NOAA METEOROLOGISTS AT WORK ON WILDLAND FIRES

August 19, 2000 — NOAA's National Weather Service meteorologists across the country are providing critical support to wildland management agencies every day, said NWS Western Region director Vickie Nadolski.

(NOAA photo: Steve Stohl shows Vickie Nadolski how he uses a laptop computer to access NOAA satellite imagery, Doppler weather radar information and other observations to prepare his forecast.) [Click image for larger view.]

Nadolski spent two days visiting the meteorologists at the fire camps in the Bitterroot National Forest near Missoula, Mont., in early August. She saw NWS Incident Meteorologists at work in the field and in the nearby forecast offices, attended weather briefings at the fire camps, and heard constant praise about how the NWS experts were one of the most important resources for land management agencies. All of this made her proud of the men and women of her agency.

(Click here for more photos.)

"As part of the planned modernization of the National Weather Service, meteorologists in offices across the country received enhanced training in the science of forecasting for fire weather situations. This training has strengthened and broadened our ability to handle the increased workload of providing critical weather information for so many simultaneous fires in recent years," she said. "Land management agencies have access to forecasters 24-hours per day, seven days a week. Whether they're making tactical decisions before setting a prescribed burn or deciding where best to put their resources on the fire line, they're relying on the expert advice from the National Weather Service."

NWS has 47 certified Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) who are assigned to forecast offices. At any given time, there could be 10-15 IMETs deployed from their home base to remote locations. This year, however, the requests have jumped dramatically, often leading to 20 or more IMETs in the field simultaneously.

The meteorologists operate at the interagency fire coordination centers, from the forecast offices or at the fires, and their ability to access timely data is critical and much more effective now as a result of the recently completed modernization.

"At a remote location, the IMETs use their Advanced Technological Meteorological Unit, or ATMU," she said. "These units enable the forecasters to download weather information they would normally use in a forecast office via a satellite dish. They have access to the nearby NWS network of Doppler weather radars and other items such as computer forecast models and satellite images."

When in the field, the meteorologists sometimes live in tents or at other housing areas established by the land management agencies. The IMETs use a theodolite to tracks weather balloons which can rise up to 15,000 feet collecting wind information. The ATMU, weighing in at 250 pounds, also includes a thermometer to measure temperature, an anemometer to measure wind speed, a first aid kit and other safety and meteorological gear.

Nadolski says the special training gives the meteorologists the knowledge they need to do their job. "Accessing this updated weather data gives them the confidence to make forecasts that make a definite difference in saving lives of firefighters and the public who live on the urban-wildland interface. Since the land management agency officials need the latest weather information when developing their tactics to fight the fires, they rely on the forecaster's latest predictions," she said.

Salt Lake City-based IMET Chris Gibson, an IMET for 10 years, summed up his feelings about serving in this capacity. "We walk the fire lines with the land management agency's fire behavior analyst. We want to know what the fuels are like, how the weather is going impact the fires—all aspects of our job. No doubt about it, it's tough work for everyone, it's always hot and we're wearing multiple layers of fire-retardant protective clothing and hard hats for our safety. It's an amazing experience."

Gibson told Nadolski, "We're only in mid-season of this fire year, and from the conditions I've seen, we're in for a long haul. It could take heavy rains or early snows in those deep canyon areas to put out some of these fires."

Nadolski met U.S. Forest Service's deputy chief Janice McDougle, director for Fire and Aviation Jose Cruz, Region 6 director Mike Edrington, and others while on her trip. The land management officials repeatedly told her the firefighters and those managing the fires appreciate the work of all the NWS meteorologists, whether the forecasters are teamed with others in the interagency coordination centers, at the fires, or issuing routine forecasts from the NWS field offices.

"The opportunity to see the IMETs in the field was very enlightening. It made me very proud of the service our employees provide whenever there is a major disaster such as this," she said. "The land management officials literally hang onto every word the meteorologists say because they know having advanced warnings about shifts in wind patterns, approaching lightning, and lowering humidities protects the nation's people, property and resources."

Nadolski concluded, "This fire season has provided an opportunity for many NOAA staff to collaborate and provide timely and accurate information to land management agencies. Everyone I met while in Montana expressed praise and gratitude for what we are doing to protect the firefighters, who are protecting the people and valuable resources of our land. "

Relevant Web Sites
Updated forecast information is available on the home pages of local National Weather Service offices. These pages are organized by geographic regions of the country.

NOAA's Fire Weather Information Center

For additional information on the NOAA's Fire Weather Program, please visit NOAA's National Fire Forecasts, Offices and Outlooks, Boise, Idaho.

Latest NOAA Satellite Images of Fires

NOAA's NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTERS PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORT TO WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT

All About Wild Fires

NOAA's Fire Weather Program (Describes wild fire weather terms)

Fire Weather Forecasts from NOAA's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma

National Interagency Fire Center — Includes latest news and glossary of wildfire terms

Media Contact:
Patrick Slattery, NOAA's National Weather Service Central Region, (816) 426-7621, ext. 621 or Marilu Trainor, NWS Western Region, (801) 524-5692 ext. 226.

 

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