Forest Fires in the United States

1 September 2000


Policy News
The Society of American Foresters (SAF) sent a letter to President Clinton urging the administration to develop a comprehensive strategy to restore fire-damaged areas in the West that would  involve communities, firefighters, and other forestry experts. A press release regarding this letter can be found at Forestry Organization Calls on Administration to Restore Lands Damaged by Forest Fires and the letter is located at Letter to President Clinton on Fire.

Several media releases and articles are available regarding to the current wildfire situation in the western part of the United States. Please have a look at:

 

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.

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Fire danger maps for the United States for 31 August 2000 (observation time) and 1 September 2000 (forecast)
(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.

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10-HR Fuel Moisture

100-HR Fuel Moisture

1000-HR Fuel Moisture

Fuel moisture maps for the United States, 31 August 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.

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Keetch-Byram Drought Index Maps for conterminous US, 31 August 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:

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NESDIS/OSEI NOAA-12 POES AVHRR HRPT satellite images, 31 August 2000 
Heat signatures (red) and dense smoke (light blue) are visible from the 13,500 acre
Hash Rock fire burning in central Oregon and from the 76,500 acre Eastside Complex
burning in northeastern Oregon near the Idaho border. 
(Source: NESDIS/OSEI)

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NESDIS/OSEI NOAA-12 POES AVHRR HRPT satellite images, 31 August 2000 
This is a 2X zoom ( 1 km resolution) of the heat signatures and smoke from the fires
burning in northcentral Idaho and western Montana.
(Source: NESDIS/OSEI)

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NESDIS/OSEI NOAA-12 POES AVHRR HRPT satellite image, 31 August 2000 
Heat signatures (red) and dense smoke (light blue) are visible from the numerous fires
burning in Oregon, northcentral Idaho, and western Montana.
(Source: NESDIS/OSEI)

 

The official website for information, data, and images from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) instruments provides a new TOMS Global Aerosol Hot Spots Page with products displayed in the following table.

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25 August 2000
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26 August 2000
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27 August 2000
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28 August 2000
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29 August 2000
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30 August 2000

Smoke spreads across the western US
NOTE: On August 26-30, smoke from the fires in Montana and Idaho is first
blown eastward, and then winds from a high pressure system over Texas and a
low pressure system off the Atlantic coast combine to push it south into Florida
and the Caribbean.
The surface background image used here is NOT part of the TOMS aerosol index retrieval.
(Source: TOMS Global Aerosol Hot Spots Page)

 

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.

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IAMS image of active fires in Alaska, 31 August 2000
(Source: BLM - Alaska Fire Service)

 

National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Wildland Fire Update (31 August 2000) [conversion table]
"Generally yesterday was a pretty good day, everywhere," said a spokesperson for the National Interagency Fire Center. Increased humidity, lower temperatures and scattered showers decreased wildland fire activity and allowed firefighters to make good progress throughout the Northwest, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. There were also fewer new smaller fires reported throughout the West. Extreme fire conditions persist, however, in Texas, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma, where fire activity remained steady.
Weather forecasters are expecting a storm system to move through the Northwest, Idaho and Montana tomorrow that will bring much cooler temperatures, higher humidity and up to an inch of rain some areas. Prior to this storm, however, strong winds are forecast in central Idaho, central Oregon and eastern Washington today.
As the holiday weekend approaches, travelers are encouraged to check the status of restrictions on public lands. Many areas throughout the West are very dry and extra precaution with campfires and off-road travel is critical.

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Large Incident Locations of Wildland Fires in the United States, 31 August 2000.
(Source: National Interagency Fire Center)

 

GeoMAC WILDLAND FIRE SUPPORT
The GeoMAC (Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group) team has produced an internet based mapping application which allows firefighting coordination centers and incident command teams to access online maps of current fire locations and perimeters. Fire perimeter data is updated daily based upon input from incident intelligence sources, GPS data, IR imagery from fixed wing and satellite platforms. The fire maps also have relational databases in which the user can display information on individual fires such as name of the fire, current acreage and other fire status information. Additional data layers including fuel types, aircraft hazard maps, links to remote weather station data and other critical fire analysis information are currently being added to the GeoMAC application.

