GFMC: Forest Fires in the United States, 1 August 2000
Forest Fires in the United States
1 August 2000
Federal troops heading to Idaho to fight wildfires
Five hundred Army soldiers are being sent Tuesday to Idaho to help fight a wildfire raging in the Payette National Forest. The Pentagon is dispatching the soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas, to help weary firefighters battling a blaze that so far has consumed more than 14,000 acres north of McCall, in midwest Idaho. Another 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton, California, also are due in Idaho by Friday. In what has proved the worst year for wildfires since 1988, about 45 blazes are burning in at least 10 U.S. states. Infernos so far this year have consumed 3.5 million acres — an area larger than the state of Connecticut. Dry weather, gusty winds and rough terrain are making the job especially tough for thousands of firefighters spread out across fire lines. By late Monday, firefighters were battling eight major fires in Idaho, the largest of which has burned 77,000 acres in the Salmon-Challis National Forest near Clear Creek, Idaho. Other major fires are the Burgdorf Junction fire north of McCall, where the Army soldiers are being sent, as well as the Coffee Point fire, which has burned about 40,000 acres so far on government land northwest of Springfield, Idaho. The federal troops, who will undergo fire training, are being given a 30-day assignment to help regular federal firefighters. About 300 airmen and reservists already are working to put out wildfires in the West. The government is providing eight C-130 aircrews and aircraft, which are equipped with modular airborne firefighting systems.
(Information source and copyright by: CNN Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre, The Associated Press and Reuters)
Fire rages through Sierra Nevada
A tiny mountain town went up in flames and eight homes were destroyed as a 63,270-acre wildfire continued its weeklong rampage through the Sierra Nevada. The blaze that roared through Sequoia National Forest was only 15 percent contained late Sunday, and firefighters estimated it would take two weeks to surround, said Lee Bentley, a U.S. Forest Service spokesman. More than 1,500 firefighters set backfires, sprayed foam and cut brush as they battled the spreading blaze that began July 22. Eight firefighters have been injured, and the fire has cost more than $3 million. On Saturday, the fire took out houses and trailers in Pine Creek, part of a more broadly scattered community known as Kennedy Meadows, about 120 miles north of Los Angeles. It earlier burned eight outbuildings and lodges. At a fire camp a few hundred yards away, several hundred firefighters sacked out in tents, catching a few hours of rest before returning to the lines. A fleet of 17 helicopters and air tankers, 13 bulldozers and 15 water tenders also fought the blaze Sunday. The cause of the fire was undetermined.
(Information Source: The Associated Press, Copyright 2000)
Real-Time Fire Website: The Twin Fire, North of Salmon, Idaho
GFMC correspondent Jim Sorenson is currently working on the Twin Fire, North of Salmon, Idaho, and transmitted the following website address:
http://fire.ak.blm.gov
This site is maintained by the Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team (Joe Stam, Incident Commander). Website host the Alaska Fire Service. This fire website is an interesting and useful example of near-real time fire information dissemination to the public.
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.
Fire danger maps for the United States for 31 July (observation time) and a forecast for 1 August 2000.
(Source: Fire Behavior Research Work Unit, Missoula)
Dead fuel moisture responds solely to ambient environmental conditions and is critical in determining fire potential. Dead fuel moistures are classed by timelag. A fuel’s timelag is proportional to its diameter and is loosely defined as the time it takes a fuel particle to reach 2/3’s of its way to equilibrium with its local environment. Dead fuels in NFDRS have four timelag classes:
1-hr: Fine flashy fuels, less than 1/4″ (< 0.63 cm) diameter. Responds quickly to weather changes. Computed from observation time temperature, humidity and cloudiness.
10-hr: 1/4 to 1″ (0.63 to 2.54 cm) diameters. Computed from observation time temperature, humidty, and cloudiness, or may be a standard set of “10-Hr Fuel Sticks” that are weighed as part of the fire weather observation.
100-hr: 1 to 3″ (2.54 to 7.62 cm) diameter. Computed from 24 hour average boundary condition composed of day length, hours of rain, and daily temperature/humidity ranges.
