1. STEIN FIRE
Case Study

4. Glacier

13. Decisions based on Forecasts?

14. Stein Fire - morning of August 30
8:30 - crews to fire
9:30 - crews ordered evacuated from the fire
- aircraft ordered to land and hold
10:30 - all crews in safe areas and aircraft on the ground
11:00 - frontal passage
11:30 - crews and aircraft operational

15. An observer near the fire reported the frontal passage at
approximately 11:00 am. His report of conditions with
and following the front were very close to forecast
conditions. Increasing Southwesterly winds at 30 to 40
km/h shifted to North with the front and increased to 40
to 60 km/h with gusts to 80 km/h. The winds tapered off
to 20 to 30 km/h approximately 1/2 hour after the frontal
passage and shifted to the Southwest. Thunderstorms
accompanied the front.

16. Conditions on the fire were chaotic with the Frontal passage
Conditions on the fire were chaotic with the Frontal passage. Strong winds created fire whirls, flying debris and blew down several trees. Two crews would have been in imminent danger had they remained on the fire.