Forest Fires in Southeastern United States
Florida: Wildfire Potential Remains Extreme Statewide28 April 1999
After latest reports of the Division of Forestry (DoF) and the US Forest Service (USFS), 48 new fires burning 2,050 acres (829 ha) on 26 April 1999. This brings the statewide totals to 2,772 fires that have burned 246,796 acres (99,874 ha) since the beginning of the year.Beginning of the week the new Florida fires can be ascribed to lightning. The blazes have been contained.
The Flash Report No. 3, published on Tuesday, 27 April 1999, accessible at http://www.dca.state.fl.us/eoc/), regarding the Florida Fires 1999 notifies, that President Clinton has signed an emergency declaration for the fire hazard areas in the State of Florida, which provides assistance for required emergency protective measures. Additional assistance may be made at a later period of time after further evaluation.
The report also points out, that a total number of firefighters (includes DoF, county and volunteer) injured to date is 26. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported to date. However, structural damages can be resumed as follows: 61 destroyed and 85 damaged dwellings.
According to the Environmental News Network the current dry weather in the Southeast of the US is related to the still ongoing La Niņa weather phenomenon.
For the moment there are no up-to-date OSEI satallite images available. For images in the past we refer to our websides of the last days.
(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 27 April 1999, 48 wildfires burned 2,050 acres (829 ha) the day before. 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 content of the INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT, updated on 27 April 1999, can be summarized as follows:
(this report can be accessed under: http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.html)CURRENT SITUATION:
Favorable weather conditions continue to aid suppression efforts on large fires in the Southern Area. Very high fire indices were reported in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Minimal mobilization is occurring nationally.SOUTHERN AREA LARGE FIRES:
HICKORY ISLAND, Okefenokee NWR. This fire is burning near Folkston, GA. Higher humidities and southwest winds have aided suppression efforts. Fire behavior has been moderate in the past 24 hours. There is a chance of precipitation in the next few days.
APALACHICOLA COMPLEX, National Forests in Florida. A Type II team (Hart) will assume command of this complex today. Another day of higher humidities aided control efforts and facilitated burnout operations. Some resources will be released today.OUTLOOK:
Georgia has a 40% chance of showers/thunderstorms in the afternoon for the northern part of the state and a 20% in the southern portion. It will be mostly cloudy with temperatures from 76-82 in southern Georgia. Winds will generally be east at 5 MPH in the morning increasing to 10-14 MPH in the afternoon. Expect gusty winds near thunderstorms.
Florida will be partly cloudy with a few afternoon showers and thunderstorms. High temperatures will range from 85 to 90. Thunderstorms will produce precipitation of up to 1/4 inch over portions of the state. Increased instability will promote fire growth and fires will respond to changes in wind direction near thunderstorms. Louisiana will be partly cloudy in the north with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the central and southern part of the state. Highs will be in the low to mid 80's.