1000-hr: 3 to 6″ (7.62 to 15.24 cm) diameter. Computed from a 7-day average boundary condition composed of day length, hours of rain, and daily temperature/humidity ranges.
10-HR Fuel Moisture
100-HR Fuel Moisture
1000-HR Fuel Moisture
Fuel moisture maps for the United States, 31 July 2000
(Source: Fire Behavior Research Work Unit, Missoula)
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is a soil/duff drought index that ranges from 0 (no drought) to 800 (extreme drought) and is based on a soil capacity of 8 inches of water. Factors in the index are maximum daily temperature, daily precipitation, antecedent precipitation, and annual precipitation. KBDI = 0 – 200: Soil moisture and large class fuel moistures are high and do not contribute much to fire intensity. Typical of spring dormant season following winter precipitation. KBDI = 200 – 400: Typical of late spring, early growing season. Lower litter and duff layers are drying and beginning to contribute to fire intensity. KBDI = 400 – 600: Typical of late summer, early fall. Lower litter and duff layers actively contribute to fire intensity and will burn actively. KBDI = 600 – 800: Often associated with more severe drought with increased wildfire occurrence. Intense, deep burning fires with significant downwind spotting can be expected. Live fuels can also be expected to burn actively at these levels.
For further information on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) by Florida’s Division of Forestry / Forest Protection Bureau please refer to Keetch-Byram Drought Index Revisited: Prescribed Fire Applications.
Keetch-Byram Drought Index Maps for conterminous US, 31 July 2000
(Source: Fire Behavior Research Work Unit, Missoula)
Operational Significant Event Imagery (OSEI)
The following significant events were identified by Satellite Analysis Branch meteorologists and reviewed by the OSEI support team:
NESDIS/OSEI NOAA-14 AVHRR HRPT satellite image, 30 July 2000 [conversion table]
Heat signatures and smoke are visible from the 63,000 acre Manter fire burning in southeastern
California and the 5,000 acre Plaskett 2 fire burning in the Los Padres National forest south of
Monterey. Further heat signature and smoke are visible from the 2,500 acre Pachenga fire burning in the Cleveland
National Forest northeast of Oceanside, California. Smoke and heat signatures are also visible from
several fires burning in Baja, California.
(Source: NESDIS/OSEI)
The image showing hotspots detected in Montana and Idaho on
29 July 2000. At least six fires or fire complexes were detected and labelled
according to the National Interagency Fire Center daily report.
(Source: FireM3)
The summer of 2000 is shaping up to be the worst U.S. fire season in four years. On 27 July 2000, fires were burning in Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado), Montana, Idaho, Utah, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and California. The Mesa Verde fire has threatened some prehistoric archeological sites. Ironically, other sites have been unearthed as vegetation was burned away by the fire and as firefighters dug trenches to serve as firebreaks. In a bizarre coincidence, one of the fires came close to the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, the third nuclear site affected by fire this year.
This image from GOES 11, the newest NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite
(GOES), shows smoke plumes and heat signatures (red) from many of fires in the western United States on the
evening of 27 July 2000.
(Source: Earth Observatory)
The BLM – Alaska Fire Service Initial Attack Management System (IAMS) is suite of computer applications developed by BLM/Fire to aid dispatchers and fire managers. IAMS Maps is one of these applications and provides graphical representation of various kinds of geographic data. Maps has been modified to produce output to a Web site to allow internet access to the data that IAMS stores. Dynamic data such as lightning (available May – September), fires, etc. are updated at the homepage of the BLM – Alaska Fire Service (select Maps / AFS IAMS Maps Viewer) every 15 minutes during the fire season.
IAMS image of active fires in Alaska, 31 July 2000
(Source: BLM – Alaska Fire Service)
Fire and Aviation Management Morning Report (31 July 2000) [conversion table]
Idaho
CLEAR CREEK: This 77,000 acre fire is burning on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, 26 miles northwest of Salmon, Idaho. 30% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 912 people are assigned to this fire.
BURGDORF JUNCTION: This 14,714 acre fire is burning on the Payette National Forest, 23 miles north of McCall, Idaho. 37% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 568 people are working on this fire.
