Human Caused Fire Density in the Western United States (1986 - 2001)

Human-induced fires have increased the frequency at which fires occur on the landscape. Fires increase the probability of invasion by exotic plant species as well as destroy existing habitats. This model was developed to depict the density of human caused fire ignition points throughout the western United States. Data from the National Fire Ignition Database from 1986 to 2001 was used to calculate the density of human-induced fire ignitions (ignitions / km).