Metadata: Wildfires Tracked by Minnesota DNR

Wildfires Tracked by Minnesota DNR

This page last updated: 12/07/2017
Metadata created using Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines


Go to Section:
  1. Overview
  2. Data Quality
  3. Data Organization
  4. Coordinate System
  5. Attributes
  6. Distribution - Get Data
  7. Metadata Reference

Section 1: Overview

Originator:Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Title: Wildfires Tracked by Minnesota DNR

Abstract: This layer shows the locations of wildfires for which the DNR was the primary responding agency. These include fires not only on state lands, but also rural private lands for which there is not another agency with primary responsibility. Wildfires that are not included in this layer are those that occur on federal and native American lands (several hundred annually) and those that are responded to by local fire departments (several thousand annually). DNR wildfire suppression responsibility is heaviest in the forested part of the state.

The sup_cost data is most reliable for 2017 fires and after. Suppression costs for fires prior to 2017 should be considered an estimate and are not comparable with costs for more recent fires. Similarly, for fires not marked as status = Complete, information should be considered preliminary.

Purpose: Enables analysis of spatial and temporal patterns in wildfire starts.

Time Period of Content Date: 09/07/2023

Currentness Reference: Time Period of Content date indicates the date which the user can be confident of accuracy and completeness of the dataset.

Progress: In work

Maintenance and Update Frequency: Weekly

Spatial Extent of Data:

Bounding Coordinates: -96.773290
-89.809879
49.317173
43.439532

Place Keywords: Minnesota

Theme Keywords: fire, wildfire, forest fire, environment

Theme Keyword Thesaurus:

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: None

Contact Person Information: BJ Glesener, Predictive Services Coordinator
Minnesota DNR - Forestry
402 SE 11th Street
Grand Rapids, MN  55744
Phone: 218-322-2709
Email: bill.glesener@state.mn.us

Browse Graphic: Click to view a data sample.


Associated Data Sets:

Section 2: Data Quality

Attribute Accuracy: Good - all data subjected to extensive validation checks at the time of data entry.

The sup_cost data is most reliable for 2017 fires and after. Suppression costs for fires prior to 2017 should be considered an estimate and are not comparable with costs for more recent fires. Similarly, for fires not marked as status = Complete in the database, information should be considered preliminary.

Logical Consistency: Not applicable

Completeness: Includes all fires reported by DNR field forestry offices.

Horizontal Positional Accuracy: DNR field personnel report fire locations using PLS descriptors. The vast majority of fires are reported using a PLS forty descriptor, though occasionally a less precise PLS section descriptor may be used. Fire location points are assigned by taking the nominal center of the indicated PLS forty (section). Accordingly, fire locations can generally be considered to be accurate to within +-200 meters (1/8 mile), or +-800 meters (1/2 mile) in the rare instances where the fire location is reported using a PLS section descriptor.

Vertical Positional Accuracy: Not Applicable

Lineage: All attributes field-collected.

Section 3: Spatial Data Organization (not used in this metadata)


Section 4: Coordinate System

Horizontal Coordinate Scheme: Universal Transverse Mercator

UTM Zone Number: 15

Horizontal Datum: NAD83

Horizontal Units: meters

Vertical Datum: not applicable

Vertical Units: Not Applicable

Depth Datum: not applicable

Depth Units: Not Applicable

Section 5: Attributes

Overview:

Detailed Citation:

