Forest Fires in the United States: 10 April 2000
Forest Fires in the United States
10 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 9 April (observation time) and 10 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 7 April 2000 in the United States plains.
Fig.3. Heat signatures (red) can be seen from numerous fires burning in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. 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.
Fig.4. Geographic areas and coordination centers
(modified map from National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)).
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).
Tab.1. Five-Year Wildland Fire Comparison Statistics Year-to-Date for the United States (5 April 2000)
(Source: National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC))
As of 03/27/00 Number of Wildland Fires Area burnt 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
Fig.5. 30 and 90-day temperature and precipitation forecast maps (April and April to June 2000)
(Source: National Weather Service, Boise, Idaho)
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.
Fig.6. Keetch-Byram Drought Index Map of Florida, 9 April 2000
(Source: Florida Division of Forestry)
The Southern Area Coordination Center Morning Report (9 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: RED FLAG WARNINGS ARE ONCE AGAIN IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF FLORIDA TODAY. Minimal fire activity reported.
No significant moisture reported from the cold front that surged through the area. Winds are expected to calm throughout, bringing lower humidities and higher fire danger.
ARKANSAS/OKLAHOMA:
Arkansas/Oklahoma Interagency Coordination Center: Fire danger remains high today. Turkey season opens Monday and there are many visitors in the forest scouting. No reports received from ARS or OKS.
Ouachita NF: Three thousand two hundred twenty gallons of water was dropped on a fire in the Caddo Ranger District.
Ozark NF: One tanker drop was reported on the fire in the Sylamore Ranger District.
FLORIDA:
Florida Interagency Coordination Center: Red Flag Warnings are posted for portions of FLORIDA. No rain is predicted and high winds are expected to prevail.
LOUISIANA:
Louisiana Interagency Coordination Center: No fire information received. Winds will be calm until later in the day when gusting winds are expected to bring another chance of rain.
MISSISSIPPI:
Mississippi Interagency Coordination Center: Winds have calmed considerably and calm conditions predicted. No fire information received.
NORTH CAROLINA:
North Carolina Interagency Coordination Center: Fire activity could increase as high winds continue to be forecast. The mountains areas did receive some spotty rain.
SOUTH CAROLINA:
South Carolina Interagency Coordination Center: Heavy short-duration showers were reported with an average of .3 lessening to a trace in some areas. Weather for the first part of the week is expected to be cooler, dry, and windy. Fire danger varies from high on the Francis Marion & Sumter forests to low in Kings Mountain NMP. The next chance of rain predicted is for Thursday.
VIRGINIA:
Virginia Interagency Coordination Center: Fire danger continues to be very high as strong winds continue.
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)
Incident Management Situation Report (7 April 2000):
Current Situation:
New large fire activity was reported in the Eastern, Southern, and Southwest Areas. Resource demobilization from Northern California is underway. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, and Utah.
Outlook:
Missouri will be cooler with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Winds in the northwest portion of the state will increase to between 20 and 35 mph. In the southeast, winds will be 15 to 25 mph and gusty. Temperatures will range from 50 to the mid 70’s.
Rain and snow are likely in Minnesota and Wisconsin, with snow accumulations of three to eight inches. Winds will be 20 to 30 mph and gusty. Eastern New Mexico and west Texas will be windy, partly cloudy and cooler. High temperatures will be in the 60’s and 70’s. Winds will be northwest at 15 to 30 mph and gusty. Humidities will be in the teens.
Northern California will be mostly sunny except for morning coastal low clouds and fog. Winds will be north to northwest at 10 to 20 mph. Temperatures will range from the 50’s on the coast and in the mountains to the 70’s in the valleys.
Detailed information and data about fires, prescribed fires, wildland fire use fire and burned areas (7 April 2000) for all geographic areas of the United States can begathered from the Incident Management Situation Report.
Remarks on Prescribed Burning
At this time of the year prescribed burning operations are conducted routinely.
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.
Another report on nation-wide prescribed burning in the U.S.A. was published in International Forest Fire News No.19 (September 1998).
A set of photographic documents on prescribed burning techniques and objectives in the Southeast can be visited in our photo archive.
