IMETs in action: July 23 2018

Wildfire activity is on the increase in the United States, according to the National Interagency Fire Center the national (wildfire) preparedness level was raised to four (on a five point scale) as I write this blog post. National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists, aka IMETS, are always busy during wildfire season, this one being no exception. They are perhaps, a little busier with the national preparedness level being four.

Among recent IMET deployments, with links to fire information from Inciweb where available, are:

• NWS Western Region Headquarters IMET deployed to the Sugar Pine Fire (near Prospect Oregon) on July 19th, current fire information from Inciweb at 886 acres burned, containment unknown.
• NWS Ohio River Forecast Center IMET trainee deployed to Sugar Pine Fire (near Prospect Oregon on July 21st.
• NWS Burlington VT IMET deployed to Lake Christine Fire (near Basalt Colorado) on July 20th, current fire information from Inciweb at 11,459 acres at 32 percent containment.
• NWS Portland OR IMET deployed to Timber Crater Fire (near Chemult Oregon).
• NWS Hanford California IMET deployed to Horse Creek Fire (near Mineral King, California) on July 22nd, current fire information from Inciweb at 30 acres with no containment
• NWS Elko Nevada IMET deployed to Owyhee Fire (near Owyhee, Nevada) on July 22nd, current fire information from Inciweb at 5,082 acres at 10 percent containment.

IMETs save lives. Stay safe everyone, and thanks to the wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air along with their support teams for working to keep us safe from wildfires.