Current Research

I lead efforts to develop (1) a natural fuels photo series for the United States, Mexico, and Brazil; (2) the Consume model, which predicts fuel consumption and emission production by combustion phase for forested and non-forested fuel types across North America; and (3) the Fuel Characteristic Classification System, which characterizes fuelbeds for the United States and the world. I consult on the assessment of wildland firefighter exposure to smoke and the associated health risks and also lead the Prescribed Fire Combustion and Atmospheric Research Experiment (RxCADRE), a group of individual researchers and research teams from across the United States which is instrumenting and collecting data that will complement each area of research in the pre-, active, and postfire burning periods of prescribed burns.

Research Interests

Fuelbed characteristics, fuel moisture, fuel consumption, smoke management, firefighter exposure to smoke, and technology transfer of science.

Past Research

I have been involved with fuels, fire, and smoke-related research for over 35. In my early career, I lead efforts to modifiy and improve the the natural fuels photo series and develop models for predicting fuel consumption and emissions for smoke management planning. Later, I become interested in firefighters and their exposure to smoke both on the fireline and in camp and in developing a system to better characertize fuelbeds for fire planning.

Why This Research is Important

Whether it is prediction of fire behavior variables such as flamelength and rate of spread, fire effects such as smoke, air quality impacts, carbon release, tree mortality, or mineral soil exposure, a comprehensive characterization of fuelbeds and consumption of the fuelbed components by combustion stage are required. In addition, firefighter exposure to smoke and the resulting short-term and long-term effects are not well understood. Further research is needed if appropriate firefighter risk management strategies are to be developed.

Education

• University of Idaho, Honorary Doctorate Natural Resources 2008
• University of Washington, M.S. Atmospheric Science 1980
• University of Washington, B.S. Atmospheric Science 1977
• Eastern Washington State College, B.A. Secondary Education/Geology 1973

Professional Experience

Professional Organizations

• American Meteorological Society, Member (1980 - Current)
  None

Awards & Recognition

Featured Publications & Products

• Lewis, Sarah A.; Hudak, Andrew T.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Robichaud, Peter R.; Lentile, Leigh B.; Hood, Sharon M.; Cronan, James B.; Morgan, Penny. 2011. Using hyperspectral imagery to estimate forest floor consumption from wildfire in boreal forests of Alaska, USA.
• Wright, Clinton S.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Vihnanek, Robert E. 2010. Critique of Sikkink and Keane's comparison of surface fuel sampling techniques.
• Vihnanek, Robert E.; Balog, Cameron S.; Wright, Clinton S.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Kelly, Jeffrey W. 2009. Stereo photo series for quantifying natural fuels. Volume XII: Post-hurricane fuels in forests of the Southeast United States..
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Miranda, Ana Isabel; Sandberg, David V. 2009. Characterizing sources of emissions from wildland fires.
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Wright, Clint S.; Prichard, Susan J. . 2009. A suite of fire, fuels, and smoke management tools.
• French, Nancy H.F.; de Groot, William J.; Jenkins, Liza K.; Rogers, Brendan M.; Alvarado, Ernesto; Amiro, Brian; De Jong, Bernardus; Goetz, Scott; Hoy, Elizabeth; Hyer, Edward; Keane, Robert; Law, B.E.; McKenzie, Donald; McNulty, Steven G.; Ottmar, Roger; Perez-Salicrup, Diego R.; Randerson, James; Robertson, Kevin M.; Turetsky, Merritt. 2011. Model comparisons for estimating carbon emissions from North American wildland fire.
• Turetsky, Merritt R.; Kane, Evan S.; Harden, Jennifer W.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Maines, Kristen L.; Hoy, Elizabeth; Kasischke, Eric S. 2010. Recent acceleration of biomass burning and carbon losses in Alaskan forests and peatlands.
• Hollis, J.J.; Matthews, S.; Ottmar, Roger; Prichard, S.J.; Slijepcevic, S.; Burrows, N.D.; Ward, B.; Tolhurst, K.G.; Anderson, W.R.; Gould, J S. 2010. Testing woody fuel consumption models for application in Australian southern eucalypt forest fires.

