About FTEM

Note: FTEM is intended to be used by federal land managers to monitor the fuel treatment effectiveness on federal lands.

Important! Treatments that are removed from the official system of record are still present in FTEM. The team is currently working to better synchronize this process.

We are working to update this help topic to include IFPRS information through Spring 2025.

The Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Monitoring (FTEM) application collects data that documents the effectiveness of fuel treatments on wildfire behavior when a wildfire intersects with a previously applied hazardous fuels reduction treatment. The effectiveness of fuel treatment activities directly measures success in protecting firefighters and the public from wildfire, reduces the loss of structures and investments, and documents the need to continue with the integrated vegetation management program.

FTEM is integrated into the Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support System (IFTDSS) application through a single sign on so fuels planners can model landscape fire behavior and record results to FTEM for further analysis and reporting. In addition, this functionality displays data in a tabular format combined with geospatial mapping capabilities for a broader understanding of the fuels landscape. Fuels planners can develop future and modify existing hazardous fuel treatment prescriptions in order to reduce the fire size, cost, smoke management, and ultimately allow the burned environment to more quickly return to a functioning ecosystem. This integration automates the wildfire and fuels data feed into one authoritative data source to help ensure data accuracy when reporting to the interagency wildland fire community, the Office of Management & Budget, the General Accounting Office, and other federal and public stakeholders.

USDA Forest Service Employees & Contractors: Follow these guidelines for submitting FTEM information per Interim Directive 5140-2012-1:

  • Complete a fuel treatment effectiveness assessment on all wildfires which start in or burn into a fuel treatment area that has been completed within the last 10 years (within last 3 years in the Southern Region and other areas designated by regional foresters.)
  • Submit all fuel treatment effectiveness assessment reports within 90 days of control of the fire.

DOI Employees & Contractors: Follow these guidelines for submitting FTEM information:

  • Complete a fuel treatment effectiveness assessment on all wildfires which start in or burn into a fuel treatment area that has been completed and reported accomplishment acres in NFPORS or IFPRS from fiscal year 2003 to present. It is important that, when filling out this form online, that all corresponding Project and Treatment data is consistent with the appropriate system of record (NFPORS or IFPRS).
  • Submit all fuel treatment effectiveness assessment reports within 90 days of the wildfire burning into the treatment area.

Here are some common help topics for FTEM tasks:

Tip: Are you an FTEM Administrator looking for Help? Visit Account Management for FTEM Administrators.