Fire Modeling Institute (FMI)

What is FMI?

The Fire Modeling Institute is a center of expertise that connects and supports scientists, land managers, wildfire practitioners, and the public in the use and application of wildfire science, data, and analysis. 

We are part of the Fire, Fuel, and Smoke Science Program (FFS) of the Rocky Mountain Research Station, and we also have close ties with Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) at the Forest Service.

Explore all FMI Projects

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What does FMI do?

Applied Science, Analysis, and Data Products

We help to transfer knowledge and analytical methods from research to the field through applied projects involving fire behavior analysis and modeling, fire effects modeling and spatial data analysis. This includes the development and maintenance of national-scale spatial and tabular datasets. Developing applications, products and methods that address the latest fire management issues FMI scientists maintain data in support of national-scale products supporting the fire community. Browse Projects

Software Development and Support

We are recognized subject matter experts for a range of wildland fire software systems and applications used by fire managers and practitioners nationally and internationally. FMI ensures that the applications we manage are regularly updated to contain the best available science. Browse Projects

Science Synthesis and Delivery

We provide synthesis and delivery of fire science information for field practitioners through the Fire Effects Information System (FEIS), which contains syntheses of fire effects on individual plant and animal species as well as fire regimes across broad ecosystems. Browse Projects

Training and Education

We provide a wide range of training and education opportunities to facilitate the understanding, adoption, and application of fire science research by field practitioners and the public. Browse Projects

What is our 'why'?

All of us in FMI believe deeply that finding solutions to many of the complicated questions surrounding wildfire management in the United States requires thoughtful application of the best available science and analytical methods. We strive to share fire science data and information in ways that are easy for land managers and the public to access and put to use.

Who We Are

FMI is a team of dedicated professionals with a mix of backgrounds including fire behavior analysis, fire ecology, geospatial analysis, vegetation and wildlife ecology, and wildfire incident management. We have skills in fire behavior modeling, fire weather analysis, mapping and characterization of fuels, geospatial data management and analysis, software application management and support, technical writing, training development and delivery, and more. Learn about individual team members below.

Ilana Abrahamson
Supervisory Ecologist

Greg Dillon
Fire Modeling Institute Director

Leila Duchac
Ecologist/Writer

Faith Ann Heinsch
Physical Scientist

LaWen Hollingsworth
Spatial Fire Analyst

Robin Innes
Technical Information Specialist

Courtney Johnson
Biological Science Tech

Matt Jolly
Ecologist

Eva Karau
Geospatial Analyst

Photo: Inga La Puma
LANDFIRE Program Lead

Mitch Lazarz
Spatial Analyst (ORISE Fellow)

Heather Leach
Web GIS Specialist (ORISE Fellow)

Duncan Lutes
Ecologist

Chuck McHugh
Fire Spatial Analyst

Shawn McKinney
Tech Info Specialist

Tobin Smail
Biological Scientist

Technical Writer

Rebecka Woodenknife
Program Support Specialist

Kris Zouhar
Technical Information Specialist