The Fireshed Registry: Fireshed and subfireshed boundaries for the continental United States and Hawaii

Metadata:
Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Evers, Cody R.
Originator: Ringo, Chris D.
Originator: Ager, Alan A.
Originator: Day, Michelle A.
Originator: Alcasena Urdíroz, Fermin J.
Originator: Bunzel, Ken
Publication_Date: 2025
Title:
The Fireshed Registry: Fireshed and subfireshed boundaries for the continental United States and Hawaii
Edition: 4th
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0054-4
Description:
Abstract:
The Fireshed Registry is a geospatial dashboard and decision tool built to organize information about wildfire transmission to communities and monitor progress towards risk reduction for communities from management investments. The concept behind the Fireshed Registry is to identify and map the source of risk rather than what is at risk across all lands in the continental United States and Hawaii. While the Fireshed Registry was organized around mapping the source of fire risk to communities, the framework does not preclude the assessment of other resource management priorities and trends such as water, fish and aquatic or wildlife habitat, or recreation. The Fireshed Registry is also a multi-scale decision tool for quantifying, prioritizing, and geospatially displaying wildfire transmission to buildings in adjacent or nearby communities.

Fireshed areas in the Fireshed Registry are approximately 250,000-acre accounting units that are delineated based on smoothed building exposure maps of the continental United States and Hawaii. These boundaries were created by dividing up the landscape into regular-sized units that represent similar source levels of community exposure to wildfire risk. Subfiresheds are approximately 25,000-acre accounting units nested within firesheds. This data publication includes three separate geodatabases, one for the conterminous United States (CONUS), one for Alaska, and one for Hawaii. All three geodatabases contain both firesheds and subfiresheds. See metadata for the individual geodatabases and feature classes for more details.
Purpose:
The fireshed and subfireshed boundaries are designed to delineate hotspots of fire transmission to adjacent or nearby communities to facilitate cohesive cross-boundary risk mitigation planning.
Supplemental_Information:
This data publication is the fourth edition of the Fireshed Registry. The first edition included the conterminous United States (https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0054). The second edition (https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0054-2) was created to include firesheds and project areas for Alaska. The third edition (https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0054-3) changed the name of fireshed "project areas" to "subfiresheds".

This fourth edition includes firesheds and subfiresheds for Hawaii; corrects 23 duplicated fireshed names in the CONUS dataset; updates 89 additional names in the CONUS dataset so that the named place used as the fireshed name is actually located in the state having the fireshed's majority area; and removes building exposure and disturbance estimates from the attribute tables of the firesheds and subfiresheds. The smoothed building exposure rasters for the continental United States that were used to calculate the exposure attributes can be found in the data publication https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2022-0015-3. The Alaska dataset is unchanged from previous versions.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 2014
Ending_Date: 2018
Currentness_Reference:
Ground condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Irregular
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
Fireshed and subfireshed boundaries in this dataset have been delineated for the continental United States and Alaska.
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -178.204326
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -66.888649
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 71.363839
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.910352
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: geoscientificInformation
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Research & Development Taxonomy
Theme_Keyword: Fire
Theme_Keyword: Fire effects on environment
Theme_Keyword: Wildland/urban interface
Theme_Keyword: Natural Resource Management & Use
Theme_Keyword: Forest management
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: wildfire
Theme_Keyword: wildfire exposure
Theme_Keyword: wildfire transmission
Theme_Keyword: wildfire management
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: United States
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Evers, Cody R.; Ringo, Chris D.; Ager, Alan A.; Day, Michelle A.; Alcasena Urdíroz, Fermin J.; Bunzel, Ken. 2025. The Fireshed Registry: Fireshed and subfireshed boundaries for the continental United States and Hawaii. 4th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0054-4
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Michelle Day
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Contact_Position: Biological Scientist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 3200 SW Jefferson Way
City: Corvallis
State_or_Province: OR
Postal_Code: 97331
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 541-758-7768
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: michelle.day@usda.gov
Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of original publication date. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Data_Set_Credit:
This project was funded by the USDA Forest Service, State & Private Forestry and the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Additional acknowledgments are extended to Portland State University, Oregon State University, USDA Forest Service International Visitor Program, and Kingbird Software.


