Inventory of the National Fire Danger Rating System Collection, 1911 – 2004

Descriptive Summary

Abstract: A team of fire scientists and fire control personnel began work on the National Fire Danger Rating System in 1959, and tested the partially-developed system throughout the United States. The system, which sought to determine the probability of forest fire, became fully operational in 1972.

The collection includes memoranda and correspondence among fire researchers and fire control personnel, as well as scientific work product documents such as data tables, graphs, charts, maps, fire danger rating devices, and research project documentation, ranging in date from 1911 to 2004. The materials in the collection document the process by which John Keetch and other research scientists combined regionally specific criteria for fire danger rating into a nationally applicable fire danger rating system. Later materials, created and collected by Dale D. Wade, reflect the subsequent shift in research priorities of the next generation of fire control scientists, from fire predictability toward studies in prescribed burning, air quality, and fire weather.

Title: National Fire Danger Rating System Collection, 1911 - 2004

Repository: Forest History Society Library and Archives

Call Number: 2008-001

Language of Material: Material in English

Extent: 10.5 linear feet (7 record cartons)

 

Historical Note

Following H.T. Gisborne's invention of the first Fire Danger Meter in 1939, eight distinct fire prediction systems were in use across the United States. Fire researchers recognized the need for a national system to determine the probability of forest fire. A team of fire scientists and fire control personnel, including field researcher John J. Keetch, began work on the National Fire Danger Rating System in 1959, and tested the partially-developed system throughout the United States. The system became fully operational in 1972.

After development of the national system, research priorities of the next generation of fire control scientists, such as Dale D. Wade, shifted away from fire predictability toward studies in prescribed burning, air quality, and fire weather.

 

Collection Overview

The collection includes memoranda and correspondence among fire researchers and fire control personnel, as well as scientific work product documents such as data tables, graphs, charts, maps, fire danger rating devices, and research project documentation, ranging in date from 1911 to 2004. The materials in the collection document the process by which John Keetch and other research scientists combined regionally specific criteria for fire danger rating into a nationally applicable fire danger rating system. Later materials, created and collected by Dale D. Wade, reflect the subsequent shift in research priorities of the next generation of fire control scientists, from fire predictability toward studies in prescribed burning, air quality, and fire weather.

Collection Arrangement

  1. Fire Danger Bound Volumes, 1952-1964
  2. Subject Files, 1911-2004

Subject Headings

  • Wade, Dale D.
  • Forest fire forecasting -- United States
  • Forest fires -- United States -- Prevention and control
  • Keetch, John J. (John James), 1911-
  • Wildfire forecasting -- United States
  • Wildfires -- United States--Prevention and control

 

Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Fire Danger Bound Volumes, 1952-1964.
  • Box 1 Folder 1-3
    "1952 Forest Fires and Fire Danger In..."
  • Box 1 Folder 4-5
    "1953 Forest Fires and Fire Danger In..."
  • Box 1 Folder 6-8
    "1954 Forest Fires and Fire Danger In..."
  • Box 1 Folder 9-11
    "1955 Forest Fires and Fire Danger In..."
  • Box 1 Folder 12-14
    "1956 Forest Fires and Fire Danger In..."
  • Box 1 Folder 15-17
    "1957 Forest Fires and Fire Danger In..."
  • Box 1 Folder 18-20
    "1958 Forest Fires and Fire Danger In..."
  • Box 1 Folder 21-23
    "1959 Forest Fires and Fire Danger In..."
  • Box 2 Folder 24-25
    "1960 Forest Fires and Fire Danger In..."
  • Box 2 Folder 26-27
    "1961 Forest Fires and Fire Danger In..."
  • Box 2 Folder 28-29
    "1962 Forest Fires and Fire Danger In..."
  • Box 2 Folder 30-31
    "1963 Forest Fires and Fire Danger In..."
  • Box 2 Folder 32-33
    "1964 Forest Fires and Fire Danger In..."
2. Subject Files, 1911-2004.
  • Box 2 Folder 34
    Annual Reports of Southern Forest Experiment Station, 1957-1963

