Process / pipelineFire Danger

Fire Weather Index

The Fire Weather Index (FWI) System, developed by the Canadian Forest Service, is a comprehensive weather-based fire danger rating system consisting of six component indices and an overall Fire Weather Index. It uses daily weather observations (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and precipitation) to estimate fine-fuel moisture, fire behavior, and risk. The FWI System is used operationally across Canada, many U.S. states, and internationally for fire management decisions and fire danger forecasting.

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Sources

  1. Van Wagner, C. E. (1987). Development and structure of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System. Canadian Forestry Service Publication 1333. link
  2. Van Wagner, C. E., & Pickett, T. L. (1989). Equations and FORTRAN program for the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System. Canadian Forestry Service Research Notes No. 5. link

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Referenced by

ScholarGateFire Weather Index (Fire Weather Index System). Retrieved 2026-06-04 from https://scholargate.app/en/forestry/fire-weather-index