FISHER SPRINGS: This 22,600 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management, Eastern Idaho Area, administered land, 8 miles southeast of Pocatello, Idaho. 100% of the work has been completed to contain this fire and this will be the last report unless conditions change. 37 people have been assigned to this fire.
COFFEE POINT NORTH: This 40,000 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management, Upper Snake River District administered land, 6 miles northwest of Springfield, Idaho. 75% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 16 people have been assigned to this fire.
MONUMENT CANYON: This 10,000 acre fire is burning on the Sawtooth National Forest, 36 miles southeast of Burley, Idaho. The threat is to private lands and grazing. 90% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 48 people are assigned to this fire.
GENTILE VALLEY: This 1,000 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management, Upper Snake River District administered land, 5 miles south of Alexander, Idaho. 100% of the work has been completed to contain this fire and this will be the last report unless conditions change. 72 people are assigned to this fire.
NAF: This 6,000 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management, Upper Snake River District administered land, 1 mile west of Naf, Idaho. 100% of the work has been completed to contain this fire and this will be the last report unless conditions change. 30 people are assigned to this fire.
TIN CUP: This 12,000 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management, Upper Snake River District administered land, 10 miles south of Butte City, Idaho. 100% of the work has been completed to contain this fire and this will be the last report unless conditions change. 15 people are assigned to this fire.
SUPON: This 4,000 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management, Upper Snake River District administered land, 20 miles north of Chesterfield, Idaho. 90% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 41 people are assigned to this fire.
MOONSHINE: This 8,280 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management, Upper Snake River District administered land, 13 miles east of American Falls, Idaho. 32 structures are threatened. 70% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. Number of people assigned to the fire is unknown.
Utah
WASATCH COMPLEX: This 1,500 acre complex (two or more fires in the same general area assigned to a single incident commander) is burning on the Wasatch Cache National Forest, east of Sandy, Utah. The complex includes the Mine Lake, Cottonwood, East Vivian, and Wallsburg Fires. There is no estimate of containment. 279 people are assigned to this fire.
BROAD: See OLDROYD COMPLEX
YANCE COMPLEX: See OLDROYD COMPLEX
MONA WEST: See OLDROYD COMPLEX
OLDROYD COMPLEX: This 38,700 acre complex is burning on the Fishlake National Forest, near Richfield, Utah. The complex includes the Oldroyd, Mona West, Broad, Mourning Dove, and Yance Fires. The town of Oak City, commercial property, and several summer cabins are threatened. 15% of the work had been completed to contain these fires. 780 people are assigned to these fires.
Arizona
RATTLESNAKE: This 1,487 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management administered land, south of St. George, Utah. 95% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 174 people have been assigned to this fire.
Montana
UPPER MONTURE: (formerly known as the SEELEY COMPLEX). This 10,600 acre complex is burning in the Lolo National Forest, 34 miles northeast of Missoula, Montana. There is no estimate of containment. 121 persons are assigned to this fire.
CANYON FERRY COMPLEX: Includes Buck Snort and Cave Gulch Fires. This 31,497 acre complex is burning on Montana State Department of Natural Resource administered land, 15 miles east of Helena, Montana. A total of 9 residences and 29 other structures have been destroyed. 30% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 999 people are assigned to this fire.
COUGAR CREEK: This 3,800 acre fire is burning in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, 15 miles southwest of Philipsburg, Montana. 10% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 432 persons are assigned to this fire.
TOBIN: This 9,100 acre fire is burning in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, 15 miles southwest of Philipsburg, Montana. 90% of the work has been completed to contain the fire. 352 persons are assigned to this fire.
FORT HOWES COMPLEX: This 48,700 acre complex is burning on Bureau of Land Management, Miles City Field Office administered land, 25 miles south of Ashland, Montana. The complex includes the Stag Butte, Taylor Butte, and four other fires. The fire has moved within 5 miles of Ashland, Montana. 30% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 348 people are assigned to the fire.
Wyoming
MIDDLE ENOS: This 12,000 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management, Worland District administered land, 15 miles south of Meeteetse, Wyoming. 35% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 250 people are assigned to this fire.