 

Fire and Aviation Management Morning Report (31 August 2000) [conversion table]

Summary of Fire Activity Across The United States:

  Yesterday Year to Date Ten Year Average
Fires 191 73,596 60,677
Acres Burned 15,465 6,411,684 2,842,503
Estimated Daily Cost $ 13 million    

Northern Rockies Large Fires
Montana
MONTURE/SPREAD RIDGE COMPLEX: (complex is two or more fires in the same general area assigned to a single incident commander). This 26,500 acre complex is burning on the Lolo NF, 19 miles east of Seeley Lake, Montana. 4 structures have been lost. Containment is at 5% in this complex. 252 people are assigned to this fire.
VALLEY COMPLEX: This 171,490 acre complex is burning on the Bitterroot NF, 7 miles south of Darby. This complex consists of seven fires. Military personnel are assigned to this fire. Structure protection operations are in place. 227 structures have been lost. 15% of the work has been completed for containment. 1,771 people are assigned to this fire.
BLODGETT TRAILHEAD: This 10,764 acre fire is burning on the Bitterroot NF, 3 miles northwest of Hamilton. Structure protection remains in place. 8 structures were lost to this fire. 52% of the work has been completed for containment. 285 people are assigned to this fire.
WILDERNESS COMPLEX: This 62,491 acre complex is burning on the Bitterroot NF, in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness and Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, 40 miles southwest of Hamilton. This complex consists of 15 fires. 25% of the work has been completed for containment. 27 people are assigned to this fire.
MUSSIGBROD COMPLEX: This 70,491 acre complex is burning on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, 12 miles northwest of Wisdom. This complex has burned into the Valley Complex. Four structures have been lost to this fire. 15% of the work has been completed for containment. 359 people are assigned to this fire.
UPPER NINE MILE COMPLEX: This 24,155 acre complex is burning on the Lolo NF, within 25 miles northwest of Missoula. There are 6 fires in this complex. Military personnel are assigned. 23% of the work has been completed for containment. 1,208 people are assigned to the fire.
CROOKED: This 4,892 acre fire is burning on the Clearwater NF, 50 miles southwest of Missoula, near Lolo Pass. 90% of the work has been completed for containment. Estimated containment date is September 1. 177 people are assigned to this fire.
MIDDLE FORK COMPLEX: This 23,820 acre complex is burning on the Beaverhead–Deerlodge NF, 30 miles southwest of Philipsburg. The complex consists of 6 fires. Structure protection is in place. 12% of the work has been completed for containment. 687 people are assigned to this fire.
THOMPSON FLAT COMPLEX: This 14,936 acre complex is burning on the Lolo NF, near Superior. This complex includes 6 fires. 2 structures were lost. Structure protection is in place. 25% of the work has been completed for containment. 678 people are assigned to this fire.
CLEAR CREEK DIVIDE COMPLEX: This 19,818 acre complex is burning on land administered by the BIA, Flathead Agency, 60 miles northwest of Missoula. This complex consists of five fires. Structure protection is in place. 80% of the work has been completed for containment. 543 people are assigned to this fire.
RYAN GULCH: This 17,118 acre fire is burning on land administered by Montana DNR, Southwestern Land Office, 15 miles east of Clinton. 100% of the work has been completed for containment. This will be the last report for the fire unless conditions change. 234 people are assigned to this fire.
JUDITH COMPLEX: This 1,450 acre fire is burning on the Lewis and Clark NF, 25 miles southwest of Stanford. The complex consists of three fires. 50% of the work has been completed for containment. 130 people are assigned to this fire.
KOOTENAI COMPLEX: This 12,052 acre fire is burning on the Kootenai NF. This fire is located 20 miles northwest of Libby. There are 37 fires of which 19 are staffed in this complex. 15% of the work has been completed for containment. 398 people are assigned to the fire.
STONE YOUNG: This 25,137 acre fire is burning on the Kootenai NF and into Canada. The complex consists of 4 fires. Canadian resources are working on the Young fire. This fire is 70% contained. 427 people are assigned to the fire.
TROY SOUTH: This 3,444 acre fire is burning on the Kootenai NF, near Troy. The complex consists of 41 fires of which 23 fires have been contained and are in patrol status. 45% of the work has been completed for containment. 464 people are assigned to the fire.
SPRUCE COMPLEX: This 5,650 acre complex is burning in Yellowstone National Park, consisting of 11 fires. Structure protection is in place. There is no estimate of containment. 56 people are assigned to the fire.
