Forest Fires in the United States
7 October 1999
The National Interagency Fire Center reported on 6 October 1999 that although firefighters are making slow progress on fire complexes in California, three large fires are expected to be contained today in the state. One new large fire was reported in Oregon near the border of Idaho today. Northern California and Oregon received some rain yesterday, but predicted weather during the next few days will significantly increase the fire conditions, mostly in California.
Fire Weather Outlook
Scattered rain showers fell in Oregon and northwest California yesterday, and
more is expected today. By this evening the storm system is expected to pass, leaving in
its wake strong north winds. By Thursday and Friday, California is expected to have
increased temperatures and Santa Anna winds (a very strong eastern wind pattern) over most
of the state.
From northern Arizona to Utah and Colorado, winds are expected to pick up as a cold front
passes through the area.
Fig. 1. Large Wildland Fires in the United States, 6
October 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, 5 October
1999
(Source: BLM - Alaska Fire Service )
According the INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT the current situation for 6 October 1999 can be quoted as follows:
"...
CURRENT SITUATION
Minimal initial attack activity was reported from all Geographic Areas. New large fire
activity was reported in the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Areas. The National Interagency
Coordination Center mobilized an airtanker, a lead plane, infrared aircraft, a helicopter,
a shower, and miscellaneous overhead. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in
Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Illinois, Indiana, and
Georgia.
The firefighter that was injured October 3, 1999 on the La Jolla incident passed away
yesterday morning. The entire fire community wishes to extend condolences to the family.
OUTLOOK:
A Pacific storm system will move into the northwest states today, bringing a chance of
showers, cooler temperatures and increasing westerly winds into northern California.
Southern California will remain mostly sunny, warm, and dry. Higher boundary layer
humidities are expected to remain over the Pacific Northwest into Northern California with
temperatures about ten degrees cooler. Strong west to northwest winds are predicted this
afternoon for northern California, northwestern Nevada, and into southern Oregon and
Idaho.
The Gulf states will be mostly sunny in the west and partly cloudy in the east with a
chance of showers and thunderstorms. High temperatures will be in
the 80's and 90's.
... ."
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 |
| 106 | 7,780 | 77,649 | 2,056,774 |
For detailed information regarding specified regions, please refer to the whole report.