    • Includes Annual Report, 1957, Southern Forest Experiment Station, Philip A. Brieglieb, director, focus on fire control and the direct effects of fire on the environment, as well as fuels and fire behavior; 1958 at the Southern Forest Experiment Station, Philip A. Brieglieb, director, summarizes SFES' research in fire prevention, causes, and fuel measurement; 1959 at the Southern Forest Experiment Station, Philip A. Brieglieb, director, summary of research at SFES in fire meteorology, predicting fire loads, and prescribed burning; 1960 at the Southern Forest Experiment Station, Philip A. Brieglieb, director, summary of research at SFES includes such topics as the effect of heat on vegetation, the heat resistance of bark, estimating the mortality of fire-damaged trees, and the intersection of rainfall and fire; 1962 at the Southern Forest Experiment Station, summary of research at the SFES includes such topics as drought and fuel moisture, and bark characteristics and fire resistance; 1963 at the Southern Forest Experiment Station, Walter M. Zillgitt, director, summary of research at the SFES includes such topics as fire prevention, mountain fire danger, and the heating of cambium in surface fires.
  • Box 2 Folder 35
    Annual Reports of the Georgia Forest Research Council, 1957-1967
  • Box 2 Folder 36
    Annual Reports of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, 1957-1960

    • Includes Annual Report 1960, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC; Report for 1961, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC; 1962 at the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC; 1963 Research at the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC; Research at the Southern Forest Fire Laboratory, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC, October 1961; Annual Report of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, 1957, summary of research, forest fire chapter includes information on fire behavior, fire physics, and fire training; Annual Report of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, 1958, summary of research, forest fire chapter includes information on estimating drought conditions, fire behavior, the unified fire danger system, aerial fire suppression, and classification of forest fuels; Annual Report of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, 1959, summary of research, forest fire chapter includes information on forest fuels, fire behavior, and prescribed burning.
  • Box 2 Folder 37
    Annual Reports of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Excerpts, 1948-1963

    • Includes photocopy excerpted from Biennial Report of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station for the Years 1947 and 1948, Station Paper No. 2, summarizes research of the SEFES and includes topics such as better fire protection, use of the new fire danger meter, the comprehensive fire bulletin, and fire prediction; Photocopy excerpted from Biennial Report of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station for the Years 1949 and 1950, summary of research of the SEFES including such topics as fire protection, fire behavior, fire damage appraisal, fire danger measurement, and fire prediction; Photocopy of excerpt from Annual Report of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station 1951, E.L. Demmon, director, summarizes research of the SEFES including such topics as fuel moisture, fire behavior, and increased use of fire danger measurements; Photocopy of excerpt from Annual Report of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station 1952, Station Paper No. 22, E.L. Demmon, director, summarizes research of the SEFES including such topics as the cumulative fire danger index, fire danger stations, and the effects of atmospheric stability on forest fires; Photocopy of excerpt from Annual Report of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, 1953, Station Paper No. 34, E.L. Demmon, director, summarizes research of the SEFES including information on the development of a new fire danger meter Type 8-W; Photocopy of excerpt from Annual Report of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, 1954, Station Paper No. 50, E.L. Demmon, director, summarizes forest fire research in the area of effect of wind profiles on fire behavior; Photocopy of excerpt from Annual Report of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, 1955, E.L. Demmon, director, summarizes research in the application of fire danger measurements; Photocopy of excerpt from Annual Report of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, 1956, Joseph F. Pechanec, director, includes research summaries on topics such as the Buckhead Fire, Georgia Fire Problem Analysis, number of fires burned related to burning index, and testing the 8-100-O fire danger meter in the Longleaf-Slash Region; Photocopy of excerpt from Annual Report of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, 1961, summary of research contains such topics as fire weather and fire danger measurements, fire models, fire and the environment, sand casting, and prescribed burning.
  • Box 2 Folder 38
    Brochures, circa 1971, circa 1998, and undated

