LANDFIRE (LF) 2023 Fuel Characteristic Classification System (FCCS) provides a fuelbed classification ID (FCCSID) which when cross walked with tables containing more extensive fuelbed data can be used for predicting surface fire behavior, crown fire potential, and fuel availability. LF defines fuelbed as: the inherent physical characteristics of fuel that contribute to fire behavior and effects (Riccardi et al. 2007). FCCS represents the composition of fuels, and features six horizontal fuel layers called stratums (canopy, shrubs, herbs, downed wood, litter and duff).
LF collaborated with the Fire and Environmental Research Applications (FERA) team of the USFS Pacific Northwest Research Station for creation of the FCCS product. Rule-based methods for crosswalks and mapping FCCS fuelbeds are constructed from the LF 2023 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) product. The EVT-to-fuelbed crosswalk rules often allow for several possibilities for fuelbeds; expert opinion is used to assign the most representative fuelbed and to determine where additional fuelbed development is necessary. FCCS fuelbeds are included preloaded in the US Forest Service (USFS) Fuel and Fire Tools (FFT) application. FCCS fuelbed mapping should be considered a starting point and customized to represent sampled fuels within a project area.