MAUDLOW/TOSTON: This 81,000 acre fire is burning on Central Land Office, Montana DNR land, 25 miles north of Belgrade. 2 structures have been destroyed. 60% of the work has been completed for containment. 1,192 people are assigned to the fire.
HELEN CREEK: This 6,100 acre fire is burning on the Flathead NF, 22 miles south of Spotted Bear. Structure protection action is being taken. There is no estimate of containment. 6 people are assigned to the fire.
SKALKAHO COMPLEX: This 63,701 acre complex is burning on the Bitterroot NF, 10 miles southeast of Hamilton. This is the northern portion of the Valley Complex. Structure protection is in place. Four structures have been lost to this fire. 25% of the work has been completed for containment. 740 people are assigned to the fire.
CHIPMUNK: This 2,765 acre fire is burning on the Flathead NF, 45 miles southeast of Kalispell. There is no known containment date. 26 people are assigned to this fire.
ALDER CREEK: This 4,500 acre fire is burning on the Lolo NF, 31 miles southeast of Missoula. Structure protection is in place. There no estimated containment date. No people are assigned to the fire.
WILLY: This 1,500 acre fire is burning on the Custer NF, 5 miles southwest of Red Lodge. Over 150 structures are threatened. There is no estimated containment date. There are 256 people assigned to this fire.
PEASE: This 4,612 acre fire is burning on Crow Agency, BIA lands 5 miles east of Billings. Containment is at 100%. This is the last report for this fire unless conditions change. 55 people are assigned to this fire.
Idaho
THREE BEARS: This 33,250 acre fire is burning on the Nez Perce NF, 29 miles from Elk City. Structure protection is in place. There is no estimated date for containment. 74 people are assigned to this fire.
BURNT FLATS: This 20,165 acre fire is burning on the Clearwater Area, Idaho State Department of Lands, 3 miles from Whitebird. 70% of the work has been completed for containment. 716 people are assigned to the fire.
HIDDEN CREEK: This 1,717 acre fire is burning on the Clearwater NF, 12 miles southeast of Powell. There are threats to historic structures. There is no estimate of containment. 4 people are currently assigned to the fire.
ELIZABETH: This 3,200 acre fire is burning on the Clearwater NF, 33 miles northeast of Pierce. Forest Service personnel are monitoring the fire. There is no estimate of containment. No personnel are assigned to this fire.
PARKE PEAK: This 2,100 acre fire is continuing to burn in Glacier National Park. Fire activity has increased in this area. This fire is 75% contained. October 15 is the estimated date of containment. 4 people are assigned to this fire.
North Dakota
BLACKTAIL COMPLEX: This 5,770 acre complex is burning on the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, 20 miles north of Medora. Portions of the Park have been closed. This fire is 80% contained. August 31 is the estimated date to for containment. There are 123 people assigned to this fire.
Eastern Great Basin Large Fires
Idaho
CLEAR CREEK: This 199,973 acre fire is burning on the Salmon-Challis NF, 12 miles west of Salmon. Military personnel are assigned to this fire. 10 structures were lost. Structure protection is in place. 39% of the work has been completed for containment. 1,787 people are assigned to this fire.
BURGDORF JUNCTION: This 63,869 acre fire is burning on the Payette NF, 23 miles north of McCall. Structure protection continues to be successful. 29 structures were lost. 60% of the work has been completed for containment. 322 people are working on the fire.
FLOSSIE COMPLEX: This 41,000 acre complex is burning on the Payette NF, 50 miles northeast of McCall. There is no estimate of containment. 4 people have been assigned for structure protection at the Root Ranch.
DIAMOND COMPLEX: This 126,000 acre fire is burning on the Payette NF, 42 miles northeast of McCall. This complex consists of 3 fires. Structure protection is in place. This fire is being monitored from the air. One structure has been lost to this fire. There is no estimate of containment. 10 people have been assigned to the fire.
MORSE: This 4,460 acre fire is burning on the Salmon-Challis NF, 12 miles southeast of Ellis. Three structures have been lost to this fire. Structure protection has been implemented for Little Morgan Creek. 15% of the work has been completed for containment. 77 people are assigned to this fire.
NICK: This 4,300 acre fire is burning on the Payette NF, 12 miles east of McCall. Structure protection and evacuation plans are in place. Containment is at 55%. Estimated date of containment is unknown. 362 people are assigned to the fire.