    • Includes brochure entitled "Joint Fire Science Program," describing the collaboration among the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Geological Survey, established to fill gaps in knowledge about forest fires and fuels, c. 1998; Brochure entitled "Fire and Fire Surrogate Study in the Southern Coastal Plain: Treatments for Fuel Reduction," by the Joint Fire Science Program, no date; Brochure entitled "Managing Fires in Southern Forests: A Look Ahead," Southeastern Forest Experiment Station cooperating with Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Company, Columbia, SC, c. 1971.
  • Box 2 Folder 39
    Burning Index, 1949 and 1957

    • Includes rough draft of "Burning Index and Relative Fire Occurrence in the Northeast" by A.W. Lindenmuth, Jr. and John J. Keetch, September 14, 1949; Table showing "Normal Burning Index on National Forests of Region 7, based on 1943-1952 data, adjusted to meter 8," revised June 15, 1956, with attached memorandum denoting revision of the normal Burning Index; Excerpt from Journal of Forestry, Volume 57, Number 9, September 1957, criticizing the use of more than two variables to compute the burning index, by William E Reifsnyder, Yale School of Forestry.
  • Box 2 Folder 40
    Canada
  • Box 2 Folder 41
    Damage Appraisal Meter
  • Box 2 Folder 42
    Data
  • Box 2 Folder 43
    Equipment

    • Includes mortarboard psychrometer templates, bill of materials, specs, USFS Research Paper SE-5 "Mortarboard Psychrometer" by Dee Taylor, 1963, instructions for assembling, notes and letters pertaining to this instrument; List of anemometer suppliers and addresses, March 21, 1946; Letter from John Keetch to "The Files" listing sources and prices for fire danger measuring equipment, May 23, 1946, revised May 1948; Specification for a Fuel Moisture Stick Support Suitable for Use at Open-Type Fire Danger Stations, with Litter Box and Shade Screen Support Plan Suggested by Southeastern Forest Experiment Station on back, March 12, 1958; Bill of Materials and Details of Weighing Shelter [no date]; Specification for Shade Screen Frame and Support for Fuel Moisture Installation at an Open Fire Danger Station, January 29, 1958; Specification for Suggested Ground Plan for Open-Type Fire Danger Station, T.G. Storey, 1956; Proposed Specification for Anemometer, Floating Ball Type, Plastic, April 17, 1963; Handmade untitled calculator by R Nelson showing Burning Index by class day for various Dewpoint temperatures and dry bulb temperatures, April 21, 1954.
  • Box 2 Folder 44
    Fire Control Conferences and Meetings, 1945, 1949, 1955, 1961, and 1997
  • Box 2 Folder 45
    Fire Control Conferences and Meetings -- Denver Meeting March 25-28, 1963
  • Box 2 Folder 46
    Fire Control Conferences and Meetings -- National Forest Fire Laboratory, Missoula, MT, May 1-4, 1961
  • Box 2 Folder 47
    Fire Danger Measurement, 1940-1961 and undated
  • Box 2 Folder 48
    Fire Danger Meter, Appalachian Region, 1937, 1938, and 1949

    • Includes 1 early Forest Fire Danger Meter issued by the Appalachian Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC, July 1937; Example of early Forest Fire Danger Meter for Southern Appalachian Mountains, Meter Type #4, issued by the Appalachian Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC, September 1937; Example of early Forest Fire Danger Meter issued by the Appalachian Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC, for Piedmont and Coastal Plain, Type #6, February 1938; WV Conservation July 1949 containing 2 articles on fire danger.
  • Box 2 Folder 49
    Fire Danger Meter, Burning Index Meter Model 8, 1955

