Integrating FIRMS (Fire Information for Resource Management System) in EarthRanger 

The Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) is a satellite-based fire detection service that provides near real-time fire alerts, reporting active fires within three hours of satellite detection. By configuring FIRMS within EarthRanger, you can display fire locations on the EarthRanger map interface.

Before You Begin

Before configuring the FIRMS plugin, ensure the following:

• You have Admin access to EarthRanger.
• You have obtained the standard EarthRanger FIRMS App Key.
• The Spatial Feature representing the area to be monitored has been added to the platform.
   

If needed, refer to:

• Draw and Add Map Features in EarthRanger Admin (for manually creating spatial features)
• Configure Feature Groups for Analyzer Logic in EarthRanger Admin (for grouping features)

Note: FIRMS fire detections are automatically created as Events by the plugin.

Step 1: Create the FIRMS Feature Group

The FIRMS plugin requires a Feature Group.
The Feature Group must contain the Feature that defines the area to be monitored.

1. Navigate to:
   Home > Map Layers > Feature Groups
2. Click Add Feature Group.
3. Assign a name (for example, FIRMS Group).
4. In the Features section, add the Feature corresponding to the monitoring area.
5. Click Save. 

Note: The Feature may belong to any existing Feature Type. Creating a new Feature Type (e.g., “FIRMS”) is optional and not required for the plugin to function.

Step 2: Create FIRMS Event Type (If Not Already Configured)

FIRMS fire detections are stored in EarthRanger as Events.
Navigate to:
Home > Events > Event Types
If an Event Type named FIRMS Report already exists, proceed to the next step.
If it does not exist:

1. Click Add Event Type.
2. Configure:
   1. Display: FIRMS Report
   2. Value: firms_rep
   3. Category: Analyzer Event

Event Schema

Under the Schema section, paste the following:
 

{
    "schema": 
    {
        "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema#",
        "title": "FIRMS Fire Report Schema",
      
        "type": "object",

        "properties": 
        {
        "bright_ti4": {
            "type": "number",
            "title": "VIIRS I-4 channel brightness (Kelvin)"
        },
        "bright_ti5": {
            "type": "number",
            "title": "VIIRS I-5 channel brightness (Kelvin)"
        },
        "scan": {
            "type": "number",
            "title": "VIIRS Scan"
        },
        "track": {
            "type": "number",
            "title": "Satellite Track"
        },
        "confidence": {
            "type": "string",
            "title": "FIRMS Confidence"
        },
        "frp": {
            "type": "number",
            "title": "Fire Radiative Power (MW)"
        }
    }
  },
  "definition": [
    "confidence",
    "frp",
    "bright_ti4",
    "bright_ti5",
    "scan",
    "track"
  ]
}

       3. Click Save.

Once created, the FIRMS plugin will automatically generate fire detection events using this Event Type.

Step 3: Obtain a NASA FIRMS App Key

• EarthRanger uses a standard App Key for all FIRMS configurations across all sites. This App Key has already been generated and should not be replaced by individual site-generated keys.
• The standard EarthRanger FIRMS App Key can be requested to the support team at support@earthranger.com
   

For EarthRanger FIRMS integrations, always use the standard key provided above.
 

Step 4: Configure FIRMS plugin in EarthRanger Admin

1. Navigate to:
   Tracking > FIRMS Plugins
2. Click Add FIRMS Plugin.
3. Configure the following:
4. Unique Name: e.g., YourSiteName-FIRMS
5. Status: Enabled
6. Provider: Click the green plus icon and create:
7. Natural Key: sitename-firms
8. Display Name: Sitename FIRMS
9. App Key: Enter the standard EarthRanger FIRMS App Key
10. FIRMS Region Name: Select the appropriate region (e.g., USA_contiguous_and_Hawaii)
11. Spatial Feature Group: Select the FIRMS Feature Group created in Step 1
12. Click Save.
     

Step 5: Verify the Integration

After saving the plugin:

1. Confirm the plugin Status is set to Enabled.
2. Wait for the plugin to run (check the Additional field for last run time).
3. Navigate to the Map interface.
4. Open Map Layers > FIRMS Report.
5. Confirm fire detections appear on the map.

If detections do not appear:

• Confirm the App Key is correct.
• Confirm the correct FIRMS Region is selected.
• Confirm the Feature Class schema matches the required structure.
• Confirm the Feature Group includes the FIRMS Feature Class.
   

Your FIRMS plugin is now configured. Once active, the Additional field/box on the FIRMS Plugin configuration page will display the last run and update times. If you encounter issues, ensure the standard App Key is correctly applied, and the Spatial Feature group is appropriately assigned.

Continue with: Building a WMS Service URL for Use in EarthRanger