Forest Fires in the United States
2 November 1999
The National Interagency Fire Center reported on 27 October 1999 that while some rain fell on the Big Bar Complex in northern California, the southern part of the state remains hot and dry. In addition, nearly 250 mostly small fires were reported from almost every region of the country yesterday. There are currently six large fires that remain uncontained from California, Idaho, Minnesota, and Utah. As of today, more than two million hectares have been affected by wildland fires throughout the country. In comparison, the 1996 season was a record wildland fire season when about 2.5 million hectares had been affected by the end of October. What is interesting about this year's figures is that nearly half of the acres burned so far are from just two states: Alaska reports 412,000 ha and Nevada reports 650,000.
Fire Weather Outlook
A strong storm will move inland over the Northwest states this afternoon bringing
rain and winds to Oregon, Washington, northern and central Idaho, and northern California.
Temperatures will be in the mid 50s to mid 60s. Northern Nevada will be partly cloudy with
high temperatures in the 60s and a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Southern
California, southern Nevada, and Utah will be mostly sunny. Temperatures will range from
the 70s to the lower 80s with highs in the lower 90s in the California deserts.
Fig. 1. Large Wildland Fires in the United States, 27
October 1999
(National Interagency Fire
Center)
For more information please refer to the website of National Interagency Fire Center.
According the INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT the current situation for 1 November 1999 can be quoted as follows:
"...
CURRENT SITUATION
Initial attack activity was minimal in most Geographic Areas. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in California and
Colorado.
OUTLOOK:
A high pressure ridge aloft over the western states will keep the area generally dry. A
surface thermal pressure trough over California will bring warm conditions to the state.
There will be some mountain snow showers over Colorado in the afternoon. A surface high
pressure over the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains will bring cool temperatures to
Colorado. A moderate surface pressure gradient will bring windy conditions to the plains
in Colorado and locally breezy conditions in Oregon and through the passes in California.
High temperatures in the mountains will be in the 30's in Colorado, to the 40's in Oregon,
southern Idaho and northern Utah, and to the 50's and 60's over California and southern
Nevada.
The valley high temperatures will range from the 40's over Colorado, with 50's in Oregon
and southern Idaho, with 50's and 60's in northern Nevada and Utah and 60's and 70's over
northern California and southern Nevada with the mid 80's to mid 90's southern California.
... ."
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 |
| 24 | 24,376 | 83,043 | 2,099,284 |
For detailed information regarding specified regions, please refer to the whole report.