Wildfire Editor

The Wildfire Editor is a comprehensive emergency response mapping system designed for wildfire incident management and operational support. This specialized tool integrates ArcGIS drawing tools with professional wildfire response workflows, providing advanced mapping capabilities with industry-standard emergency symbols, real-time incident documentation, and intelligent layer management optimized for emergency response operations, incident command support, and wildfire management activities.

Quick Start Guide

Opening the Wildfire Editor:

1. Click the Unified Map Editors icon (pencil) in the right toolbar
2. Select Wildfire Editor from the editor dropdown at the top
3. Enter or select a wildfire name to begin mapping

Essential Actions:

• Name Selection: Choose from existing wildfire names or create new ones
• Feature Drawing: Create points, lines, and polygons with specialized wildfire symbols
• Multiple Mode: Enable continuous drawing for rapid feature creation
• Advanced Operations: Access geometric operations through the integrated advanced editor

Key Features

Wildfire Name Selection

The Wildfire Name Selection accordion at the top contains all name and filter controls:

1. Use Dropdown: Select an existing wildfire name from the Wildfire Names dropdown — type in it to filter a long list; it refreshes each time you open it
2. Type New Name: Enter a new wildfire name directly in the text field below the dropdown
3. Wait for Activation: Drawing tools and style icons become enabled once a name is set

Filter by Name

The Filter by Name toggle restricts the map display to features belonging to the selected wildfire name:

1. Select an existing name from the Wildfire Names dropdown
2. Toggle Filter by Name on
3. All wildfire layers (points, lines, polygons) filter to show only features with that name
4. Toggle off to show all wildfire features

WARNING

The filter only responds to names selected from the dropdown. Typing a name in the text field activates the editor for drawing, but does not apply the filter.

TIP

While the filter is on, changing the dropdown selection automatically re-applies the filter to the new name.

Zoom to Wildfire

Click Zoom to Wildfire, below the name field, to zoom the map to every feature of the name chosen in Wildfire Names — its points, lines and polygons together.

• It works even when the layers are not on the map or are filtered to another name. Turn on Filter by Name to show only that name's features.
• It is disabled until a name is chosen in the dropdown. A name without features says so, and the map stays where it is.

Specialized Wildfire Symbology

The editor uses industry-standard symbols for wildfire mapping, organized by feature type:

Point Features:

• Assembly Area
• Refuge Area
• Helipad
• Water Point
• Dangerous Tree
• Road Closure
• Escape Route Point
• Fire Origin
• Hot Spot
• Spot Fire
• Sector Boundary
• Threatened Asset
• Indigenous Site
• Historic Site
• Not Coded

Line Features:

• Active Fire Edge
• Predicted Fire Edge
• Fire Boundary (not active)
• Control Line - Proposed
• Control Line - Complete
• Back Burn - Proposed
• Back Burn - Complete
• Machine Cut Track
• Escape Route Line
• Text Line (font size fixed at 10pt; display label required — saving fails without one)
• Not Coded

Polygon Features:

• Burnt Area (Current incident)
• Burnt Area (Previously)
• Not Coded

Geometry Type Selection

Switch between different feature types based on mapping needs:

• Points: For specific locations and infrastructure
• Lines: For boundaries, routes, and linear features
• Polygons: For areas and zones

Changing Geometry Types clears any shapes you have not saved yet and selects the first style of the new type.

Multiple Mode Drawing

The Multi toggle (tooltip: Multiple Mode) controls whether the drawing tool stays active after each feature is placed.

Multiple OFF (Default):

• The drawing tool stays armed, but only your latest unsaved shape is kept — drawing another one replaces it
• Click the draw button again to stop

Multiple ON:

• The drawing tool stays active after each feature is completed
• Keep clicking on the map to rapidly create many features
• Click the draw button again to stop

INFO

Regardless of Multiple mode, every drawn shape is always saved as a separate feature in the layer.

