Star Fire Incident Using High Tech Portable Weather Stations

French Meadows Reservoir, CA – Firefighters on the Star Fire Incident are using high tech portable weather stations called RAWS (Remote Automated Weather Station) to predict weather on the fire and protect firefighters on the lines. Three RAWS have been strategically placed on different sides of the fire to collect vital, site-specific weather data that can quickly warn firefighters of weather changes that might put them at risk.  The information about winds and relative humidity provided by these weather stations was critical to the success of the burnout operations last night. 

RAWS equipment can be packed into a large, suitcase-sized container and transported by truck or helicopter to strategic geographic locations on remote fires. Fire RAWS collect, store and forward data by interrogated voice radio with new data available every fifteen minutes. Each RAWS is capable of collecting information on wind speed and direction, peak winds, air temperature, fuel temperature, fuel moisture, relative humidity and warning systems related to low relative humidity and high winds.

On the Star Fire Incident, three RAWS are arranged in a triangle around the fire on the northeast side, northwest side, and southeast side.  Alarm warning systems are set to go off if relative humidity drops below a pre-selected percentage or wind speeds exceed defined miles per hour.  The settings are determined based on a combination of weather and fuel condition variables.  These warning will alert firefighters of potentially dangerous fire conditions so that they can take appropriate action promptly.

Fire behavior specialists also use RAWS data to help predict the speed and direction of how the fire progresses. These predictions allow fire managers to more effectively and safely plan strategy and tactics for fighting the fire.

The Star Fire started on Saturday, August 25, and grew from 10 acres to 3,000 the following day and then doubled in size the third day. 

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