Missoula Fire Lab partners with Google Research to help advance new fire spread model

We know that extreme weather and heavy fuels can lead to extreme fire behavior. Researchers at the USDA Forest Service Missoula Fire Sciences Lab are developing a new fire spread model to more accurately predict how far and fast fires can move – even under extreme conditions. The new model will provide better information to help fire managers make decisions when responding to fires. It will also provide more insight to researchers and others who are working to understand the potential impacts of future fire. The Fire Lab partnered with Google Research to bring AI and machine learning expertise into the project, along with substantial computing power. These resources are vital to moving the fire spread model forward. Learn more about the project and partnership in two recent videos produced by Google, featuring Research Forester Mark Finney and Research Mechanical Engineer Jason Forthofer.

The Forest Service is the world’s leading wildland fire research organization, providing applications and tools to help prevent catastrophic wildfires that threaten lives and communities, damage homes, and adversely affect rural economies.