**[DTX Fire Weather Operations Plan 2007]{.underline}**

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height="1.9166666666666667in"}

**[1. Introduction]{.underline}**

This Fire Weather Annual Operating Plan (FWAOP) was developed to enhance
the communication and organization between members of NOAA's National
Weather Service and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, along
with other federal and state user agencies located within southeast
Michigan. The DTX Fire Weather Program will be conducted in accordance
with NWS Directive 10-4. Products issued, and their formats, are listed
in this directive. The primary goal of this Annual Operating Plan will
be to outline the services provided by the DTX National Weather Service
Office including any special operational procedures not covered in 10-4.

**[New Action Items]{.underline}**

The following actions will be implemented to ensure the quality of the
fire weather program.

a)  Update Fire Weather Program Station Duty Manual instructions.

b)  Perform verification on fire weather products.

**[2. Service Area and Directory]{.underline}**

DTX Service Area will be all of the National Weather Service Forecast
Office (WFO) Detroit County Warning Area. There will be 3 fixed Fire
Weather Zones named...

a)  Midland...Bay...Saginaw...Shiawassee...Genesee Counties

b)  Huron...Sanilac...Tuscola...Lapeer Counties

c)  St. Clair...Livingston...Oakland...Macomb...Washtenaw...
    Wayne...Lenawee...Monroe Counties

Primary backup service for the WFO Detroit Service Area is provided by
WFO Grand Rapids, and the secondary backup is WFO Gaylord. Similarly,
WFO Detroit will provide primary backup for the WFO Grand Rapids service
area and secondary backup to the WFO Gaylord service area. Reference the
Annual Operating Plans for lower Michigan for more detail on those
service areas.

**[Contacts and Customer Service]{.underline}**

**Michigan DNR...**

Roscommon (Main Office) Phone (xxx) xxx-xxxx

Fax (xxx) xxx-xxxx

Fire Duty Officers and their Extensions;

Randy McKenzie Ext xxxx

Jim Fisher Ext xxxx

Rita Defibaugh Ext xxxx

(Coordination Center)

Steve Cross (xxx) xxx-xxxx

**US Fish and Wildlife -- Shiawassee Wildlife Refuge...**

Jim Dastyck (xxx)xxx-xxxx

**WFO DTX...**

Fire Weather: (xxx) xxx-xxxx

Administration: (xxx) xxx-xxxx

FAX: (xxx) xxx-xxxx

Fire Weather Focal Point: Karen Kahl

Asst Fire WX Focal Point: Steve Considine

Meteorologist in Charge: Dick Wagenmaker

WCM: Rich Pollman

SOO: Greg Mann

Mailing Address: NWS Detroit

9200 White Lake Rd

White LakeTownship, MI 48386

**WFO GRR...**

Fire Weather: (xxx) xxx-xxxx

Administration: (xxx) xxx-xxxx

FAX: (xxx) xxx-xxxx

Fire Weather Focal Point: Nathan Jeruzal

Meteorologist in Charge: Dan Cobb

WCM: Mike Heathfield

SOO: Thomas Turnage

Mailing Address: NWS Grand Rapids

4899 South Complex Dr. SE

Grand Rapids MI 49512-4034

**WFO APX...**

Fire Weather: (xxx)xxx-xxxx

Administration: (xxx)xxx-xxxx

FAX: (xxx)xxx-xxxx

Fire Weather Focal Point: Jeff Lutz

Assit Fire Wx Focal Point: Mike Proud

Meteorologist in Charge: Gary Campbell

WCM: Jim Keysor

SOO: Bruce Smith

**[3. NWS Services Provided and Product Guidelines]{.underline}**

Format of the Fire Weather Planning Forecast and times of issuance are
coordinated with the customer at the beginning of each season. The
format of the fire weather products will comply with standards set forth
in NWS Directive 10-406. A copy of the directive is found at...

[http://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/sym/pd01004001curr.pdf]{.underline}

The format is standardized, in an effort to better serve transient fire
fighters. The fire fighters can look at any National Weather Service
Fire Weather Forecast, and be familiar with the format so that critical
weather information can be easily obtained.

