Forest Fires in the United States
18 November 1999
The Associated Press reported on 17 November 1999 that parts of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia remained closed Wednesday because of fires in the Chattahoochee National Forest. The Blood Mountain Wilderness Area in Georgia had more than1,000 hectares burning on Wednesday. In the South, a combination of arson and lightning is suspected in a number of fires that spread fast because of the dry conditions. Spring rains made the brush grow abundantly. Meanwhile, the brush has dried out, making it perfect fuel for fire in the winter fire season.
Several active fire signals were recorded by OSEI with the NOAA-14 POES AVHRR HRPT satellite on 17 November 1999 in the southeastern United States. According to the NIFC Incident Management Situation Report (see below) a total of 270 wildfires burned 7,294 ha in the Southern Region. At the same time 2 prescribed fires were conducted on 311 ha. Thus, two of the active fire signals on the satellite imagery (Fig.1) could be prescribed burns.
Fig. 1. The image shows heat signatures and smoke
plumes from numerous areas of fire burning in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.
(Source: NOAA http://www.osei.noaa.gov/)
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported on 17 November 1999 that the national response level increased today as twelve large fires burn in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia. Throughout the country, twelve states are also reporting very high to extreme burning conditions: Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Georgia and Oklahoma.
Fire Weather Outlook
A fire weather watch is posted in southern Georgia for low relative humidities
and strong winds at 10 to 20 mph.
Georgia, North Carolina and Kentucky are expected to be sunny with high temperatures
ranging from 50s to 70s.
Southern California will have increasing clouds with a chance of rain in the afternoon
north of Point Conception and mostly sunny to the south. Temperatures will be in the 50s
to mid 60s in the north and in the mountains, 60s and 70s to the south, and 80s in the
lower deserts.
Fig. 2. Large Wildland Fires in the United States
(Sourc: National Interagency
Fire Center)
For more information please refer to the website of National Interagency Fire Center.
The Wildland Fire Assessment System, provided by "The Fire Behavior Research Work Unit", Missoula (Montana USA), produces following fire danger map.
Fig. 3. Fire Danger Forecast Map, 19 November 1999
(Source: Fire Behavior
Research Work Unit, Missoula)
According the INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT the situation for 17 November 1999 can be quoted as follows:
"...
CURRENT SITUATION
New large fire activity occurred in the Southern Area. There was moderate initial attack
activity in the Eastern and Southern Areas. The National Interagency Coordination Center
mobilized helicopters, large transport aircraft, infrared aircraft, an airtanker,
telecommunications equipment, crews and miscellaneous overhead. Very
high to extreme fire indices were reported in Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas,
Wyoming, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Georgia and Oklahoma.
SOUTHERN AREA LARGE FIRES:
BLOOD COMPLEX, Georgia Interagency Coordination Center. This fire is near Blairsville,
Georgia. A Type I Incident Management Team (Melton) is assigned. Two fires burning within
the Blood Mountain Wilderness have combined. Steep terrain and strong winds are causing
control problems.
BOOTENS GAP, Shenandoah National Park. This fire is ten miles east of Shenandoah,
Virginia. A Type I Incident Management Team (Carvelho) has been ordered. The fire started
in gypsy-moth-killed timber in mountainous terrain. Containment is being hampered by high
winds and low relative humidities.
BUZZARD CREEK, Daniel Boone National Forest. This fire is nine miles northeast of Whitley
City, Kentucky. Containment was expected last night. No new information was received.
WHITTLETON BRANCH, Daniel Boone National Forest. This fire is seven miles northwest of
Campton, Kentucky. Containment was expected last night. No new information was received.
TOWN BRANCH #2 COMPLEX, Daniel Boone National Forest. This complex is three miles east of
Manchester, Kentucky and consists of seven fires ranging from 1 to 776 acres. No new
information was received.
STANLEY CREEK, Georgia Interagency Coordination Center. This fire is near Blue Ridge,
Georgia and is burning in heavy fuels.
AVEY CREEK, National Forests in North Carolina. This fire is five miles from Robbinsville,
North Carolina. This fire combined with the Horse Fire and is now considered one.
GOLDIE DEADEN, National Forests in North Carolina. This fire is eight miles from
Robbinsville, North Carolina. No other information was reported.
PINE RIDGE, National Forests in North Carolina. This fire is seven miles from
Robbinsville, North Carolina. No other information was reported.
FORT LEWIS MOUNTAIN, Virginia Department of Forestry. This fire is five miles north of
Salem, Virginia. Personnel completing burnout operations have assisted with containment.
Several home developments are threatened, but there have been no evacuations. Terrain and
low availability of crews is hampering containment.
PONTZER, Virginia Department of Forestry. This fire is ten miles north of Woodstock,
Virginia. Winds and low relative humidities hampered containment objectives yesterday.
Snags are hampering containment efforts at night due to safety hazards.
DOG SLAUGHTER RIDGE 99, Virginia Department of Forestry. This fire is seven miles
northeast of Shenandoah, Virginia. The fire is threatening the Shenandoah National Park.
Crews were successful in utilizing old dozer lines to conduct a burnout operation to
assist with containment objectives.
OUTLOOK
A fire weather watch is posted in southern Georgia
(afternoon 17 November) for low relative humidities and strong winds at 10 to 20 miles per
hour with higher gusts.
Georgia will be sunny with high temperatures in the upper 50's in the
extreme north and up to 70 in the south.
North Carolina will be sunny with high temperatures in the upper 50's and lower 60's.
Temperatures will be in the 40's in the northern mountains.
Kentucky will be sunny with high temperatures in the 50's in the northeast and up to 65 in
the far west side of the state.
Southern California will have increasing clouds with a chance of rain in the afternoon
north of Point Conception, and mostly sunny to the south. High temperatures will be in the
50's to mid 60's in the north and in the mountains, 60's and 70's to the south, and 80's
in the lower deserts.
... ."
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 |
| 312 | 7,866 | 87,159 | 2,229,086 |
For detailed information regarding specified regions, please refer to the whole report.