Wildfires in Florida: 21 April 1999
21 April 1999
Florida wildfires burning since last weekend, have consumed 155,000 acres (62,726 ha) of saw grass in the Florida Everglades. State forestry officials say they have contained the Everglade brushfires but not completely extinguished. There are still a few areas of flare-ups.
The Everglades fire was the largest of dozens burning across Florida in the last few days. The large fire came under control Tuesday due to the work of the firefighters setting backfires and airdropping tons of water. The firefighters used control burns in an effort to block the fire’s progress.
Although the fires seem to be under control, there is still a high fire danger from wildfires in Florida.
With a dry-season rainfall far below 90 percent below normal during Florida’s December-through-April dry season, officials fear a repeat of last summer. Aided by swirling winds, the blaze quickly became the largest of at least 2,542 fires had burned 231,263 acres (93,588 ha) this year, which is almost half of last year wildfire area consumed 500,000 acres (202,342 ha) in Florida.
The controlled Everglades blaze poses no longer danger to the nearby Miccosukee Indian Reservation. Late Monday, the flames reached the edge of the mostly undeveloped reservation, which is mostly cypress trees and swampland. The flames, which leaped onto the Indian reservation on Monday and threatened several buildings, were not near any houses or structures on Tuesday.
After the conditions changed suddenly overnight, such as the wind died down to a very light breeze, firefighters contained the blaze. Dry, windy weather was expected to continue for several coming days, making new fires quick to start and difficult to fight rapid and unpredictability shifts. The hot dry conditions continue across Florida with no rain forecast for the next days.
After smoke thinned Tuesday, authorities reopened a 60-mile stretch on Interstate 75 (I-75), also called Alligator Alley, the main highway connecting south Florida’s east and west coasts, which was closed Saturday, as smoke and flames made driving dangerous. During the weekend, motorists in Miami had to switch on their headlights during the daytime because of the dense smoke. A sooty haze over Miami metropolis affected people with asthma, bronchitis and emphysema with breathing problems.
The primary fire began in the eastern Everglades late last week possibly ignited by a vehicle’s catalytic converter. The cause was still being investigated, however 35 percent of the fires might have been started by arsonists. A special arson investigation team started its investigation process.
Despite the heavy smoke and huge area of burned land, officials say that the timing for the fire couldn’t have been better clearing out dead grasses to prevent a catastrophic blaze later.
Wildfires are part of a natural cycle that regularly burns away accumulated dry brush and grass, and they are completely natural occurrence which are beneficial to the Everglades ecosystem. New sawgrass will sprout quickly .
Biologists hold the opinion that the fires will have no long-term negative impact on wildlife. Of course few animals were killed, but they normal adapt at surviving dry-season fires. The game commission, for example, burns between 6,000 and 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) of marshes every year in the Everglades conservation areas between Tamiami Trail and the southern rim of the agricultural areas in Palm Beach County. The burning clear out decaying undergrowth, releases nutrients that fertilize the ground and allows a new vegetation process.
ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE (ENS) reports, that another fire, burning in the Apalachicola National Forest, threatened 30 homes and 15 businesses in the town of Arran about 20 miles south-southwest of Tallahassee yesterday afternoon.
Floridas state has authorized $5.6 million to pay for firefighting-related expenses over the next 45 days.
For further top news stories regarding the fires in Florida, please also refer to following websites:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/apr99/1999L-04-20-09.html
http://news.lycos.com/stories/TopNews/19990421RTNEWS-WEATHER-FIRES.asp
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/a/AP-Florida-Fires.html
OSEI provided the newest satallite images with the NOAA AVHRR Sensor on 20 April 1999.
Fig.1. and 2. NOAA images of wildfires in Florida on 20 April 1999
(Source: NOAA http://www.osei.noaa.gov/)
In Fig.1. are heat signatures (red spots) from areas of fire burning in Florida visible. The largest area of fire continues to be in the Everglades where over 100,000 acres (40,460 ha) of land has burned. Dark area around the hot spots in the Everglades may be a burn scar. Smoke plumes are also visible although those from the Everglades fires are obscured by high cloud cover. Fig. 2. shows smoke (brown haze) from areas of fire burning in Florida. This channel combination provides a better view of the smoke plumes from the Everglades fires because high clouds are a distinctly different color (blue) from the smoke. Bright area to the east of Florida is again due to solar reflection off the water.
