Quebec Forest Fire Intensity and Spread Potential Raster

A 25-meter resolution raster layer covering all of Quebec, classifying fire behavior potential into six categories: extreme, high, considerable, moderate, low, and lack of forest fuel. The dataset results from annual analysis integrating ecoforest maps and the Canadian Method for Predicting Forest Fire Behaviour (MCPCI), focusing on potential intensity and spread rather than ignition probability.

Use Cases

• Model wildfire spread scenarios using the six-class potential intensity and spread legend for southern Quebec.
• Integrate the 25-meter resolution raster with weather data to assess dynamic fire risk, complementing the static fuel potential.
• Analyze spatial patterns of extreme and high fire potential classes relative to ecoforest map data sources.
• Calibrate regional fire behavior models using the Canadian Method for Predicting Forest Fire Behaviour (MCPCI) framework embedded in the data.

Strengths

• High spatial resolution of 25 meters by 25 meters per raster cell.
• Covers the entire geographic area of Quebec.
• Legend provides six distinct classes for fire intensity and spread potential.
• Data is updated annually based on analysis of forest fuel distribution.

Limitations

• Does not include data on ignition probability, which depends on external factors like weather and fuel humidity.
• Southern portion (south of the 52nd parallel) is broadcast by fire regime, which may imply different processing or availability for northern areas.
• Original metadata was machine-translated, which may introduce ambiguities in technical descriptions.

Provenance

Source

Forest Protection Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests, Quebec.

Collection Method

Annual analysis integrating data from the ecoforest map and the Canadian Method for Predicting Forest Fire Behaviour (MCPCI).

Time Range

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Freshness

Updated annually.

Geography

Covers the whole of Quebec; southern portion (south of the 52nd parallel) broadcast by fire regime.