Table Detail:
wildfires_tracked_by_mndnr - Feature Class Attribute Table
Field NameValid ValuesDefinitionDefinition Source
ID
-
Unique ID, comprised of Year, Forestry RAN (a 3-digit administrative area identifier), and sequence number. Eg.: 20032410056
KEY_YEAR
-
Year of the fire (sup_cost is less reliable prior to 2017).
START_DATE
-
(Estimated) start date for this fire.
START_TIME
-
(Estimated) start time for this fire.
ACRES_F
-
Number of forested acres burned.
ACRES_NF
-
Number of non-forested acres burned.
ACRES_TOT
-
Total number of acres burned.
COUNTY
-
The name of the Minnesota county in which this fire occurred.
SECTION
-
PLS section number. Valid values are 1-36.
TOWNSHIP
-
Three-digit township (tier) number. 26 through 71, 101 through 168
RANGE
-
Two-digit range number. 1 through 51
RANGE_DIR
-
Range direction. "E" or "W"
FORTYenumeratedTextual PLS forty identifier
NENENortheast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of the PLS Section
NENWNortheast Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of the PLS Section
NESENortheast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter of the PLS Section
NESWNortheast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter of the PLS Section
NWNENorthwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of the PLS Section
NWNWNorthwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of the PLS Section
NWSENorthwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of the PLS Section
NWSWNorthwest Quarter of the Southwest Quarter of the PLS Section
SENESoutheast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of the PLS Section
SENWSoutheast Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of the PLS Section
SESESoutheast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of the PLS Section
SESWSoutheast Quarter of the Soutwest Quarter of the PLS Section
SWNESouthwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of the PLS Section
SWNWSouthwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of the PLS Section
SWSESoutheast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of the PLS Section
SWSWSouthwest Quarter of the Southwest Quarter of the PLS Section
CAUSEenumeratedCause of this fire.
CampfireFire caused by campfire
Debris - Ag.Fire caused by debris from agricultural operations
Debris - BurnerFire caused by debris from burner
Debris - PiledFire caused by piled debris
Debris - RunningFire caused by running debris
Equipment - ATVFire caused by all terrain vehicle equipment
Equipment - FarmFire caused by farm equipement
Equipment - Misc. ToolsFire caused by miscellaneous equipment and tools
Equipment - RoadFire caused by road maintenance equipement
Equipment - VehicleFire caused by vehicle equipment
Equipment - Welding/CuttingFire caused by welding/cutting equipment
Incendiary/ArsonFire caused by incendiary/arson
LightningFire caused by lightning
Misc. - Electric FenceFire caused by electric fence
Misc. - FireworksFire caused by fireworks
Misc. - OtherFire caused by miscellaneous (other) reasons
Misc. - Power LineFire caused by power line
Misc. - Prescribed FireFire caused by prescribed fire
Misc. - StructureFire caused by structure
Railroad - BrakesFire caused by railroad brakes
Railroad - ExhaustFire caused by railroad exhaust
Railroad - MaintenanceFire caused by railroad maintenance
Railroad - OtherFire caused by railroad (other)
Railroad - Wheel BearingsFire caused by railroad wheel bearings
SmokingFire caused by smoking
VehicleFire caused by vehicle
PERMITenumeratedFire Permit Status
0No permit was issued, or permit not applicable
1A permit was issued for this fire.
INJURIES
-
Number of injuries resulting from this fire.
FATALITIES
-
Number of fatalities resulting from this fire.
SUP_COST
-
Suppression costs associated with this fire (less reliable for key_year < 2017).
L_TIMBER
-
Dollar losses of timber value as a result of this fire.
L_AGRI
-
Dollar losses of agricultural value as a result of this fire.
L_PERSONAL
-
Dollar losses of personal property as a result of this fire.
L_OTHER
-
Dollar losses of other property as a result of this fire.
L_RES_DAM
-
Number of residential structures damaged as a result of this fire.
L_RES_DES
-
Number of residential structures destroyed as a result of this fire.
L_OUT_DAM
-
Number of outbuildings damaged as a result of this fire.
L_OUT_DES
-
Number of outbuildings destroyed as a result of this fire.
I_RPT_BYenumeratedOrigin of initial report of fire to DNR.
9-1-1 Dispatcher9-1-1 Dispatcher
Aerial DetectionAerial Detection
DNR EmployeeDNR Employee
Fire Dept. ReportFire Dept. Report
Fire WardenFire Warden
Local ResidentLocal Resident
OtherOther
PasserbyPasserby
Responsible PartyResponsible Party
towerTower
MAPPED_TOenumeratedThe type of PLS entity whose center point was taken as the location of this fire.
PLS FortyPLS Forty
PLS SectionPLS Section
PLS TownshipPLS Township
SIZE_CLASSenumeratedSize class for this fire.
A0 - 0.25 acres
B0.26 - 9.9 acres
C10 - 99 acres
D100 - 299 acres
E300 - 999 acres
F1000 - 2999 acres
G3000+ acres

Section 6: Distribution

Publisher: Minnesota DNR - Division of Forestry

Publication Date: 2003-06-18 00:00:00.0

Contact Person Information: Zeb Thomas, GIS Data Systems Coordinator
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
500 Lafayette Rd
Saint Paul, MN  55155
Phone: 651-259-5637
Email: zeb.thomas@state.mn.us

Distributor's Data Set Identifier: env_wildfires_tracked_by_mndnr

Distribution Liability: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources General Geographic Data License Agreement is online: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/sitetools/data_software_license.html

Ordering Instructions: Please visit the download page for this dataset on the Minnesota Geospatial Commons website using the web link below (Online Linkage).

Online Linkage: I AGREE to the notice in "Distribution Liability" above. Clicking to agree will either begin the download process, link to a service, or provide more instructions. See "Ordering Instructions" above for details.

Section 7: Metadata Reference

Metadata Date: 12/07/2017

Contact Person Information: Ken Boss, Systems Analyst
DNR - MIS
1201 E Hwy 2
Grand Rapids, MN  55744
Phone: 218-999-7860
Fax: 218-327-4517
Email: ken.boss@state.mn.us

Metadata Standard Name: Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines

Metadata Standard Version: 1.2



This page last updated: 12/07/2017
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