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Wildland Fire News and Updates 3/19/06
Various, including NICC ^ | 3/19/06 | NIFC and others

Posted on 03/19/2006 12:36:27 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum

INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT

SunDAY, MARCH 19, 2006 – 0800 MST

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL 2

 

 

CURRENT SITUATION:

Initial attack activity was light nationally with 110 new fires reported. Three new large fires were reported in the Southern Area. Twelve large fires were contained, nine in the Southern Area, two in the Eastern Area and one in the Rocky Mountain Area. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, Florida and Virginia.

 

SOUTHERN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

WEST TEXAS IA, Texas Forest Service. A Texas State Type 2 Incident Management Team (Stanford) is in place in Granbury, TX. The Team is assisting local jurisdictions with managing existing fires and initial attack within the 220,000 square mile West Zone fire management response area. Five new fires were reported. Fires within the management area include the Mendenhall, Templin, and Buckle L 2. Acres, structure losses and costs have been adjusted to represent cumulative fire activity for the response area.

OKLAHOMA FIRE RESPONSE, Oklahoma State. An Oklahoma State Type 2 Incident Management Team (Roberts) is assigned in Shawnee, OK. The Team is assisting local, state, and federal jurisdictions with managing existing fires and initial attack in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma National Guard is assisting with two helicopters. Five new fires were reported. Acres, structure losses and costs have been adjusted to represent cumulative ABC Miscellaneous fire activity statewide since January 1.

CHAMBERS, Osage Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs. This fire is six miles west of Bartlesville, OK in timber and grass. Dozers made significant progress in containment. Minimal fire activity was reported.

SALLISAW CREEK, Oklahoma Division of Forestry. This fire started on private land 16 miles northwest of Sallisaw, OK in hardwood litter and logging slash. No new information was reported.

NO MAN’S LAND, Ouachita National Forest. This fire is seven miles west of Black Springs, AR in hardwood litter and brush. No new information was reported.

LADNER, Mississippi Forestry Commission. This fire is three miles west of Bay St. Louis, MS in logging slash and hurricane blow down. No new information was reported.

MOSAIC, Florida Division of Forestry. This fire started on private land 10 miles west of Fort Lauderdale, FL in grass. No new information was reported. This will be the last report unless new information is received.

MAVERICK RANCH, Oklahoma Division of Forestry. This fire started on private land five miles south of Peggs, OK in timber and grass. No new information was reported. This will be the last report unless new information is received.

 

INCIDENT NAME

ST

UNIT

SIZE

%

CTN

EST CTN

TOTL PERS

CRW

ENG

HELI

STRC

LOST

$$$

CTD

ORIGIN OWN

WEST TEXAS IA

TX

TXS

3,326

NR

UNK

281

0

21

9

0

4.9M

N/A

OKLAHOMA FIRE RESPONSE

OK

OKS

117,022

NR

UNK

157

0

26

4

0

8.5M

ST

CHAMBERS

OK

OSA

5,498

90

3/19

75

0

27

0

0

100K

BIA

SALLISAW CREEK

OK

OKS

110

75

3/20

5

0

2

0

0

NR

PRI

NO MAN’S LAND

AR

OUF

10,100

50

UNK

60

2

2

2

0

NR

FS

LADNER

MS

MSS

1,507

95

UNK

32

0

8

0

0

NR

ST

MOSAIC

FL

FLS

425

90

UNK

21

0

2

0

0

1K

PRI

MAVERICK RANCH

OK

OKS

107

80

3/19

30

0

9

0

0

NR

PRI

EAST AMARILLO COMPLEX

TX

TXS

907,245

100

---

0

0

0

0

89

NR

ST

ICE CREAM

AR

OUF

535

100

---

55

2

2

0

0

NR

FS

MOORE

OK

OKS

1,500

100

---

0

0

0

0

4

NR

ST

SLICK 2

OK

OKS

413

100

---

0

0

0

0

0

NR

ST

HUGHES

OK

OSA

450

100

---

76

0

29

0

0

30K

BIA

TEMPLIN

TX

TXS

1,120

100

---

0

0

0

0

0

NR

ST

BUCKLE L 2

TX

TXS

40,000

100

---

43

0

6

0

0

NR

ST

CEDAR LAKE

OK

OKS

2,950

100

---

0

0

0

0

6

NR

ST

LAKE HUDSON

OK

OSA

110

100

---

62

1

15

0

0

200K

BIA

OUF – Ouachita National Forest

 

