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Spot Weather Forecast

Spot weather forecasts should be requested or submitted online for those fires that have potential for extreme fire behavior, exceed initial attack, or are located in areas where Red Flag Warnings have been issued.

Basic elements needed for a spot weather forecast include:

  • Location by street address/zip code/city name, latitude/longitude, or US National Grid, or drag to a location using the spot weather forecast request webpage.
  • Type of incident (wildfire, prescribed burn, hazardous materials, search and rescue).
  • Project/incident name.
  • Requesting agency/official, email address, and phone number.
  • Elevation (at top and bottom of incident).
  • Drainage name, size, aspect, fuel type, and sheltering (full, partial, unsheltered).
  • Forecast delivery time (i.e., as soon as possible or a later time), time forecast should start, and time zone.
  • Any remarks that can help meteorologists forecast the site, pertinent feedback information (i.e., humidity values were lower than predicted), or special requests (i.e., very interested in potential wind shifts).

Activity

Calibrate your handheld fire weather meter and review belt weather kit use. Refer to the NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations, PMS 426-3, for information.

 

Category
Weather Fire Behavior
References
NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide, PMS 461, Spot Weather Forecast, Other Refe…
NWCG Guide to Fire Weather Forecasts, PMS 425
NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations, PMS 426-3

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NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations, PMS 508

Date: March 31, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Airtanker Base Operations Unit

The updated NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508 standardizes operations and procedures at interagency airtanker bases to ensure safe, efficient, and effective operations in support of interagency goals and objectives.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations, PMS 508

WFSTAR 2025 Core Component Module Package and 2024 Fire Year in Review Now Available

Date: March 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Joe Schindel at mschindel@blm.gov
 

The 2025 Core Component Module Package for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) and the 2024 Fire Year in Review are now available on the NWCG website. The 2025 Core Component Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

References:

2025 Core Component Module Package

2024 Fire Year in Review Module

NEW! NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053

Date: March 12, 2025
Contact: Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Committee

The NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053 provides mitigation practitioners at all experience levels with recommendations on the most effective and efficient ways to accomplish mitigation work in communities at risk to wildfire damage or destruction. The content in this guide was written in coordination with the NWCG Standards for Mitigation in the Wildland Urban Interface, PMS 052.

References:

NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053 

Updated, NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Date: March 11, 2025
Contact: Fire Use Subcommittee
Wildland Fire Module Unit

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430 standardizes procedures and expectations for Wildland Fire Modules (WFMs). These standards are to be used by staff, supervisors, specialists, and technicians for planning, administering, and conducting WFM operations. These standards will also be used as a measure of WFM qualifications, capabilities, and expected performance, for both Type 1 and Type 2 WFMs.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430