INFO

Switching to a different draw button (e.g., from Polygon Draw to Point Draw) resets the Multiple toggle to off.

Point Angle Control

For point features that require directional orientation, enter an angle from 0–359 in Point Angle (degrees), below the point styles. This is essential for:

• Directional symbols
• Equipment orientation
• Access route indicators

INFO

The angle resets to 0 when you switch to the Point geometry type.

Layer Management

Automatic Layer Creation

Wildfire layers are created automatically when you:

• Select a wildfire name from the dropdown
• Type a new wildfire name
• Begin drawing features

The system creates three data layers:

• Wildfire Point Layer
• Wildfire Line Layer
• Wildfire Polygon Layer

Graphics Layer Organization

Temporary graphics appear on top of data layers during editing, organized into:

• Target graphics (current drawing/editing)
• Reference graphics (for spatial operations)
• Advanced editor graphics (for geometric operations)

Drawing and Editing Features

Toolbar Toggles

Three toggles are available before drawing, followed by the Line style picker:

Toggle	Description
Multi	Keep the drawing tool active so you can draw the next feature immediately
Meas	Show real-time length (metres) and area (hectares) while drawing
Label	Toggle labels on/off for all Wildfire data layers on the map

The switch labels are abbreviated so they fit on one line beside the Line style picker; hover any switch to see its full description.

TIP

The Label toggle starts on by default.

Line Style — Straight or Arc

The Line style picker at the end of the toggle row (shown while Geometry Types is Line) has two icon buttons that control how the line tool reads your clicks:

• Straight (default) — every click is a vertex, joined by straight segments.
• Arc — the first click starts the line, then each pair of clicks is a point to curve through followed by the curve's end point. Repeat for each further curve; a reminder line appears under the row while Arc is selected.

The curve appears live as you click, and a finished arc is stored as closely-followed vertices, so measurement, saving and everything downstream behaves exactly as it does for a straight line. Points and polygons are unaffected. See Line Style for the full explanation, including when a curve deliberately stays straight.

Before You Start

1. Enter or select a wildfire name
2. Choose a geometry type (Point, Line, or Polygon)
3. Select a style from the symbol palette

Style Selection

Choose appropriate symbols before drawing by clicking style buttons. Each geometry type has its own style palette with visual icons representing different wildfire features.

Drawing Process

1. Select Style: Click the appropriate style button for your feature type
2. Start Drawing: Click the draw button for your geometry type
3. Create Feature: Click on the map to place a point; for lines and polygons, click once for each vertex
4. Complete Feature: Double-click to finish lines and polygons (or press ESC to cancel)

Multiple Feature Creation

With Multiple Mode enabled:

• Draw multiple features without deactivating the drawing tool
• Maintain the same style across multiple features
• Quickly document extensive wildfire areas

Feature Selection and Editing

• Select: Use the select tool to choose existing features for modification — it selects from the layer of the current Geometry Types. The feature's name, style, Display Label and point angle load into the panel, and — while Filter by Name is off — the Wildfire Names dropdown moves to the feature's name as well (refreshing the list first if the name is new)
• Edit: Reshape feature geometry using the edit tool
• Delete: Remove selected features from the map and database

Saving several selected features

With Multi on, each selected feature keeps its own style, label and angle when you save — only a control you change after selecting is applied to all of them. All of them are saved under the name in the name field, though, which holds the name of the last feature you clicked. See Selecting and Saving Existing Features.

Advanced Geometric Operations

The integrated Advanced Editor provides sophisticated geometric tools. Its union button is Merge Shape and its difference button Cut Shape; the Advanced Editor guide describes the full set.

Its main use is to build a wildfire feature from shapes that are already on the map in other layers:

1. Click Advanced Editor (available once a wildfire name is set) to open its floating dialog.
2. In the Target (and, for two-input operations, Ref) dropdown, pick the map layer that holds the shape — a road, a creek, a reserve or plan polygon. The dropdowns list every visible queryable layer, the editor's own layers included.
3. Select the shape(s) on the map and run an operation — for example buffer a road, or cut a reserve out of a burnt area.
4. Click Save in the dialog. The Target shapes are merged into one feature and saved under the current wildfire name with the Unknown style and no label.
5. Select the new feature in the Wildfire Editor, choose its style (and Display Label), and save it again.