TRAIL CREEK: This 34,259 acre fire is burning on the Boise NF, 5 miles south of Atlanta. Structure protection remains in place for Atlanta. The fire continues to actively burn. 30 structures were lost. This fire is 95% contained. Containment is expected August 31. 530 people are assigned to the fire.
INDIAN/PROSPECT: This 11,100 acre fire is burning on the Payette NF, 33 miles east of McCall. 3 structures have been lost to this fire. There is no estimate of containment. 14 people are assigned to this fire.
SCF WILDERNESS COMPLEX: This 165,100 acre complex is burning on the Salmon-Challis NF, 40 miles northwest of Salmon. There are presently 11 fires burning within this complex. 22 structures have been lost. There is no estimate of containment. 29 people are assigned to the fire.
MARLIN SPRINGS: This 6,119 acre fire is located in the Salmon-Challis NF, 40 miles northwest of Salmon. This fire is burning along the ridge between Montana and Idaho. There is no estimated containment date. 234 people are assigned to this fire.
Wyoming
FONTENELLE: This 14,750 acre fire is burning on the Bridger-Teton NF, northeast of Cokeville. Structure protection is in place. One structure was lost. This fire is presently 33% contained. There is no estimate of containment. 207 people are assigned to the fire.
BLIND TRAIL COMPLEX: This 16,110 acre complex is burning on the Bridger-Teton NF, consisting of the Blind and Boulder fires. This fire is 55% contained. 255 people have been assigned to this fire.
HALF MOON: This 1,115 acre fire is burning on the Bridger-Teton NF, near Pinedale. 100% of the work has been completed for containment. This is the last report for this fire unless conditions change. 21 people are assigned to the fire.
TETON COMPLEX: This 15,506 acre complex is burning in the Grand Teton National Park north of Jackson. This complex consists of five fires. Extreme fire behavior continues to cause containment problems for this area. There has been one structure lost to this fire. There is no estimate of containment. 405 people are assigned to this fire.
Western Great Basin Area Large Fires
Nevada
CHERRY: This 8,000 acre fire is burning on the BLM, Ely Field Office administered land, 30 miles northwest of Ely. This fire is being monitored by BLM personnel. 80% of the work has been completed for containment.
PHILLIPS RANCH: This 2,600 acre fire is burning on the Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, 50 miles southeast of Ely. This fire is being monitored by Park Service personnel. Containment is at 25%. Estimated date of containment is unknown. 7 people are assigned to the fire.
Rocky Mountain Area Large Fires
South Dakota
JASPER: This 70,500 acre fire is burning in the Black Hills NF, 15 mile east of Newcastle. Precautionary evacuations occurred in and around Jewel Cave National Monument. 3 structures have been lost to this fire. This fire is 30% contained. 1,074 people are assigned to this fire.
Northwest Large Fires
Oregon
CARROL CREEK: This 3,201 acre fire is burning on Oregon Dept of Forestry lands east of Jasper. Oregon National Guard is assisting with line construction. This fire is 40% contained. Estimated containment date September 2. 946 people are assigned to this fire.
HASH ROCK: This 13,500 acre fire is burning on the Ochoco NF, 9 miles north of Prineville. Structure protection is in place. This fire is presently 50% contained. No estimated date of containment has been established for this fire. 1,103 people are assigned to this fire.
EASTSIDE COMPLEX: This 76,500 acre, 11 fire complex is burning on the Wallowa-Whitman NF, in an area between Joseph and Halfway. Three structures have been lost to this fire. Structure protection is in place. This fire is 20% contained. No estimate of containment has been established. 716 people are assigned to this complex.
Northern California Large Fires
STORRIE: This 43,075 acre fire is burning on the Plumas NF, 20 miles west of Quincy. Fire activity is moderating for this fire. Structure protection is in place. One structure has been lost to this fire. 67% of the work has been completed for containment. 2,382 people are assigned to the fire.
Southern California Large Fires
HUNTER: This 7,324 acre fire is located on CDF lands, 25 miles northeast of Merced. Steep terrain is hampering firefighting efforts. This fire has been 80% contained. Estimated containment date is August 31. 1,275 people are assigned to this fire.
Southwest Area Large Fires
There is no current fire activity for this area.
Southern Area Large Fires
Oklahoma
McGEE CREEK #2 COMPLEX: This 2,000 acre fire is burning on Oklahoma Division of Forestry lands, near Antlers. The fire is 10% contained. Estimated containment is September 2. 27 people are assigned to the fire.

