Wildfire season is underway in the western U.S., and also in the far reaches of Alaska. Supported by the Bureau of Land Management Alaska fire service, researchers in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Utah have developed a web-based tool to provide wildland fire managers the tools they need to anticipate growth of wildland fires and help formulate their decisions regarding suppression, firefighting resource allocation and public outreach. The system, which providing access to current and forecasted weather and fuel conditions in ways that help fire managers efficiently deploy personnel and equipment where they are needed most, is being tested this fire season. Atmospheric Sciences professor John Horel is available to comment on the development and capabilities of this tool.

John Horel| 801-581-7091| john.horel@utah.edu