DEAD HORSE: This 3,000 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management, Casper District administered land, 12 miles south of Casper, Wyoming. Structures, a ski area and radio towers are threatened. There is no estimate of containment. 250 people are assigned to this fire.
Southern California
HAPPY: This 5,500 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District administered lands, north of Trona, California. 95% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 40 people are assigned to this fire.
PLASKETT 2: This 4,900 acre fire is burning on the Los Padres National Forest, 25 miles north of Cambria, California. 75% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 1,193 people are assigned to this fire.
MANTER: This 63,270 acre fire is burning on the Sequoia National Forest, near Kernville, California. 8 residences and 8 outbuildings have been destroyed in the Kennedy Meadows area. Youth camps and other facilities have been evacuated as a precaution. 10% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 1,559 people are assigned to this fire.
PECHANGA: This 2,500 acre fire is being managed by California Department of Forestry and is burning in the Pechanga India Reservation and the Cleveland National Forest, 5 miles east of Temecula, California. Residential areas and campgrounds are threatened. 10% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 422 people are assigned to this fire.
Nevada
COTTONWOOD: This 5,000 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management, Carson City Field Office administered land, 30 miles southeast of Lovelock, Nevada. 90% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 153 people are working on the fire.
SOUTH CRICKET: This 65,778 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management, Elko Field Office administered land, 8 miles northeast of Wells, Nevada. Threats continue to residences, power lines and a railroad line. 60% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 473 people are working on the fire.
COYOTE: This 15,500 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management, Ely Field Office administered land, 40 miles northeast of Pioche, Nevada. 15 structures were threatened. 15% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 275 people are working on the fire.
Arizona
RIDGE (formerly known as Cibecue Ridge): This 7,600 acre fire is burning on land protected by the Fort Apache Agency, 5 miles northwest of Carrizo, Arizona. A major power line and a microwave tower are threatened. 80% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 520 people are working on this fire.
New Mexico
WALL: This 2,125 acre fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management, Albuquerque District administered land, 20 miles southwest of Grants, New Mexico. The fire is burning in an extremely remote portion of the El Malpais Wilderness. The fire is 95% contained. All fire resources have been released, but the fire will continue to be monitored.
BLOODGOOD: This 2,200 acre fire is burning on Gila National Forest, 30 miles north of Silver City, New Mexico. These two lightning-ignited fires (Bloodgood-2,000 acres and Graves-200) are being managed to accomplish resource objectives. 15 people are assigned to the fires.
UNION WELLS 2: This 1,250 acre fire is burning on Texas State Forest Service land, 60 miles northeast of Houston, Texas. 90% of the work has been completed to contain this fire. 46 people are assigned to this fire.
Washington
ROCKY HULL (formerly Hull Mountain): This 9,404 acre fire is burning on Northeast Washington State Forestry administered land, 4 miles southeast of Oroville, Washington. 37 residences have been destroyed. 100% of the work has been completed to contain the fire and this will be the last report unless conditions change. 978 people are assigned to this fire.
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Wildland Fire Update (31 July 2000) [conversion table]
Hot dry weather, dry lightning conditions and new fires continue to stress firefighters and resources throughout the West. Training began today for the Armys 3rd Battalion 16th Field Artillery, from Ft. Hood, Texas, which will assist in the fires suppression effort in Idaho. Fire weather watches have been posted throughout the Northwest and Great Basin for hot, windy conditions, and low humidities. Eight new large fire were reported in the Northern Rockies, Rocky Mountains, Eastern Great Basin, Southern California and Southern Areas. There are currently 45 large wildland fires burning in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
.
Large Incident Locations of Wildland Fires in the United States, 31 July 2000.
