Forest Fires in the United States: 7 April 2000

The Wildland Fire Assessment System (WFAS) is a contribution of "The Fire Behavior Research Work Unit", Missoula (Montana USA). The broad area component of the Wildland Fire Assessment System (WFAS) generates maps of selected fire weather and fire danger components. Fire Danger (Potential) is a normalized adjective rating class across different fuel models and station locations. It is based on information provided by local station managers about the primary fuel model, fire danger index selected to reflect staffing level, and climatological class breakpoints. Low danger (class 1) is green and extreme potential (class 5) is red.

Fig. 1. & 2. Fire Danger Forecast Maps of the United States for 6 April (observation time) and 7 April (forecast) 2000
(Source: Fire Behavior Research Work Unit, Missoula)

Several active fire signals were recorded by NOAA/OSEI with the NOAA-14 AVHRR HRPT satellite on 6 April 2000 in the United States plains.

Fig.3. Heat signatures (red) can be seen from numerous fires burning in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. Some of these may be controlled burns.
(Source: NOAA/OSEI)

Wildland Fire Update (6 April 2000)
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) provides new data of the current wildland fire season in the United States. These data were analysed after different geographic regions. Further, a five-year wildland fire comparison statistic shows the number and the area of wildland fires from 1996 to 2000.

Nearly 300 small and large wildland were reported from California and Southern and Eastern States on 5 April 2000. Six large fires in Florida, Missouri and New Mexico continue to burn as dry conditions persist in those states. Large fire activity in Florida created problems for residents during the past 24 hours. The Tower Command fire about 10 miles west of Miami caused a temporary precautionary evacuation of a correctional facility and the closure of two state highways. This fire grew to 3,500 acres (1,414 hectares [ha]) before it was contained yesterday. All highways were reopened. Three large fires on the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri are burning about 1,200 acres (485 ha). High winds were hampering firefighting efforts, but all fires are expected to be contained by Saturday. Land managers urge residents to be careful with spring clean up projects near the wildlands. Unseasonably dry and warm weather in numerous states throughout the country are creating extreme burning conditions.
Long-range, 30-day weather forecasts are predicting above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation for the southern tier of states from southern California to Florida and throughout the Midwest (see Fig.6. 30 and 90-day forecast maps).

As of 03/27/00	Number of Wildland Fires	Area burnt
As of 03/27/00	Number of Wildland Fires	Acres	Hectars
2000	21,557	589,301	238,077
1999	20,659	240,712	97,248
1998	8,505	147,095	59,527
1997	15,281	292,269	118,077
1996	32,805	880,620	355,770

Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) by Florida's Division of Forestry / Forest Protection Bureau
John Keetch and George Byram developed the K/B index at the Southern Forest Fire Laboratory to evaluate the effects of long-term drying on litter and duff and subsequently, on fire activity (1968). The index is based on a measurement of 8 inches (20 cm) of available moisture in the upper soil layers that can be used by vegetation for evapotranspiration. The index measure is in hundredths (0.01) of an inch of water and has a range of 0 through 800, with 0 being saturated and 800 representing the worst drought condition. The index indicates deficit inches of available water in the soil. A K/B reading of 250 means there is a deficit of 2.5 inches (64 mm) of ground water available to the vegetation. As drought progresses, there is more available fuel that can contribute to fire intensity.
For further information on the KBDI please refer to Keetch-Byram Drought Index Revisited: Prescribed Fire Applications.

The Southern Area Coordination Center Morning Report (6 April 2000) is a narrative summary of fire activity within the Southern Area including number of fires, wildfires as well as prescribed burns, and area. (For detailed numbers of wildfires and prescribed burns, please refer to the original website of the report.)

