Fire weather training sharpens skills, ensures IMET readiness to keep firefighters safe
IMET trainee Rebecca Muessle provides an update on weather conditions to fire crews at Six Rivers Lightning Fire in Northern California on August 23, 2022. Briefings and coordination between IMETs and fire managers happen several times a day to enable firefighters to safely combat wildfires. Trainees complete more than 225 hours of fire weather training and on-the-job training before becoming certified. (Image credit: NOAA)
NOAA National Weather Service Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) will gather in Boise, Idaho next week to complete specialized, intensive training 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 60 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 post. During training, IMETs learn how a fire reacts to certain weather, fuel and terrain. 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 before becoming certified.
NOAA has 82 certified IMETs and 32 trainees ready for deployment.
WHAT
Observe the training and interview IMETs and interview experts from CalFire
WHEN
Wed., March 15
9:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. MT
WHERE
Best Western Vista Inn Conference Center, just outside the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) front gate
2645 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, 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 output from computer models and other forecasting tools.
- Photo story: IMETs Fighting fire with forecasts, 2022
- B-roll of IMETs in the field, 2022
- Follow the weeklong training on Twitter @NWS_IMET_OPS
REGISTRATION
Reporters must register to attend by Tuesday, March 14 by contacting Kari Fleegel, kari.fleegel@noaa.gov, 906-362-1108 (cell).
Media contact
Kari Fleegel, kari.fleegel@noaa.gov, 906-362-1108 (cell)