(Source: National Interagency Fire Center)
The National Interagency Fire Center provided new fire statistics, such as:
- Wildland Fire Statistics
- Prescribed Fire Statistics
- Historically Significant Wildland Fires
Five-Year Wildland Fire Comparison Statistics Year-to-Date for the United States (31 July 2000)
(Source: National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)
[conversion table]
As of 31 July 2000 Number of Wildland Fires Area burnt
Acres 2000 60,293 3,488,932 1999 57,705 2,541,414 1998 49,727 1,614,713 1997 40,543 2,117,845 1996 77,237 3,192,118 1995 53,272 1,183,693 1994 48,617 1,940,230 1993 36,560 1,259,795 1992 63,580 766,119 1991 43,106 1,767,106 1990 40,676 2,750,564 1989 38,988 1,368,681 1988 60,653
2,271,974
NIFC Incident Management Situation Report (31 July 2000) [conversion table]
Current Situation:
Eight new large fires were reported in the Northern Rockies, Rocky Mountain, Eastern Great Basin, Southwest, Southern California, and Southern Areas. Initial attack activity has been light to moderate, but an increase is expected with dry lightning forecast in Montana, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon. Containment goals were reached on ten large fires. Mobilization of aircraft, equipment, crews and overhead through the National Interagency Coordination Center is continuing at a steady pace. Very high to extreme fire danger indices were reported in numerous units throughout the 11 western states and in Texas. The Pentagon’s Directorate of Operations for Military Support (DOMS) has been requested to supply one military battalion to assist in the fire suppression effort. The Training Cadre will begin training today for the Army’s 3rd Battalion 16th Field Artillery in Ft. Hood, Texas.
Outlook:
A fire weather watch is posted in southeast Oregon and southwest Idaho for possible dry lightning.
A fire weather watch is posted in northern and central Wyoming for hot and dry conditions and dry thunderstorms.
A fire weather watch is posted in southcentral and southeast Montana for low humidities and dry thunderstorms.
A fire weather watch is posted in central Montana for dry thunderstorms possibly containing gusty and erratic winds.
A fire weather watch is posted in western Montana for low humidities, high haines index, gusty winds and isolated dry lightning.
A fire weather watch is posted in central, east central and west central Nevada for dry thunderstorms.
A fire weather watch is posted in the central Idaho mountains for extremely low humidities and gusty winds.
A fire weather watch is posted in northeast Oregon and southeast Washington and parts of central Oregon for windy conditions and very low fuel moistures.
Hot and dry conditions will persist across the western United States. A number of fire weather watches have been issued for dry lightning, winds or low humidities. Dry lightning can be expected in parts of Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Montana. An advancing trough and dry cold front will bring increasing winds to the Pacific Northwest, especially along the east slopes of the Cascades. Temperatures will again reach the 90’s to mid 100’s across much of the west. Humidities will be in the single digits and teens.
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 30 and 90-day forecast maps).
30 and 90-day temperature and precipitation forecast maps (August and August to October 2000)
(Source: National Weather Service, Boise, Idaho)
NIFC Wildland Fire Potential Assessment (8 July to 10 August 2000):
ALASKA – Potential: normal.
Temperatures and precipitation have been normal for the last four weeks. Conditions in the interior of the state continue to support fire activity. The Fire Weather Index (FWI), which represents the intensity of a spreading fire in tundra and forest fuels, is currently high in the central interior in many places. Long-range forecasts call for above normal temperatures and normal rainfall.
NORTHWEST – Potential: Normal to above normal.
Temperatures have been above normal and precipitation has been below normal for the area for the past month. Live fuel moistures are average or slightly below average in most areas and have been measured at 80% in central Oregon to 100% in eastern Washington. 1000 hour dead fuel moistures have been normal in the west and slightly below normal in the eastern portions. Measurements range from 13% in eastern Washington to 25% in northwestern Oregon. The central portions of the area are showing moderate drought conditions as measured by the Palmer Drought Index (PDI). Long-range weather forecasts call for normal warm and dry conditions for the month.
CALIFORNIA – Potential: Normal.
Precipitation has been below normal in the south and normal in the north. Temperatures have been above normal in the south and normal in the north. Live fuel moistures are in decline in both zones with timber fuels at around 90% and between 60 to 100% in southern forests. Some moderate drought conditions still exist in southern California and in eastern portions of the Sierra Nevada in the north as measured by the PDI. 1000 hour fuel moisture is below normal for this time of year with measurements of 12%. Actual fire occurrence numbers are near normal and acres are slightly above in the north and below in the south as compared to the 5 year averages. Long-range climate prediction calls for above normal temperatures and normal rainfall for the month.
