Historic Fires Map of Idaho for 1970-2003

Frequently-asked questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. Where did the data come from?
  2. What changes have been made?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
  6. Is there some other way to get the data?
  7. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
• Who wrote the metadata?

This static map image portrays fire perimeters 1970-2003 on or adjacent to Bureau of Land Management administered lands in Southern Idaho.  Does not include prescribed fire.  Dataset represented as an ArcInfo coverage in 5 ArcInfo Regions.  Four Regions  by decade as indicated in the name of the region (eg. d1970), and one Region, fireyear, with all years 1970-2003

Perimeter data is collected by the BLM on lands administered by the BLM and where the BLM has fire suppression responsibilities.  The historic fire perimeter data is incomplete for some areas and years.  At this time, perimeter data  has not been collected by the BLM for the Cottonwood and Coeur d'Alene Field Offices, and is limited for the Challis and Salmon Field Offices.  Fire perimeter data may be available for those areas from the U.S. Forest Service.  Fire occurrence point data is also available from Federal Agencies.  Additional fire perimeter data  for BLM administered lands not contained in this data set includes historic perimeters 1950-1970 on the Boise District, and 1937-1970 for the Pocatello and Idaho Falls Field Offices.

Data source, collection methods, accuracy, and resolution is variable.  In 1998 the Bureau of Land Management was directed to collect all fire perimeters >10 acres, preferably using GPS when available.   GPS collection methods include driving, helicopter, and walking.  GPS Units include Trimble GEO Explorer I, II, III;  data may or may not be differentially corrected.  Prior to the use of GPS or where GPS was not available, perimeter data was collected from existing records.  It was either digitized through heads-up digitizing using 1:24000 reference data or transferred to a 1:24000 stable base, and then digitized.

1. How should this data set be cited?
   
   
   Bureau of Land Management, 2004, Historic Fires Map of Idaho for 1970-2003: U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Boise, Idaho USA.
   
   
   Online links:

   • http://data.insideidaho.org/data/BLM/staticmap/histfire_id_blm.pdf

   
   
   Other citation details:

   Compiled from data collected by BLM District Offices: Boise District (SW Idaho) (208) 384-3300 Twin Falls District (South Central Idaho) (208) 735-2060 Idaho Falls District (South East Idaho) (208) 524-7500

   
   
2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
   
   
   Bounding coordinates:

   West: -117.242477

   East: -110.721077

   North: 44.789412

   South: 41.504822
   
   
3. What does it look like?
   
   
   Thumbnail image:
   
   
   
4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
   
   
   Beginning date: 1970

   Ending date: 2003
   Currentness reference:

   publication date

   
   
5. What is the general form of this data set?
   
   
   Geospatial data presentation form: map
   
   
6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   
   
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      
      
   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      
      
7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
   
   

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   
   
   • Bureau of Land Management
   
   
2. Who also contributed to the data set?
   
   

   BLM, Boise District  208.384.3300; BLM Twin Falls District 208.735.2076;  BLM, daho State Office 208. 373-4000

   
   
3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   
   
   Cindy Lou McDonald

   Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State Office

   Supervisory Geographic Sciences Specialist

   1387 South Vinnell Way

   Boise, ID 83709

   
   

   (208) 373-3998 (voice)

   Hours of Service: 8-4;30, M-F MST

Land Managers use fire history information in effects analysis, assessing trends, and budget planning.  Historic perimeters are used in assessing the effects of wildfire on vegetation and in the assessment of risk to communities.

1. Where did the data come from?
   
   
   Source scale denominator: 1:24000 or higher (GPS)

   Source contribution:

   Boise District (previously called Lower Snake River District)
   Twin Falls District (previously called Upper Snake River District)
   Idaho Falls District ( previously part of Upper Snake River District)
   

   
   
2. What changes have been made?
   
   
   Date: 2004 (change 1 of 2)

   1) Source data copied  - dmcconna 3/2004
   2) Region Features renamed so that they were consistent between data sets - dmcconna  8/2004
   3) Attributes for region, poly, and arc features modified so that they were consistent between data sets.  8/2004
   4) Created empty data set, BLMFIRES - dmcconna 8/2004
   5)  Region features  in source data Selected in ArcEdit, and PUT in BLM FIRES - dmcconna8/2004
   6) Clean BLMFIRES # 10 10 poly   dmcconna 8/2004
   7) Region fireyear created through series of regionquery commands for each region decade  - dmcconna 9/2004
   regionquery blmfires # fireyear # # d1970s.year d1970s.fire_name d1970s.fire_number - dmcconna 9/2004
   resel $d1970s
   regionquery blmfires # fireyear # # d1980s.year d1980s.fire_name d1980s.fire_number
   resel $d1980s
   regionquery blmfires # fireyear # # d1990s.year d1990s.fire_name d1990s.fire_number
   resel $d1990s
   regionquery blmfires # fireyear # # d2000s.year d2000s.fire_name d2000s.fire_number
   resel $d2000s
   

   
   

   Data sources used in this process:

   • c:\tmp\datadistrib\blmfires

   
   
   Date: Unknown (change 2 of 2)

   Metadata imported.

   
   

   Data sources used in this process:

   • U:\iso_data\projects\Fire_Draft\Firehistory\blmfires\metadata.xml

   
   

1. How well have the observations been checked?
   
   

   No formal test perfomed.  Source data identifying year, fire-number, mapping-size, assumed accurate.  Attributes describing latitude/longitude of fire origin not assumed to be accurate.

   
   
2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
   
   

   Perimeters assumed accurate within national mapping standards for 1:24000 data.  No test have been completed. Original District feature source information (GPS, Digitized, Unknown, etc.)  was not carried over into the Statewide combined data due to differences in feature level tracking and attributing.

   
   
3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
   
   

   N/A

   
   
4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
   
   

   SW Idaho, estimated by contributor
   1970-1979, >40 acres, 84%
   1980-1989, >40 acres, 88%
   1990-1997, > 40 acres; 1998-1999 >10 acres  99%
   2000-present, >10 acres, 100%
   

   
   
5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
   
   

   No formal test performed

   
   

No warranty is made by the Bureau of Land Management for use of the data for purposes not intended by BLM. No warranty is made by the Bureau of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data for individual use or aggregate use with other data.

Who distributes the data set?


Bruce Godfrey
Idaho Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
GIS Specialist
Box 442350
Moscow, ID 83844-2350
USA


208.885.6463 (voice)
bgodfrey@uidaho.edu


What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?


What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?


Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the Idaho Geospatial Data Clearinghouse, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.


How can I download or order the data?


• Availability in digital form:




Data format:	in format PDF (Portable Document Format) Size: 11.584
Network links:	http://data.insideidaho.org/data/BLM/staticmap/histfire_id_blm.pdf



• Cost to order the data: None



Is there some other way to get the data?


What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

1387 South Vinnell Way