WeatherBrains Episode 1081 is now online (October 5th, 2026). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE podcast for you!
This week’s WeatherBrains episode is all about fire weather from both a historical and modern perspective.
Our Guest WeatherBrains for tonight’s episode is NWS meteorologist Tom Hultquist. Our discussion begins with the Peshtigo Fire of 1871, the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history. Dr. Stephanie Hoekstra and Robyn Heffernan also join us to explore how fire weather information is used today – from risk perception and decision support to operational forecasting, interagency coordination, and the challenges facing wildland fire professionals.
Guest Panelist John Cameron is a TV meteorologist at News Channel 6 from Wichita Falls, TX who also joins us tonight. Welcome to WeatherBrains!
Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.
- Invest 92L in SW Gulf (04:00)
- Dr. Stephanie Hoekstra’s early background in weather (06:00)
- Robyn Heffernan’s early background in weather (07:00)
- Tom Hultquist’s early background in weather (09:00)
- John Cameron’s journey into the field of meteorology (12:30)
- Analysis of Peshtigo Fire of 1871 (17:30)
- Meteorological/anomalous setup that set the stage for the Peshtigo Fire (19:00)
- Fuel management is a key player in driving wildfires (31:00)
- Predominate tribes that inhabited the Peshtigo area in 1871 (43:00)
- Peshtigo area vegetation/forestry and the role it played (46:30)
- National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) (48:00)
- History of Red Flag Warning terminology (54:30)
- Concerns over nefarious actors/arson in the wake of public fire forecasts (01:01:30)
- Financial incentives for arson: Strict guidelines needed to prevent this criminal activity (01:03:30)
- All about NOAA’s Fire Weather Testbed (01:09:00)
- Clarifying Red Flag Warning vs Fire Warning (01:22:00)
- The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:33:00)
- This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:35:00)
- E-Mail Segment (01:36:30)
- Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:40:00)
- and more!
Web Sites from Episode 1081:
National Interagency Fire Center
Picks of the Week:
John Cameron – KAUZ-TV 6 Wichita Falls, Texas 1964 tornado
John Cameron – J. Fitz Kennedy on Soundcloud
Dr. Stephanie Hoekstra – “Operationalizing the Fire Warning: distinguishing structural constraints from training-sensitive perceptions” by Dr. Stephanie Hoekstra
Tom Hultquist – Official Website of the Peshtigo Historical Society
James Aydelott – iCyclone on X: NOLO’s center crossing the International Date Line
James Aydelott – Okie James and family at Peshtigo Museum
Jen Narramore – The Tragedy of Williamsonville
Rick Smith – NOAA Fire Weather Testbed Launches First In-Person Evaluation
Troy Kimmel – Foghorn
Kim Klockow-McClain – Call for Volunteers: AMS Statement on Prediction Markets and Weather Information
Bill Murray – Out
John Gordon – Germany’s Rhine river hits new low
James Spann – NWS deals with radar issues along Gulf Coast
The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, John Gordon, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.