diff --git a/wrfv2_fire/phys/module_fr_sfire_core.F b/wrfv2_fire/phys/module_fr_sfire_core.F
index c68a4422..7925c0a2 100644
--- a/wrfv2_fire/phys/module_fr_sfire_core.F
+++ b/wrfv2_fire/phys/module_fr_sfire_core.F
@@ -1056,9 +1056,7 @@ subroutine fuel_left_cell_2( fuel_frac_left, fire_frac_area, &
 DREAL::ps,aps,area,ta,out
 DREAL::t00,t01,t10,t11
 DREAL,parameter::safe=tiny(aps)
-character(len=128)::msg
 DREAL::dx,dy ! mesh sizes
-!*** local
 integer::i,j,k
 
 DREAL,dimension(3)::u
@@ -1078,6 +1076,7 @@ subroutine fuel_left_cell_2( fuel_frac_left, fire_frac_area, &
 DREAL::upper,lower,ah,ch,aa,cc,aupp,cupp,alow,clow
 DREAL,dimension(2,2)::mQ
 DREAL,dimension(2)::ut
+character(len=128)::msg
 
 !calls
 intrinsic epsilon
@@ -1120,6 +1119,7 @@ subroutine fuel_left_cell_2( fuel_frac_left, fire_frac_area, &
 !*** case0 Do nothing
 if ( lfn00>=0 .and. lfn10>=0 .and. lfn01>=0 .and. lfn11>=0 ) then
     out = 1.0 !  fuel_left, no burning
+    area= 0.
 !*** case4 all four coners are burning
 else if (lfn00<=0 .and. lfn10<=0 .and. lfn01<=0 .and. lfn11<=0) then
 ! All burning
@@ -1153,9 +1153,10 @@ subroutine fuel_left_cell_2( fuel_frac_left, fire_frac_area, &
 u(3)=-u(3)/fuel_time_cell
     s1=u(1)
     s2=u(2)            
-    out=1-exp(u(3))*intexp(s1)*intexp(s2)
+    out=exp(u(3))*intexp(s1)*intexp(s2)
+    area=1
     if ( out<0 .or. out>1.0 ) then
-        print *,'case4, out should be between 0 and 1'
+        call message('WARNING: fuel_left_cell: case all burning: out should be between 0 and 1')
     end if
 !*** case 1,2,3- other cases
 !*** part of cell is burning 
diff --git a/wrfv2_fire/test/em_fire/hill/namelist.input b/wrfv2_fire/test/em_fire/hill/namelist.input
index baad63be..7c49d3d4 100644
--- a/wrfv2_fire/test/em_fire/hill/namelist.input
+++ b/wrfv2_fire/test/em_fire/hill/namelist.input
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@
  fire_grows_only=1,             ! if >0 level set function cannot increase = fire can only grow
  fire_viscosity=0.4,              ! artificial viscosity in level set method (max 1, needed with fire_upwinding=0)
  fire_upwinding=3,              ! 0=none, 1=standard, 2=godunov, 3=eno, 4=sethian
- fire_fuel_left_method=1,        ! for now, use 1 only
+ fire_fuel_left_method=2,        ! for now, use 1 only
  fire_lfn_ext_up=1.0,           ! 0.=extend level set function at boundary by reflection, 1.=always up
  fire_advection=0,              ! 0 = cawfe, 1 = use abs speed/slope in spread rate, then project on normal to fireline
 /