Buffer Operations

Create buffer zones around features for:

• Safety perimeters around dangerous areas
• Access restrictions zones
• Equipment placement areas

Union Operations

Combine multiple features into single entities:

• Merge overlapping burnt areas
• Consolidate control line segments
• Combine related infrastructure points

Intersection Analysis

Find overlapping areas between features:

• Identify areas where multiple hazards overlap
• Analyze control line effectiveness
• Assess resource accessibility

Difference Operations

Remove one area from another:

• Subtract protected areas from operational zones
• Create exclusion zones within larger areas
• Define specific access corridors

Data Management

Saving Features

All wildfire features include:

• Unique object identifiers
• Wildfire name associations
• Feature type classifications
• Optional display labels
• User attribution
• Timestamp information

Display Labels

Enter the label in the Display Label field before saving. It stays in the field after you save and goes onto every new feature you save until you clear or change it.

Add descriptive text to features for:

• Identification purposes
• Status updates
• Operational notes
• Resource specifications

WARNING

The Text Line style requires a display label. Saving will fail if no label is entered.

Layer Refresh

The system automatically refreshes data layers when:

• New features are saved
• Existing features are modified
• Features are deleted
• Advanced operations are completed

Integration with Other Tools

Layer Panel Coordination

Wildfire layers appear in the main layer panel with full functionality:

• Visibility control
• Transparency adjustment
• Legend display
• Layer information access

Print and Export Compatibility

Wildfire features are included in:

• Map printing operations
• Data export functions
• Report generation
• Analysis workflows

Performance Optimization

Efficient Drawing

• Use Multiple Mode for bulk feature creation
• Group related features by type
• Apply consistent styling within incidents

Layer Management Steps

• Remove unused wildfire graphics when switching incidents
• Keep data layers active for reference
• Use appropriate zoom levels for detail work

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Cannot draw features	Set a wildfire name first, then select a style — both are required before drawing
Drawing tools not activating	Unknown (Not Coded) styles disable drawing — select a named style instead
Text Line won't save	Enter text in the Display Label field — Text Line style requires a display label
Advanced editor disabled	Set a wildfire name first before accessing advanced tools
Multiple resets unexpectedly	Switching to a different draw button resets Multiple to off
Point angle not applying	Ensure angle is between 0–359 degrees; the angle resets to 0 when switching to Point geometry
Filter not showing features	Select a name from the Wildfire Names dropdown — typing in the text field does not apply the filter
Features not visible after saving	Check layer visibility in the layer panel; verify the wildfire name matches the layer name

Best Practices

Incident Documentation

• Use consistent naming conventions for wildfire incidents
• Apply appropriate symbols for each feature type
• Include descriptive labels for operational clarity
• Document features in logical sequence

Data Quality

• Verify feature placement accuracy
• Use appropriate geometry types for each feature
• Apply correct symbology standards
• Include relevant attribute information

Operational Efficiency

• Plan feature creation workflow before drawing
• Use Multiple Mode for similar feature types
• Group related operations together
• Save work frequently during large mapping sessions

Collaboration

• Follow organizational naming standards
• Use standardized symbols consistently
• Include clear labels for team communication
• Maintain data currency for operational use

The Wildfire Editor provides essential tools for emergency response mapping, combining specialized symbology with advanced geometric operations to support comprehensive wildfire incident documentation and management.

Video Tutorials

Adding Wildfire Data

Modifying Wildfire Data

Deleting Wildfire Data

Using Advanced Tools

See Also

• Plan Burn Editor - EMSINA-compliant prescribed burn planning
• Advanced Editor - Standalone geometric operations tool
• Print Panel - Print wildfire incident maps

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