Publications

• Weise, David R.; Fletcher, Thomas H.; Johnson, Timothy J.; Hao, WeiMin ; Dietenberger, Mark ; Princevac, Marko ; Butler, Bret ; McAllister, Sara ; O’Brien, Joseph ; Loudermilk, Louise ; Ottmar, Roger ; Hudak, Andrew ; Kato, Akira ; Shotorban, Babak ; Mahalingam, Shankar ; Mell, William E. 2018. A project to measure and model pyrolysis to improve prediction of prescribed fire behavior Chapter 3.
• Liu, Yongqiang; Kochanski, Adam; Baker, Kirk; Mell, Ruddy; Linn, Rodman; Paugam, Ronan; Mandel, Jan; Fournier, Aime; Jenkins, Mary Ann; Goodrick, Scott; Achtemeier, Gary; Hudak, Andrew; Dickson, Matthew; Potter, Brian; Clements, Craig; Urbanski, Shawn; Ottmar, Roger; Larkin, Narasimhan; Brown, Timothy; French, Nancy; Prichard, Susan; Watts, Adam; McNamara, Derek. 2017. Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE): Modeling gaps and data needs.
• Rowell, Eric M.; Seielstad, Carl A.; Ottmar, Roger D. 2016. Development and validation of fuel height models for terrestrial lidar - RxCADRE 2012.
• O’Brien, Joseph J.; Loudermilk, E. Louise; Hornsby, Benjamin; Hudak, Andrew T.; Bright, Benjamin C.; Dickinson, Matthew B.; Hiers, J. Kevin; Teske, Casey; Ottmar, Roger D. 2016. High-resolution infrared thermography for capturing wildland fire behaviour - RxCADRE 2012.
• Hudak, Andrew T.; Dickinson, Matthew B.; Bright, Benjamin C.; Kremens, Robert L.; Loudermilk, E. Louise; O'Brien, Joseph J.; Hornsby, Benjamin S.; Ottmar, Roger D. 2016. Measurements relating fire radiative energy density and surface fuel consumption - RxCADRE 2011 and 2012.
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Hiers, J. Kevin; Butler, Bret W.; Clements, Craig B.; Dickinson, Matthew B.; Hudak, Andrew T.; O'Brien, Joseph; Potter, Brian E.; Rowell, Eric M.; Strand, Tara M.; Zajkowski, Thomas J. 2016. Measurements, datasets and preliminary results from the RxCADRE project-2008, 2011 and 2012.
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Hudak, Andrew T.; Prichard, Susan J.; Wright, Clinton S.; Restaino, Joseph C.; Kennedy, Maureen C.; Vihnanek, Robert E. 2016. Pre-fire and post-fire surface fuel and cover measurements collected in the southeastern United States for model evaluation and development - RxCADRE 2008, 2011 and 2012.
• Adetona, Olorunfemi; Reinhardt, Timothy E.; Domitrovich, Joe; Broyles, George; Adetona, Anna M.; Kleinman, Michael T.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Naeher, Luke P. 2016. Review of the health effects of wildland fire smoke on wildland firefighters and the public.
• Hyde, Joshua C.; Blades, Jarod; Hall, Troy; Ottmar, Roger D.; Smith, Alistair. 2016. Smoke management photographic guide: a visual aid for communicating impacts.
• Werth, Paul A.; Potter, Brian E.; Alexander, Martin E.; Clements, Craig B.; Cruz, Miguel G.; Finney, Mark A.; Forthofer, Jason M.; Goodrick, Scott L.; Hoffman, Chad; Jolly, W. Matt; McAllister, Sara S.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Parsons, Russell A. 2016. Synthesis of knowledge of extreme fire behavior: volume 2 for fire behavior specialists, researchers, and meteorologists.
• Keane, Robert E.; Herynk, Jason M.; Toney, Chris; Urbanski, Shawn P.; Lutes, Duncan C.; Ottmar, Roger D. 2015. Assessing three fuel classification systems and their maps using Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) surface fuel measurements.
• Pettinari, M. Lucrecia; Ottmar, Roger D.; Prichard, Susan J.; Andreu, Anne G.; Chuvieco, Emilio. 2014. Development and mapping of fuel characteristics and associated fire potentials for South America.
