Quick Deploy RAWS
The Quick Deploy Remote Automated Weather Station (QD RAWS) is the fire community’s most widely used portable weather station for prescribed burns, active fire monitoring, and temporary site studies.
- Fixed RAWS accuracy in a portable package, with interchangeable sensors and telemetry
- Deploys in 15 minutes on any terrain, no tools, laptop, or technical training required
- Trusted across the fire community, including 100% of U.S. federal land management agencies
- What to know
- Reliable data
- Ease of use
- Real-time alerts
Built for the decisions that happen on the fire line
Fire managers, fuels crews, and agency planners need accurate, localized weather data at the point of decision, not miles away at the nearest fixed station. The QD RAWS delivers scientific-grade monitoring anywhere crews need it, with none of the setup complexity that slows down other portable options.
Prescribed burn operations
Multiple QD RAWS units deployed ahead of a planned burn provide hourly micro-climate data that helps burn bosses decide when to ignite, hold, or pull resources. Better data means more acres burned safely, and faster payback on the investment.
Active wildfire support
Conditions at the fire line routinely diverge from what the nearest fixed station is reporting. The QD RAWS positions where you need it, relocates as the fire moves, and keeps transmitting when it matters most.
Site assessment for Fixed RAWS
Agencies expanding fire weather networks need data from a location before they can justify a permanent station there. The QD RAWS collects months of data at candidate sites so that permanent infrastructure decisions are based on evidence, not assumption.
Scientific-grade accuracy in a package built for the fire line
Collect the accurate, hyperlocal information you need to keep your firefighters safe with portable wildfire monitoring system designed to meet the rigorous demands of monitoring on the fire line and in remote locations. The QD RAWS is a full weather station with the same reliability and scientific-grade accuracy as the Fixed RAWS, but in a highly portable package.designed for prescribed burns or temporary fire monitoring applications
At the center of it all is the Axiom Fire Data Logger, built specifically for wildfire professionals in remote, extreme conditions. It manages all sensor collection, telemetry, and on-site configuration through an integrated color touchscreen. The microprocessor-controlled power management system keeps it collecting and transmitting even in adverse conditions, with no laptop or programming required.
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Fast and easy setup
Quickly get up and running and start to gather data in minutes with our QD RAWS. The portable weather station can be set up completely in 15-minutes by one person, with no tools and no technical training. Its portability means that several can be placed at the fire line and rapidly relocated as needed.
Current weather conditions delivered to your radio, hands-free
The optional AirTalk system lets any crew member call in current conditions via any DTMF-capable voice radio using a simple 3- or 4-digit code. AirTalk is compatible with the BKR5000 handheld radio and broadcasts up-to-the-minute conditions via a clearly audible digitized voice. If any weather parameter crosses a pre-set threshold, an alert broadcasts automatically. Thresholds are configurable in the field via the Axiom F7 touchscreen, no laptop required.
See how QD RAWS fits into a complete wildfire readiness strategy
Portable wildfire weather stations are one part of the picture. See how agencies use QD RAWS alongside Fixed RAWS, lightning detection, PTZ cameras, and AEM Elements® 360 to build end-to-end wildfire risk management.
Ventura County Fire Department
Ventura County Fire Department manages wildfire risk across California's most at-risk county, a region nearly twice the size of Rhode Island with elevations ranging from 50 to 8,800 feet where fire conditions can vary dramatically from one location to the next.
“We purchased the QDRAWS just to have for project work like vegetation management. Then we also used it to identify good spots for permanent stations… It’s just been great. It’s easy to deploy. Easy to take down. It’s a great product.”
Kevin VanWig
Retired Fire Captain, Wildland/Aviation Division
Resources
Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS)
F7 Data Logger
Talking with the Experts: The Current State of Wildfire
Frequently asked questions
QD RAWS stands for Quick Deploy Remote Automated Weather Station. It is a fully portable fire weather station that delivers the same scientific-grade data as a fixed RAWS but can be set up by one person in 15 minutes without tools, programming, or a laptop. It is used for prescribed burns, active wildfire monitoring, and site assessments for potential permanent stations.
The fixed RAWS is designed for permanent installation with annual service intervals. The Quick Deploy RAWS uses the same core sensors, data logger, and telemetry but is fully portable, setting up in 15 minutes without tools. Agencies commonly use both: QD RAWS for site studies, prescribed burns, and active fire line monitoring; fixed RAWS for permanent network stations.
The optional AirTalk radio voice system delivers current conditions to any crew member with a DTMF-capable radio, including the BKR5000 handheld. AirTalk broadcasts automatic alerts when any weather parameter crosses a pre-set threshold. Data is also accessible remotely around the clock, supporting more accurate spot weather forecasts at the micro-climate scale.
The Axiom Fire Data Logger is fully sealed to IP67, with military-grade connectors and integrated lightning protection. The station withstands wind gusts up to 100 mph. Ventura County, California has been deploying the same unit repeatedly for over six years.
The Axiom Fire Data Logger integrates GOES and Iridium satellite directly. GOES supports North American public safety programs; Iridium covers broader and international deployments. For sites with LTE coverage, the AEM CTX-G1 cellular modem connects via the auxiliary port, useful for redundancy or higher-frequency data transmission. The optional AirTalk system delivers real-time voice data to any DTMF-capable radio using a simple 3- or 4-digit access code.
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