SOUTHERN AREA:
Southern Area Coordination Center: A RED FLAG WARNING is in effect for all counties in Florida and for low humidities and gusty southwest winds in Virginia and North Carolina. High pressure will build across the area Thursday, ahead of another approaching cold front expected to bring widely scattered thunderstorms by week’s end. Fire danger in Florida will continue to be high this week, particularly with the windy, dry air following the passage of the cold front. The Ashville Hotshots continue to be prepositioned in Florida.
ALABAMA:
Alabama Interagency Coordination Center: Temperatures (78-82) and humidities (35%) are expected to increase today with winds 10-15MPH.
National Forests in Alabama: One of the reported fires was an arson fire that threatened two private residences; the homes were saved with containment of the fire.
ARKANSAS/OKLAHOMA:
Arkansas/Oklahoma Interagency Coordination Center: Most of the fire activity is in the northeast area with the Ouachita & Ozark National Forests manning fires overnight after dropping 12,240 gallons of water on the fires.
FLORIDA:
Florida Interagency Coordination Center: The Red Flag Warning for Florida will extend through tonight; KBDIs are ranging from 474-658.
KENTUCKY:
Kentucky Interagency Coordination Center: Fire danger is expected to increase through the weekend as conditions start to dry out. No resource needs are anticipated.
MISSISSIPPI:
Mississippi Interagency Coordination Center: No reported fire activity.
NORTH CAROLINA:
North Carolina Interagency Coordination Center: The Red Flag Warning is for northern North Carolina. Temperatures are expected to reach the low 70s, humidities in the low 20s, and winds approaching 20-30MPH.
SOUTH CAROLINA:
South Carolina Interagency Coordination Center: Temperatures are expected to be above normal with dry and windy conditions for the next few days. There is only a slight possibility of rain by Saturday. Fire danger is high at present and will continue until greenup takes place or more precipitation is received.
Francis Marion & Sumter NFs: A prescribed burn of 1,581 acres was interrupted, due to low humidities, after accomplishing 855 acres of the originally planned acreage; another prescribed burn, however, is planned for today.
TENNESSEE:
Tennessee Interagency Coordination Center: Fair, dry weather is predicted for the next several days increasing fire danger.
VIRGINIA:
Virginia Interagency Coordination Center: The Red Flag Warning is for southwest Virginia with west winds increasing to 20-30MPH and gusts to 40MPH. The 10-hour fuels are expected to be 7 percent or less today. A weak cold front will begin to move across the region later today.

According to the Incident Management Situation Report three categories of fires are distinguished, such as:
1. Fires*
2. Prescribed Fires
3. Wildland Fire Use Fires**

* This classification corresponds to the category "wildland fires" as defined by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)
** A brief excursion to wildland fire terminology:

Wildland Fires: Fires occurring on any tpye of vegetation, regardless of ignition sources, damages or benefits.
Wildfire: Any uncontrolled wildland fire which (1) may require suppression response, or (2) any uncontrolled wildland fire which meets management objectives and is declared as a Wildland Fire Use Fire (see below) or syn. Prescribed Natural Fire or Prescribed Fire.
Prescribed Fire: Occasionally also called management-ignited fire, or prescribed burning, is a controlled application of fire to vegetation in either their natural or modified state, under specified environmental conditions which allow the fire to be confined to a predetermined area and at the same time to produce the intensity of heat and rate of spread required to attain planned resource management objectives.
Wildland Fire Use Fire: Naturally ignited fire which is managed to achieve resource benefits under close supervision (syn. Prescribed Natural Fire)

Current Situation:
New large fire activity was reported in the Eastern Area. Northern California was successful in meeting containment objectives on their large fires.
Outlook:
A fire waether watch has been posted for strong winds and low relative humidities in eastern New Mexico today.
Eastern New Mexico and west Texas will be windy, sunny and warm. High temperatures will be in the 80's to the north, mid-90's in the south and near 100 degrees on the Rio Grande. Winds will be out of the west at 20 to 30 mph in eastern New Mexico and 10 to 20 mph in west Texas. Minimum relative humidities will be 7 to 13 percent.
Northern California will be mostly sunny except for coastal morning fog. High temperatures will be in the 50's on the coast and 60's to 70's inland. The winds will be from the northwest at 5 to 15 mph.

Detailed information and data about fires, prescribed fires, wildland fire use fire and burned areas (6 April 2000) for all geographic areas of the United States can begathered from the Incident Management Situation Report.

Fire is an important natural tool for ecosystem management. It can reduce dense vegetation improving wildlife habitat and lessening the potential for large, wildfire disasters. Land managers are directed to prepare a prescribed fire/burn plan for every area of public land that can burn. Some areas require total suppression while others will benefit from a wildland fire. Those areas that will benefit from a fire can be treated by a prescribed fire.

Especially, for the moment, in the southern and southeastern regions of the United States prescribed fire activities will be carried out in the following weeks and months. In this case, fire signals on satellite images can be traced back to this kind of land management activities.

In the Prescribed Fire Position Paper of the Forest Protection Bureau by the Division of Forestry in Florida, prescribed fire activity is described as a land management application that is essential to the practice of forestry, management of wildlife, preservation of endangered plant and animal species, improvement of range conditions and reduction of wildfire damage in the wildland/urban interface areas. While there is general public and landowner concern with increased smoke, reduced air quality, and liability; the general public and landowners benefit significantly from the reduction of devastating wildfire, improved wildlife habitat and forage, preservation of endangered and threatened plant and animal species, and improved management of forest resources. The prospect of severe reductions in the utilization of this management tool is of major concern to Florida's natural resource managers and conservationists due to the subsequent loss of derived public and private benefits. They suggest the need for legislative attention.

A set of photographic documents on prescribed burning techniques and objectives in the Southeast can be visited in our photo archive.