ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1 Information provided by National Climatic Data Center

1. Addressing the Impact of Climate Change on Wildland FiresMargaret R. McCalla, Mary M. Cairns, and Mark J. Welshinger DOC/NOAA, Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (OFCM) Updated Seasonal Fire Potential Outlook5 In 2003, wildland fires in Southern California claimed 22 lives, destroyed 3,600 homes, burned nearly 740,000 acres of land, and caused more than $2 billion in property damage. Drier than Normal1 Warmer than Normal1 • Wildland Fire Impacts • Loss of Life • Economics (e.g., damage to personal / business property) • Public Health & Air Quality • Landscape Restoration • Transportation • Ecosystems (e.g., water, wildlife, species composition) From Early 1900s Through 1980: Decreasing Trend of # Sites Reporting Fire Fire Policy: Suppression (more fuel)2 Increasing Trend of the 10-Year Running Median of Area Burned3 More Fuel ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1 Information provided by National Climatic Data Center 2 Courtesy of Thomas W. Swetnam 3 Courtesy of Dr. Timothy J. Brown, CEFA 4 National Seasonal Assessment Workshop Final Report, 28 Mar – 1 Apr 2005; workshop conducted by The Climate Ecosystem and Fire Application Program at the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada, along with the National Predictive Services Group, the University of Arizona, and NOAA’s Office of Global Programs 5 Courtesy of Intelligence-Predictive Services at the Nat. Interagency Coordination Center Fire Weather and Climate Forecasts for Fire Managers and Other Stakeholders Stakeholders Functional Areas • Federal, Local, State • e.g., DOI (BLM, NPS, FWS), USDA (USFS), BIA, DOC, DOT, DHS, EPA, DOD, NASA, HHS • Academic • e.g., Universities, Training Centers • Private / Industry • e.g., Timber / lumber, insurance, building / construction • Trade Organizations • Data Collection • Modeling / Prediction • Products / Services • Training / Education • Information Dissemination • User Response • Research • Socioeconomic Impacts • The National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service and Interagency Wildland Fire Agencies provide a variety of weather products and services for fire managers and other stakeholders • Weather and climate information is used in planning and executing wildland fire policy, processes, and procedures. Examples include: OFCM-SPONSORED NATIONAL WILDLAND FIRE WEATHER NEEDS ASSESSMENT Potential Results • Better understanding of: • Fire weather needs • Gaps in weather information & services for wildland fire and prescribed fire decision making processes • Framework needed to fill gaps in capabilities Outlook for National Significant Fire Potential for 2005 Fire Season4 • Are all the weather and climate needs of fire managers and other stakeholders being met? Can weather / climate services do more? • OFCM-sponsored National Wildland Fire Weather Needs Assessment