Open data on forest fires
Forest fires cause significant damage, as seen in the recent fires
that occurred in various countries during July 2023
[https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-and-updates/wildfires-mediterranean-monitoring-impact-helping-response-2023-07-28_en].
Open data can play a crucial role in monitoring these fires, assessing
the extent of damage and supporting firefighting efforts. The European
Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS)
[https://effis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/] uses data for several specific
applications to support forest protection services in the EU and
neighbouring countries with their firefighting efforts.

EFFIS, set up by the Joint Research Centre
[https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/departments-and-executive-agencies/joint-research-centre_en]
(JRC) and the European Commission in 1998, focuses on the development
and implementation of advanced methods for the evaluation of forest
fire danger and mapping of burned areas at a European scale. Over the
years, various apps have been developed to contribute to these
efforts. For example, the Current Situation Viewer
[https://effis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/apps/effis_current_situation/index.html]
provides an overview of ongoing fires in the EU and neighbouring
countries. Filters enable users to specify their search based on
criteria like the utilized data. 

Another example is the Wildfire Risk Viewer
[https://effis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/apps/fire.risk.viewer/], a mapping
tool that provides an overview of the wildfire-risk levels ranging
from high to intermediate to low. Through a variety of filters such as
the vulnerability of the population, ecological or economic factors,
users can customise the results displayed on the map. This tool can
facilitate risk modelling, providing an integrated view on fire
likelihood and potential consequences. 

Do you want to know more about open data’s role in monitoring forest
fires and supporting firefighting efforts? Read our comprehensive data
story on High-value datasets on forest fires in the EU
[https://data.europa.eu/en/publications/datastories/high-value-datasets-forest-fires-eu].


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Publication Date/Time
2023-08-21T08:00:27+00:00
Explore how open data can support monitoring forest fires and
firefighting efforts