Five-Year Wildland Fire Comparison Statistics Year-to-Date for the United States (31 August 2000)
(Source: National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)
[conversion table]

As of 31 August 2000 Number of Wildland Fires Area burnt
Acres
2000 73,596 6,411,684
1999 69,852 4,238,802
1998 58,670 1,916,172
1997 48,026 2,686,966
1996 85,313 5,380,398
1995 62,592 1,613,032
1994 57,662 3,118,337
1993 46,177 1,570,441
1992 70,095 1,529,936
1991 58,180 1,987,572
1990 50,201 4,383,372
1989 44,668 1,440,929
1988 67,484 3,409,788

 

The National Interagency Fire Center provided new fire statistics, such as:

 

NIFC Incident Management Situation Report (31 August 2000) [conversion table]
Current Situation:
A total of three new large fires were reported, two in the Southern Area and one in the Northern Rockies. Crews reached containment goals on ten large fires in the Southern, Rocky Mountain, Northern Rockies, Eastern and Western Great Basin Areas. Initial attack activity was light to moderate in most areas. An approaching trough, which is predicted to bring showers and cooler temperatures to the northwest and northern Rockies, will assist crews in making progress toward containment goals on the large fires. Very high to extreme fire indices have been reported in all western states and in Texas, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Outlook:
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS POSTED IN THE EAST CENTRAL IDAHO MOUNTAINS FOR STRONG RIDGETOP WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS POSTED IN CENTRAL OREGON AND THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN FOR STRONG WINDS
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS POSTED IN MOST OF EASTERN WASHINGTON FOR WINDY CONDITIONS
A Pacific trough continues to move across the northern states along the Canadian border. Cool and dry weather will prevail across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and western Montana. A chance of showers will continue across eastern Montana and into Wyoming with isolated thunderstorms. Monsoonal moisture will bring thunderstorms to the higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada, across central Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and southward.  Winds will increase over the northwest, along with dry conditions. Winds will generally be south to southwest at 5 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph in the watch areas. Temperatures will be in the 70's to mid 80's in the mountains, mid 80's to 90's in the lower elevations and 100 to 110 in the hottest deserts. The exception will be in the northwest, temperatures will be in the 60's in the mountains and in the 70's to lower 80's in valleys. Relative humidities will be in the teens and 20's with some single digit readings occurring in the driest areas.

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).