Author Information:

Cody R. Evers
Portland State University
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8449-7442

Chris D. Ringo
Oregon State University
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9877-8651

Alan A. Ager
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5312-665X

Michelle A. Day
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0188-4093

Fermin J. Alcasena Urdíroz
USDA Forest Service, International Visitors Program

Ken Bunzel
Kingbird Software
Native_Data_Set_Environment:
Version 6.2 (Build 9200) ; Esri ArcGIS 10.5.1.7333
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Evers, Cody R.
Originator: Ringo, Chris D.
Originator: Ager, Alan A.
Originator: Day, Michelle A.
Originator: Alcasena Urdíroz, Fermin J.
Originator: Bunzel, Ken
Publication_Date: 2020
Title:
The Fireshed Registry: Fireshed and project area boundaries for the continental United States
Edition: 1st
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0054
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Evers, Cody R.
Originator: Ringo, Chris D.
Originator: Ager, Alan A.
Originator: Day, Michelle A.
Originator: Alcasena Urdíroz, Fermin J.
Originator: Bunzel, Ken
Publication_Date: 2023
Title:
The Fireshed Registry: Fireshed and project area boundaries for the continental United States
Edition: 2nd
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0054-2
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Evers, Cody R.
Originator: Ringo, Chris D.
Originator: Ager, Alan A.
Originator: Day, Michelle A.
Originator: Alcasena Urdíroz, Fermin J.
Originator: Bunzel, Ken
Publication_Date: 2024
Title:
The Fireshed Registry: Fireshed and subfireshed boundaries for the continental United States and Alaska
Edition: 3rd
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0054-3
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Bunzel, Ken
Originator: Ager, Alan A.
Originator: Day, Michelle A.
Originator: Evers, Cody R.
Originator: Ringo, Chris D.
Publication_Date: 2023
Title:
Smoothed raster of wildfire transmission to buildings in the continental United States and Alaska
Edition: 3rd
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Other_Citation_Details:
Updated 18 December 2023
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2022-0015-3
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Short, Karen C.
Originator: Finney, Mark A.
Originator: Vogler, Kevin C.
Originator: Scott, Joe H.
Originator: Gilbertson-Day, Julie W.
Originator: Grenfell, Isaac C.
Publication_Date: 2020
Title:
Spatial datasets of probabilistic wildfire risk components for the United States (270m)
Edition: 2nd
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2016-0034-2
Analytical_Tool:
Analytical_Tool_Description:
FSim is a geospatial Fire Simulation system developed by the USDA Forest Service, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory to estimate the burn probability and variability in fire behavior across large landscapes. FSim is used for national, regional, and local risk modeling in the United States.
Tool_Access_Information:
Tool_Access_Instructions:
Please send requests to: Fire Modeling Institute, USFS Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, 5775 U.S. Highway 10 West, Missoula, Montana, 59808; SM.FS.mso_fmi@usda.gov.
Tool_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Finney, Mark A.
Originator: McHugh, Charles W.
Originator: Grenfell, Isaac C.
Originator: Riley, Karin L.
Originator: Short, Karen C.
Publication_Date: 2011
Title:
A simulation of probabilistic wildfire risk components for the continental United States
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment
Issue_Identification: 25(7): 973-1000
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-011-0462-z
Online_Linkage: https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/39312
Analytical_Tool:
Analytical_Tool_Description:
R is a free software environment for statistical computing and graphics.
Tool_Access_Information:
Online_Linkage: https://www.r-project.org/
Tool_Access_Instructions:
see website
Tool_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: R Core Team
Publication_Date: 2023
Title:
R: A language and environment for statistical computing
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: software
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Vienna, Austria
Publisher: R Foundation for Statistical Computing
Online_Linkage: https://www.r-project.org/
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Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
The fuels data used in this prediction are not current, due to the data vintage of fuel conditions used in the available FSim simulations. Thus our predictions in areas that have had disturbance and management since 2014 should be used with caution, with consideration of finer scaled data. As with all risk products there is substantial uncertainty associated with these estimates. This assessment concerns exposure and not risk as we make no predictions about loss. The boundaries among adjacent firesheds are the product of the SLIC algorithm, which is dependent on the initial placement of points from which the image segments (i.e., clusters) are derived. This means that the boundaries between adjacent firesheds, particularly those in areas with homogenous exposure, may vary over successive runs. These data represent one such solution.

