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Fire Weather, PMS 425-1

fire burning across landscape with words Fire Weather and icon of wind blown tree on right.

A Guide for Application of Meteorological Information to Forest Fire Control Operations

U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service * Handbook 360 - May 1970

Mark J. Schroeder, Weather Bureau, Environmental Science Services Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Charles C. Buck, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Preface

Weather is never static. It is always dynamic. Its interpretation is an art. The art of applying complex information about weather to the equally complex task of wildland fire control cannot be acquired easily especially not by the mere reading of a book.

The environment is in control in wildland firefighting. Free-burning fires are literally nourished by weather elements, atmospheric components, and atmospheric motion. Outguessing Mother Nature in order to win control is an extremely difficult task. We need to soothe her with understanding.

We have attempted to present information in such a way that your daily and seasonal awareness of fire weather can begin with reliable basic knowledge. We have kept the use of technical terms to a minimum, but where it was necessary for clear and accurate presentation, we have introduced and defined the proper terms. Growing awareness of fire weather, when combined with related experience on fires, can develop into increasingly intuitive, rapid, and accurate applications. Toward this end, we have preceded each chapter with a paragraph or two on important points to look for in relating weather factors to fire control planning and action.

The illustrations are designed to help you "see" the weather from many different locations. Sometimes you will need a view of the entire North American Continent-other times you will look at a small area covering only a few square miles or even a few square yards. The illustrations should help you to evaluate fire weather in all of its dimensions, and simultaneously to keep track of its continually changing character.

In the illustrations, red represents heat, and blue represents moisture. Watch for changes in these two most important factors and how they cause changes in all other elements influencing fire behavior.

Assistance in the form of original written material, reviews, and suggestions was received from such a large number of people that it is not practical to acknowledge the contribution of each individual.

They are all members of two agencies:

  • U.S. Department of Commerce, Environmental Science Services Administration, Weather Bureau
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service

Their help is deeply appreciated, for without it this publication would not have been possible.

Introduction

What is WEATHER? Simply defined, it is the state of the atmosphere surrounding the earth. But the atmosphere is not static-it is constantly changing. So we can say that weather is concerned with the changing nature of the atmosphere. Familiar terms used to describe weather are

  • Temperature
  • Pressure
  • Wind speed
  • Wind direction
  • Humidity
  • Visibility Clouds
  • Precipitation

The atmosphere is a gaseous mantle encasing the earth and rotating with it in space. Heat from the sun causes continual changes in each of the above elements. These variations are interdependent; affecting all elements in such a manner that weather is ever changing in both time and space.

Because weather is the state of the atmosphere, it follows that if there were no atmosphere there would be no weather. Such is the case on the moon. At high altitudes, where the earth's atmosphere becomes extremely thin, the type of weather familiar to us, with its clouds and precipitation, does not exist.

The varying moods of the ever-changing weather found in the lower, denser atmosphere affect all of us. Sometimes it is violent, causing death and destruction in hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards. Sometimes it becomes balmy with sunny days and mild temperatures. And sometimes it is oppressive with high humidities and high temperatures. As the weather changes, we change our activities, sometimes taking advantage of it and at other times protecting ourselves and our property from it.

A farmer needs to understand only that part of the shifting weather pattern affecting the earth's surface-and the crop he grows.

The launcher of a space missile must know, from hour to hour, the interrelated changes in weather in the total height of the atmosphere, as far out as it is known to exist, in order to make his decisions for action.

But the man whose interest is wildland fire is neither limited to the surface nor concerned with the whole of the earth's atmosphere. The action he takes is guided by understanding and interpreting weather variations in the air layer up to 5 or 10 miles above the land. These variations, when described in ways related to their influences on wildland fire, constitute FIRE WEATHER. When fire weather is combined with the two other factors influencing fire behavior-topography and fuel - a basis for judgment is formed.

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) provides national leadership to enable interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, Tribal, territorial, and local partners. NWCG operations standards are interagency by design; they are developed with the intent of universal adoption by the member agencies. However, the decision to adopt and utilize them is made independently by the individual member agencies and communicated through their respective directives systems.

 

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NWCG Latest Announcements

Great Basin Cache Upgrading to New Inventory System

Date: May 7, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Great Basin Cache
Phone: (208) 387-5104
Fax: (208) 387-5573

The Great Basin Cache (GBK) is transitioning to a new inventory system to better serve the wildland fire community. During this upgrade, GBK will be unable to process standard orders from Part 1: Fire Supplies and Equipment and Part 2: Publications between May 8-20, 2025, with exceptions made for emergency fire orders. Orders will be accepted through close of business May 7.

To browse the latest available items, please refer to the National Fire Equipment System (NFES) catalogs. 

References:

NWCG NFES Catalog-Part 1: Fire Supplies and Equipment, PMS 449-1

NWCG NFES Catalog-Part 2: Publications, PMS 449-2

NEW! Air Operations Summary (ICS 220 WF) Now Available

Date: May 2, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
National Interagency Aviation Committee

The Air Operations Summary (ICS 220 WF) provides the Air Operations Branch with the number, type, location, and specific assignments of helicopters and air resources. The new ICS 220 WF also includes medical extraction capabilities and air resources tracking.

Understanding the capabilities of aviation assets is critical for effective medical and extraction responses. Coordination with the Medical Unit Leader is essential to ensure alignment and consistency between the ICS 220 WF and the Medical Plan (ICS 206 WF). 

References:

Air Operations Summary (ICS 220 WF)

National Interagency Aviation Committee

Incident Command System (ICS) Forms

Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book Available for Firing Boss, Single Resource

Date: April 30, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Fuels Management Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Firing Boss, Single Resource, PMS 350-105, and the NWCG Position Task Book for Firing Boss, Single Resource (FIRB), PMS 311-105, are now available. 

These resources, part of the Performance Support Package developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators. 

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

 

References:

NWCG Firing Boss, Single Resource Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Firing Boss, Single Resource, PMS 350-105

NWCG Position Task Book for Firing Boss, Single Resource (FIRB), PMS 311-105

Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book Available for Helicopter Crewmember

Date: April 28, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22, and the NWCG Position Task Book for Helicopter Crewmember (HECM), PMS 311-22, are now available.

These resources, part of the Performance Support Package developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22

NWCG Position Task Book for Helicopter Crewmember (HECM), PMS 311-22