Lookout observers do not have a strong understanding of ground-level fire behaviour as it relates to the smoke they see from the lookout tower. Current training courses do not have any visual material to help new lookout observers understand how fuel type, distance, and weather can affect the appearance of smoke. An in-house training video and simulation exercises will provide new lookout observers with a broader understanding of wildfire smoke so they can find smokes sooner and can provide a better description of the potential fire behaviour.

FPInnovations Wildfire Operations researchers will cooperate with the Hinton Training Centre to develop a smoke and fire behavior training video for lookout observers.