    • Includes 1 plastic Burning Index Meter Model 8, issued by the Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT, 1955.
  • Box 2 Folder 50
    Fire Danger Meter, Central States

    • Includes table for Finding the Adjusted Days Since Rain to Us When Precipitation is Recorded at 8:00 A.M., with handwritten label that reads "Central States Meter."
  • Box 2 Folder 51
    Fire Danger Meter, Dispatcher's Guide Meter, 1945

    • Includes Dispatcher's Guide Meter, High Spreading Fuels, 1945; Dispatcher's Guide Meter, Low Spreading Fuels, 1945; Dispatcher's Guide Meter, Extreme Spreading Fuels, 1945; Dispatcher's Guide Meter, Medium Spreading Fuels, 1945; Dispatcher's Guide Meter for estimating fuel moisture, 1945.
  • Box 2 Folder 52
    Fire Danger Meter, Lake States Burning Index Meter, 1938 and 1949

    • Includes 1 Lake States Burning Index Meter prepared by the Lake States Forest Experiment Station, University Farm, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1949; Explanation of the Lake States Fire Danger Meter issued by the Lake States Forest Experiment Station, March 15, 1938; "Supplemental Instructions for Using Lake States Burning Index Meter," Revised 1949, May 20, 1949, with cover letter from M.H. Davis to Lake States Forests, March 29, 1949.
  • Box 2 Folder 53
    Fire Danger Meter, Longleaf-Slash Pine Type, 1939 and undated

    • Includes 2 examples of Longleaf-Slash Pine Forest Fire Danger Meters, issued by Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC, no date. One annotated "test meter." Example of 2 slide-rule type rectangular Longleaf-Slash Pine Fire-Danger Meters issued by Southern Forest Experiment Station, November 1939; Document entitled "Instructions for Dispatchers in Using the Longleaf Slash Pine Fire-Danger Meter," by C.A. Bickford and David Bruce, Southern Forest Experiment Station, November 24, 1939; "Report on the 100-Point Longleaf-Slash Pine Test Meter," by A.W. Lindenmuth, Jr., December 4, 1950.
  • Box 2 Folder 54
    Fire Danger Meter, Make 3 by A. G. McArthur, 1962-1963

    • Includes forest fire danger meter Make 3 designed by A. G. McArthur, Canberra, Australia, 1963; Attached letter from A. Hodgson to John Keetch regarding fire danger meter and fire danger tables; Set of Fire Danger Tables, 1962.
  • Box 2 Folder 55
    Fire Danger Meter, Melin Fire Danger Meter

    • Includes example of J.B. Melin, meteorologist, forest fire danger meter for use in the state of Washington.
  • Box 2 Folder 56
    Fire Danger Meter, Northern Rocky Mountain Region, 1942 and undated

    • Includes 1 Forest Fire Danger Meter applicable to brush-covered burns, contains vegetation index, issued by the Northern Rocky Mtn. Forest and Range Experiment Station, Missoula, MT; 1 Forest Fire Danger Meter issued by the Northern Rocky Mtn. Forest and Range Experiment Station, Missoula, MT; "Measurement of Forest Fire Danger Variables in the Northern Rocky Mountain Region," Northern Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, June 10, 1942 with attached Burning Index meter.
  • Box 2 Folder 57
    Fire Danger Meter, Prescribed Burning Meter D-1

    • Includes instructions for Prescribed Burning Indicator D-1 for Southern Coastal Plain; Prescribed Burning Indicator D-1; Page of handwritten notes entitled "Meter Development."
  • Box 2 Folder 58
    Fire Danger Meter, Rate of Spread Meter, 1954

    • Includes 1 Rate of Spread Meter for use in the Southwestern Region, contains Litter Moisture Factor Adjuster, 1954.
  • Box 2 Folder 59
    Fire Danger Meter, Rocky Mountain Region

    • Includes 1 Forest Fire Danger Meter, Northern Rocky Mountain Region, Missoula, Montana.
  • Box 3 Folder 60
    Fire Danger Meter, Spread Index Meter, 1967