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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 (10 August - 7 September 2000):
ALASKA - Potential: Normal to below normal. Temperatures have been below normal and precipitation has been normal for the last four to six weeks. Fine fuels are green and fire activity should be minimal. Medium-range forecasts call for below normal temperatures.
NORTHWEST – Potential: Normal to above normal. Temperatures have been above normal and precipitation has been below normal in the area for the past month. Live fuel moistures are at or slightly below average in most areas and have been measured at 80% in central Oregon to 140% in western Washington. 1000 hour dead fuel moistures have been normal in the west and slightly below normal in the eastern portions. Measurements range from 21% in western Washington to 6% in southwestern Oregon. The area hasn’t had any large timber fires yet as grasses are still green at the higher elevations. The Palmer Drought Index (PDI) shows extreme and severe drought through much of eastern Washington and Oregon. The long-range weather forecast calls for above normal temperatures.
CALIFORNIA - Potential: Above normal. Temperatures have been above normal and precipitation has been below normal for the last 4 to 6 weeks. Live fuel moistures in the north are on the decline at 80% and in the south are being measured at 70%. 1000 hour fuel moisture is around 10 to 12% which is slightly below average. Areas east of the Pacific Coast Range are indicating above normal potential for large fire growth. PDI indicates moderate drought in the north and severe and extreme drought in the central and southern areas. Long- range forecasts calls for above normal temperature and below normal precipitation for central California.
NORTHERN ROCKIES - Potential: Above normal. Precipitation has been below normal in much of the area and temperatures have been above normal. Live fuel moisture is ranging from 70% in sagebrush at lower elevations to 125% in conifer species at higher elevations. 1000 hour fuel moisture is 7 to 15% in the east and 6 to 12% in the west but higher in parts of northern Idaho (15 to 25%). Expect large fire activity to continue until sufficient moisture is received. PDI indicates severe and moderate drought conditions in Montana and south Idaho. Long-range weather forecasts call for above normal temperatures.
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 is ranging from 45 to 112% in Nevada and 60 to 200% in the Eastern Great Basin. Fires have been exhibiting rapid rates of spread and 10 to 15 foot flame lengths in sagebrush fuels. The PDI indicates that the entire region is in severe and extreme drought conditions. Long-range weather predicts above normal temperatures for the period. Precipitation is forecasted to be above normal in southeastern Utah and below normal for southwestern Nevada.
SOUTHWEST - Potential: Normal to above normal. Temperatures have been normal and precipitation has been below normal. The monsoon flow from Mexico was less than normal for July and there are no indications at this time that it will strengthen. Live fuel moisture readings are lower than normal in central and northern Arizona where it is at 55 to 95% and normal, at 75 to 120%, in the rest of the area. 1000 hour fuel moisture levels are normal to above normal at 6 to 14% in Arizona and 10 to 18% in New Mexico. Palmer Drought Index (PDI) shows extreme drought conditions in Arizona and severe drought in central and western New Mexico. The long-range outlook indicates above normal temperatures and above normal precipitation for the next 30 days.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN - Potential: Above normal. Temperatures were normal to above normal and precipitation was below normal for the last four to six weeks. Live fuel samples are below normal for much of the area, ranging from 95% in ponderosa pine to 70 to 90% in pinyon pine and juniper fuels. 1000 hour fuel moisture is around 6 to 10 % in the west and 11 to 15% in the east, which is slightly below normal. Normal monsoon moisture did not move far enough north to provide relief from the dry conditions and continued large fire growth is anticipated. PDI indicates moderate and severe drought in most of the area except for southern Wyoming, where it is extreme. The long-range forecast calls for above normal precipitation for Colorado.
EASTERN - Potential: Normal. Temperatures and precipitation have been normal through much of the area except above normal in the New England states. Live fuel moisture has been measured at 125% and above in Jack Pine needles. 1000 hour fuel moisture average values are between 20 to 35% and are currently being measured at 21 to 30%. The blow down timber area of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness continues to be of concern due to the large fuel bed the wind event created. The PDI indicates that some of the northeastern Minnesota and northeastern Michigan continues to be in a moderate drought. Long-range climate forecasts call for below normal temperatures in the central Plains of the United States.
SOUTHERN - Potential: Normal to above normal. Temperatures have been normal and precipitation has been normal to below normal. Live fuel moisture is being measured from 70 to 110% in Alabama and Texas and 130 to 160% in the rest of the area. 1000 hour dead fuel moisture is at 16 to 30%. Periodic rain showers have brought much needed drought relief and have mitigated fire danger in much of the area. The Palmer Drought Index shows large portions of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida and all of Alabama to be in drought conditions. The long-range outlook is calling for normal temperatures and precipitation for most of the area.
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%)

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Map describing the wildland fire potential (10 August - 7 September 2000) for areas throughout the country.
(Source: National Interagency Fire Center)

 

Remarks on Prescribed Burning
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.


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