Informing the NESDIS Wildland Fire Program with NOAA Pathfinders’ experience. How WiFIRE is informing NOAA services for improving fire detection and response

Wildfires have become an increasingly pressing issue, particularly in states with dry and forested regions. The devastation caused by these fires not only affects the natural environment, decimating vast tracts of forested lands, but also poses grave threats to human settlements, leading to loss of lives, property, and impacting local economies. In such a scenario, satellite information is invaluable. Real-time and accurate satellite data can help in early detection, tracking the progression of fires, and predicting potential spread patterns. This information is crucial for firefighters and emergency responders, as it assists in strategizing interventions, allocating resources effectively, and potentially saving countless lives and properties. The integration and coordination of advanced satellite information with the experts on the ground in wildfire management is not just an enhancement; it's a necessity.

Traditionally, NESDIS has primarily catered to key users such as the National Weather Services, offering data products to bolster the NWS's fire weather services for communities. However, with technological advancements and a more direct engagement with end users, NESDIS has broadened its perspective and approach. One way in which the NESDIS Wildland Fire Program is connecting to expert integrations in the field is through the NOAA Pathfinder Initiative. The NOAA Wildland Fire Program aims to: 1) Harness NOAA's governance structures; 2) Provide information and analysis-ready data to aid wildland fire mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery; 3) Efficiently manage wildland fire partnerships in sync with the NOAA Fire Observation, Research, and Services Team (FOReST); and 4) Pilot new service delivery processes. The Pathfinder Initiative is dedicated to quantifying the value of NOAA information in user environments such as wildfire, from an observing-platform agnostic perspective. The Pathfinder Initiative’s goal is to create a thematic value chain, used to demonstrate users’ decision-making environments, and develop traceability matrices that point to the tangible impacts of NOAA observations, products, and services.

WiFIRE lab,the first NOAA Pathfinder, enables AI-driven societal and scientific wildland fire applications through data and model sharing. To meet growing needs in hazards monitoring and response, the WIFIRE Lab is an all hazards knowledge cyberinfrastructure. WiFIRE helps communicate and demonstrate how information feeds decisions through their integrated data layering and modeling efforts. WiFIRE is helping NESDIS co-develop a value chain helping communicate the value of future NOAA information. By understanding the needs of the fire community and emergency response teams, NESDIS has gained insights into the requirements of diverse user groups, ranging from those involved in planning and wildfire management to those responsible for response and impact assessment. This presentation delves into the journey of WiFIRE as a Pathfinder and how they are informing NESDIS through their experiences, and relationships in fire.