    • Includes 1 plastic Spread Index Meter contained in envelope, for use with National Fire Danger Rating System, 1967.
  • Box 3 Folder 61
    Fire Danger Meter, Spread Index to Rate of Spread Conversion Meter, 1967

    • Includes 1 Spread Index to Rate of Spread Conversion Meter. Folder Contents: 1 Spread Index to Rate of Spread Conversion Meter for use with the National Fire Danger Rating System in the Intermountain Area, designed by R.J. Barney and W.C. Fischer, 1967.
  • Box 3 Folder 62
    Fire Danger Meter, Type 5-A, 1938

    • Includes 1 rectangular paperboard Forest Fire Danger Meter Type 5-A, for use in the mountainous regions of the eastern United States, designed by George M. Jemison, October 1938.
  • Fire Danger Meter, Type 5-A

  • Box 3 Folder 63
    Fire Danger Meter, Type 5-B, 1942

    • Includes 2 examples of early rectangular cardboard slide rule type Forest Fire Danger Meters for use in the Mountainous Regions of the Eastern United States.
  • Box 3 Folder 64
    Fire Danger Meter, Type 5-O, July 1, 1948
  • Box 3 Folder 65
    Fire Danger Meter, Type 5-W, 1950

    • Includes "Report on the Wide Range 100-Point Mountain Test Meter," by A.W. Lindenmuth, Jr., November 7, 1950.
  • Box 3 Folder 66
    Fire Danger Meter, Type 7, 1939

    • Includes 1 forest fire danger meter Type 7, for use in the coastal plain regions of the southeastern United States, designed by George W. Jemison, October 1939; Memorandum for director from George W. Jemison in re: fire danger meter Type 7, August 12, 1939; Example of Forest Fire Danger Meter, Type 7, for use in the Coastal Plain regions of the Southeastern United States, issued by Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC; "Report on the 100-Point Coastal Plain Test Meter," by A.W. Lindenmuth, Jr., January 3, 1951.
  • Box 3 Folder 67
    Fire Danger Meter, Type 8-100-O, October 1954

    • Includes 2 examples of Forest Fire Danger Meter Type 8-100-O, issued by the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station in Asheville, North Carolina, one annotated thusly: "Adjusted Meter IME-GILA, use with fuel moisture factors graph." 8.5" x 11" paperboard, 8-100-O System Fire Danger Weather Codes on one side and table of National Fire Danger System codes on the other.
  • Box 3 Folder 68
    Fire Danger Meter, Type 8-100-W, October 1954

    • Includes 1 Forest Fire Danger Meter Type 8-100-W, October 1954, issued by Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, North Carolina.
  • Box 3 Folder 69
    Fire Danger Meter, Type 8-O, January 1954

    • Includes 1 Forest Fire Danger Meter Type 8-O, January 1954, issued by the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, North Carolina; Station Papter No. 33 "Instructions for Using Forest Fire Danger Meter Type 8," by John Keetch, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, January 1954.
  • Box 3 Folder 70
    Fire Danger Meter, Type 8-W, January 1954

    • Includes 1 Fire Danger Meter Type 8-W, January 1954; Station Papter No. 33 "Instructions for Using Forest Fire Danger Meter Type 8," by John Keetch, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, January 1954.
  • Fire Danger Meter, Type 8-W

