Home / Fire Weather / Interpreting the InformationThe moisture codes (FFMC, DMC and DC) indicate what fuels will be involved and their ease of ignition. This will vary during the season. Each code must be considered to assess potential burning characteristics.
Example: 1
FFMC = 86 DMC = 25 DC = 120
These ratings indicate:
fine fuels will ignite easily
fire will involve the light fuels and to a limited extent the medium and duff layer fuels
fire will not become deep seated
Example: 2
FFMC = 94 DMC = 45 DC = 320
These ratings indicate:
fine fuels will ignite extremely easily
fire will involve all fuel levels
extreme fire behaviour is likely
2. The fire behaviour indices (ISI, BUI, FWI) indicate the likely initial spread, total fuel availability, and potential intensity.
Example: 3
ISI = 5 BUI = 120 FWI = 21
These ratings indicate:
slow initial spread
high volume of fuel available for combutstion
potentially high level of fire intensity
In general terms, a hot, but slow moving fire. The type of fire likely to occur on a windless day in mid-summer after a long dry period.
Example: 4
ISI = 25 BUI = 10 FWI = 21
Note the same FWI as example 3.
These ratings indicate:
extremely fast initial spread
low volume of fuel available for combustion
potentially high level of intensity
In general, a fast moving fire involving fine fuels only.
Likely to be either:
a fire in early spring of late autumn when medium and heavy fuels have a moisture content and winds are strong, or
a fire after rain on a day with strong winds.
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