Fire and Environmental Research Applications Team

Fuel Characteristic Classification System Publications and Supplementary Documentation

Fact Sheet [.pdf 308 kb]

User Guide for Version 2.2 [.pdf 2.21 MB]

Lists of Inferred Variables

Background on the Development of FCCS

The following 8 articles were published by the Canadian Journal of Forest Research in the December 2007 Special Forum on the Fuel Characteristic Classification System.

Characterizing and Classifying Complex Fuels -- A New Approach
Berg, Erik. 2007. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37(12): 2381-2382.

An Overview of the Fuel Characteristic Classification System – Quantifying, Classifying, and Creating Fuelbeds for Resource Planning
Ottmar, R.D.; Sandberg, D.V.; Riccardi, C.L.; Prichard, S.J. 2007.
Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37(12): 2383-2393.

The Fuelbed: a Key Element of the Fuel Characteristic Classification System
Riccardi, Cynthia L.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Sandberg, David V., Andreu, Anne; Elman, Ella; Kopper, Karen; Long, Jennifer. 2007. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37(12): 2394-2412.

Quantifying Physical Characteristics of Wildland Fuels Using the Fuel Characteristic Classification System
Riccardi, Cynthia L.; Prichard Susan J.; Sandberg, David V.; Ottmar, Roger D. 2007. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37(12): 2413-2420.

Fire Potential Rating for Wildland Fuelbeds Using the Fuel Characteristic Classification System.
Sandberg, David V.; Riccardi, Cynthia L.; Schaaf, Mark D. 2007.
Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37(12): 2456-2463.

Reformulation of Rothermel’s Wildland Fire Behaviour Model for Heterogeneous Fuelbeds
Sandberg, David V.; Riccardi, Cynthia L.; Schaaf, Mark D. 2007. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37(12): 2438-2455.

A Conceptual Framework for Ranking Crown Fire Potential in Wildland Fuelbeds
Schaaf, Mark D.; Sandberg, David V.; Schreuder, Maarten D.; Riccardi, Cynthia L. 2007. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37(12): 2464-2478.

Mapping Fuels at Multiple Scales: Landscape Application of the Fuel Characteristic Classification System
McKenzie, D.; Raymond, C.L.; Kellogg, L.-K.B.; Norheim, R.A; Andreu, A.G.; Bayard, A.C.; Kopper, K.E.; Elman. E. 2007. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37(12): 2421-2437.

Supplementary Papers, Presentations, and Documentation

National to Local: A Pre and Post Assessment of the Fuel Characteristic Classification System (FCCS) Landscape Variables for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
James, L.L. 2012. M.S. Thesis, University of Washington. 72 p.
Full text [.pdf]

National Database for Calculating Fuel Available to Wildfires
McKenzie, D., N.H.F. French, and R.D. Ottmar. 2012. EOS Transactions 93:57-58.
Full text [.pdf]

Mapping Fuels on the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests
Raymond, C.L.; Kellogg, L.K-B.; McKenzie, D. 2006.In: Andrews, P.L.; Butler, B.W., eds. Fuels management - how to measure success: conference proceedings. Proceedings RMRS-P-41. Portland, OR.  U.S.  Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 293-304.
http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/25955

Planes, Trainings, and Estimating Fuel Consumption: Merging Fire Science with Management in Eastern Hardwoods
Joint Fire Science Program. 2003. 2 p.
Full text [.pdf]

Fuel Characteristic Classification System
Ottmar Roger D.; Sandberg, D.V.; Prichard, S.J.; Riccardi, C.L. 2003.
Presentation at the 2nd International Wildland Fire Ecology and Fire Management Congress
http://ams.confex.com/ams/FIRE2003/techprogram/paper_67236.htm (30 September 2004).
Also listen to presentation, and watch slides!!!

Fire Potential Rating for Wildland Fuelbeds
Sandberg, David V. 2003.
Presentation at the 2nd International Wildland Fire Ecology and Fire Management Congress
http://ams.confex.com/ams/FIRE2003/techprogram/paper_67075.htm (30 September 2004)
Also listen to presentation, and watch slides!!!

Characterizing Fuels in the 21st Century
David V. Sandberg, Roger Ottmar, and Geoff Cushon
Review of past classifications and introduction to the modern characterization of wildland fuelbeds. Published by the International Journal of Wildland Fire.
Abstract (.html) | Full text (.pdf ) [652kb]
September 2001

Fuel Characteristic Classification: Characterizing Wildland Fuelbeds in the United States
Geoff Cushon, Roger Ottmar, David Sandberg, Julee Greenough, and Jennifer Key
Overview paper presented at Fire2000 meeting, December 2000 in San Diego, California. In: Galley, K.E.M.; Klinger, R.C.; Sugihara, N.C., eds. 2003. Proceedings of Fire Conference 2000: the first national congress on fire ecology, prevention, and management. Tallahassee, FL: Tall Timbers Research Station.