Land managers and fire-preparedness teams
Wildfire Pre-Planning Maps: A Field Reference, Not an Incident System
Pre-planning walks can surface information that is difficult to understand from a desk: access constraints, road condition changes, water sources, gates, hazards, and communication gaps. A mobile map can keep those observations tied to a location, but it is not an incident-management system.
Prepare a limited, approved field reference
Carry only the layers and details your team is authorized to use: approved access routes, non-sensitive infrastructure references, management boundaries, and pre-planning points. Download the needed map area before the field visit.
Version control matters. Label the source and date of reference data so a crew does not treat an old access route or gate condition as current operational information.
Record observations for the planning process
Use waypoints for observations that need review: a washed-out road, a narrow turnaround, a dry water source, a hazardous crossing, or a change in access condition. Include a concise note and a photo where policy permits.
Do not assume a single field visit is a complete assessment. Conditions, fuels, access, and weather can change quickly. The map should feed a disciplined pre-planning process rather than become an unofficial source of truth.
Keep operational details controlled
Wildfire-related access and infrastructure information can be sensitive. Follow agency and landowner policies for storage, sharing, and retention. Do not publish public links that reveal information meant for operational planning.
During an incident, use the authorized incident systems, maps, communications, and command structure. A personal phone map is not a substitute for those tools.
Common questions
Questions from the field
Can mapper.one be used as an incident map?
No. It is a field reference tool for prepared data and observations. Incident operations should use authorized systems and procedures.
What wildfire information should not be shared publicly?
Follow agency and landowner policies. Access, infrastructure, and operational planning details often require controlled sharing.