Course Overview
Fires can cause devastation to communities. Fire weather forecasters need to feel confident that they can provide a timely and responsive fire weather service.
This fire weather forecasting course is a collection of learning modules and resources that relate to the following parts of the fire weather competencies:
Unit 1: Forecast fire weather for routine operations
Unit 4: Ensure current fire weather forecasts and warnings are accurate
Unit 5: Communicate fire weather information
The resources here do not cover the systems knowledge for forecasting in a GFE environment. This is covered in the GFE Fire Weather Forecasting Course.
There are also separate courses about Fire Weather Warnings (relating to Unit 2) and Spot Fire Forecasts (relating to Unit 3).
Start with the learning guide and the learning outcomes first, then click on the links in the course topics block to go to the relevant sections of the course.
The learning outcomes for this course are separated into the requirements for each unit of competency. Click on the links below to view the details.
Fuel state is the general term used to describe the fuel dryness and the amount of fuel available in a particular area. It is important for fire weather because without available fuel, fires will not burn. The fire triangle image shows the three components required for combustion, highlighting the importance of fuel in this process.
The fire weather elements of temperature, dew point temperature and wind are the basis for all fire weather forecasts. The relationship between these parameters and the fire danger index is described in the 
Formulating fire weather policy is an important step before actually creating the forecasts. In some regions this is done informally, through a weather policy discussion amongst the forecasters on duty. In other regions there is a fire weather policy mud-map that is produced each day during the fire weather season.
Routine fire weather forecasts are issued during the nominated fire season. In some regions, such as Western Australia, this occurs all year round, while in other regions the season may last for only a few months. As with all forecasts, it is essential that the forecaster understands the requirements of the people who will be using that information.
Monitoring current weather conditions and ensuring that the forecast is on track is an essential skill of a fire weather forecaster. It is significantly different from the skill of forecasting expected fire weather conditions. A timely update when conditions develop unexpectedly can make a real difference to fire fighting operations.
Updating forecasts in a GFE environment is not a trivial task. More details about the mechanics of how to update a forecast in GFE can be found at the 
Intra-office communication is vital to ensure consistency of forecast policy across the range of services provided. The procedures for developing forecast policy may vary across the regions, but in all cases it is important that fire weather impacts are considered.
Once the forecast policy is consistent within the office, it's important to look to the nearby offices to ensure that there is consistency across the boundaries too. There will be significant work done on this area relating to Intersite Coordination in GFE.
Communication with users is an important part of the job for all forecasters, however there are specific liaison requirements for the fire weather forecasting service. Briefing users allows the forecaster to provide much more information than is contained in the official forecast products and helps to develop a good working relationship with fire agency staff.