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FEMs rollout to add Power BI reports and daily-max outputs; station IDs restored in UI, downloads delayed
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Summary
Presenters previewed FEMs features (a new Power BI 'Reports' tab, station-health charts and NFDRS daily summaries), noted recent bug fixes, and said FEMs will output daily maximum (daily extreme) values by default while allowing units to continue legacy 1300-hour workflows; station IDs are back in the UI but will be returned to downloads in a later (November) release to avoid breaking spreadsheets.
Speaker 1 previewed new FEMs functionality and explained operational implications for users and existing tools.
The upcoming FEMs release will add a "Reports" tab (Power BI) that lets users create charts and aggregated NFDRS daily summaries by station or by state. "Reports can be charts and graphs... user sourced, or a crowd sourced information piece," Speaker 1 said, adding that selected users could be given editing or sharing permissions so centers can publish standard, reusable reports.
Speaker 1 described recent FEMs fixes: a June release caused a duplicate field-sample database that disrupted site saves and fuels data (that issue has been corrected), and a sign/latitude/longitude input error prevented site saves until fixed. The presenter also said questionable fire-danger symbols were removed for the transition and will be reconsidered later.
On station identifiers, Speaker 1 said station IDs were restored in the FEMs station metadata and UI, but not yet in the downloads because adding that column could break external spreadsheets and API queries. "If we put station ID back in there, it's gonna break your systems... so it's not in on this release in the downloads, but we will be having station ID brought back in on the downloads, in the November release," Speaker 1 said. The presenter committed to walkthroughs in Nov–Dec to help users update worksheets and queries.
Operationally, FEMs will produce daily maximum (daily extreme) values by default. Speaker 6 asked whether Fire Family Plus still uses the 1300 reading; Speaker 1 confirmed FireFam Plus remains on 1300 unless users select daily extremes, and noted teams are free to continue whatever hour (1300 or other) best fits their operations. "We are just going to be producing daily max values because it gives you a much more realistic picture of your worst case scenario," Speaker 1 said.
Speaker 1 also covered catalog-management timing: after the September release, FEMs admins will be able to manage catalogs; by mid-November admins should be able to update catalogs on demand without back-end assistance. The presenter encouraged units to plan GSI calibration submissions around that timeline.
What to expect next: training and walkthroughs on spreadsheets and APIs, updated downloads in November (with station IDs), and the ability for FEMs admins to manage catalogs by mid-November. Units are advised to test their FireFam and spreadsheet workflows against FEMs outputs and schedule time for required adjustments.