  • Box 3 Folder 71
    Fire Danger Meter, Type C-W

    • Includes 1 Forest Fire Danger Meter, Type C-W, issued by Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC. Back identifies it as, "Mountain Test Meter for use in the Northeastern and Mountainous Sections of the Southeastern United States Where Wind and Fuel Moisture Measurements are Made Under Natural Forest Conditions."
  • Box 3 Folder 72
    Fire Danger Rating -- Region 5, 1962 and undated
  • Box 3 Folder 73
    Fire Danger Rating -- Region 6, 1968
  • Box 3 Folder 74
    Fire Weather -- Region 6, 1960
  • Box 3 Folder 75-78
    Fire Weather -- Region 8, 1960-1982
  • Box 3 Folder 79
    Forest Fire Causes, 1978
  • Box 3 Folder 80
    Forest Fire Danger Stations, 1948
  • Box 3 Folder 81
    Forest Fire Statistics, 1916-1929
  • Box 3 Folder 82
    Forest Fire Statistics, 1929-1934
  • Box 3 Folder 83
    Forest Fire Statistics, 1935-1939
  • Box 3 Folder 84
    Forest Fire Statistics, 1940-1956
  • Box 3 Folder 85
    Forest Fire Statistics, 1966-1970
  • Box 3 Folder 86
    Forest Fire Statistics, 1971-1976
  • Box 3 Folder 87
    Forest Fire Summaries, 1952-1975
  • Box 3 Folder 88
    Forms, 1939-1966
  • Box 3 Folder 89
    Fuel Moisture, 1947-1965 and undated
  • Box 3 Folder 90
    Handbooks and Manuals -- Fire Danger Rating Category 2: Handbook, Reviews and Comments, 1963
  • Box 4 Folder 91
    Handbooks and Manuals -- National Fire Danger Rating System Handbook, Category 2, 1963-1964 and undated
  • Box 4 Folder 92
    Handbooks and Manuals -- National Fire Danger Rating System Handbook, Region 10 Supplements, 1964-1967
  • Box 4 Folder 93
    Handbooks and Manuals -- National Fire Danger Rating System Handbook, Region 6 Supplements, 1959-1969
  • Box 4 Folder 94
    Handbooks and Manuals -- National Fire Danger Rating System Handbook, Region 7 Supplements, 1954-1971
  • Box 4 Folder 95-96
    Handbooks and Manuals -- National Fire Danger Rating System Handbook, Region 8 Supplements, 1964-1986
  • Box 4 Folder 97
    Handbooks and Manuals -- National Fire Danger Rating System Handbook, Region 9 Supplements, 1964-1967
  • Box 4 Folder 98
    Handbooks and Manuals -- Weather Bureau Observing Handbook No. 2, 1970
  • Box 4 Folder 99
    Initial Attack Strength Calculator
  • Box 4 Folder 100
    Law and Legislation, 1925
  • Box 4 Folder 101
    Line Project Annual Reports, 1956-1958
  • Box 4 Folder 102
    Line Project Annual Reports, 1959
  • Box 4 Folder 103
    Line Project Annual Reports, 1960
  • Box 4 Folder 104
    Line Project Annual Reports, 1961
  • Box 4 Folder 105
    Line Project Annual Reports, 1962
  • Box 4 Folder 106
    Line Project Annual Reports, 1963-1969
  • Box 4 Folder 107
    Line Project Annual Reports, 1970-1972
  • Box 4 Folder 108
    Manning, 1956-1962
  • Box 4 Folder 109
    National Fire Planning Instructions, circa 1972
  • Box 4 Folder 110
    National Forest Fire Reports, 1941-1949
  • Box 4 Folder 111
    National Forest Fire Reports, 1950-1959
  • Box 5 Folder 112
    National Forest Fire Reports, 1960-1969
  • Box 5 Folder 113
    National Forest Fire Reports, 1970-1974
  • Box 5 Folder 114
    National Forest Fire Reports, 1985 and 1992-1993
  • Box 5 Folder 115
    Planning, 2002
  • Box 5 Folder 116
    Policy, 1989-1997 and undated
  • Box 5 Folder 117-118
    Prescribed Burning, 1937-1992 and undated
  • Box 5 Folder 119
    Public Broadcasting, 1946-1952 and undated
  • Box 5 Folder 120
    Region 7, 1950-1957 and undated
  • Box 5 Folder 121
    Region 8, 1981
  • Box 5 Folder 122
    Region 9, 1943
  • Box 5 Folder 123
    Relative Severity Rating Reports, 1969-1970
  • Box 5 Folder 124
    Report on Development of National Fire Danger System, circa 1965
  • Box 5 Folder 125
    Research and Studies -- Air Quality, circa 1975-1987
  • Box 5 Folder 126
    Research and Studies -- Annual Reports, 1959-2004 and undated
