The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) initiated the Fire and Smoke Model Experiment (FASMEE) (https://fasmee.net) by funding JFSP Project 15-S-01-01. This nationwide, multiagency effort identifies and collects critical measurements that will be used to advance fire and smoke science and modeling capabilities, allowing managers to 1) increase the use of managed fire, 2) improve firefighting strategies, 3) enhance smoke forecasts, 4) better assess carbon stores and fire-climate interactions and improve our understanding of other fire effects such as vegetation response. FASMEE also provides unparalleled opportunities to introduce new technology and the next generation of fire researchers in the largest coordinated fire project to date. The core leadership portioned FASMEE into three phases including analysis and planning (Phase 1), data collection (Phase 2), and future improvements (Phase 3). Phase 1 is complete, with the study plan as the main deliverable and a final report submitted and accepted by the JFSP in 2020. The plan includes science questions, data measurements and specifications, and burn recommendations that serve to guide planning. The plan has been published in the scientific literature.

FASMEE embarked on Phase 2 with the initial and continued support of the JFSP and additional funding from the US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station and the Washington Office Fire and Aviation Management. These funds were leveraged with several other agency resources including National Science Foundation (NFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to successfully embark on the western wildfire campaign and southwest campaign, two of three data collection campaigns identified in the FASMEE study plan, Phase 2.

The western wildfire, southwest and southeast campaigns were initiated in 2018 to commence the data collection of Phase 2. For the western wildfire campaign, fuel maps were developed based on airborne LiDAR, initial field data collection, and modeled source characterization for wildfires flown by the National Science Foundation supported WE-CAN and BB-FLUX projects in 2018 and NOAA and NASA FIREX-AQ project in 2019 were completed. Data collection for 3 large stand replacement fires on the Fishlake National Forest including Manning Creek, Langdon Mountain, and Annabella were completed for the southwestern campaign. Initial planning for the southeast campaign at Fort Stewart Georgia has also begun. Specific deliverables for this JFSP project include:

1) Provided overall leadership of FASMEE during the planning and data collection Phase 1 and 2.

2) In conjunction with JFSP, leveraged FASMEE with other partners including SERDP, US Forest Service, NSF, NOAA, NASA, and EPA;

3) Completed, submitted, and distributed a FASMEE study plan that was published in the peer reviewed literature followed by a Phase 1 final report that was approved by the JFSP;

4) Developed a LiDAR fuels map and modeled the source characterization of wildfires flown for smoke measurements by the WE-CAN, BB-FLUX, and FIREX-AQ projects in 2018 and 2019 as part of Phase 2 Western Wildfire Campaign data collection campaign;

5) Completed data collection and preliminary data reduction for 6 research discipline area on the Manning Creek, Langdon Mountain, and Annabella stand replacements fires for the Phase 2 southwest data collection campaign.

6) Initiated planning for data collection during the southeast campaign at Fort Stewart.