Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group
Memorandum
To:
PNWCG Steering Committee
From:
Mike Ziolko, Chair, Weather Working Team
Date:
January 16, 2002
Re:
2001 Annual Activity Summary and 2002 Workplan
The following people were agency representatives on the Weather Working Team (WWT) in 2001: Roddy Baumann
(USFWS), Tom Nichols (NPS), Greg Sinnett (DNR), Paul Werth (USFS/BLM/NWCC); Mike Ziolko (Chair, ODF).
Terry Marsha (BIA) replaced Gene Lonning (BIA) during the year. Steve Todd (NWS, Portland) joined as the NWS
liaison during the year.
The WWT met six times in 2001. Conference calls were used for additional discussions.
2001 PROJECTS and ACTIVITIES
1. PNWCG/NWS Agreement
A major accomplishment was the completion and signing of the working agreement with the National Weather
Service. The agreement was signed March 28, 2001 after 15 months of negotiations.
The agreement calls for biannual meetings in February and November each year. A report summarizing the
November meeting with recommendations to the NWS and PNWCG is to be delivered by December 15 each
year. Because of numerous conflicts, the scheduled November 2001 meeting was held on December 17-18. A
report will be prepared early in 2002 and submitted to the NWS and PNWCG providing a summary of 2001
activities and recommendations for 2002 fire season. Meeting discussion items included:

Fire weather coordination calls

Spot forecasts

Interactive forecast preparation system

IMET dispatches

Agency activity briefings
As part of the Agreement work and the December meeting, the Working Team also participated in the
development of the Annual Operating Plan, red flag review (see below) and discussions on forecast zone
boundaries.
2. Weather Network
Phase 1 work resumed on this project in 2001 after being delayed because of work on the agreement with the
NWS. Analysis of data from RAWS stations in the Pacific Northwest resulted in the development of a
recommended set of stations that would comprise the backbone for a NFDRS network in Oregon and
Washington.
Meetings were held in six locations (Olympia, Wenatchee, Pendleton, Salem, Bend and Medford) to review the
draft recommendations and solicit input from field users. Modifications were made to the list of backbone
stations. The modified list includes 76 stations. The list will be transmitted to field offices for final comment and
then recommendations will be submitted to PNWCG for final approval.
3. Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch Issues
The Weather Working Team convened a small task team of selected users and NWS personnel to further develop
red flag warning criteria. The group refined criteria to more closely align criteria used at forecast offices with
neighboring offices. The task team also identified possible alternative parameters to use in setting criteria for red
flag events. Parameters would be tied to indices generated from the NFDRS. Work on this aspect of the criteria
will continue in 2002.
Paul Werth produced a red flag warning and fire weather watch verification study again in 2001. This study was
reviewed at the December biannual meeting with the NWS. Major findings in the study included significant
improvement at the Pendleton and Portland forecast offices in the false alarm rate for red flag events and better
coordination between offices.
4. Fire Weather Zones
The NWS presented proposed fire weather zone boundary changes at the December biannual meeting.
Agreement was reached on most boundary changes except for several areas in Oregon where the NWS needed to
have further discussions with field users. The Working Team agreed to the changes contingent upon field
acceptance.
5. National MOU with the NWS
The Working Team provided input to NWCG regarding provisions of a national MOU with the NWS pertaining
to fire weather services. Issues included: local agreements, the role of GACC meteorologists and fire agency use
of IMETs. An issue had been raised by the NWS about services that were being provided by NWCC and a
response for that concern was sent to NIFC.
2002 Projected Work
1.
NWCG/NWS biannual meetings
The February biannual meeting will develop changes for 2002 operations that will be reflected in the Annual
Operating Plan. A meeting will be scheduled for November to review the 2002 season. The Annual Operating
Plan is scheduled to be available by March 15. Primary availability will be via the Internet.
2.
Weather Network
Phase 1 work on the NFDRS backbone network is expected to be completed during February after a final field
review. Recommendations to PNWCG would be submitted in March or April, depending upon the comments
received.
Phase 2 work on the network will begin. Phase 2 would focus on weather station needs for other activities such
as smoke management, other fire management uses, and special projects.
3.
Fire Weather Zones
Changes to fire weather zone boundaries will be finalized with changes effective April 1.
4.
Red Flag Criteria
A working group will reconvene to further refine red flag criteria for dry lightning situations and review strong
wind and low relative humidity criteria. Verification work will continue in cooperation with the NWS on red flag
issues.
5.
PNWCG/NWS Agreement
Further development, implementation and verification of products and services provided under the interagency
agreement will continue. Periodic reports will be submitted to PNWCG.
In general, the Working Team will also maintain contact with the California Wildfire Coordinating Group on issues of
mutual concern. Also, coordination and communications with other PNWCG working teams needs to be established
and maintained.