Achanta, R.; Shaji, A.; Smith, K.; Lucchi, A.; Fua, P.; Süsstrunk, S. 2012. SLIC superpixels compared to state-of-the-art superpixel methods. IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence. 34(11): 2274-2282. https://doi.org/10.1109/tpami.2012.120
Logical_Consistency_Report:
No consistency evaluation was performed.
Completeness_Report:
Fireshed and subfireshed boundaries reflect the resolution of the underlying building exposure raster of 270 meters (m). These boundaries can be considered complete, but note that boundaries representing features such as national boundaries and coastlines will be greatly generalized and, in the case of islands, they may be omitted entirely.
Lineage:
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Bunzel, Ken
Originator: Ager, Alan A.
Originator: Day, Michelle A.
Originator: Evers, Cody R.
Originator: Ringo, Chris D.
Publication_Date: 2023
Title:
Smoothed rasters of wildfire transmission to buildings in the continental United States and Alaska
Edition: 3rd
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2022-0015-3
Type_of_Source_Media: Online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 2015
Ending_Date: 2018
Source_Currentness_Reference:
Publication Date
Source_Citation_Abbreviation:
Bunzel et al. (2023)
Source_Contribution:
Estimates of building exposure to wildfires in the continental United States and Alaska.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Microsoft Maps
Publication_Date: 2018
Title:
Computer generated building footprints for the United States GitHub repository
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Publication_Information:
Publisher: Microsoft Maps
Online_Linkage: https://github.com/microsoft/USBuildingFootprints/
Type_of_Source_Media: Online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Single_Date/Time:
Calendar_Date: 2018
Source_Currentness_Reference:
Publication Date
Source_Citation_Abbreviation:
Microsoft 2018
Source_Contribution:
Mapped building footprints for Alaska.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: OpenStreetMap
Publication_Date: 2018
Title:
Building footprints from OpenStreetMap
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Publication_Information:
Publisher: OpenStreetMap
Online_Linkage: https://tudelft3d.github.io/3dfier/building_footprints_from_openstreetmap.html
Type_of_Source_Media: Online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Single_Date/Time:
Calendar_Date: 2018
Source_Currentness_Reference:
Publication Date
Source_Citation_Abbreviation:
OpenStreetMap 2018
Source_Contribution:
Mapped building footprints for Alaska.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: SILVIS Lab, Department of Forest & Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin
Publication_Date: 2010
Title:
Census block level housing change 1990 - 2010 for the conterminous United States
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Publication_Information:
Publisher: SILVIS Lab
Online_Linkage: http://silvis.forest.wisc.edu/data/wui-change/
Type_of_Source_Media: Online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Single_Date/Time:
Calendar_Date: 2010
Source_Currentness_Reference:
Publication Date
Source_Citation_Abbreviation:
SILVIS
Source_Contribution:
Mapped housing and population counts from the 2010 U.S. Census data at the block group level.
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
1. "Firesheds" and "Subfiresheds" within the Fireshed Registry are nested accounting units that are delineated based on a smoothed building exposure map of the continental U.S. and Hawaii. These boundaries were created by dividing up the landscape into comparably-sized units that represent similar source levels of community exposure to wildfire risk. The size of firesheds was specified to contain 99% of the large fires, with fire sizes generally smaller than 250,000 acres, although the largest extreme event fires can span multiple firesheds.
Process_Date: 20191114
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
2. To account for the fact that wildfire risk and risk mitigation efforts occur at multiple scales, we assessed risk exposure at stand-, subfireshed-, and fireshed-level scales. We created these layers in such a way that a finer-scale is nested within a coarser-scale, in much the same way as a drainage is nested within a larger watershed. These datasets include the subfireshed- and fireshed-scale boundaries, together with estimates of the annual number of buildings exposed from ignitions within these boundaries.
Process_Date: 20191114
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
3. Building exposure for the conterminous U.S. was first calculated using FSim ignition points and fire perimeters (using a range of historical fire weather and fuels data from LANDFIRE 2014) and intersecting perimeters with SILVIS wildland urban interface polygons (ca. 2010) (Radeloff et al. 2005, SILVIS Lab 2012) and attributing annual exposure to those ignitions. This means that values reflect the source of exposure, as opposed to where buildings are actually located. (Process Date: 20191114)

