RED FLAG WARNING NO. 1
PLUME-DRIVEN FIRE

RECOGNITION

FORECAST	DETECTED	OBSERVED
	Situation Unit staff monitoring BoM radar for active returns above fire ground.	Observers on ground in either cross-wind quadrant, >5km from fire, tasked to look for cloud formation before mixing starts within plume, and make a report to Situation Unit if a development occurs. Aerial observers tasked to assess and make a report to Situation Unit on plume dynamics every half hour. A violent pyro-convection watchout is received from the field.

[A] absolute priority, abandon all other actions

Situation Unit staff advising Planning Officer of potential Red Flag situation and seeking a second source of intel as confirmation before advising on actual Red Flag situation. PO to immediately discuss with IMT.
On confirmation the PO is to immediately meet with the IMT and declare the current IAP suspended and switch the Incident Objective to protecting life and, if it is safe to do so, property.
It is essential that no backburns be lit, as these add to the event.

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This material arises from work carried out by the HighFire Risk Project.

Material prepared by R. McRae September 2009.