Forest Fires and Prescribed Burning in the Central and Southeastern United States
13 April 1999
Several active fire signals and smoke plumes are recorded by OSEI with the NOAA AVHRR Sensor on 12 April 1999.
Fig.1. and Fig.2. NOAA image of vegetation fires in
Kansas, Georgia and Florida, 12 April 1999
(Source: NOAA http://www.osei.noaa.gov/)
In Fig.1. heat signatures (red spots) and some smoke (blue haze) is shown from areas of fire burning in eastern Kansas. Some of these may be controlled burns which have been set for fire-fuel management or land-clearing programs. Others may be wildfires. Fig.2. shows red spots from areas of fire burning in the southeastern United States. Some smoke plumes (blue haze) are also visible extending from the hot spots.
Several wildfires were reported in Southern United States over the last days. The Florida Forest Protection Bureau reports for April 9-11, 1999 92 Fires on 2103.2 acres (851.1 ha). For a detailed report on the fire activities in Florida, refer to the last days Narrative Report on the Florida fire situation provided by the Florida Forest Protection Bureau.
The last INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT (9 April 1999) can be
resumed as follows:
(this report can be accessed at: http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.html)
CURRENT SITUATION:
On Tuesday, April 6, there were two fatalities on the Island Fork fire in Kentucky. The
firefighters, Kenneth Nickell and Kevin Smith, worked for the Route 377 Volunteer Fire
Department. The entire fire community extends their condolences to family, friends and
co-workers.
Fire activity continued in the Southern and Eastern Areas this past week. Minimal fire activity was reported elsewhere. The National Interagency Coordination Center processed orders for radios and miscellaneous overhead.
SOUTHERN AREA LARGE FIRES:
BRUMLEY GAP, Virginia State. This fire is 15 miles northeast of Bristol, VA. The fire is
burning in steep, rocky terrain in storm damaged timber.
OUTLOOK:
Weak high pressure in the Gulf of Mexico will dominate Florida through Tuesday. There is a
chance of showers and thunderstorms in the panhandle Sunday through Tuesday. The chance of
showers will increase over the whole state Wednesday and Thursday as a trough of low
pressure swings east out of the central plains. Highs temperatures will range from the
80's to 90's.
A weak ridge of high pressure over West Texas will provide partly cloudy skies through Sunday. Saturday will be windy with high temperatures ranging from 75 to 85. Low pressure will bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms late Monday through Tuesday with high temperatures in the 80's. A ridge will build into the area Wednesday bringing mostly sunny and breezy conditions through Thursday. High temperatures will be in the 80's.
North and South Carolina will have a low pressure system move into the area today bringing a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Monday will see mostly sunny conditions with high temperatures in the 70's to low 80's. Another low pressure system will bring a chance of rain and thunderstorms again Tuesday through Thursday. High temperatures will be in the 80's.
Remarks on Prescribed Burning:
The high-temperature events depicted by the NOAA AVHRR satellite in the Southeast are not
all wildfires. At this time of the year prescribed burning operations are conducted
routinely. A set of photographic documents on prescribed burning techniques and objectives
can be visited in our photo archive.
For more information on the extent of prescribed burning in the U.S.A. please visit the
last issue of International Forest
Fire News.