Tuleohtus

Tuleohtus is a term used in fire management and meteorology to describe the forecasted risk of fire ignition and rapid spread within a specified area and time window. The concept is employed to guide public warnings, resource allocation, and suppression readiness. Etymologically, tule translates as "fire" and ohtus functions as a sense of danger or hazard in many Baltic languages, giving the term a literal meaning of "fire danger."

Assessment of tuleohtus combines meteorological data with information about fuels and recent fire history. Variables typically include temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation deficits, and live and dead fuel moisture. In practice, agencies classify tuleohtus into categories such as low, moderate, high, or extreme, sometimes using a color-coded scheme to aid interpretation.

Applications of tuleohtus range from public advisories to operational planning. Fire and forestry services may adjust restrictions on open burning, staffing levels, and equipment prepositioning based on the forecast. In some regions, tuleohtus integrates with broader fire danger ratings and is used alongside fire weather indices and historical trend analyses to estimate potential fire impact and required response.

Regional usage of the term varies, with some Baltic and Nordic agencies incorporating tuleohtus into official communication and risk management frameworks. While not universally standardized, the concept reflects a common goal in fire risk governance: translating meteorological risk into actionable guidance for communities and responders.