The Fire Integrated Real-time Intelligence System (FIRIS) Pilot Program demonstrated enhanced wildfire situational awareness for first responders by combining intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities with accurate, real-time wildland fire spread modeling and an integrated common operational software platform for sharing and accessing information. During the 150-day pilot program, FIRIS had a significant impact on combating the effects of wildfire in Southern California.

FIRIS was successful because it was the first fully integrated approach to providing intelligence information for initial response.  In order to integrate a wide array of technologies providing real-time information, FIRIS defined and managed a Concept of Operations (CONOPS) that focused on the interactions of four specific components under a single, unified command.

• The Southern California Wildfire Fusion Center (‘Fusion Center’) – utilized the advanced computing environment of the University of California San Diego WIFIRE supercomputer-based fire modeling and prediction system to perform accurate fire prediction and assessment.
• Dedicated ISR Aircraft –provided updated information to support rapid collection and reporting of fire activity for incident operations and real-time fire modeling.
• External ISR Sensors and Operational Response Information – provided persistent, real-time data to augment and enhance situational awareness and fire modeling when the ISR aircraft was enroute or out of range.
• Common Operational Platform – aggregated sensor & operational data and distributed the fused intelligence results to decision makers and field personnel at the local, regional, and state level. Most important, it shared FIRIS data with state-wide programs and information systems.