Fires in Southern California: 26 October 1998
26 October 1998
Rapporteur: Mr. Armando Gonzalez-Cabán, Riverside Forest Fire Laboratory, USDA Forest Service
As of October 23, 1998, the Southern California area (including four National Forests, Bureau of Indian Affairs and of Land Management , Fish and Wildlife Service, National Parks Service, and State lands) have experienced 3,783 fires. These fires have burned 34,948 hectares of forest lands. The total number of fire starts this year is typical, but the total area burned is below normal for the season. The reason for this has been the high moisture content in the fuels due to the wet season caused by El Niño. The majority of the area burned is in the Chaparral vegetation typical of Southern California.
Fig.1. NOAA image of the fires in California of 18 October 1998
(Source: NOAA http://www.osei.noaa.gov/)
Most large fires occurring in the area take place during Santa Ana winds condition. These are dry hot winds blowing from the northeast causing a fast desiccation and reducing significantly the fuels moisture content creating high wildfire conditions. For example, the Edna and Taylor fires in the San Bernardino National Forest started under Santa Ana conditions and burned 12,277 hectares (about 35% of the total area burned so far this season). In addition, two Forest Service employees lost their lives battling this fire. Both of these are suspected to be arson fires.
As of today, October 23, 1998, there are only two active wildfires in the Southern California area:
- Ogilvy fire, 1,634 hectares, caused by a spark from a weed whacker blade
- Piru fire, 5,041 hectares, caused by a spark from weldin
Both of these fires are burning in Chaparral vegetation.
Very little timber have been lost this season.
An extensive collection of web links on californian forest fires and fire management agencies is provided by the Californian Resources Evaluation System CERES.
See also the USA IFFN Country Notes.