• Prichard, Susan J.; Karau, Eva C.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Kennedy, Maureen C.; Cronan, James B.; Wright, Clinton S.; Keane, Robert E. 2014. Evaluation of the CONSUME and FOFEM fuel consumption models in pine and mixed hardwood forests of the eastern United States.
• Kreye, Jesse K.; Brewer, Nolan W.; Morgan, Penelope; Varner, J. Morgan; Smith, Alistair M.S.; Hoffman, Chad M.; Ottmar, Roger D. 2014. Fire behavior in masticated fuels: a review.
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Vihnanek, Robert E.; Wright, Clinton S.; Hudak, Andrew T. 2014. Ground measurements of fuel and fuel consumption from experimental and operational prescribed fires at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
• French, Nancy H.F.; McKenzie, Donald; Erickson, Tyler; Koziol, Benjamin; Billmire, Michael; Endsley, K.; Scheinerman, Naomi K.Y.; Jenkins, Liza; Miller, Mary E.; Ottmar, Roger; Prichard, Susan. 2014. Modeling regional-scale wildland fire emissions with the wildland fire emissions information system.
• Clements, C.B.; Davis, B.; Seto, D.; Contezac, J.; Kochanski, A.; Fillipi, J.-B.; Lareau, N.; Barboni, B.; Butler, B.; Krueger, S.; Ottmar, R.; Vihnanek, R.; Heilman, W.E.; Flynn, J.; Jenkins, M.A.; Mandel, J.; Teske, C.; Jimenez, D.; O'Brien, J.; Lefer, B. 2014. Overview of the 2013 FireFlux II grass fire field experiment.
• Hudak, Andrew T.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Vihnanek, Robert E.; Wright, Clint S. 2014. Relationship of post-fire ground cover to surface fuel loads and consumption in longleaf pine ecosystems.
• Ottmar, Roger D. 2014. Wildland fire emissions, carbon, and climate: Modeling fuel consumption.
• Keane, Robert E.; Herynk, Jason M.; Toney, Chris; Urbanski, Shawn P.; Lutes, Duncan C.; Ottmar, Roger D. 2013. Evaluating the performance and mapping of three fuel classification systems using Forest Inventory and Analysis surface fuel measurements.
• Prichard, Susan J.; Sandberg, David V.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Eberhardt, Ellen; Andreu, Anne; Eagle, Paige; Swedin, Kjell. 2013. Fuel Characteristic Classification System version 3.0: technical documentation.
• Brewer, Nolan W.; Smith, Alistair M.S.; Hatten, Jeffery A.; Higuera, Philip E.; Hudak, Andrew T.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Tinkham, Wade T. 2013. Fuel moisture influences on fire-altered carbon in masticated fuels: An experimental study.
• Schroeder, Wilfrid; Ellicott, Evan; Ichoku, Charles; Ellison, Luke; Dickinson, Matthew B.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Clements, Craig; Hall, Dianne; Ambrosia, Vincent; Kremens, Robert. 2013. Integrated active fire retrievals and biomass burning emissions using complementary near-coincident ground, airborne and spaceborne sensor data.
• Butler, B.W.; Ottmar, R.D.; Rupp, T.S.; Jandt, R.; Miller, E.; Howard, K.; Schmoll, R.; Theisen, S.; Vihnanek, R.E.; Jimenez, D. 2013. Quantifying the effect of fuel reduction treatments on fire behavior in boreal forests.
• Hejl, Anna M.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Jannik, G. Timothy; Eddy, Teresa P.; Rathbun, Stephen I.; Commodore, Adwoa A.; Pearce, John L.; Naeler, Luke P. 2013. Radionuclide activity concentrations in forest surface fuels at the Savannah River site.
• Hudak, Andrew T.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Vihnanek, Robert E.; Brewer, Nolan W.; Smith, Alistair M. S.; Morgan, Penelope. 2013. The relationship of post-fire white ash cover to surface fuel consumption.
