One of the tools utilized by the Kansas Forest Service is the Grassland Fire Danger Index (GFDI). The Grassland Fire Danger Index was originally used in Australia and then adapted for the United States. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Wichita began utilizing the GFDI in their county warning area in 2010 and Kansas Forest has adapted it statewide. This index utilizes curing (fuel condition) and NWS forecasted temperature, wind speed and humidity to calculate estimated fire danger. The Kansas Forest Service generates a map with the forecasted GFDI out three days. You can access this forecast from kansasforests.org under fire management/grassland fire danger index. This tool provides general guidelines for fire danger. Check with your local National Weather Service office for specific fire weather forecasts.
Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu