FEDERAL PLAN FOR A 
 
 NATIONAL 
 
 FIRE-WEATHER 
 
 SERVICE 
 
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 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 
 
 Environmental Science Services Administration 
 
 Federal Coordinator for Meteorological 
 
 Services and Supporting Research 
 
 March 1967 
 
 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, 
 
 U.S. Government Printing Office, 
 
 Washington, D.C., 20402 
 
 Price 30 cents 
 
 FEDERAL PLAN FOR A 
 
 NATIONAL 
 
 FIRE-WEATHER 
 
 SERVICE 
 
 Prepared by 
 
 WEATHER BUREAU 
 
 in cooperation with 
 
 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 
 
 AGRICULTURE 
 
 and 
 
 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 
 
 INTERIOR 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 This Federal Plan for a National Fire-Weather Service focuses 
 on the need for providing specialized weather services to forestry and 
 range management interests. It is one in a series of plans being pre- 
 pared by the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological 
 Services and Supporting Research to describe present and planned 
 services for specialized user groups. It has been prepared in re- 
 sponse to Bureau of the Budget Circular A-62 with the advice and 
 assistance of the Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological 
 Services and is endorsed by the Department of Agriculture, Depart- 
 ment of Interior, and Department of Commerce. 
 
 This plan is directed toward improving and expanding exist- 
 ing fire-weather services in the 1968-1972 time period. It makes 
 maximum use of the observational networks, data processing, com- 
 munications and disseminating facilities of the Basic Meteorological 
 Services of the Department of Commerce. It does not include related 
 programs such as agricultural weather service, hydrology, climatol- 
 ogy, and weather service to the general public which supplement the 
 National Fire-Weather Service. 
 
 ROBERT M. WHITE 
 
 Federal Coordinator for Meteorological 
 Services and Supporting Research 
 
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 Our Nation's forests constitute one of our major 
 resources. Yet, an average of 120,000 fires yearly 
 destroy timber and wildlife, grazing areas and tvater- 
 sheds, and cost almost $500 million. Here hundreds 
 of acres go up in smoke near Machias, Maine. (Cour- 
 tesy Press Herald-Evening Express, Portland, Maine) 
 Photographs not otherwise credited courtesy U.S. Forest Service 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 Foreword 
 
 Introduction 1 
 
 Role of Federal Agencies 3 
 
 1.0 User Requirements and Potential Service Value 3 
 
 2.0 Present Fire-Weather Service Program Description 5 
 
 2.1 Products and Services 7 
 
 2.1.1 Forecasting and Consultation Program 7 
 
 2.1.2 Data Collection Program 10 
 
 2.1.3 Dissemination Program 12 
 
 2.2 Areas of Potential Improvement 13 
 
 3.0 Planned Fire-Weather Service Improvement Program 13 
 
 3.1 Products and Services 13 
 
 3.2 Service System Configuration 13 
 
 3.3 Implementation Plan 17 
 
 4.0 Supporting Programs 18 
 
 4.1 Research and Development Program 18 
 
 4.2 Education and Training Program 20 
 
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INTRODUCTION 
 
 Specialized weather information is required for effective protec- 
 tion of forest and range lands. The possibility of a fire being 
 started, the likelihood of its being detected, its behavior, the readi- 
 ness of an organization to suppress a fire, the planning of sup- 
 pressive action, and the prevention of other fires are dependent 
 upon weather and the use of weather information. Detailed weather 
 data are required to insure successful use of fire in prescribed 
 burning. Day-to-day and hour-to-hour fire control activities must 
 be keyed to weather conditions. 
 
 Many factors contribute to fire danger, such as the kind and 
 arrangement of burnable fuels, seasonal variation of flammability, 
 risk of fire starting, and values at stake. Day-to-day weather con- 
 ditions generally determine the degree of fire danger and the ac- 
 tion required to hold loss from fire within acceptable limits. 
 Weather affects the flammability of fuels, rate of fire incidence, 
 rate of spread, fire behavior, and difficulty of control. Success of 
 any presuppression or fire suppression action is strongly influenced 
 by the weather that occurs, the knowledge of the expected weather, 
 and the way in which weather information is used. 
 
 Successful day-to-day fire control management is dependent 
 upon knowledge of fire danger. Fire danger dictates the strength 
 and deployment of the fire control forces necessary to cope with 
 
 any fire likely to start. During periods of low fire danger, fire 
 control costs may be lowered by reducing the staffing. During 
 critical fire danger, extraordinary measures need to be taken to 
 minimize loss from fire. Predictions of pronounced change in 
 fire danger have resulted in imposing or lifting closures of vast 
 commercial and recreational wooded areas. A weather shutdown 
 of logging operations affects thousands of loggers and mill work- 
 ers. Such measures have a pronounced impact on the public and 
 the local economy and must be based on careful evaluation of 
 fire-weather conditions. 
 
 When a fire starts, careful estimation of its spread and behavior 
 is essential for planning the most effective suppression tactics to 
 control the fire quickly, safely, and with minimum damage. Pre- 
 diction of fire behavior is largely dependent on detailed weather 
 forecasts. Fire must be fought at close quarters with a narrow 
 margin of safety for fire-fighters. Complete and accurate weather 
 information, tailored to the job at hand, is essential. 
 
 Fire is used as a forest management tool for removal of hazard- 
 ous fuels, for removal of undesirable brush prior to planting or 
 seeding with forest or range species, and for keeping undesirable 
 growth at an acceptable level. Acreage of prescribed burning in 
 some sections of the Nation exceeds that burned by wild fire. Safe 
 
 In Shasta National Forest, California. 
 
 1 
 
Fish and wildlife are valuable assets of the National Forests and 
 each year attract millions of visitors, such as these fishermen on 
 
 the Salmon River in the Challis National Forest of Idaho. Fires are 
 one of the chief tnenaces of these forest recreational areas. 
 
 use of fire to accomplish the desired burning objective without 
 serious damage requires precise weather predictions. 
 
 Greatest economy and effectiveness of these fire control jobs 
 cannot be achieved without a readily available source of reliable, 
 specialized fire-weather information and close working relation- 
 ships between fire control and fire-weather personnel acquainted 
 with local conditions. 
 
 An improved and strengthened fire-weather service is an essen- 
 tial element for increasing the effectiveness of Federal, State, and 
 private fire control programs. In Alaska, during the second year 
 of specialized fire-weather service ( 1963 ) , the Bureau of Land 
 Management estimated benefits of one-half million dollars in re- 
 duced patrol costs, reduced fire suppression costs, and reduced 
 resource loss. This represented a cost-benefit ratio of 1 to 33 for 
 the fire-weather service. The improvement program envisaged in 
 this plan will pay large dividends in terms of reduced losses of 
 
 resources, increased use of forest and range lands, and protection 
 of lives. 
 
 Weather Bureau support to forestry agencies began in 1914 and 
 has gradually evolved on the basis of field experience. In 1961, 
 a nine-phase program was established to improve and expand this 
 support. Four of the nine phases have been completed. Imple- 
 mentation of the plan for fire-weather service reported in this 
 document will provide, on a Nationwide basis, improved and ex- 
 panded service to all fire control agencies. The planned service 
 will feature: (1) Improved and expanded weather forecasts de- 
 signed to support all phases of fire control activities, (2) Rapid 
 and efficient dissemination of fire-weather service products to 
 users, and (3) Effective research and development programs to 
 advance fire-weather forecasting techniques and improve special- 
 ized fire-weather equipment. Annual costs for the fire-weather 
 service after completion of this Plan will be $2.4 million. 
 
ROLE OF FEDERAL AGENCIES 
 
 The Introduction to this Plan highlights the dependence of many 
 forest and range management practices on day-to-day weather 
 conditions as well as the importance of timely and accurate 
 weather information in the suppression and control of fires. Rec- 
 ognizing the need for improved weather forecasting services to 
 agriculture, of which forestry is a part, a Senate Resolution passed 
 in July 1955 (84th Congress, 1st Session) requested a survey by 
 the Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce to ascertain what 
 steps should be taken to remedy expressed deficiencies. The re- 
 sulting report pointed out the need, among others, for an expan- 
 sion of the Fire-Weather Service program for the forested areas 
 and the range and grass lands of the country. To design the most 
 effective and efficient Fire-Weather forecast service, three Federal 
 agencies — the Department of Agriculture, represented by the For- 
 est Service; the Department of Interior, represented by the Bureau 
 of Land Management; and the Department of Commerce, Weather 
 Bureau — have cooperated closely in the preparation of this Fed- 
 eral Plan. 
 
 As the agency responsible for providing weather forecasting 
 services to all public interests, the Department of Commerce, 
 Weather Bureau manages and operates the Fire-Weather Service 
 program. In the operation of the program, weather forecast for- 
 mats and techniques are designed by Weather Bureau Fire- 
 Weather meteorologists to meet the needs of foresters and range 
 management specialists. These are disseminated to the users by 
 the most rapid method available, including radio and teletype- 
 writer networks. Meteorological research directed toward the 
 needs of forestry and range management agencies will be con- 
 ducted under this Plan by Weather Bureau research meteorologists 
 at key points throughout the country. 
 
 The role of the Departments of Agriculture and Interior is three- 
 fold. First, they are direct users of the service. Second, they have 
 
 sustained research programs for determining the specific effects of 
 weather elements on all facets of forestry and range land manage- 
 ment. This research often yields an insight into forecast problems 
 of direct interest to the Weather Bureau's forecast organization. 
 Third, they play an important role in issuing joint releases with 
 the Weather Bureau regarding the use of major recreation areas 
 in the Nation's forests during periods of high fire danger. 
 
 I.O USER REQUIREMENTS AND 
 POTENTIAL SERVICE VALUE 
 
 Wood, water, wildlife, forage, and recreation resources con- 
 tained in our forest and range areas are of major importance to 
 the national welfare, particularly in view of a growing population. 
 In many sections of the Nation, nearly the entire economy is de- 
 pendent on these resources. For this reason, Federal and State 
 
 In many sections of the Nation a large portion of the economy 
 depends on forest resources and products. Fire-Weather informa- 
 tion is an important factor in the management of forested areas. 
 
Knowledge of fire-weather, both current and forecast, is needed 
 for the safety of on-the-scene fire fighters like these battling flames 
 in the Angeles IXational Forest, California. 
 
 Agencies, together with private enterprises concerned with similar 
 problems (e.g., major lumber companies) , make major use of men 
 and materials to insure effective management and protection of 
 forest and grassland areas under their control. 
 
 Forest management requires careful planning to achieve a 
 healthy stand of timber adequate to supply raw material, to shelter 
 and feed wildlife, to conserve water, and to provide enjoyable 
 recreational areas for the public. Cut timber must be replenished 
 by seeding or transplanting and healthy growth must be encour-« 
 aged by managed cutting, removal of undesirable growth, and 
 control of pests. Although these and similar measures are of great 
 importance, they are overshadowed by the sudden destructiveness 
 of FIRE, which continually threatens forest areas. A substantial 
 part of forest management programs, whether public or private, 
 is devoted to the control of this threat. Weather conditions directly 
 affect the possibility of a wild fire being ignited, the time of its 
 detection, and its behavior. Proper use of weather information 
 not only enables effective planning of pre-suppression actions, but 
 improves the readiness of a fire control organization to take im- 
 mediate control measures. Within any particular area, the varia- 
 tions that occur in the level of fire danger 1 are almost entirely 
 dependent on the weather associated with the area. Day-to-day 
 and hour-to-hour fire control operations must be keyed to existing 
 and/or expected weather conditions. Consequently, for successful 
 management and protection of forest and range areas, there is a 
 growing demand by fire control agencies for weather information 
 including observations, forecasts, and long range outlooks. 
 
 The fire problem is big. For example, from 1960 to 1964 inclu- 
 
 1 General term expressing the degree of inflammability of fuels, the probable 
 rate of fire spread, and the difficulty of control. 
 
sive, an annual average of 120,000 fires burned 4,600,000 acres of 
 forest land in the United States. In 1962 alone, forest fire losses 
 were estimated at 7% million board feet of lumber valued at $165 
 million. The overall annual loss must certainly amount to several 
 times this stumpage value since it includes such factors as damage 
 to soil and wild life, loss of stored water, and blighted recreation 
 areas. Real annual loss may therefore be as much as $500 million. 
 Fire detection and suppression costs exceed $100 million annually. 
 Effective weather support, which will help to reduce these costs 
 and losses, is clearly in the national interest. 
 
 An analysis of user requirements based on operational and 
 planning activities established the meteorological parameters to be 
 used by fire control agencies (as summarized in Table 1). These 
 requirements vary somewhat in detail from locality to locality. 
 Analysis of these user requirements indicates that although gen- 
 eralized area type products can provide some useful support, the 
 most effective level of service will be provided through locally 
 tailored interpretive products that are prepared by skilled fire- 
 weather forecasters on the basis of detailed requirements deter- 
 mined locally by the fire-weather offices in consultation with local 
 land management agencies. 
 
 2.0 PRESENT FIRE-WEATHER 
 SERVICE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 
 
 The Weather Bureau in 1914 inaugurated a Fire-Weather Serv- 
 ice to assist foresters in fire control work. From this original 
 service, the Fire- Weather Service has been evolving ; improvements 
 
 More than 100,000 forest fires in the United States cost millions 
 of dollars to fight, and destroy valuable resources each year. This 
 one teas in the Bitterroot National Forest of Montana. Accurate 
 up-to-date fire-weather forecasts can greatly minimize these losses. 
 
Table 1 — FIRE-WEATHER USER REQUIREMENTS 
 
 USER TYPE— FEDERAL AND STATE FORESTRY AGENCIES 
 
 
 
 
 
 Operational Requirements 
 
 
 Planning Requirements* 
 
 
 
 
 Important 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Activities 
 
 
 Parameters 
 
 Description 
 
 Forecast Period 
 
 Description 
 
 Forecast Period 
 
 1. 
 
 Suppression (including 
 
 1. 
 
 Humidity 
 
 Variable, critical below 30% 
 
 Up 
 
 to 72 hr. 
 
 
 
 
 air operations) 
 
 2. 
 3. 
 
 4. 
 5. 
 
 Wind 
 Stability 
 Precipitation 
 Temperature 
 
 Speed, direction, and shifts 
 Lapse rate categories 
 Amount and duration 
 Variable 
 
 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 
 
 
 2. 
 
 Pre-Suppression 
 
 1. 
 
 Thunderstorms 
 
 Location, intensity (including 
 lightning), direction, and 
 rate of movement 
 
 Up 
 
 to 24 hr. 
 
 
 
 
 
 2. 
 
 Precipitation 
 
 Amount 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Trend and departure from 
 normal; total amount and 
 period of occurrence 
 
 3 to 30 days 
 
 
 
 3. 
 
 Humidity 
 
 Variable, critical below 30% 
 
 
 
 Trend and departure from 
 normal 
 
 Do. 
 
 
 
 4. 
 
 Wind 
 
 Speed 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Trend and departure from 
 normal 
 
 Do. 
 
 
 
 5. 
 
 Temperature 
 
 Variable 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Trend and departure from 
 normal 
 
 Do. 
 
 3. 
 
 Slash Burning 
 
 1. 
 2. 
 
 3. 
 
 Wind 
 
 Humidity 
 
 Precipitation 
 
 Speed, direction and shifts 
 
 Variable 
 
 Variable (none desired) 
 
 Up 
 
 to 72 hr. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 
 
 
 k 
 
 Controlled Burning 
 
 1. 
 
 2. 
 3. 
 
 4. 
 
 Wind 
 
 Humidity 
 
 Precipitation 
 
 Temperature 
 
 Speed and direction (5 to 
 15 m.p.h.) 
 
 20% to 60% relative 
 Generally less than .05 in. 
 Generally 20° to 50° F. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 
 
 
 5. General Forest Manage- 
 ment — spraying, dusting, 
 seeding and other man- 
 agement practices 
 
 1. Wind 
 
 2. Precipitation 
 
 3. Stability 
 
 Speed and direction (less 
 than 10 m.p.h. preferred) 
 
 None expected 
 
 Stable conditions preferred 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Trend and departure from 
 normal 
 
 Trend and departure from 
 normal; total amount and 
 period of occurrence 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 6. Recreation 
 
 1. Temperature 
 
 2. Precipitation 
 
 3. Severe weather 
 
 Variable 
 
 Amount and duration 
 
 Variable 
 
 Up to 5 days 
 
 Do. 
 Up to 72 hr. 
 
 Climatological data summaries are also useful in planning activities. 
 
in recent years (since 1961) have been introduced on a systematic 
 basis in accordance with a nine-phase program. At the present 
 time four of these phases have been completed. 
 
 The close working relationship developed over the years be- 
 tween the Federal and State Agencies and the Weather Bureau has 
 made it possible to develop a type of service which possesses the 
 flexibility and adaptability required to assist in many problems of 
 forest management. The Fire-Weather Service as it exists today 
 has developed from shared experience and mutual understanding 
 between foresters and meteorologists; the success achieved is re- 
 flected in a growing demand for expansion of the current service 
 program. 
 
 2.1 PRODUCTS AND SERVICE 
 
 The objective of the current Fire-Weather Service is to help 
 protect life, reduce resource losses, and strengthen the national 
 economy by providing specialized weather forecast and warning 
 services economically, efficiently, and effectively to all wild land 
 fire control agencies in the United States. In pursuit of these ob- 
 jectives, the Fire- Weather Service has developed three related 
 programs:' forcasting and consultation, data collection, and dis- 
 semination. 
 
 1,000 to 16,000 square miles. The number and timing of the 
 forecasts provided by the Primary Fire-Weather Offices varies 
 with the needs of local users, but they generally are issued once or 
 twice daily in support of users' operations and planning. Warn- 
 ings of conditions leading to unusually high fire danger may be is- 
 sued at any time. In addition, the meteorologists provide special 
 forecasts for the immediate area of any going fire, wild or con- 
 trolled. Finally, the meteorologists provide, on request, additional 
 forecasts in support of other important forest management func- 
 tions, such as spraying or seeding. 
 
 Supplementary Fire-Weather Offices are Weather Bureau Offices 
 which provide fire-weather service to a forested district as an 
 "add-on" to their primary public service function. Their staffs do 
 not include fire-weather meteorologists; in general, they provide 
 fire-weather forecasts only on request or when fire danger is high. 
 
 In support of this direct service to users, certain Weather Bureau 
 Forecast Centers have been designated as Fire-Weather Coordina- 
 tion Centers. These Centers support the Fire- Weather Offices by: 
 
 Mobile Fire-Weather Station which is moved to the scene of a 
 
 going fire. 
 
 2.1.1 Forecasting and Consultation Program 
 
 Fire-Weather Service is provided to interested user groups in 
 forest and range areas from Primary and Supplementary Fire- 
 Weather Offices. Primary Fire-Weather Offices are Weather 
 Bureau Offices located in or near major forested areas where they 
 can best meet the needs of user agencies; these offices are staffed 
 with one or more specially trained full-time fire-weather meteorol- 
 ogists. During the fire-weather season, these meteorologists are 
 responsible for the issuance of fire-weather forecasts for their 
 districts, and are on 24-hour call in critical periods. The size of a 
 fire-weather district varies according to local needs, topography, 
 and the complexity of weather patterns, usually ranging from 
 
(a) issuing special area guidance forecasts, which provide a broad 
 description of weather patterns and elements of special interest in 
 fire-weather problems, as well as diurnal variations of these fac- 
 tors; (b) maintaining a 24-hour weather watch for changes of 
 significance to fire-weather problems and alerting Primary and 
 Supplementary Fire-Weather Offices as necessary. 
 
 Advanced techniques are now being employed in fire suppres- 
 sion, such as aerial application of fire retardants and the use of 
 smoke- jumpers. Effective and safe employment of such tactics is 
 frequently dependent on accurate assessment of weather factors. 
 A significant additional capability has therefore been developed by 
 the Fire-Weather Service in the form of mobile and portable fire- 
 weather stations. The Mobile Fire- Weather Station comprises a 
 truck-mounted modified camper unit equipped with appropriate 
 meteorological instruments, two-way radio voice communication, 
 and radio facsimile. These units are driven to the scene of a fire 
 by fire-weather meteorologists. By this means the fire-weather 
 forecaster can provide effective service to fire control headquar- 
 ters and receive support from his home office. The Portable Fire- 
 Weather Station, designed for use in the Southeast and readily 
 adaptable to use in the rough terrain of Alaska, comprises a "suit- 
 case" set of meteorological observing equipment which can be 
 carried to the scene of a fire by automobile or helicopter. 
 
 Figure 1 indicates areas of the United States in which Fire- 
 Weather Service is now being provided through Primary or Sup- 
 plementary Fire-Weather Offices. Table 2 lists the Fire-Weather 
 Offices and Coordination Centers. Table 3 lists the products of 
 these activities. 
 
 The foregoing products and services are supplemented by an 
 additional function performed by all Fire-Weather personnel: that 
 of frequent consultation with fire control personnel. Forest man- 
 agement decisions often require that fire conditions at a given 
 time and place be anticipated. To minimize risk associated with a 
 given decision, consultation with the Fire-Weather forecaster is 
 highly desirable. Weather elements normally discussed include 
 amount, timing, and probability of weather changes; specific 
 effects of predicted weather; and other weather-related information 
 
 Table 2 — CURRENT FIRE-WEATHER SERVICE FACILITY 
 LOCATIONS — EI\D OF PHASE IV 
 
 Location 
 
 FW Mobile (M) 
 
 Coordination Primary Supplementary or Portable (P) 
 Centers FW Offices FW Offices FW Units 
 
 Albany, N. Y. 
 Albuquerque, N.Mex. 
 Anchorage, Alaska 
 Asheville, N. C. 
 Baltimore, Md. 
 Beckley, W. Va. 
 Billings, Mont. 
 Bismarck, N. Dak. 
 Boise, Idaho 
 Boston, Mass. 
 Cheyenne, Wyo. 
 Chicago, 111. 
 Cincinnati, Ohio 
 Columbia, S. C. 
 Denver, Colo. 
 Eureka, Calif. 
 Fairbanks, Alaska 
 Fort Smith, Ark. 
 Fresno, Calif. 
 Harrisburg, Pa. 
 Hartford, Conn. 
 Houghton Lake, Mich 
 Jackson, Miss. 
 Lander, Wyo. 
 Los Angeles, Calif. 
 Macon, Ga. 
 Medford, Oreg. 
 Memphis, Tenn. 
 Missoula, Mont. 
 Monterey, Calif, id) 
 Montgomery, Ala. 
 New York, N. Y. 
 North Platte, Nebr. 
 Olympia, Wash. 
 Pendleton, Oreg. 
 Phoenix, Ariz. 
 Portland, Oreg. 
 Raleigh, N. C. 
 Rapid City, S. Dak. 
 Redding, Calif. 
 Reno, Nev. 
 Sacramento, Calif. 
 Saint Louis, Mo. 
 Salem. Oreg. 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 X 
 
 
 (a) 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 \ 
 
 X 
 
 p 
 
 X 
 
 
 p 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 M 
 
 \ 
 
 
 M (2 units) 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 X 
 
 (c) 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 \ 
 
 
 P 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 \ 
 
 
 (c) 
 
 \ 
 
 
 M 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 \ 
 
 
 P 
 
 \ 
 
 
 M 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 X 
 
 P 
 
 \ 
 
 
 P 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 X 
 
 (c) 
 
 \ 
 
 
 M (2 units) 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 M 
 
 \ 
 
 
 M (2 units) 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 X 
 
 P 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 X 
 
 
 (b) 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 X 
 
 
 (c) 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 :: 
 
Figure l. — Fire-Weather Program, End of Phase IV. 
 
 ^j -°-^ 
 
 OO OfstfQ 
 
 LEGEND 
 
 ■jij" FW Coordination Center 
 O Primary FW Office 
 • Supplementary FW Office 
 
 State Boundary 
 
 Boundaries of Service Areas 
 
Table 2 — CURRENT FIRE-WEATHER SERVICE FACILITY 
 LOCATIONS— END OF PHASE IV 
 
 Location 
 
 FW Mobile (M) 
 
 Coordination Primary Supplementaryor Portable (P) 
 Centers FW Offices FW Offices FW Units 
 
 Salt Lake City, Utah 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 San Francisco, Calif. 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 
 Scottsbluff, Nebr. 
 
 
 
 \ 
 
 
 Seattle, Wash. 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 
 Sheridan, Wyo. 
 
 
 
 X 
 
 (c) 
 
 Shreveport, La. 
 
 
 \ 
 
 
 P 
 
 Tallahassee, Fla. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 Wenatchee, Wash. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 Totals 
 
 3 
 
 40 
 
 10 
 
 20 Mobile 
 18 Portable 
 
 (a) 1 Mobile Unit detailed from Boise to Albuquerque, 1/ IS— 7 '10 
 
 (b) 1 Mobile Unit detailed from Los Angeles to Phoenix, i/15 — 7/10. 
 (r) 1 Mobile Unit detailed from nearby office when requested 
 
 id) Planned move from San Francisco, 
 
 not routinely covered in daily forecasts. Examples of management 
 decisions requiring such consultation are: 
 
 a. Regional or inter-regional movement of fire control per- 
 sonnel and equipment to cope with unusual fire risks. 
 
 b. Closing or opening of forests to industrial or public 
 (camping, hunting, etc.) use. 
 
 c. Timing of controlled burning operations. 
 
 In addition to the day-to-day services provided by the Fire- 
 Weather Service, forest management decisions involving long- 
 range planning are also supported by climatological summaries 
 and services available from other ESSA agencies. 
 
 2.1.2 Data Collection Program 
 
 One of the prime requirements of the Fire-Weather Service is 
 an adequate network of observing stations within each forecast 
 district to provide data on elements which are critical to initiation 
 or control of a fire. The objectives of the data collection program 
 are: 
 
 Forest fires destroy valuable tvatersheds. There is need for ac- 
 curate weather information to aid in the suppression of fires such 
 as this one in Maine. (Courtesy Press-Herald — Evening Express, 
 Portland. Maine) 
 
 a. To provide Fire-Weather Offices with current data (sur- 
 face and upper air) required to forecast local effects of 
 broadscale weather patterns. 
 
 b. To provide Fire-Weather Offices with special reports of 
 severe weather conditions, mainly during periods of high 
 fire danger. 
 
 c. To provide a permanent record for research and other 
 purposes. 
 
 Forecasts required in support of fire control agencies cover 
 areas remote from normal observing sites, which are characteris- 
 tically located in towns or other inhabited areas. Observation 
 stations must therefore be established which provide data repre- 
 sentative of conditions in the forecast areas; the number required 
 
 10 
 
is a function of the climatic features of the area and the amount 
 of detailed information needed by fire control personnel. In the 
 interest of economy and efficiency, Fire-Weather observing stations 
 are usually collocated with fire danger stations 2 operated by the 
 fire control organization responsible for the area; observations are 
 taken and reported by the fire control personnel, and the fire pro- 
 tection organization normally bears the costs of instrumentation, 
 maintenance, and operation. Fire-Weather personnel may be con- 
 sulted in locating fire danger stations, and will assist in training 
 
 - A fire control agency station providing observations for use in calculating 
 fire danger ratings. 
 
 observers and inspecting to insure accuracy of observations. When 
 the fire-weather forecaster feels that meteorological observations 
 from additional co-operative fire-weather stations are needed, or 
 that existing fire danger stations should have additional instru- 
 ments, the instrumentation will be provided by the Weather 
 Bureau. 
 
 There are approximately 1100 Fire-Weather Observing Stations 
 in operation on a seasonal basis. These stations report once or 
 twice per day such elements as wind, temperature, humidity, dew 
 point, fuel moisture, precipitation, cloud types, visibility, and 
 occurrence of thunderstorms. More frequent observations are 
 made when fire danger is high. 
 
 Table 3— FIRE-WEATHER SERVICE PRODUCTS 
 
 Product 
 
 Period 
 
 Cycle 
 
 Content 
 
 Coverage 
 
 Originating Office 
 
 Fire-Weather Guidance Forecast 1 
 
 48 hr. 2 or 3 per day Interpretation of expected weather Coordination Center Fire- Weather 
 
 pattern and elements of interest in area of Coordination 
 
 terms significant to fire-weather responsibility Center 
 problems 
 
 Fire-Weather Forecast 
 
 36-48 hr. 
 
 1 or 2 per day 
 
 Temperature, humidity, wind, fuel 
 moisture, precipitation, thunder- 
 storms 
 
 Forest area 
 
 Primary or Supple- 
 mentary 2 Fire- 
 Weather Office 
 
 Special Fire-Weather Forecast 
 
 24 hr. and as 
 req'd. 
 
 As req'd. 
 
 Same as Fire-Weather Forecast but 
 more detail (localized) 
 
 Area of going fire 
 
 Primary or Supple- 
 mentary 2 Fire- 
 Weather Office 
 
 Special Fire-Weather Forecast 
 
 24 hr. and as 
 req'd. 
 
 As req'd. 
 
 Same as Fire-Weather Forecast but 
 more detail (localized) 
 
 Area of going fire 
 
 Mobile or Portable 
 Fire-Weather 
 Station 
 
 Special Forest Management 
 Forecast 3 
 
 Variable 
 
 On request 
 
 Wind, precipitation, temperature, 
 humidity, stability, other factors 
 as required 
 
 Local forest area 
 
 Primary or Supple- 
 mentary Fire- 
 Weather Office 
 
 1 Internal product not disseminated to users. 
 
 2 Produced at supplementary Fire-Weather Offices on demand or during periods of high fire danger. 
 
 3 In support of such operations as pest control and seeding. 
 
 11 
 
2.1.3 Dissemination Program 
 
 The effectiveness of the Fire-Weather Program depends upon 
 adequate two-way communications to insure timely receipt of ob- 
 servations, transmission of forecasts and warnings, and provision 
 of consulting services. Direct contact is therefore essential between 
 Fire-Weather Offices and the headquarters of fire protection 
 agencies, such as forest supervisors' offices and principal state 
 headquarters (or offices designated to serve for each) ; these head- 
 quarters are responsible for relay of weather information to sub- 
 ordinate activities. 
 
 Communications currently employed to meet the above objec- 
 tives are flexible to insure full utilization of existing facilities and, 
 therefore, vary between fire-weather districts. They have been de- 
 veloped in accordance with the following guide lines: 
 
 a. Communications between fire-weather offices and Weather 
 Bureau forecasters at fires and between fire-weather offices 
 and fire-weather coordination centers are provided by the 
 Weather Bureau. 
 
 b. Weather communications between protection agencies' 
 headquarters (such as a Forest Supervisor's office, or a 
 State Forester's office) and district or local fire protection 
 units are provided by the protection agencies. 
 
 c. Weather communications between a fire-weather office 
 and fire protection agencies' headquarters are provided by 
 one of several possible arrangements: 
 
 (1) By radio, utilizing facilities and frequencies furnished 
 by the protection agency. 
 
 (2) By fire-weather teletypewriter circuits, utilizing lines 
 and equipment furnished by the Weather Bureau. 3 
 
 (3) By protection agency teletypewriter circuits, utilizing 
 lines and equipment furnished by the protection 
 agency. 3 
 
 (4) By TWX, telephone or telegraph under the following 
 conditions: 
 
 (a) The Weather Bureau pays tolls for fire-weather 
 
 observations, 
 (b) Protection agencies pay tolls for transmitting 
 forecasts and warnings. 
 
 3 Prorated costs to fire-control agencies requiring send-receive drops on 
 Weather Bureau fire-weather teletypewriter circuits under C. (2), above, 
 are based on local drop and channel charges and equipment rental. The 
 Weather Bureau pays all long-line charges and rental for equipment in 
 Weather Bureau offices. Conversely, when the Weather Bureau requires 
 send-receive drops on fire-control teletypewriter circuits under C. (3) 
 above, that agency is reimbursed by the Weather Bureau for local drop 
 and channel charges and equipment rental costs. 
 
 Men and modern equipment used in fighting forest fires are 
 highly susceptible to sudden wind shifts. Accurate fire-weather 
 forecasts reduce the risks. 
 
 12 
 
2.2 AREAS OF POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENT 
 
 The foregoing description outlines the present Fire-Weather 
 Service which is meeting most needs of forestry interests in se- 
 lected areas of the United States, although current staffing at a 
 number of Primary Fire- Weather Offices does not allow for meet- 
 ing new user requirements or for the effective application of new 
 technology. In contrast, forestry interests throughout the remain- 
 ing areas must, with few exceptions, plan and carry out their oper- 
 ations on the basis of forecasts and advisories which are designed 
 to serve the general public. Weather Bureau Offices have, in 
 some cases, made improvised arrangements to provide specialized 
 products of particular importance to a locally significant forestry 
 operation, as an "add-on" to their normal public weather service 
 activities. These efforts usually lack effectiveness, and the level of 
 service is unsatisfactory for the following reasons: 
 
 a. Public service forecasts and advisories, while frequently 
 of general interest to forestry, do not cover all param- 
 eters of importance. 
 
 b. No forestry advisories are available for interpreting the 
 forecast meteorological parameters in terms of probable 
 effects on forestry operations. 
 
 c. No specialized forecasts are available for going fires or 
 areas of controlled burns. 
 
 d. Special forestry observations, which are essential to the 
 production of adequate forecasts, are not available to the 
 forecaster. 
 
 e. Effective dissemination of fire-weather forecasts and warn- 
 ings is lacking. 
 
 Because of the importance of forestry resources to the economy 
 and public welfare, there is a demonstrated need to remedy these 
 deficiencies by providing an improved level of Fire-Weather Serv- 
 ice to other areas of the United States. This Federal Plan for a 
 Nationwide Fire- Weather Service has been based on this need. 
 
 3.0 PLANNED FIRE-WEATHER 
 SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM 
 
 3.1 PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 
 
 User requirements in areas that are not presently receiving the 
 improved Fire-Weather products and services described in Section 
 
 2.1 and widespread recognition of the Service Program's benefits 
 have resulted in an increasing demand for broadening the scope 
 of the Service. These products and services will be gradually 
 phased into the remaining forest and grassland areas of the con- 
 terminous United States and Alaska. Figure 2 indicates the loca- 
 tions of the activities associated with the implementation of the 
 remainder of the nine-phase program. Figure 3 depicts the nation- 
 wide coverage when the program has been fully implemented. 
 
 3.2 SERVICE SYSTEM CONFIGURATION 
 
 Improvement of the Fire-Weather Service is based primarily on 
 carrying out the remaining phases of the nine-phase program to 
 provide coverage for currently unserviced areas and areas not 
 adequately served. This action constitutes the change necessary in 
 the present system configuration to meet the specific requirements 
 of user groups. 
 
 This expansion will require the establishment of Fire-Weather 
 Offices at selected Weather Bureau locations noted in figure 2 to 
 provide forecast service in areas that may cover part or all of a 
 State, or parts of several States. These Fire-Weather Offices will 
 perform functions and generate products as described in Section 
 2.1.1. In addition, they will assume responsibility for the provi- 
 sion of the specialized consultation service required for forest and 
 range management. Staffs at undermanned offices now providing 
 service will also be strengthened and the use of mobile fire-weather 
 stations as advisory forecast offices at the sites of large wild fires 
 or prescribed burning operations will be expanded to new areas 
 as needed. 
 
 13 
 
Figure 2— Fire- Weather Program, Phase V Through IX. 
 
 ■fe FW Coordination Center 
 O Primary FW Office 
 D FW Research Office 
 + FW Staff Augmented 
 State Boundaries 
 
o 
 
 ■PL 
 
 A 
 
 %>// 
 
 Mt Tu 
 o 
 
 Figure 3. — Fire-Weather Program, End of Phase IX. 
 
 TCHe, 
 
 El 
 
 I . ! GREAT 
 
 falls 
 
 A 
 
 
 gUlNGs 
 
 i EU *EH A 7p 
 
 BISMARK 
 
 ' RAPID CITY 
 
 \ 
 
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 P LT LAKE CITY% /°*TO^~ 
 | CITY ! COLLINS 
 
 ! I i^o 
 
 DENVER j 
 
 -i 
 
 S MINNEAPOLIS 
 
 I UNSERVICED 
 
 v, 'CHICAGO 1 
 
 «w 
 
 NORTH PLATTE ' s __. 
 
 I ST. LOUIS <b) | 
 
 fe»sw«Hf JACKSON f O \ 
 
 SHREVEP0RT/ [MONTGOMERY, 
 
 » / I 1 
 
 i u *> , 
 
 ^MEMPHIS ^cfZ^^""^'"-- — -'-. 
 
 | FORT SMITH /I VIEMPH 
 
 ;0 m--y-'- "YJ^lanTA*. o 
 
 1 ^ \ COLUMBIA 
 
 I 
 
 O \ MACON 
 
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 \ MR CON \; 
 
 tallahasse 
 
 LEGEND 
 
 >V" FW Coordination Center 
 O Primary FW Office 
 • Supplementary FW Office 
 □ FW Research Office 
 — — State Boundaries 
 
 FW Areas of Responsibility 
 Boundaries of Service Areas 
 
Table 4— FIRE-WEATHER PROGRAM ACTIVITY- 
 PHASE V THROUGH IX 
 
 Table 5—FIRE-WEATHER SERVICE FACILITY LOCATIONS- 
 END OF PHASE IX 
 
 PHASE 
 
 ACTIVITY 
 
 V — Establish Primary Fire-Weather Offices at Minneapolis, Minn. 
 
 and Nashville, Tenn. 
 — Upgrade Supplementary Fire-Weather Offices at Sheridan, Wyo. 
 
 and Cheyenne, Wyo. to Primary Fire- Weather Offices. 
 — Augment existing Primary Fire-Weather Office staffs at Boise, 
 
 Idaho, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Denver, Colo. 
 — Augment Fire-Weather Research program at Washington, D. C. 
 — Close Supplementary Fire-Weather Offices at Lander, Wyo. and 
 
 Memphis, Tenn. 
 
 VI — Establish Fire-Weather Coordination Centers at Great Falls, Mont., 
 Denver, Colo., Albuquerque, N. Mex., New Orleans, La., Miami, 
 Fla., Atlanta, Ga., and Raleigh, N. C. 
 
 — Establish Primary Fire-Weather Offices at Juneau, Alaska, Mar- 
 quette, Wis., Portland, Maine and Roanoke, Va. 
 
 — Upgrade Supplementary Fire-Weather Office at New York, N. Y. 
 to Primary Fire-Weather Office. 
 
 — -Augment existing Primary Fire- Weather Office staffs at Anchorage, 
 Alaska, Reno, Nev., Fresno, Calif., and Boston, Mass. 
 
 — Establish Fire-Weather Research Offices at Missoula, Mont., River- 
 side, Calif., and Macon, Ga. 
 
 — Augment existing Fire-Weather Research program at Washington, 
 D. C. 
 
 VII — Establish Fire-Weather Coordination Centers at Minneapolis, Minn., 
 Chicago, 111., Memphis, Tenn., Washington, D. C, New York, 
 N. Y., and Boston, Mass. 
 
 — Upgrade Supplementary Fire-Weather Office at Hartford, Conn, to 
 Primary Fire-Weather Office. 
 
 — Augment Primary Fire-Weather Office staffs at Pendleton, Oreg., 
 Medford, Oreg., Redding, Calif., Sacramento, Calif., and San Fran- 
 cisco, Calif. 
 
 — Augment Fire-Weather Research Office staffs at Missoula, Mont, 
 and Macon, Ga. 
 
 VIII — Augment Fire-Weather Research program at Washington, D. C. 
 
 IX — Augment Fire- Weather Research Office staff at Washington, D. C. 
 — Establish Fire- Weather Research Office at Fort Collins, Colo. 
 
 
 FW 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Coor- 
 
 
 Supple- 
 
 Mobile (M) 
 
 
 
 dina. 
 
 Primary 
 
 mentary 
 
 or Portable 
 
 FW 
 
 
 Cen- 
 
 FW 
 
 FW 
 
 (P) FW 
 
 Research 
 
 Location 
 
 ters* 
 
 Offices 
 
 Offices 
 
 Units 
 
 Offices 
 
 Albany, N. Y. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 Albuquerque, N. Mex. 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 
 (a) 
 
 
 Anchorage, Alaska 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 Asheville, N. C. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 Atlanta, Ga. 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 
 Baltimore, Md. 
 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 Beckley, W. Va. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 Billings, Mont. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 Bismarck, N. Dak. 
 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 Boise, Idaho 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 M (2 units) 
 
 
 Boston, Mass. 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 Cheyenne, Wyo. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 (c) 
 
 
 Chicago, 111. 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 Cincinnati, Ohio 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 Columbia, S. C. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 Denver, Colo. 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 
 (0 
 
 
 Eureka, Calif. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 Fairbanks, Alaska 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 Fort Collins, Colo. 
 
 
 
 
 
 X 
 
 Fort Smith, Ark. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 Fresno, Calif. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 Great Falls, Mont. 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 
 Harrisburg, Pa. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 Hartford, Conn. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 Houghton Lake, Mich. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 Jackson, Miss. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 Juneau, Alaska 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 Los Angeles, Calif. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 M (2 units) 
 
 
 Macon, Ga. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 X 
 
 Marquette, Wis. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 Medford, Oreg. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 Memphis, Tenn. 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 
 Miami, Fla. 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 
 Minneapolis, Minn. 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 Missoula, Mont. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 M (2 units) 
 
 X 
 
 Monterey, Calif. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 Montgomery, Ala. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 Nashville, Tenn. 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 16 
 
Table 5— FIRE-WEATHER SERVICE FACILITY LOCATIONS- 
 END OF PHASE IX 
 
 Location 
 
 New Orleans, La. 
 New York, N. Y. 
 North Platte, Nebr. 
 Olympia, Wash. 
 Pendleton, Oreg. 
 Phoenix, Ariz. 
 Portland, Maine 
 Portland, Oreg. 
 Raleigh, N. C. 
 Rapid City, S. Dak. 
 Redding, Calif. 
 Reno, Nev. 
 Riverside, Calif. 
 Roanoke, Va. 
 Sacramento, Calif. 
 Saint Louis, Mo. 
 Salem, Oreg. 
 Salt Lake City, Utah 
 San Francisco, Calif. 
 Scottsbluff, Nebr. 
 Seattle, Wash. 
 Sheridan, Wyo. 
 Shreveport, La. 
 Tallahassee, Fla. 
 Washington, D. C. 
 Wenatchee, Wash. 
 
 Totals 
 
 FW 
 
 Coor- 
 dina. 
 Cen- 
 ters* 
 
 Supple- Mobile (M) 
 
 Primary mentary or Portable FW 
 
 FW FW (P) FW Research 
 
 Offices Offices Units Offices 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 X 
 
 X 
 X 
 
 X 
 X 
 X 
 X 
 X 
 
 X 
 X 
 X 
 X 
 X 
 
 X 
 X 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 M 
 M 
 
 (b) 
 
 M 
 
 P 
 
 (c) 
 
 M 
 
 M 
 
 M 
 
 P 
 M 
 M 
 
 (c) 
 
 P 
 
 P 
 
 M 
 
 16 
 
 50 
 
 20 Mobile 
 18 Portable 
 
 (a) 1 Mobile Unit detailed from Boise to Albuquerque, 4/15-7/10. 
 (6) 1 Mobile Unit detailed from Los Angeles to Phoenix, 4/15-7/10. 
 (c) Mobile Unit detailed from nearby office when requested. 
 
 * The number of these centers is subject to revision in accord with possible 
 changes in the forecast organization, currently under study. 
 
 Selected Forecast Centers will be designated as Fire-Weather 
 Coordination Centers to support the Fire-Weather Offices by pro- 
 viding: (a) fire-weather guidance forecasts, (b) 24-hour weather 
 watches to insure detection of unexpected weather developments 
 that may have a significant impact on fire danger, and (c) con- 
 sultation during complex weather situations. 
 
 The ability to provide accurate and meaningful forecasts and 
 advisories for fire control areas depends on the availability of 
 weather observations from sites which are truly representative of 
 conditions in those areas. Special fire-weather observing stations 
 will be established as required to augment the existing meteorolog- 
 ical and forestry networks. The number of reporting stations re- 
 quired will be a function of area size, topography, and vegetation. 
 
 Finally, the communications required for the collection of ob- 
 servations and the dissemination of forecasts, advisories, and re- 
 lated information to users and other interested subscribers will be 
 provided by teletypewriter networks or other available means. 
 Guidelines for the establishment and operation of communication 
 facilities in the newly serviced areas will be similar to those out- 
 lined in Section 2.1.3. 
 
 3.3 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 
 
 Improvements in Fire-Weather Service that will be realized by 
 implementation of this plan are based on the continued expansion 
 of features already underway, and the addition of certain new 
 features to the Program. A nine-phase implementation has been 
 planned for the conterminous United States and Alaska. Cur- 
 rently, four of these phases have been implemented, providing 
 Fire-Weather Service to a large portion of the Nation's forested 
 areas, as described in Section 2.1. Implementation of the remain- 
 ing phases will expand this Service to the Nation's unserviced 
 forest and range areas and augment existing Fire-Weather Offices 
 as described in Table 4 and depicted in figure 2. It will also 
 establish supporting programs for research and development and 
 for education and training, as described in Section 4.0. 
 
 17 
 
Upon complete implementation, as depicted in figure 3, special- 
 ized weather forecast and warning services will be provided to 
 meet fire control agencies' established requirements in the con- 
 terminous United States and Alaska. Table 5 lists the Fire- 
 Weather Service facility locations as the end of Phase IX. 
 