(For a complete 1999 Wildland Fire Season Outlook please visit the NIFC homepage http://www.nifc.gov/news/nfn.html)
The Florida Forest Protection Bureau reports for 19 April 1999, 27 Fires for 101,170 acres (40,942 ha). The year-to-date statistic shows that 2,542 fires have scorched more than 231,263 acres (93588 ha) in Florida. 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.
SOUTHERN AREA COORDINATION CENTER report (16 April 1999) can be accessed at: http://state.vipnet.org/dof/firesitr.htm)
The INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT was updated on 20 April 1999, which can be accessed at: http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.html)
It´s content can summarized as follows:
CURRENT SITUATION:
Southern Area continues to support both large fires and initial attack activity. Resources remain adequate with the exception of overhead positions. Expect this activity level to increase due to red flag weather conditions in Florida.
SOUTHERN AREA LARGE FIRES:
HICKORY ISLAND, Okefenokee NWR. This fire is burning near Folkston, GA. A very light rain was received on the fire yesterday.
OWL CREEK, National Forests in Florida. Moderate activity continued yesterday. Mop up and line construction continue. Fuels will dry quickly and active burning will continue.
COW HOUSE, National Forests in Florida. A Type I team (Melton) is assigned. This fire is located approximately 20 miles south of Tallahassee. Active fire behavior continues due to low fuel moistures and relative humidities.
NCO FIRE, Price William Forest Park. Gypsy Moth killed snags and 20 mph winds are creating spotting and control problems.
SINGECAT, National Forests in North Carolina. This fire is approximately 30 miles east of Asheville and is burning in steep, pine forest. A 25 acre spot fire hampered control efforts yesterday.
NORTHWEST AREA LARGE FIRES:
PUMA, Willamette NF. This crown fire, pushed by strong east winds spotted over 200 acres in a tree farm, 21 miles east of Springfield, OR. No new information was received.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN LARGE FIRES:
EBLER, Craig District BLM. This human caused fire is 25 miles southwest of Meeker, Co. The fire is burning in sagebrush, pinyon and juniper. Control problems include wind and unseasonably dry fuels. A local Type III team is committed.
OUTLOOK:
RED FLAG WARNINGS ARE POSTED THIS AFTERNOON OVER NORTH AND CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY.
Florida will be mostly sunny and dry today with highs in the upper 70’s to near 80 degrees along the coasts and Keys. Highs will be in the lower 80’s elsewhere. Wednesday and Thursday will be mostly sunny and dry with highs in the 80’s, warming to near 90 on Thursday in the southwest. Friday will be partly cloudy and dry, with highs in the 80’s to near 90.
Western Colorado will be mostly cloudy and breezy today with showers over the northern and central mountains. Highs will be in the mid 60’s to mid 70’s, with 50’s to lower 60’s in the mountains. Wednesday will be mostly cloudy, cool and breezy with scattered showers at the lower elevations, and numerous showers in the mountains. A chance of showers is forecast Thursday through Friday, with highs in the 40’s in the mountains and mid 50’s to mid 60’s elsewhere.
The southern California coast will be locally windy today during the afternoon and evening hours. Mostly clear conditions are forecast through Wednesday, except for patchy low clouds and dense fog late night and early morning hours. Highs will be in the low 70’s along the beaches, to the low to mid 80’s in the valleys. Thursday will be mostly clear except for patchy morning low clouds and fog near the coast. Breezy conditions are forecast below the passes and canyons. Highs will range from the upper 60’s to lower 70’s at the beaches to the upper 70’s to mid 80’s in the valleys. Friday will be mostly clear with breezy to locally windy conditions below the passes and canyons mainly during the night and morning hours. Highs will range from the mid to upper 70’s at the beaches, to the mid 80’s to low 90’s in the valleys.
The southern California deserts will be mostly clear through Wednesday with northwest winds 15 to 30 MPH, with stronger gusts during the afternoon and evening hours. Highs today will range from the 80’s in the Antelope Valley, to the 90’s in the Cacalia Valley. Wednesday will be slightly cooler.
