5 Ways On-Scene Weather Data Benefits Emergency Response

Weather monitoring is a cornerstone for anticipating FIRE BEHAVIOR.

While agencies partner with the National Weather Service to provide forecasts, on-site monitoring provides an edge in real-time decision-making.

“The risk involved in fire suppression can be reduced if firefighters and fire managers pay attention and understand weather conditions that impact fire behavior,” stated the Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior training manual. This principle applies as well to urban and wildland-urban interface fire response.

Here are a few examples of how weather parameters affect fire behavior:¹

• – Above average temperatures are common on large fires.
• – Small changes in relative humidity that cannot be felt or seen can have a significant impact on fire behavior. The lower the humidity, generally, the more available the fine fuels are to carry fire.
• – Wind is the primary factor that influences fire spread: 1) increasing the supply of oxygen to the fire, 2) determining the direction of fire spread, 3) increasing the drying of the fuels, and 4) carrying sparks and firebrands ahead of the main fire causing new spot fires.

“Changes in wind speed and direction affect everyone on the fire from individual firefighters to fire managers on many portions of the fire. A sudden change in wind direction can cause firebrands to cross control lines. Increasing winds could cause previously quiet parts of the fire to increase in intensity.”¹

These factors directly influence line placement, resource commitment, escape route viability, and trigger points identified in the Incident Action Plan.

Starting with the forecast, local met data is combined with fuel conditions to determine the intensity and path of a fire, and the ideal location for fighting it.

Apparatus outfitted with automated weather stations can take meteorological monitoring to the incident, providing incident-specific weather intelligence at the point of decision, rather than relying on distant or delayed observations.

Additionally, specifically for wildland fire mitigation, networks of weather stations are deployed throughout high-risk areas. Bear Valley Electric Service installed 20 weather stations throughout their system. Real-time meteorological data at the various locations can be monitored via a phone app, offering “instant data that experts can analyze when time is short.”²

Eric Cardella, Engineering Supervisor, says, “In terms of fire safety, that’s important so that we can monitor the relative humidities, the temperature, the wind speeds and wind gusts.”²

¹Initial content was taken from National Wildfire Coordination Group. (2006). Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior. Section 2C. This has been updated with the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide 2025 which includes weather factors in almost every section from Risk Management Process on page 1, to Specific Hazards: Thunderstorm Safety, Critical Fire Weather, and Aviation Watch Out Situations.
²Weather Monitoring for Wildfire Mitigation. Retrieved from https://columbiaweather.com/applications/wildfire-mitigation/

“Hazardous materials response trucks are packed with equipment and instruments that give incident commanders and firefighters a critical look at the hazards they will be facing during a hazmat incident. Such equipment includes material analyzers, atmospheric monitoring systems, weather stations ...,” says Alan Petrillo in Fire Apparatus.¹

When hazardous chemicals are accidentally released into the environment, crucial decisions such as approach, staging, and potential evacuation, rely on accurate, up-to-the minute local weather data.

One critical tool is PLUME MODELING, which combines information about the chemical release with meteorological data overlaid on a map. Weather conditions greatly impact toxic cloud movement.

Up-to-date meteorological data is imperative for monitoring cloud movement to ensure responders and local inhabitants stay out of harm’s way.

“Depending upon meteorology, the toxic cloud could be several miles long, but only a few blocks wide. Changing wind patterns could cause the plume to shift or meander in another direction,” according to John S. Nordin, Ph.D.²

Accurate plume modeling supports Unified Command decisions related to evacuation perimeters, shelter-in-place orders, and interagency coordination.

Interoperability is key. Plume modeling software accepts met data from Internet sources and/or directly from a weather station. While weather data may be generally available on the Internet, many Internet applications upload data hourly or at 15-minute intervals, and the nearest data point may be miles away. On-site weather stations upload current, local met data in a matter of seconds for the best accuracy.

Vector wind measurements from CWS’s WeatherMaster™ Software can be used to project an initial plume corridor with confidence before the modeling software can gather sufficient data. With the Weather MicroServer, additional parameters can be integrated to value-added software.

