A National Map of Snag Hazard to Reduce Risk to Wildland Fire Responders

Falling trees and tree fragments are one of the top five causes fatalities for wildland fire responders. In six out ten recent years, at least fatality from a strike has occurred while responder was on duty, others were injured. We used TreeMap, national map forest characteristics, including individual height, diameter, status (live or dead), to generate snag hazard forested areas continental U.S. 30 × m resolution. Snag classified into categories low, moderate, high, extreme based density height. Within-class accuracy as high 86%, suggesting that Hazard can help managers identify avoid exposing responders hazardous conditions. Accuracy higher outside recently disturbed (88%) than inside (79%), perhaps reflecting strong spatial patterns heterogeneity mortality within areas. The is frequently requested product Forest Service’sRisk Management Assistance Group. goal RMA provide analytics decision makers leadership facilitate risk-informed decision-making improve safety, effectiveness, outcomes. present case study showing how 2016 inform during an active wildfire incident in California 2020 season.