  • Box 5 Folder 127
    Research and Studies -- Fire Damage, Toccoa Experimental Forest, 1934-1943
  • Box 5 Folder 128
    Research and Studies -- Fire Danger Meters, 1942-1960
  • Box 5 Folder 129
    Research and Studies -- Fire Danger Rating, 1949 and 1958
  • Box 5 Folder 130
    Research and Studies -- Fire Management, circa 1970, 1975, and undated
  • Box 5 Folder 131
    Research and Studies -- Fire Physics, 1964-1973
  • Box 5 Folder 132
    Research and Studies -- Fire Weather, 1977
  • Box 5 Folder 133
    Research and Studies -- Forest Fire Control, 1943
  • Box 5 Folder 134
    Research and Studies -- Forest Fire Research Uniform Projects, 1963
  • Box 5 Folder 135
    Research and Studies -- Fuel Moisture, 1923-1958
  • Box 5 Folder 136
    Research and Studies -- Prescribed Burning, 1958-1991
  • Box 5 Folder 137
    Research and Studies -- Research Attainment Reports, 1978-1989 and undated
  • Box 5 Folder 138
    Research and Studies -- Research Planning, 1935-1998 and undated
  • Box 5 Folder 139
    Research and Studies -- Southern Fire Research, circa 1946-2004 and undated
  • Box 6 Folder 140
    Southern Area Annual Fire Reports, 1984-1985
  • Box 6 Folder 141
    Southern Area Annual Fire Reports, 1990, 1992-1993
  • Box 6 Folder 142
    Southern Area Annual Fire Reports, 1994-1997
  • Box 6 Folder 143
    Southern Forest Fire Laboratory, Macon, Georgia, 1959
  • Box 6 Folder 144
    Specifications for Preliminary Unified Fire Danger System, 1959-1961
  • Box 6 Folder 145
    Specifications for Preliminary Unified Fire Danger System, Region 1, 1960
  • Box 6 Folder 146
    Specifications for Preliminary Unified Fire Danger System, Region 2, 3 and 4, 1960
  • Box 6 Folder 147
    Specifications for Preliminary Unified Fire Danger System, Region 5 and 6, 1960, 1971, and undated
  • Box 6 Folder 148
    Specifications for Preliminary Unified Fire Danger System, Regions 7, 8,and 9, 1960
  • Box 6 Folder 149
    Speeches and Publications, 1958-1971
  • Box 6 Folder 150
    Spread Index -- Data, 1962
  • Box 6 Folder 151
    Spread Index Meter, 1966-1967 and undated
  • Box 6 Folder 152
    Spread Phase Tables, 1962-1966 and undated
  • Box 6 Folder 153
    Statistics, 1959-1998
  • Box 6 Folder 154
    Statistics -- Region 10, 1969-1983
  • Box 6 Folder 155
    Statistics -- Region 5, 1970-1976
  • Box 6 Folder 156
    Statistics -- Region 8, circa 1947-2001 and undated
  • Box 6 Folder 157
    Statistics -- Region 9, 1911
  • Box 6 Folder 158
    Technical Notes, 1938-1942
  • Box 6 Folder 159
    Temporary Directive No. 73, National Fire Danger Rating System, 1963
  • Box 6 Folder 160
    Training Materials -- Region 1, 1958
  • Box 6 Folder 161
    Training Materials -- Region 5, 1963
  • Box 6 Folder 162
    Training Materials -- Region 6, 1957
  • Box 6 Folder 163
    Training Materials -- Region 7, 1956 and undated
  • Box 6 Folder 164
    Training Materials -- Region 7, National Forest Fire Training School, 1957
  • Box 6 Folder 165
    Training Materials -- Region 8, 1957-1982 and undated
  • Box 6 Folder 166
    Training Materials -- Region 8, Fire Behavior Training Course, 1959
  • Box 6 Folder 167
    Unified Fire Danger Rating System -- Analysis, 1961-1963 and undated
  • Box 6 Folder 168-170
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Correspondence, 1957-1961
  • Box 7 Folder 171-172
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Correspondence, 1962-1964
  • Box 7 Folder 173
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Feedback from Regions, 1961-1963
  • Box 7 Folder 174
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Field Trial -- Correspondence, 1970-1971
  • Box 7 Folder 175
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Field Trials -- General Instructions, 1970-1971
  • Box 7 Folder 176
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Field Trials -- Working Tables, 1970-1971
