Forest Fires in the United States
16 September 1999
The National Interagency Fire Center reported on 15 September 1999 that the western fire situation remains stable as four large fires continue to burn in two states, California and Oregon. As Hurricane Floyd threatens the East Coast, resources are being positioned to assist with relief efforts. Two wildland fire management teams, trained to manage multiple resources, are currently stationed at the Fort Gilliam military base near Atlanta, Georgia.
Fire Weather Outlook
Despite the effects of Hurricane Floyd, a fire weather watch is posted for the western
Florida panhandle for low humidity this afternoon.
Dry conditions and seasonal temperatures will prevail across California,
Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. A chance of afternoon and evening showers
and thunderstorms are expected in eastern Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.
Fig. 1. Large Wildland Fires in the United States, 15
September 1999
(National Interagency Fire
Center)
For more information please refer to the website of National Interagency Fire Center.
The BLM - Alaska Fire Service Initial Attack Management System (IAMS) is suite of computer applications developed by BLM/Fire to aid dispatchers and fire managers. IAMS Maps is one of these applications and provides graphical representation of various kinds of geographic data. Maps has been modified to produce output to a Web site to allow internet access to the data that IAMS stores. Dynamic data such as lightning (available May - September), fires, etc. are updated at the homepage of the BLM - Alaska Fire Service (select Maps / AFS IAMS Maps Viewer) every 15 minutes during the fire season.
Fig.2. IAMS image of active fires in Alaska, 15
September 1999
(Source: BLM - Alaska Fire Service )
According the INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT the current situation for 15 September 1999 can be quoted as follows:
"...
CURRENT SITUATION
Initial attack activity was moderate in California, Southern,and Northwest Areas, and
minimal elsewhere. Large fire activity continued in
California and the Northwest Areas. Containment objectives were reached on large fires in
Western Great Basin and Southern Areas. The
National Interagency Coordination Center mobilized infrared aircraft, large transport
aircraft, a helicopter, crews, a caterer, a shower, radio
equipment, and miscellaneous overhead. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in
Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho,
Utah, Indiana, South Dakota, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.
OUTLOOK:
High pressure on the surface and aloft will weaken over the Northwest today. Dry
conditions will prevail, along with seasonable temperatures across Washington, Oregon,
Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
A weak upper level low moving into Utah will bring a chance of afternoon and evening
showers and thunderstorms into eastern Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It
will remain dry across California as this upper level low moves east.
Southern Texas will be warm and dry as high pressure remains in place. A cold front
sagging across northern Texas will create a slight chance for afternoon showers and
thunderstorms.
... ."
Following basic fire data describe the fire situation in the United States:
| Number of FIRES in the last 24 hours | HECTARES burning in the last 24 hours | FIRES YEAR-TO-DATE |
HECTARES YEAR-TO-DATE |
| 190 | 1,320 | 74,616 | 1,883,453 |
For detailed information regarding specified regions, please refer to the whole report.