Routine National Fire Danger Rating System (Point) Forecasts will
[not]{.underline} be issued by WFO Detroit. These forecasts will only be
issued by WFO Detroit when WFO Detroit is providing backup services for
WFO Grand Rapids or WFO Gaylord. Please reference the WFO GRR or WFO APX
Annual Operating Plan for details about this product.

Special forecasts, such as Spot Forecasts, will be issued as needed for
wild fires, prescribed burns, spraying, HAZMAT incidents, or other
special projects of the fire protection agencies.

A red flag program will be maintained throughout the fire season, to
support fire agencies in wildfire prevention and suppression tactics.

Close liaison between NOAA's National Weather Service and the fire
control agencies will be maintained to insure a smooth exchange of
essential information.

**[WFO Detroit will issue the following products]{.underline}...**

ARBFWFDTX -- Fire Weather Planning Forecast -- 2 times per day in season

ARBRFWDTX -- Red Flag Warning -- as conditions warrant

ARBFWSDTX -- Spot Forecasts -- as requested by various land management
agencies

Spot Forecasts (FWS) will continue to be requested through the internet
and forecasts will likewise be supplied through the internet. Routine
forecasts and warnings will be issued through AWIPS/GFE and be
disseminated via NWWS, WIMS, EMWIN, and the internet.

The defined season will be determined in coordination with WFO GRR and
state and national land management agencies as appropriate.

More specific information on the above products is provided below.

**Fire Weather Planning Forecast (FWF)** -

This forecast has two scheduled issuances, in the morning, between 400
am and 600 am and in the afternoon, between 300 pm and 400 pm. The
morning forecast will contain three periods and an extended portion,
while the afternoon forecast will contain four periods and an extended
forecast.

The forecasts will contain the following elements:

-   Headline - The headline should capture the most important aspect of
    the forecast, or a trend. If a Red Flag Warning or Fire Weather
    Watch is in effect, then this becomes the headline. The headline is
    optional when no Red Flag Warning or Fire Weather Watch is in
    effect.

-   Discussion -- This is a short paragraph outlining the synoptic
    features affecting the Great Lakes region during the next 1 to 5
    days.

-   Other forecast elements will include: cloud cover, chance and type
    of precipitation, precipitation amount, max and min temperatures and
    its trend, max and min relative humidity and its trend, 10 meter
    morning and afternoon winds in MPH, mixing height in 1000's of feet,
    and transport winds in knots.

-   Haines Index - This is a stability index that utilizes model
    soundings to produce a value from 2 to 6.

-   Ventilation Index (VI) - A smoke management tool used to measure the
    stability of the atmosphere, and how effectively fire generated
    pollutants will be able to disperse.

-   The extended forecast will be appended to the end of the different
    zones and will include the weather, sky cover, temperatures, and
    winds through day 7.

This forecast will be updated whenever the following conditions are
warranted.

-   A Fire Weather Watch is issued, cancelled or expired

-   A Red Flag Warning is issued, cancelled or expired

Methods of receiving and accessing routine Fire Weather Planning
Forecasts are as follows:

-   Agencies will routinely access the forecast via the internet at
    [www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx](http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx)[,]{.underline}
    [www.crh.noaa.gov/grr](http://www.crh.noaa.gov/grr),
    [www.crh.noaa.gov/apx](http://www.crh.noaa.gov/apx), or through WIMS
    (Weather Information and Management System).

-   If the above options are not available, then agencies are encouraged
    to call the respective National Weather Service Office directly.

**Spot Forecasts (FWS) -**

This forecast is prepared for a single location for a distinct period of
time. The forecast will range from one to three periods based on user
request with emphasis placed on the first 4 to 12 hours. The forecast is
requested by federal and state agencies during wildfires or prescribed
burns.

The forecast elements will usually consist of the highest or lowest
temperature during the period, the highest or lowest relative humidity,
wind direction and speed, chances of precipitation and duration, maximum
mixing height, and Haines Index.

Spot Forecast requests can come into the office by several means, the
internet, by fax, or by phone. The preferred method for requesting or
receiving Spot Forecasts will be via the internet. If internet usage is
not possible for requesting or receiving Spot Forecasts, then requesting
agencies should call the NWS office to request the forecast. The
requesting agency should submit an observation for the burn location
with the spot request.