The processes for Alaska and Hawaii were similar, except that rather than inferring the location and count of buildings from census blocks, databases of building locations were assembled from the Microsoft Building Footprint database (Microsoft 2018) and supplemented with OpenStreetMap Building Footprints (OpenStreetMap 2018); then the fire perimeters were intersected with the footprint data to get building counts for individual ignitions. (Process Date for Alaska: 20200729, Process Date for Hawaii: 20230901)


Radeloff, V.C.; Hammer, R.B.; Stewart, S.I.; Fried, J.S.; Holcomb, S.S.; McKeefry, J.F. 2005. The wildland-urban interface in the United States. Ecological Applications. 15(3): 799-805. https://doi.org/10.1890/04-1413 and https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/14912
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation:
LANDFIRE; SILVIS; Microsoft 2018; OpenStreetMap 2018
Process_Date: 20230901
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
4. Exposure values were aggregated by projecting points onto a 270-m grid. To emphasize the general geographic patterns of risk and account for the stochasticity of extreme fire events, the exposure grid was first log10-transformed and then smoothed using focal statistics using a moving circular window with a 10-kilometer (km) radius using the focal function in the R Raster package. The entire grid was then normalized (0-1). (Process Date for conterminous U.S.: 20191114, Process Date for Alaska: 20200729, Process Date for Hawaii: 20231017)


