Fire weather training sharpens skills, ensures IMET readiness to provide for firefighter safety
IMET Lisa Kriederman uses a portable weather station to gather observations to support wildfire suppression at the Pine Gulch Fire north of Grand Junction, CO, August 2020. In addition to fire suppression forecasts, IMETs issue timely site-specific forecasts of weather conditions possibly hazardous to crews on the fire line. Weather fronts can change wind speed and direction; dry thunderstorms can cause downbursts, erratic wind conditions and dangerous lightning that can cause additional fires. Wind, humidity and temperatures near fires have significant effect on fire intensity and firefighting tactics. (Image credit: NOAA)
NOAA National Weather Service Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) are gathering this week in Boise, Idaho, to complete specialized, intensive training in preparation to help keep first responders and firefighters safe during the upcoming wildfire season. Media are invited to observe this training and interview the IMETs — key members of incident command teams who provide continuous weather forecast support during a wildfire battle.
More than 100 meteorologists will participate in the training, which will prepare them to deliver fire weather forecasts, fire behavior guidance and briefings to firefighters at a wildfire incident command. During training, IMETs learn how a fire reacts to certain weather, fuel and topographic conditions. They also learn forecasting for fire weather in complex mountain terrain from Alaska to the Appalachians. Trainees complete more than 225 hours of fire weather training and on-the-job training before becoming certified.
Last year, NOAA IMETs completed a record 217 deployments to a wildfire incident command. On average, an IMET was deployed to three fires for a total of 36 days in 2021. This year, NOAA has 86 certified IMETs and 33 trainees ready for deployment.
WHAT
Observe the training and interview IMETs and interview experts from CalFire
WHEN
Wed., March 9, 2022
9am - 11am and 1:30pm - 3:30pm MT
WHERE
Best Western Vista Inn Conference Center, just outside the National Interagency Fire Center
(NIFC) front gate
645 W Airport Way, Boise, ID
Please check in at the Vista Inn Conference Center
Parking is available behind the Best Western
VISUALS
IMETs and trainees participate in simulated exercises, launch weather balloons, set up and activate remote weather stations, develop a spot weather forecast and deliver a fire weather briefing. There will be computer instruction on interpreting wildfire hotspots using satellite imagery and reading computer models that predict the height and movement of wildfire smoke.
- Learn more about the support IMETs provide.
- Follow the week long training on the IMETs Twitter feed @NWS_IMET_OPS.
REGISTRATION
Reporters must register to attend by March 8 by contacting maureen.oleary@noaa.gov, 202-578-5257.
Media contacts
Maureen O'Leary, NOAA, maureen.oleary@noaa.gov, (202) 578-5257
Patrick Gilchrist, NOAA, patrick.gilchrist@noaa.gov, (406) 544-2714
Carrie Bilbao, NIFC, cbilbao@blm.gov, (208) 871-1832