• Hollingsworth, LaWen T.; Kurth, Laurie L.; Parresol, Bernard R.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Prichard, Susan J. 2012. A comparison of geospatially modeled fire behavior and fire management utility of three data sources in the southeastern United States.
• Andreu, Anne G.; Shea, Dan; Parresol, Bernard R.; Ottmar, Roger D. 2012. Evaluating fuel complexes for fire hazard mitigation planning in the southeastern United States.
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Prichard, Susan J. 2012. Fuel treatment effectiveness in forests of the upper Atlantic Coastal Plain an evaluation at two spatial scales.
• Frankman, David; Webb, Brent W.; Butler, Bret W.; Jimenez, Daniel; Forthofer, Jason M.; Sopko, Paul; Shannon, Kyle S.; Hiers, J. Kevin; Ottmar, Roger D. 2012. Measurements of convective and radiative heating in wildland fires.
• McKenzie, Donald; French, Nancy H.F.; Ottmar, Roger D. 2012. National database for calculating fuel available to wildfires.
• Hyde, Joshua D.; Smith, Alistair, M.S..; Ottmar, Roger D. 2012. Properties affecting the consumption of sound and rotten coarse woody debris in northern Idaho: a preliminary investigation using laboratory fires.
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Blake, John I.; Crolly, William T. 2012. Using fine-scale fuel measurements to assess wildland fuels, potential fire behavior and hazard mitigation treatments in the southeastern USA.
• Hyde, Joshua C.; Smith, Alistair M.S.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Alvarado, Ernesto C.; Morgan, Penelope. 2011. The combustion of sound and rotten coarse woody debris: a review.
• Jimenez, D.; Butler, B.; Hiers, K.; Ottmar, R.; Dickinson, M.; Kremens, R.; O'Brien, J.; Hudak, A.; Clements, C. 2009. Rx-CADRE (Prescribed Fire Combustion-Atmospheric Dynamics Research Experiments) collaborative research in the core fire sciences.
• Kasischke, Eric S.; Turetsky, Merritt R.; Ottmar, Roger D.; French, Nancy H.F.; Hoy, Elizabeth E.; Kane, Evan S. 2008. Evaluation of the composite burn index for assessing fire severity in Alaskan black spruce forests.
• Morfin-Rios, Jorge E.; Alvarado-Celestino, Ernesto; Jardel-Pelaez, Enrique J.; Vihnanek, Robert E.; Wright, David K.; Michel-Fuentes, Jose M.; Wright, Clinton S.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Sandberg, David V.; Najera-Diaz, Andres. 2008. Photo series for quantifying forest fuels in Mexico: montane subtropical forests of the Sierra Madre del Sur and temperate forests and montane shrubland of the northern Sierra Madre Oriental.
• Alexander III, Jack D.; Findley, Jean; Kury, Brenda K.; Beyers, Jan L.; Cram, Douglas S.; Baker, Terrell T.; Boren, Jon C.; Edminster, Carl; Ferguson, Sue A.; McKay, Steven; Nagel, David; Piepho, Trent; Rorig, Miriam; Anderson, Casey; Hoadley, Jeanne; Ford, Paulette L.; Andersen, Mark C.; Fredrickson, Ed L.; Truett, Joe; Roemer, Gary W.; Kury, Brenda K.; Vollmer, Jennifer; May, Christine L.; Lee, Danny C.; Menakis, James P.; Keane, Robert E.; Zhu, Zhi-Liang; Miller, Carol; Davis, Brett; Gray, Katharine; Mix, Ken; Kuvlesky Jr., William P.; Drawe, D. Lynn; Narog, Marcia G.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Vihnanek, Robert E.; Wright, Clinton S.; Paysen, Timothy E.; Pendleton, Burton K.; Pendleton, Rosemary L.; White, Carleton S.; Rogan, John; Stow, Doug; Franklin, Janet; Miller, Jennifer; Levien, Lisa; Fischer, Chris; Underwood, Emma; Klinger, Robert; Moore, Peggy; Wright, Clinton S. 2008. Poster Session- Extended Abstracts.
