Rate of Speed

Rate of spread was modeled using FlamMap, an interagency fire behavior mapping
and analysis program that computes potential fire behavior characteristics. The tool
uses eight spatial input data layers to represent biophysical conditions and weather
parameters to simulate wind and fuel moisture conditions. The spatial input layers
were created by Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools Project
(LANDFIRE) and include elevation, slope, aspect, canopy closure, fuel model 40
(using 40 fuel models described by Scott and Burgan, 2005), canopy base height, and
canopy bulk density. The weather parameters were collected from the RAWS weather
stations in New Mexico. Rate of Spread was modeled by individual fire zones, created
by the Southwest Coordination Center (SWCC). The weather data for the northern and
western fire zones (101, 102, 103, 109, 110, and 113) represents the average early
summer (May and June) conditions; the weather data for the eastern fire zones (104,
108, 114, 115) represents the average early spring (March and April ) conditions;
and the weather data for the southern and central fire zones (105, 106, 107, 111,
112) represents the average spring (April and May) conditions.