Wildfire scenario · Educational tool

Wildfire Spread & Risk Simulator

Explore how fuel, weather, terrain, and time can shape an educational wildfire spread scenario.

Wildfire simulator

Explore potential wildfire spread

Contiguous U.S. coverage

Select an ignition point, set wind and fuel moisture, and calculate a terrain-aware scenario through one week. Independently released states add verified road and structure layers; contours that reach the calculation edge are marked as incomplete minimum extents. Other locations retain fuel and terrain only. Results use constant conditions and are educational estimates, not a live fire forecast or evacuation aid.

Scenario setup

Choose a wildfire location

Click the map or search for a point in the contiguous U.S., set the conditions, then simulate terrain-aware fire spread through one week.

Search location

Search a U.S. place or enter latitude, longitude. Coverage is checked before simulation.

48 states available · 0 processing

Available: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Base fuel and terrain simulation remains available across the contiguous United States. Enhanced states add verified road and structure layers.

Data, accuracy, and safety

The spread calculation uses LANDFIRE fuel and USGS 3DEP terrain. Released enhanced states add verified road effects and FEMA structure exposure. This is a constant-condition educational scenario, not an operational forecast. During an active fire, follow official alerts, evacuation orders, and local authorities.

Midflame wind speedm/s0–20 m/s at flame height · 7.2 km/h · 4.5 mphWind travels towarddegreeseast · 90° true. 0° and 360° indicate north. Enter where the wind travels toward; weather reports often describe where it comes from.Fuel moisturedead 1h/10h/100h 6%/7%/8% · dead herb 6% · live herb/woody 60%/90%

Choose a point on the map or search above to enable the simulation.

Map layers

Choose a data area, then turn scenario and reference layers on or off.

Data areaApplies to Fire History, Wildfire Risk, Active Fires, Current Air Quality, and AQI Monitors. All states remains available but may use display limits.

Simulated SmokeNear-term direction and uncertainty · not measured PM2.5 or AQI.ModelFire HistoryMTBS / USGSidleWildfire RiskUSFS Fireshed RegistryidleActive FiresNIFC WFIGS + optional NASA FIRMSidleCurrent Air QualityEPA AirNowidleAQI MonitorsEPA AirNowidle

Available · 48Processing · 0Unshaded states use base fuel and terrain coverage.

Preparing simulation map…Projecting terrain-aware wildfire geometry onto the map.