FEMA / ICS Wildfire GIS Track
This exercise introduces how GIS supports real incident operations. You will create a workspace representing an active wildfire incident and update it across an operational period using concepts from NIMS (National Incident Management System) and ICS (Incident Command System).
Your role is GIS support to Planning and Operations. Your job is to maintain a clear Common Operating Picture that helps decision makers understand fire spread, resource movement, evacuation areas, and operational structure.
Scenario overview
A fast-moving wildfire has been reported in mixed forest terrain. Multiple agencies are responding.
Initial information is incomplete. Conditions are evolving. The Incident Commander requires a workspace that can be updated throughout the operational period.
- Incident Name: Cedar Ridge Fire
- Incident Number: CRF-WA-047
- Operational Period: 0600 – 1800
- Terrain: forest, light residential interface
- Weather: dry fuel conditions, moderate wind
Step 1 — Create the incident workspace
Step 2 — Add incident facilities
Incident facilities help structure coordination.
- Incident Command Post (ICP)
- Staging Area
- Helispot (optional)
- Division boundaries
Step 3 — Add current fire perimeter
Add the current fire perimeter as a polygon.
Include timestamp metadata if available.
Step 4 — Add projected spread
Create an additional polygon representing estimated spread direction.
This layer may change frequently.
Step 5 — Add evacuation areas
Add polygons representing evacuation zones.
- Evacuation Order
- Evacuation Warning
Step 6 — Add routes and strike team movement
Create LineString features representing routes used by strike teams.
- Access route to Division A
- Contingency route
- Dozer line approach
Step 7 — Update the incident
Conditions change during the operational period.
- Fire perimeter expands east
- Evacuation zone extended
- Division boundary adjusted
- Route becomes unavailable
Update the workspace layers accordingly.
Step 8 — Prepare for briefing
The workspace now supports:
- Incident Command briefing
- Planning Section updates
- Operational awareness
- Resource coordination
Connection to Atlasemoji concepts
- Workspace organizes incident data
- Layers separate operational meaning
- GeoJSON structures support reuse
- Manifests allow publishing and sharing