OK-FIRE is an operational weather-based decision support system (http://okfire.mesonet.org) for wildland fire managers throughout Oklahoma. Users include multiple federal and state agencies as well as local fire departments, emergency managers, and private landowners. Using the Oklahoma Mesonet for current/recent conditions, OK-FIRE uses an 84-hour numerical forecast for predictions of fire weather, fire danger, and smoke dispersion out to three days in the future. With respect to wildfire, OK-FIRE is useful for monitoring not only current fire danger conditions, but also, with its predictive component, for suppression strategies on existing fires and assessing fire danger potential over the next three days, which can aid in determining staffing levels. With respect to prescribed fire, attendees will learn how to use the system to safely plan for and monitor conditions during a prescribed burn.

The workshops will consist of a combination of presentations and computer lab exercises in which the attendees will get hands-on experience with the OK-FIRE web site. Wildfire, as well as prescribed fire, applications will be covered. In addition to covering the major sections of the web site (Weather, Fire, Smoke), other sections such as Satellite and Radar will be discussed, as will topics such as fire detection by radar and satellite, the relationship of drought to fire danger, and burn bans. Operational procedures for assessing current and future fire danger using OK-FIRE will also be covered, as will the popular Fire Prescription Planner, a useful tool for planning a prescribed burn.

Registration is required and can be done by contacting Elaina Wright (elaina.wright@okstate.edu; 405-744-5425; 405-744-5431) at Oklahoma State University and providing her with your name, affiliation, e-mail address, and phone number. Applications will be accepted through the middle of the week prior to each workshop or until space is filled up, whichever occurs sooner. There is no cost for the workshops, aside from travel costs to and from the location. More information about each workshop (including directions) will be sent out 2-4 days before the workshop date. Note that these workshops are designed for those who either directly work with wildland fire or work with those who do.�� Since space is limited, only those who fall into these categories should register. Workshops will be filled on a first register, first served basis.