  • Box 7 Folder 177
    Unified Fire Danger System Development -- Memoranda and Station Responses, 1959-1960
  • Box 7 Folder 178
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 1, 1958 and undated
  • Box 7 Folder 179
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 1 -- Forms, 1955-1958 and undated
  • Box 7 Folder 180
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 1 -- John Keetch Notes, 1961 and undated
  • Box 7 Folder 181
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 1 -- Testing, 1959-1963
  • Box 7 Folder 182
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 2, 1940-1966
  • Box 7 Folder 183
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 3, 1953-1961 and undated
  • Box 7 Folder 184
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 4, 1960-1966
  • Box 7 Folder 185
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 5 -- Burning Index Revision, 1958
  • Box 7 Folder 186
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 5 -- Data, 1956-1961 and undated
  • Box 7 Folder 187
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 5 -- Fire Weather Stations, 1958 and undated
  • Box 7 Folder 188
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 5 -- General, 1954-1964 and undated
  • Box 7 Folder 189
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 5 -- Maps, 1944 and 1953
  • Box 7 Folder 190
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 6 -- Danger Meters, 1940 and 1950
  • Box 7 Folder 191
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 6 -- Forms, 1951, 19571 and 1958
  • Box 7 Folder 192
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 6 -- General, 1939-1963 and undated
  • Box 7 Folder 193
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 6 -- John Keetch Notes, 1958 and undated
  • Box 7 Folder 194
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 6 -- Maps, 1953 and 1964
  • Box 7 Folder 195
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 6 -- Oregon Climate Studies, 1959-1960
  • Box 7 Folder 196
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 6 -- Presuppression, 1956 and undated
  • Box 7 Folder 197
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 6 -- Research, 1931-1964
  • Box 7 Folder 198
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 7, 1955-1964 and undated
  • Box 7 Folder 199
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Region 9, 1951-1963 and undated
  • Box 7 Folder 200
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Regional Status Reports, 1958-1959
  • Box 7 Folder 201
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Special Fire Danger Advisory Session (November 8, 1960), 1960-1961
  • Box 7 Folder 202
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, System Comparisons, circa 1961
  • Box 7 Folder 203
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Test Stations, General, 1961-1962
  • Box 7 Folder 204
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Test Stations, Regions 1-5, 1961
  • Box 7 Folder 205
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Test Stations, Regions 6 and 7, 1963-1971
  • Box 7 Folder 206
    Unified Fire Danger System Development, Test Stations, Regions 9 and 10, 1961-1962
  • Box 7 Folder 207
    Variables, 1934-1968 and undated

 

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The nature of the Forest History Society's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Forest History Society claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item],National Fire Danger Rating System Collection, Library and Archives, Forest History Society, Durham, NC, USA.

Processing Information

Processed by Jessie Henninger, November 2008

Encoded by Amanda Ross, November 2008

Funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission supported the encoding of this finding aid. Support for digitization and outreach provided by the Alvin J. Huss Endowment.