Hijmans, Robert J.; van Etten, Jacob. 2012. raster: Geographic analysis and modeling with raster data. R package version 2.0-12. http://CRAN.R-project.org/package=raster
Process_Date: 20231017
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
5. The exposure grid was divided into roughly equal-sized spatial units at two different scales: the subfireshed (~25,000 acres) and the fireshed (~250,000 acres). Both units were defined using image segmentation (SLIC) based on both geographic distance and magnitude of exposure. The approach is based on a modified form of K-means clustering that includes an additional parameter to account for the cluster shape. In order to ensure the units of both scales were nested, we adjusted the boundary of the fireshed to match underlying subfireshed boundaries using a majority rule. Thus, when a subfireshed spanned two firesheds, the overlapping area was added to the majority fireshed (and subtracted from the minority fireshed). (Process Date for continental U.S.: 20191114, Process Date for Alaska: 20200729, Process Date for Hawaii: 20231017)
Process_Date: 20231017
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Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
SDTS_Terms_Description:
SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: GT-polygon composed of chains
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Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Planar:
Map_Projection:
Map_Projection_Name: NAD 1983 Contiguous USA Albers
Albers_Conical_Equal_Area:
Standard_Parallel: 29.5
Standard_Parallel: 45.5
Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -96.0
Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 23.0
False_Easting: 0.0
False_Northing: 0.0
Planar_Coordinate_Information:
Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair
Coordinate_Representation:
Abscissa_Resolution: 0.0001
Ordinate_Resolution: 0.0001
Planar_Distance_Units: meter
Geodetic_Model:
Horizontal_Datum_Name: D North American 1983
Ellipsoid_Name: GRS 1980
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0000
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222101
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Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Planar:
Map_Projection:
Map_Projection_Name: Alaska Albers Equal Area Conic
Albers_Conical_Equal_Area:
Standard_Parallel: 55.0
Standard_Parallel: 65.0
Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -154.0
Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 50.0
False_Easting: 0.0
False_Northing: 0.0
Planar_Coordinate_Information:
Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair
Coordinate_Representation:
Abscissa_Resolution: 0.0001
Ordinate_Resolution: 0.0001
Planar_Distance_Units: meter
Geodetic_Model:
Horizontal_Datum_Name: D North American 1983
Ellipsoid_Name: GRS 1980
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0000
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222101
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Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Planar:
Map_Projection:
Map_Projection_Name: Hawaii Albers Equal Area Conic
Albers_Conical_Equal_Area:
Standard_Parallel: 8.0
Standard_Parallel: 18.0
Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -157.0
Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 13.0
False_Easting: 0.0
False_Northing: 0.0
Planar_Coordinate_Information:
Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair
Coordinate_Representation:
Abscissa_Resolution: 0.0001
Ordinate_Resolution: 0.0001
Planar_Distance_Units: meter
Geodetic_Model:
Horizontal_Datum_Name: D North American 1983
Ellipsoid_Name: GRS 1980
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0000
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222101
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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: Firesheds
Entity_Type_Definition:
Vector polygons: "Firesheds" within the Fireshed Registry are approximately 250,000 acre accounting units that are delineated based on a smoothed building exposure map of the United States. These boundaries were created by dividing up the landscape into regular-sized units that represent similar source levels of community exposure to wildfire risk.
Entity_Type_Definition_Source:
None
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: OBJECTID
Attribute_Definition:
Internal feature number.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Shape
Attribute_Definition:
Feature geometry.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Coordinates defining the features.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Area_HA
Attribute_Definition:
Fireshed area, in hectares.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Any value > 0
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Fireshed_ID
Attribute_Definition:
Unique Fireshed ID.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Range_Domain:
Range_Domain_Minimum: 1
Range_Domain_Maximum: 7709
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Fireshed_Name
Attribute_Definition:
Fireshed name; fireshed names were assigned using a hierarchy of U.S. Census populated place names (based on the place within the fireshed with the highest population); for firesheds having no U.S. Census-designated populated place within them, a name was assigned using the Geographic Names Information System (e.g., using names of water bodies, mountain peaks, or other natural features); in rare cases names were manually assigned.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Free text
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Fireshed_Code
Attribute_Definition:
Fireshed codes are abbreviated versions of the fireshed name.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Free text
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Fireshed_State
Attribute_Definition:
State that the majority of fireshed falls within.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
State abbreviation (lower 48 or District of Columbia)
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: NoSubfiresheds
Attribute_Definition:
Number of subfiresheds that fall within the fireshed boundary.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Range_Domain:
Range_Domain_Minimum: 4
Range_Domain_Maximum: 24
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: MajRegion
Attribute_Definition:
USDA Forest Service administrative region that the majority of the fireshed falls within.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, or 10
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Shape_Length
Attribute_Definition:
Length of feature in internal units.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Shape_Area
Attribute_Definition:
Area of feature in internal units squared.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: Subfiresheds
Entity_Type_Definition:
Vector polygons: "Subfiresheds" are approximately 25,000 acre accounting units nested within firesheds.
Entity_Type_Definition_Source:
None
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: OBJECTID
Attribute_Definition:
Internal feature number
Attribute_Definition_Source:
ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Shape
Attribute_Definition:
Feature geometry
Attribute_Definition_Source:
ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Coordinates defining the features.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Fireshed_ID
Attribute_Definition:
Fireshed_ID of the containing fireshed.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Range_Domain:
Range_Domain_Minimum: 1
Range_Domain_Maximum: 7709
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Subfireshed_ID
Attribute_Definition:
Subfireshed unique ID
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Range_Domain:
Range_Domain_Minimum: 1
Range_Domain_Maximum: 78681
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Fireshed_Area_Ha
Attribute_Definition:
Area of the containing fireshed, in hectares.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Floating point numbers > 0
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Subfireshed_Area_Ha
Attribute_Definition:
Area of subfireshed, in hectares.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Floating point numbers > 0
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Fireshed_Name
Attribute_Definition:
Name of containing fireshed.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Free text
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Fireshed_Code
Attribute_Definition:
Fireshed_code of containing fireshed.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Free text
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Fireshed_State
Attribute_Definition:
State that the majority of containing fireshed falls within.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
State abbreviation (lower 48 or District of Columbia)
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Shape_Length
Attribute_Definition:
Length of feature in internal units.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Shape_Area
Attribute_Definition:
Area of feature in internal units.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Fireshed_MajRegion
Attribute_Definition:
USDA Forest Service administrative region that the majority of the containing fireshed falls within.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
USFS
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, or 10
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Below is a description of the files included in this data publication.


