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


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NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters

Date: January 15, 2025
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters. Non-specification fire shelters claiming to meet Forest Service (FS) fire shelter specification 5100-606 were first found in February of 2023. As of September 2024, non-specification shelters are again being advertised and sold on the open market.

This Safety Warning outlines details and recommended procedures to purchase FS specification shelters made with materials and components that meet performance criteria and toxicity testing requirements outlined in FS Specification 5100-606. 

For additional information on identifying non-specification shelters, please view ETC Safety Warning 23-01.

References:

ETC Safety Warning 25-001: Non-specification fire shelters

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee

ETC Safety Warning 23-01

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Awards

Date: January 14, 2025
Contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee has awarded the 2023 Paul Gleason “Lead By Example” awards to individuals in the categories of Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, and Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Sam Bowen, Superintendent of the Mark Twain Veteran Crew with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Greg Titus, Zone Fire Management Officer for the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • Renae Crippen, Manager of the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Eric Carlson, Instructor with OMNA International.

References:

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Interview with Paul Gleason

Updated NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Water Scooper Operations Unit

The NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating water scooping aircraft on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, and any local, state, or geographic/regional water scooping plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Updated NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee

The Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee has updated the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505. PMS 505 establishes standards for aerial supervision operations for national interagency wildland fire operations. 

References:

NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505