NORTHERN ROCKIES – Potential: Normal to above normal.
Precipitation has been below normal in much of the area and temperatures have been mostly normal. Live fuel moisture is ranging from 50 to 200% and 1000 hour dead fuel moisture is measured between 9 to 25%. North Dakota is expected to see below normal fire activity due to above average precipitation received during last month. Long-range climate prediction calls for normal temperature and rainfall to occur for the month. PDI indicates moderate to severe drought conditions exist in mainly eastern and central Montana. Fire occurrence and acres reported burned are well above the 5 year averages.
GREAT BASIN – Potential: Above normal.
Temperatures have been above normal during the past month while precipitation has been below normal through the area. Live fuel moisture are around 100% in the north and 65 to 100% in the south which is below the average values for the area. 1000 fuel moisture is being measured at 10% in the West Great Basin and 5 to 20% in the East Great Basin, which is below normal and normal. PDI indicates moderate and severe drought for most of the area. Long-range forecasts call for above normal temperatures and normal precipitation for Nevada and above normal precipitation for southern Utah. Overall, weather conditions are being reported as two to three weeks ahead of normal. Lightning activity in the past two weeks indicates that the northern edge of the monsoonal flow pattern has arrived.
SOUTHWEST – Potential: Normal to above normal.
Precipitation has been normal to above normal everywhere except in northern New Mexico, where it has been below normal. Temperatures have been normal in most parts of the region except northern Arizona, where they were above normal. Live fuel moisture has been measured at 60 to 120% which is normal for most of the area. 1000 hour fuel moisture is 9 to 14% in Arizona and 8 to 20% in New Mexico which is normal for this time of year. The PDI indicates that a large part of New Mexico and all of Arizona is in moderate to severe drought. The exception is south central New Mexico, which is near normal. Fire occurrence is up slightly from the five year average and acreage for the year is up 355% this year. Some significant precipitation has been received since mid June and fire danger has lessened considerably. With the arrival of the monsoon season, it is reasonable to expect this trend to continue.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN – Potential: Normal to above normal.
Temperatures and precipitation have been normal to below normal for the last four weeks. Live fuel moistures have been normal in the north and below normal in the south and west portions of the area with measurements of 95 to 130% in ponderosa pine, pinyon pine and juniper at 80 to 90% and sagebrush at 95%. 1000 hour fuel moistures are measured at 6 to 10% in the west and 11 to 15% east of the Continental Divide which is a little below average for this time of year. Fire activity is expected to be normal with the arrival of the monsoon pattern and above normal if the monsoon is weaker than average and does not move up into the area.
EASTERN – Potential: Normal to below normal.
Temperatures and precipitation have been normal in most of the Eastern Area. Live fuel moisture is at the seasonal normal for this time of year. 1000 hr fuels are being measured in the 20 to 25% ranges for this time of year and are mostly normal. PDI indicates some moderate drought in the western and central portions of the area. Increased precipitation over the past month has contributed to lessening the fire danger situation in the area. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness blow down area continues to be of concern.
SOUTHERN -Potential: Normal.
Temperatures have been normal to above normal and precipitation has been normal to below normal through most of the area last month. Live fuel moisture is averaging 150% which is slightly below normal. 1000 hr fuels are being measured from 16 to 35% and are mostly average. PDI indicates moderate and severe drought conditions continuing through much of the area. July historically has a low occurrence of fire activity and the long-range climate prediction calls for above normal temperatures and normal precipitation, except for portions of the Carolinas and Tennessee, which is forecast for below normal.
Temperatures and Precipitation reflect conditions over the past four to six weeks. The long range forecast is for the next 30 days. Above and below normal is indicated above in the narrative, areas not mentioned fall in the climatological category which means there are equal chances of being below normal (33.3%), normal (33.3%) or above normal (33.3%).
Map describing the wildland fire potential (6 July – 10 August 2000) for areas throughout the country.
(Source: National Interagency Fire Center)
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.
