(Feb. 5, 2007) - The first group of NOAA National Weather Service Incident Meteorologists (IMETS) has arrived in Australia to provide fire weather support for the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. According to Australia's Department of Sustainability and Environment, 1.2 million acres in the country's southern states have been consumed by wildfires during the last six months.

In the wake of the worst drought Australia has experienced in more than a century, the massive blazes have been blamed for the deaths of at least a dozen people; tens of thousands of farm and wild animals; the destruction of hundreds of homes and thousands of acres of forest; widespread power outages; and, they have stretched the nation's firefighting ability to capacity.

Meteorological support for the thousands of firefighters in the field has also been stretched to the limit, prompting the Australian Bureau of Meteorology to request help from the National Weather Service. Twelve volunteer IMETS are scheduled to provide fire weather support over the next several months.

Each group of four IMETS will spend approximately three weeks on location in three weather forecast offices across Australia. Along with their Australian counterparts, they will be responsible for providing critical forecasts on temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction for fire managers in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. Up-to-date, accurate weather reports are critical to field commanders responsible for developing the safest, most efficient fire control strategies.

IMETs provide tailored weather forecasts as part of a flexible and dynamic Incident Command System that provides the support structure needed to manage critical fire and all-hazards situations in a coordinated and safe manner, according to Heath Hockenberry, national fire weather program manager at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. "Safety is the cornerstone of the IMET mission, and the Incident Command System recognizes that situational awareness derived from weather forecasts is essential," said Hockenberry. "In Australia, the forecasting volunteers will assist their Australian forecasting partners in providing information to keep Incident Command Teams and fire crews safe."

"This is an unusual opportunity to work with international partners in a real emergency situation," said Hockenberry. "I'm certain our IMETS will provide excellent service and assistance to the skilled and dedicated Australian fire weather forecasters."

February is typically the hottest and driest month in Australia. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology anticipates a continuing high level of fire danger in the weeks and months ahead.

On the web:
NOAA National Weather Service Fire Information Center: http://www.noaa.gov/fireweather.
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology: http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/national.