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Sandberg, David V.; Riccardi, Cynthia L.; Prichard, Susan J. 2007. An overview of the fuel characteristic classification system—quantifying, classifying, and creating fuelbeds for resource planning..
• Youngblood, Andrew; Wright, Clinton S.; Ottmar, Roger D.; McIver, James D. 2007. Changes in fuelbed characteristics and resulting fire potentials after fuel reduction treatments in dry forests of the Blue Mountains, northeastern Oregon.
• Lentile, Leigh; Morgan, Penny; Hardy, Colin; Hudak, Andrew; Means, Robert; Ottmar, Roger; Robichaud, Peter; Sutherland, Elaine; Way, Frederick; Lewis, Sarah. 2007. Lessons learned from Rapid Response Research on wildland fires.
• Varner, J.M., III.; Hiers, J.K.; Ottmar, R.D.; Gordon, D.R.; Putz, F.E.; Wade, D.D. 2007. Overstory tree mortality resulting from reintroducing fire to long-unburned longleaf poine forests: the importance of duff moisture..
• Riccardi, Cynthia L.; Prichard, Susan J.; Sandberg, David V.; Ottmar, Roger D. 2007. Quantifying physical characteristics of wildland fuels using the fuel characteristic classification system..
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Vihnanek, Robert E.; Wright, Clinton S.; Seymour, Geoffrey B. 2007. Stereo photo series for quantifying natural fuels Volume IX: oak/juniper in southern Arizona and New Mexico..
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Vihnanek, Robert E.; Wright, Clinton S. 2007. Stereo photo series for quantifying natural fuels Volume X: sagebrush with grass and ponderosa pine-juniper types in central Montana..
• Riccardi, Cynthia L.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Sandberg, David V.; Andreu, Anne; Elman, Ella; Kopper, Karen; Long, Jennifer. 2007. The fuelbed: a key element of the Fuel Characteristic Classification System..
• Lentile, L.; Morgan, P.; Hardy, C.; Hudak, A.; Means, R.; Ottmar, R.; Robichaud, P.; Sutherland, E. Kennedy; Szymoniak, J.; Way, F.; Fites-Kaufman, J.; Lewis, S.; Mathews, E.; Shovik, H.; Ryan, K. 2007. Value and challenges of conducting rapid response research on wildland fires.
• Parresol, Bernard R.; Shea, Dan; Ottmar, Roger. 2006. Creating a fuels baseline and establishing fire frequency relationships to develop a landscape management strategy at the Savannah River Site.
• McIver, J.D.; Ottmar, R. 2006. Fuel mass and stand structure after post-fire logging of a severely burned ponderosa pine forest in northeastern Oregon..
• Harden, J.W.; Neff, J.C.; Sandberg, D.V.; Turetsky, M.R.; Ottmar, R.; Gleixner, G.; Fries, T.L.; Manies, K.L. 2004. Chemistry of burning the forest floor during the FROSTFIRE experimental burn, interior Alaska, 1999..
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Alvarado, Ernesto. 2004. Linking vegetation patterns to potential smoke production and fire hazard.
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Wright, Clinton S. 2002. Characterizing fuels in treated areas..
• Ferguson, Sue A.; Ruthford, Julia E.; McKay, Steven J.; Wright, David; Wright, Clint; Ottmar, Roger. 2002. Measuring moisture dynamics to predict fire severity in longleaf pine forests..
• Sandberg, David V.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Peterson, Janice L. 2002. Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on air.
• Sandberg, David, V..; Ottmar, Roger D.; Cushon, Geoffrey H. 2001. Characterizing fuels in the 21st century..
• Hardy, Colin C.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Peterson, Janice L; Core, John E.; Seamon, Paula, eds. 2001. Smoke management guide for prescribed and wildland fire: 2001 edition..