VARIABLE DESCRIPTION FILE (1)

1. \Data\_variable_descriptions.csv: Comma-separated values file containing a list and description of variables found in data and supplemental files.

Attributes include:

Filename = name of data or supplemental file, and entity within that file (if applicable)
Variable = name of variable
Units = units (if applicable)
Description = description of variable


DATA FILES (3)

The Esri ArcGIS file geodatabases included in this data publication contain nested boundaries delineating wildfire transmission to communities for monitoring progress towards risk reduction from management investments across all lands in: 1. the conterminous United States (\Data\Firesheds_CONUS.gdb), 2. Alaska (\Data\Firesheds_Alaska.gdb), and 3. Hawaii (\Data\Firesheds_Hawaii.gdb).

Two features classes are included in each geodatabase:

Firesheds: Fireshed boundaries, size, number of subfiresheds within the fireshed boundary, total annual number of buildings inside and outside of the fireshed exposed by wildfires ignited within this fireshed (based on 2014 fuel conditions), and percent of the fireshed area that has been disturbed since 2014.

Subfiresheds: Subfireshed boundaries, size, fireshed it is contained within, total annual number of buildings inside and outside of the subfireshed exposed by wildfires ignited within this subfireshed (based on 2014 fuel conditions), and percent of the subfireshed that has been disturbed since 2014.



SUPPLEMENTAL FILES (2)

1. \Supplements\Fireshed_Framework.png: PNG file showing the nested spatial framework for firesheds. Firesheds are the broad scale unit of prioritization, but subfiresheds within them are also prioritized as part of implementation of treatments.

2. \Supplements\Fireshed_NameChanges_2025.csv: CSV file containing a list of firesheds with name changes made in March 2025 to correct duplicate fireshed names and update the state identifier in the fireshed name to match the fireshed's majority area.

Attributes include:

Fireshed_ID = Unique fireshed ID.

Fireshed_Name = Original fireshed name; fireshed names were assigned using a hierarchy of U.S. Census populated place names (based on the place within the fireshed with the highest population); for firesheds having no U.S. Census-designated populated place within them, a name was assigned using the Geographic Names Information System (e.g., using names of water bodies, mountain peaks, or other natural features); in rare cases names were manually assigned.

Fireshed_Code = Fireshed codes are abbreviated versions of the fireshed name.

Fireshed_Name_New = Updated version of fireshed name.

Fireshed_Code_New = Updated version of fireshed code.

Reason = Reason for name change, either duplicate or state name.
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
none provided
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Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Research and Development
Contact_Position: Research Data Archivist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 240 West Prospect Road
City: Fort Collins
State_or_Province: CO
Postal_Code: 80526
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: see Contact Instructions
Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of April 2025. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Resource_Description: RDS-2020-0054-4
Distribution_Liability:
Metadata documents have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness. Unless otherwise stated, all data and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which these data were collected. However, neither the author, the Archive, nor any part of the federal government can assure the reliability or suitability of these data for a particular purpose. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed for a user's application of these data or related materials.

The metadata, data, or related materials may be updated without notification. If a user believes errors are present in the metadata, data or related materials, please use the information in (1) Identification Information: Point of Contact, (2) Metadata Reference: Metadata Contact, or (3) Distribution Information: Distributor to notify the author or the Archive of the issues.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: GDB
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Esri file geodatabase
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0054-4
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: PNG
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Portable Network Graphic file
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0054-4
Fees: None
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Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20250403
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Contact_Person: Michelle Day
Contact_Position: Biological Scientist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 3200 SW Jefferson Way
City: Corvallis
State_or_Province: Oregon
Postal_Code: 97331
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 541-758-7758
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: michelle.day@usda.gov
Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of original publication date. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
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