2. National Association of State Foresters & Wildland Fire Weather by Wayne Mitchell California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection 1416 9 th Street Sacramento, CA 94244-2460 (916) 653-6031 wayne.mitchell@fire.ca.gov Washington, D.C. January 25, 2006 NWS - 10/27/98

3. Objectives Describe the State Foresters needs for the National Fire Weather Program Describe Cooperative Wildland Fire Protection as it relates to Fire Weather Local, State, National NWS - 10/27/98

4. Plus many others... Wildland Fire Community NWS - 10/27/98

5. Wildland Fire Workload 1990s Average Annual Number of Fires –Federal - 13,800 –State & Local - 52,400 Acres Burned –Federal - 1,980,000 –State & Local - 874,000 NWS - 10/27/98

6. Wildland Fire Program Expenditures NWS - 10/27/98 Millions * Estimated annual expenditures 1990s *

7. Who Really Pays for Wildfires? Initial AttackMajorDisaster Analysis of 1994 California fire activity

8. Jurisdiction and Agreements further integrate responsibilities

9. For Example: San Diego County, CA

10. Public and Fire Fighter Safety Depend on Good Weather Forecasts Standard Fire Orders for Firefighter Safety 2.“Initiate all actions based upon current and expected fire behavior” 3.“Recognize current weather conditions and obtain forecasts”

11. Serving Our Public Anticipating of future conditions is critical –efficient resource use –public safety –fire fighter safety Knowledge of current and expected weather is the key to anticipating future conditions

12. Wildland Fire Command Structure Strategic Tactical Who Decisions Where Decisions

13. Remote Automatic Weather Stations

14. Satellite Data Delivery

15. An Interagency RAWS Network

16. National Weather Information Management System (WIMS)

17. Use of Fire Weather Products and Services Planning NWS - 10/27/98

18. WIMS provides daily fire danger information

19. NWS - 10/27/98 Current Products & Services Alpha/Numeric Forecasts Graphical Products

20. Use of Fire Weather Products and Services Planning Preparedness NWS - 10/27/98

21. Alpha/Numeric Forecasts Current Products & Services -Fire Wx Narrative Fcsts -Fire Wx Zone Fcsts -Fire Danger Rating Index Fcsts -Fire Wx Watches & Red Flag Warnings -Transport & Stability Fcsts -Site Specific (Spot) Fcsts NWS - 10/27/98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHEAST IDAHO AND WESTERN WYOMING (ZONES 411-417) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- TONIGHT... SKY/WEATHER...Scattered clouds this evening..then clear and cold. LAL...........1 TEMPERATURE...Lows in the teens and 20s. HUMIDITY......Good recovery valleys..moderate ridges. Max 75-95 pct valleys..and 40-60 pct ridges. WIND - 20 FT.. VALLEYS...Northeast to southeast 3-8 mph or less by dark. RIDGES....Northeast to southeast 10-20 mph. HAINES INDEX..3 Very low SMOKE DISPERSAL: MIXING HEIGHT....Lowering to 500 ft agl. TRANSPORT WIND...Northeast to southeast 5 mph...

22. Fire Danger Pocket Card

23. Use of Fire Weather Products and Services Planning Preparedness Operations NWS - 10/27/98 Photo courtesy of: Larry Haftl, Wildland Firefighter Magazine

24. NWS Mission The NWS is the sole OFFICIAL voice for issuing warnings in life threatening weather situations – The wildland fire agencies believe this is critical, and puts the NWS squarely behind the fire weather forecasting program!!! Critical information and forecasts are provided to emergency managers and local decision makers to support evacuations and other safety measures in response to toxic spills, wildfires, and technological hazards. NWS - 10/27/98

25. Incident Command System A Team Approach

26. Alpha/Numeric Forecasts Graphical Products Briefings Current Products & Services NWS - 10/27/98

27. Alpha/Numeric Forecasts Graphical Products Briefings Consultation Current Products & Services NWS - 10/27/98

28. Alpha/Numeric Forecasts Graphical Products Briefings Consultation Incident Meteorologists Current Products & Services NWS - 10/27/98

29. Alpha/Numeric Forecasts Graphical Products Briefings Consultation Incident Meteorologists High Resolution - High Frequency Data Current Products & Services NWS - 10/27/98

30. Change in Wildland Fire Workforce reductions Interagency Hazardous fuels Higher suppression costs Larger fires Greater resource damage Higher risk to firefighters People moving into the wildlands - Interface Increase reliance on non-fire personnel T & E species Significant organizational change Contractor resources NWS - 10/27/98

31. Future Needs Broad spectrum products –Text & graphical to frequent high resolution data Large spatial variation –Site specific to Regional/National scale Forecasts - probability & confidence Expertise improving the science of fire weather and complex terrain meteorology –Operational research - Locally & Nationally NWS - 10/27/98

32. Future Needs Technical advice, briefings & consultation On-site fire weather expertise Weather station data monitoring Smoke management - air quality support Service to all wildland fire agencies including State Agencies Mid to long range forecasts Training cadre NWS - 10/27/98

33. What About Air Quality? Air Quality standards, driven by EPA, are getting more restrictive. Prescribed fire is a service increasingly demanded of Federal, State, and Local Fire agencies. Weather is a KEY component of smoke management plans. The NWS has limited authority to provide smoke management forecasts.

34. Thank you for listening NWS - 10/27/98

35. Questions NWS - 10/27/98