Forest Fires in the United States
21 October 1999
The National Interagency Fire Center
reported on 20 October 1999 that the Jones fire that destroyed 128 homes
and numerous outbuildings was contained yesterday at 26,202 acres near Redding,
California. Two more fires in California are expected to be contained today. The Kirk and
Big Bar Complexes continue to burn after more than a month of suppression action taken.
These fires are burning in very rugged terrain in dense vegetation.
Although fire activity elsewhere in the West is minimal, fire conditions remain very high
to extreme in Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Nevada. One new large fire was
also reported from Mississippi, but is expected to be contained today.
Fire Weather Outlook
Warm and dry weather is expected to continue throughout California. Windy
conditions will persist in the southern portion of the state, with decreasing winds and
higher humidities in the northern region.
Weather conditions throughout the Intermountain West are dry, warm and slightly windy.
This trend is expected to continue throughout the month of October.
Fig. 1. Large Wildland Fires in the United States, 20
October 1999
(National Interagency Fire
Center)
For more information please refer to the website of National Interagency Fire Center.
Several active fire signals are recorded by OSEI with the NOAA-14 POES AVHRR HRPT satellite on 19 October 1999 in California.
Fig. 2. The image shows heat signatures from fires
burning in southeastern Oregon and a large amount of smoke from areas of fire burning in
northern California.
(Source: NOAA http://www.osei.noaa.gov/)
According the INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT the current situation for 20 October 1999 can be quoted as follows:
"...
CURRENT SITUATION
Minimal initial attack activity was reported in most Geographic Areas. A new large fire
occurred in the Southern Area. Containment objectives of large fires were met in the
Eastern Great Basin and Northern California Areas. Very high to extreme fire indices were
reported in Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Nevada.
OUTLOOK:
An upper ridge is shifting slowly to the east, allowing for a southwest flow over the
California and Oregon coasts. While the upper ridge shifts east, a weak trough will move
across Washington. Western Washington will be a little cooler. Morning fog and low clouds
are expected in the coastal areas, with possible drizzle in southwest Oregon. There will
be little change across eastern Washington with continued sunny and dry conditions. Warmer
afternoon temperatures and low to very low relative humidities are forecast for Utah,
Nevada, Idaho, California and Oregon. Southern California will have gusty east winds in
the canyons and passes. High temperatures in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, northern and
central Nevada will be 60 to 75 degrees. Highs in Utah will be 60's in the north and 45 to
55 in the extreme east and 70 to 80 degrees in the southern portion. High temperatures
will be 55 to 85 along the coast, 65 to 75 in the mountains, with 85 to 95 over the
interior valleys and deserts of California and southern Nevada.
... ."
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 |
| 94 | 1,145 | 79,634 | 2,074,367 |
For detailed information regarding specified regions, please refer to the whole report.