 4.0 SUPPORTING PROGRAMS 
 
 4.1 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
 PROGRAM 
 
 Future improvement of the Fire-Weather Service depends in 
 part on a vigorous program of supporting research and develop- 
 ment. This is particularly important because of the unique nature 
 of fire-weather forecasting and of the small amount of work that 
 has been done in this field. To insure effective accomplishment 
 of the Service Program, the Weather Bureau will initiate an 
 extensive fire-weather Research and Development Program that 
 will keep the fire-weather service abreast of advances in meteor- 
 ology and equip it to meet the requirements of the increasingly 
 dynamic fire control organizations throughout the United States. 
 
 Much of the development of improved fire-weather forecasting 
 techniques by the Weather Bureau and the fire-behavior research 
 by protection agencies is closely related. Interests in some cases 
 are nearly identical and, where practical, work should be carried 
 on jointly to insure balanced progress and to strengthen the out- 
 put of both in their own responsibilities. Development of forecast 
 techniques must be concentrated on finding ways to improve the 
 ability to predict local weather effects. Fire-behavior research is 
 concentrated on identification and measurement of weather factors 
 and their combinations that influence the behavior of fires. 
 
 In some areas, specialized problems are of mutual interest and 
 have a high priority with the fire-weather forecasters and protec- 
 tion agencies. Examples of problems affecting fire-weather con- 
 ditions in various areas of the United States are: 
 
 a. Northwest Local effects of maritime and 
 
 continental factors. 
 
 b. Southwest Local effects of heating and 
 
 topography. 
 
 c. Rocky Mountains Forecasting thunderstorms and 
 
 the effects of subsidence. 
 
 d. Lake and Central Effects of instability, subsid- 
 States ence, frontal passages, and ex- 
 tended drought. 
 
 e. South and East Forecasting conditions of in- 
 
 stability, land and sea effects, 
 and extended drought. 
 
 Because of the local and specialized nature of these problems, 
 it will be necessary to detail men temporarily to field locations 
 and to work with forest service fire research laboratories. The 
 U. S. Forest Service has established fire research laboratories, at 
 Riverside, Calif., Missoula, Mont., and Macon, Ga. A new labora- 
 tory is presently being established at Fort Collins, Colo. Close 
 Weather Bureau collaboration with these laboratories is impor- 
 tant; therefore, meteorological research positions will be set up 
 at each. 
 
 Specific work required for an effective supporting research and 
 development program is as follows: 
 
 a. Development of techniques for interpreting the National 
 Meteorological Center's prognostic charts in terms of 
 fire-weather elements such as maximum temperature, 
 minimum relative humidity, wind speed and direction, 
 surface turbulence, and fuel moisture. 
 
 b. Development of operational station forecast rules and 
 techniques for fire-weather elements. These should be 
 related closely with prognostic charts. Some work has 
 been started in local station studies. These operational 
 studies should be expanded and given careful direction 
 and supervision. 
 
 c. Development of techniques for forecasting local condi- 
 tions for surrounding areas in terms of the expected 
 
 18 
 
There is close collaboration between the Weather Bureau and 
 many fire protection organizations. Here a Forest Service ranger 
 makes the regular weather reading at a fire-danger station in 
 Superior National Forest, Minnesota. 
 
 values at a central, or key, station. 
 
 d. Investigation of typical wind drainage patterns and their 
 relationship to temperature, humidity, and fuel moisture. 
 These relations and patterns are necessary in the develop- 
 ment of the above objectives. 
 
 e. Development of techniques for the use of radar in fire- 
 weather forecasting, with special attention to thunder- 
 storms and lightning. 
 
 f. Development of techniques for localizing thunderstorm 
 forecasts and for forecasting the number of lightning 
 strikes, the amount or lack of precipitation, and the 
 extent of gusty surface winds in expected thunderstorms. 
 Lightning-caused fires constitute a major problem in the 
 Rockies and West Coast Areas. 
 
 g. Development of techniques for an improved 3 to 5-day 
 outlook in terms of wind, humidity, temperature, and 
 precipitation. 
 
 In order to improve the effectiveness of the research and 
 development program, provision will be made for computer 
 analysis of weather data. Up to 1961, a large number of fire- 
 weather and fire-danger stations' records were punched on cards. 
 There is need to bring these records up to date and to continue 
 processing. Development work, listed as items a. through g. above, 
 will also require data processing in increasing amounts as the 
 program accelerates. 
 
 Further development of specialized equipment is also required 
 as follows: 
 
 a. Portable vertical sounding equipment to obtain tempera- 
 ture, wind, and humidity profiles up to 10,000 feet near 
 large fires in remote areas. 
 
 b. Automatic, low-cost weather stations and associated tele- 
 metering systems for routine use and for special local 
 studies. 
 
 c. Inexpensive, portable equipment for securing temperature, 
 wind, and moisture data from helicopters and small planes 
 assigned to routine patrol, or on reconnaissance of large 
 fires. 
 
 19 
 
d. Improved meteorological equipment for mobile unit op- 
 eration. 
 
 4.2 EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM 
 
 Any expansion or future improvement in Weather Bureau Fire- 
 Weather Service depends on the availability of trained personnel 
 to staff and maintain fire-weather offices. At present, there is no 
 organized fire-weather training program to provide these required 
 personnel other than the existing in-service (on-the-job) training, 
 which employees receive upon entering into service. 
 
 In order to provide for the highly competent personnel required 
 to fully implement the Fire-Weather Service Program and to ade- 
 quately fill vacancies in the present organization as they occur, 
 the Weather Bureau will establish training programs at two levels 
 in addition to the present on-the-job training program. 
 
 First, the Weather Bureau will sponsor special Forestry 
 Meteorological Institutes at Land Grant Colleges in selected areas 
 of the country. These institutes will consist of a one-semester 
 curriculum of intensive training for meteorologists in subjects 
 related to forestry. It is not expected that one semester under 
 such a training program will develop foresters or fire-weather 
 specialists, but it will provide Weather Bureau meteorologists with 
 a clear grasp of the problems of foresters and the relation of these 
 problems to weather phenomena. Such intermediate-level training 
 will also serve as a coordination mechanism to facilitate the ex- 
 change of ideas between meteorologists and foresters. Secondly, 
 the Weather Bureau will sponsor advanced one-year University 
 scholarships for fire-weather forecasters and research personnel. 
 This training may cover the areas of forest meteorology, manage- 
 ment, and other pertinent fields. This advanced and more formal- 
 ized level of training will meet the future needs of research and 
 program management and will be offered to selected personnel 
 interested in the Fire-Weather Service Program. 
 
 An important additional objective of this multilevel training is 
 to enhance the career development potential of personnel in fire- 
 weather as well as other Weather Bureau programs. 
 
 Recreation is one of the valuable resources of the National 
 Forests. Decisions on opening and closing of hunting and camping 
 grounds such as this in the Sierra National Forest in California 
 depend greatly on accurate weather information. 
 
 20 
 
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 ■ *- 
 
 V 
 
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 in