When the Oregon State Fire Marshal established a state-wide Regional HazMat Emergency Response program, the teams were outfitted with weather stations from Columbia Weather Systems to feed met data automatically to PEAC software for plume modeling.³

¹ Petrillo, Alan. (2025, October) Trends in Hazardous Materials Instrumentation and  Equipment. Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment. Retrieved from https://www.fireapparatusmagazine.com/fire-apparatus/hazmat-trucks/trends-in-hazardous-materials-instrumentation-and-equipment/
² Nordin, John. Technical Dialogue: Evacuate or Shelter in Place. Retrieved from https://peac.aristatek.com/resources/#newsletter : 2003-05.
³ Petrillo, Alan (2016, September) New Hazmat Rigs Part of 10-Truck Order in Oregon. Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment. Retrieved from https://www.fireapparatusmagazine.com/fire-apparatus/hazmat-trucks/new-hazmat-rigs-part-of-10-truck-order-in-oregon/

Additional Resources:
Chitumalla, Pavan Kumar; Harris, Douglas; Thuraisingham, Bhavani; and Khan, Latifur. (2010, April). Emergency Response Applications: Dynamic Plume Modeling and Real-Time Routing. IEEE Internet Computing. 
Gerrish, John. (2006, Spring). HazMat Weather Part I: Mitigating the Unthinkable Retrieved from https://columbiaweather.com/anl_0406.html#hazmat
Gerrish, John. (2006, Autumn). HazMat Weather Part II: Weather Monitoring as a Force Multiplier. Retrieved from https://columbiaweather.com/anl_f06.html#hazmat2

From the initial Size-Up Report,¹ to After-Action Reports, accurate environmental data strengthens INCIDENT REPORTING, which can lead to better outcomes.

Documented environmental conditions strengthen after-action reviews, training revisions, and legal defensibility of command decisions.

Modern incident management increasingly relies on real-time data and interoperable communication systems. Integrating on-scene weather monitoring into command, planning, and personnel accountability provides essential context for incident documentation. 

Reports capture operational weather conditions, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and rain, in the weather augmentation data fields, as well as contributing environmental factors, such as freezing temperatures or heat stress indicators in the incident narrative. ²

Analysis helps clarify how conditions impacted the incident itself and influenced response such as operational tactics and resource management. This supports a structured review of what worked, what required adjustment, and what preparedness measures should be strengthened for future events.

With rapid deployment, on-scene portable or vehicle-mounted weather stations can quickly transmit weather measurements for seamless inclusion of met data in both immediate decision support and final incident reporting.

¹NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide 2025, National Wildfire Coordinating Group
²NERIS V1 Core Schemas, and NERIS V1 Secondary Schemas https://neris.fsri.org/resources

*Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (Jan. 2007). Death in the Line of Duty...A summary of a NIOSH fire fighter fatality investigation. 

With their ability to improve situational awareness, DRONES are becoming increasingly valuable to incident response.

Additionally, drones are used for search and rescue, communications, and package delivery such as defibrillators. Speaking of the fleet of drones at Cal Fire San Benito-Monterey, a Firehouse article says, “These tools aid in wildfire management, search and rescue, crowd management and risk reduction for first responders.”¹

Weather conditions are a critical factor in drone operation.

Access to current meteorological data can help prevent damage to the UAV and its surroundings. These are some important parameters to monitor for safe drone operation.²

• – Temperature: UAVs are designed to fly within certain temperature ranges. Extremes can cause damage, overheating, and shorter flight times due to battery drain.
• – Wind Speed/Gusts: High wind speed and strong gusts cause difficulty in maneuvering and steady positioning.
• – Precipitation, Humidity: UAVs do not function well in moisture. Water can damage electronics and interfere with flight controls.

In a column for Fire Apparatus magazine, Robert Tutterow, retired safety coordinator for the Charlotte (NC) FD writes, “…how drones are being used today has a tremendous safety value. They provide added insight into situational awareness …” However, he notes some limitations, “…There are times when it is just too windy to fly a drone.”³

As emergency response agencies incorporate drone technology, weather data supports the decision to launch, delay, or terminate UAV operations.

Response vehicles utilizing weather stations take automatic meteorological monitoring to the incident, creating crucial situational awareness for incident command and helping to achieve success in drone-incorporated missions.

¹Stella Mayerhoff. (Dec 4, 2025) “CAL FIRE’s Drones that Nearly Didn’t Launch Now Soaring.” Monterey Daily Herald. Retrieved from https://www.firehouse.com/technology/drones/news/55336256/cal-fires-drones-that-nearly-didnt-launch-now-soaring 
²NVDrones. (2016, June) 5 Ways Weather Affects Your Drone’s Performance.
³Robert Tutterow. (September 23, 2025) “Keeping it Safe: Drones.” Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment. Retrieved from https://www.fireapparatusmagazine.com/equipment/keeping-it-safe-drones/

*Ryan Baker. (Oct 30, 2025) "Detroit Fire Department 165th Anniversary: Investment in Drones, Records-Management Software." Firehouse. Retrieved from https://www.firehouse.com/operations-training/article/55311437/detroit-fire-department-165th-anniversary-investment-in-drones-in-records-management-software