Instructions for completing the Spot Forecast by National Weather
Service employees and the form used to fax in a spot request can be
accessed by forecasters under Fire Weather on the A-net.

When a request for a Spot Forecast is made by phone, National Weather
Service employees should use the Spot Forecast form to help prepare the
forecast.

Whether the Spot Forecast request is made by phone or the internet, NWS
employees will complete the request utilizing GFE. When the forecast is
submitted, it will produce a product in AWIPS which is printed
automatically, posted to the web page, and stored locally. This form can
be used for faxing.

**Fire Weather Watches (FWF) and Red Flag Warnings (RFW) -**

A Fire Weather Watch or Red Flag Warning event occurs whenever extremely
dry fuels combine with critical weather parameters to create an
atmosphere that could contribute to rapid wildfire growth with the
potential to threaten life and property.

**[Fire Weather Watch Criteria:]{.underline}**

Whenever a geographical area has received little precipitation allowing
fuels to dry to critical levels, (generally several weeks, or for a
shorter period if before spring green-up or after fall color) and
critical weather conditions are expected, then a Fire Weather Watch
should be considered. Consider a watch whenever the above conditions
will combine with these forecast weather parameters, within the next 24
to 48 hours.

1.  Sustained wind averaging \>= 20 mph (10m ASOS winds)

2.  Relative humidity \<= 25 percent

3.  Temperature \>= 75 degrees.

**[Red Flag Warning Criteria:]{.underline}**

A Red Flag Warning will be issued when the Fire Weather Forecaster has a
high degree of confidence that critical weather conditions, listed
below, will occur within the next 12 to 24 hours.

1.  Sustained wind averaging \>= 20 mph (10m ASOS winds)

2.  Relative humidity \<= 25 percent and

3.  Temperature \>= 75 degrees.

**Issuing a Red Flag Warning or Fire Weather Watch:**

a\. Coordinate with GRR and APX.

b\. Try to coordinate with the Michigan DNR to determine whether or not
fuels will be dry enough to support the headlines. If partners do not
feel fuels are dry enough, then no Red Flag Warning/Fire Weather Watch
will be needed, even if all other criteria will be met. Contact Randy
McKenzie or Jim Fisher at the DNR in Roscommon, (989)275-5151, to find
out. You will likely not be able to reach anyone at the DNR during
non-business hours. In this case the forecaster must use their best
judgment to determine if fuels are dry enough to warrant the
watch/warning, or if they should wait to contact someone.

c\. The warning (RFWDTX) will include the geographic area, duration of
the event and key weather parameters.

d\. Add the headline into the daily Fire Weather Forecast (ARBFWFDTX).

e\. Start an event clipboard (much like a severe weather package),
including all fire related products issued during the Red Flag event
(RFW, FWF, FWS).

f\. Subsequent Red Flag Warning messages or routine weather forecasts
shall carry the warning headline until the warning is cancelled.

g\. Call Steve Marien, the Fire Weather Forecaster at the Eastern Area
Coordination Center in St. Paul, Minnesota to notify him of the Red Flag
Warning. Business hour phone 612-713-7300, after business hours use the
number provided on the voice mail for the Duty Officer.

**Fire Weather Watch/Red Flag Warning Cancellation/Expiration:**

a\. Issue a RFWDTX to cancel the watch or warning.

b\. Update the FWFDTX to remove the headline.

**Non-routine services:**

Verification: Fire Weather Watches and Red Flag Warnings will be
verified by individual counties based on synoptic events. Verification
of Red Flag events will be tracked for all fire weather zones. The
criteria are as stated previously.

In order to determine if events have happened, forecasters should use
all information available to them such as surface observations,
satellite, radar data, and any land management agencies' weather
observations. Also, forecasters should use experience, judgment,
objectivity, consistency when verifying.

**[4. Wildland Fire Agency Responsibilities]{.underline}**:

The agency responsibility will be as noted in the Interagency Agreement
for Meteorological Services, between federal and state user agencies and
NOAA's National Weather Service.