• Ottmar, R.D.; Vihnanek, R.E.; Miranda, H.S.; Sata, M.N.; Andrade, S.M. 2001. Stereo photo series for quantifying cerrado fuels in Central Brazil - volume I..
• Reinhardt, Timothy E.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Hanneman, Andrew J.S. 2000. Smoke exposure among firefighters at prescribed burns in the Pacific Northwest..
• Reinhardt, Timothy E.; Ottmar, Roger D. 2000. Smoke exposure at western wildfires..
• Reinhardt, Tim E.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Hallett, Michael J. 1999. Guide to monitoring smoke exposure of wildland firefighters..
• Sandberg, David V.; Hardy, Colin C.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Snell, J.A. Kendall; Acheson, Ann; Peterson, Janice L.; Seamon, Paula; Lahm, Peter; Wade, Dale. 1999. National strategic plan: modeling and data systems for wildland fire and air quality..
• Reinhardt, Timothy E.; Ottmar, Roger D. 1997. Smoke exposure among wildland firefighters: a review and discussion of current literature..
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Schaaf, Mark D.; Alvarado, Ernesto. 1996. Smoke considerations for using fire in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems.
• Huff, Mark H.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Alvarado, Ernesto; Vihnanek, Robert E.; Lehmkuhl, John F.; Hessburg, Paul F.; Everett, Richard L. 1995. Historical and current forest landscapes in eastern Oregon and Washington Part II: Linking vegetation characteristics to potential fire behavior and related smoke production..
• Lehmkuhl, J.F.; Hessburg, P.F.; Everett, R.L.; Huff, M.H.; Ottmar, R.D. 1994. Historical and current forest landscapes of eastern Oregon and Washington Part I: Vegetation pattern and insect and disease hazards..
• Ottmar, R.D.; Burns, M.F.; Hall, J.N.; Hanson, A.D. 1993. CONSUME: users guide..
• Mutch, R.W.; Arno, S.F.; Brown, J.K.; Carlson, C.E.; Ottmar, R.D.; Peterson, J.L. 1993. Forest health in the Blue Mountains: a management strategy for fire-adapted ecosystems..
• Swift, Lloyd W., Jr..; Elliott, K.J.; Ottmar, R.D.; Vihnanek, R.E. 1993. Site preparation burning to improve southern Appalachian pine-hardwood stands: fire characteristics and soil erosion, moisture, and temperature.
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Hardy, Colin C.; Vihnanek, Robert E. 1990. Stereo photo series for quantifying forest residues in the Douglas-Fir-Hemlock type of the Willamette National Forest..
• Little, Susan N.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Ohmann, Janet L. 1986. Predicting duff consumption from prescribed burns on conifer clearcuts in western Oregon and western Washington..
• Ottmar, Roger D.; Sandberg, David V. 1985. Calculating moisture content for 1000-hour timelag fuels in western Washington and western Oregon..

Research Highlights

Highlight	Title	Year
PNW-2013-013	Fire Combustion Experiment Produces Big Data Set to Validate a New Generation of Fire Models Three operational scale fires (about 494-988 acres) and six fine scale (about 328-656 foot blocks) replicate units at Eglin Air Force Base, Flor ...	2013
PNW-2017-183	Forest Service research supports Washington State’s Forest Resiliency Burning Pilot Project Forest Service researchers characterized fuel before and after prescribed burns in eastern Washington State and assessed post-fire tree mortalit ...	2017
PNW-2012-20	Testing Fuel Treatments in Boreal Forests A first-of-its-kind study tests the effects of fuel treatment on fuel consumption and fire behavior in Alaska's boreal forest	2012