IMETs in action: June 11th

Wildfire activity is starting to ramp out in western portions of the United States, and this means more National Weather Service (NWS)  Incident Meteorologists (IMET) are being deploy to provide onsite weather support on wildfires including providing weather forecasts and briefings for the crews working the wildfire.

There is a nice photo essay showing scenes from IMET's working wildfires posted on June 7th on the NWS IMET Facebook Page.

Here is some information on IMET deployments for the last week, deployment information is from the NWS IMET Facebook Page for the relevant date:

• On June 6th, a NWS IMET from the US National Weather Service Southern Region HQ was deployed to the Scenic Loop Complex near Fort Davis Texas. This fire has burned 26,042 acres and is 80 percent contained on June 11th, helicopters and SEATs are working this fire. A NWS IMET Trainee from the US National Weather Service Houston-Galveston Texas traveled to the Scenic Loop fire on June 8th.
• On June 7th a NWS IMET from the US National Weather Service Grand Junction Colorado was deployed to the 416 Fire near Durango CO, as I write this the wildfire has burned 22,131 acres and is 10 percent contained, helicopters including at least one type-1 helicopter is or was working this fire.. In addition, a NWS IMET Trainee from the US National Weather Service Albuquerque New Mexico was deployed the 416 Fire on June 10th. Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today reported on this fire on June 8th (with a spectacular photo of 
• A NWS IMET from the US National Weather Service Flagstaff Arizona traveled to the Soldier Canyon Fire near Mescalero New Mexico (no information on Inciweb), but I did find a June 11th update on this fire from nmfireinfo reporting that this wildfire had burned 1,300 acres and was at 28 percent containment. Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters are or were working this fire.

My thanks to the NWS IMETS for all that you are doing to keep those working on your assigned wildfires safe. Your briefings, forecasts, and other weather support services you are providing save lives! Stay safe.