Data summaries and visualizations for projected Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (CFFDRS) metrics within Fire Danger Rating Areas in Alaska (1980–2099)

Customized products were created for fire management partners in Alaska by leveraging projected Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System metrics produced by Young et al. (2025). This input dataset contains daily projections from 1980 through 2099 for key fire danger metrics including Buildup Index, Drought Code, Duff Moisture Code, Fine Fuel Moisture Code, Fire Weather Index, and Initial Spread Index. Using Python and R, we processed these data to produce summary tables, time series plots, and maps tailored for fire management decision support. Most outputs were spatially summarized to 16 Fire Danger Rating Areas, corresponding to the boreal forest extent of the input dataset. These climate-informed projections provide insights into fire danger by capturing changes in fuel moisture, drought, and shifting precipitation and temperature patterns. The resulting data products aim to provide actionable, locally relevant fire danger information to support fire planning and management under future conditions in Alaska.

Reference:

Young, A.M., Littell, J., and Rupp, S., 2025, The influence of fire-fuel feedbacks on boreal forest fire regimes under future climate change: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P1AAMRUF.