and wildfire response in mind. This project looks to illustrate an approach for examining whether, and how, fuels management can foster the expansion of beneficial wildfire.
For more information about this study and these data, see Thompson et al. (in review).