EASTERN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

 

INCIDENT NAME

ST

UNIT

SIZE

%

CTN

EST CTN

TOTL PERS

CRW

ENG

HELI

STRC

LOST

$$$

CTD

ORIGIN OWN

CUPOLA POND

MO

MTF

317

100

---

12

0

2

0

0

6.5K

FS

HODO

MO

MTF

371

100

---

13

0

2

0

0

6.5K

FS

MTF – Mark Twain National Forest

 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

 

INCIDENT NAME

ST

UNIT

SIZE

%

CTN

EST CTN

TOTL PERS

CRW

ENG

HELI

STRC

LOST

$$$

CTD

ORIGIN OWN

JACOB CREEK

KS

FLR

249

100

---

6

0

2

0

0

NR

FWS

FLA – Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge

OUTLOOK:

Weather Discussion: A low pressure trough will be moving across the Southwest. High pressure will cover the eastern half of the country with dry, windy weather over the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States.

Fire Weather Watches: Portions of southeast New Mexico and southwest Texas for strong winds and low humidity.

Geographic Area

Weather

High

Temperatures

Minimum Relative

Humidity

Wind

Rocky Mountain Area

Mostly cloudy, with rain and snow developing across much of the area. Isolated thunderstorms possible over Kansas.

40 to 50.

25 to 30 mountains.

 

Greater than 25%.

Variable wind direction 15 to 25 mph gust to 30 mph.

Southwest Area

Very windy and dry southeast New Mexico and southwest Texas. Variable clouds and breezy across the remainder of Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas with a chance for showers, thunderstorms and higher elevation snow.

65 to 85 southeast New Mexico and southwest Texas. 35 to 65 across the remainder of Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas.

15% to 30% lower elevations of southern and eastern New Mexico and southwest Texas.

30% or greater across the remainder Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas.

South to southwest 15 to 30 mph southeast New Mexico and southwest Texas. Southwest 10 to 20 mph across the remainder of Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas.

Southern Area

No information was reported.

     

Eastern Area

No information was reported.

     

 

 

 

 

http://www.nifc.gov/sixminutes/dsp_sixminutes.php

 

Topic of Choice

FIRES AND ACRES YESTERDAY:

AREA

BIA

BLM

FWS

NPS

ST/OT

USFS

TOTAL

Alaska

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Northwest

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Northern California

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Southern California

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Northern Rockies

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Eastern Great Basin

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Western Great Basin

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Southwest

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

0

 

 

1

0

Rocky Mountain

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

0

74

 

 

1

150

 

 

1

224

Eastern Area

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

31

4

31

Southern Area

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

94

675

10

160

104

835

TOTAL

FIRES

ACRES

0

0

0

0

0

74

0

0

96

825

14

191

110

1,090

 

 

FIRES AND ACRES YEAR-TO-DATE:

AREA

BIA

BLM

FWS

NPS

ST/OT

USFS

TOTAL

Alaska

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Northwest

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

1

 

 

2

1

Northern California

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

64

1,530

8

1,244

72

2,774

Southern California

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

4

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

503

20

513

Northern Rockies

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

1

100

 

 

1

223

4

28

1

10

7

361

Eastern Great Basin

FIRES

ACRES

0

51

2

10

 

 

 

 

1

28

 

 

3

89

Western Great Basin

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

7

9

 

 

1

1

 

 

 

 

8

10

Southwest

FIRES

ACRES

107

667

26

1,331

1

431

24

3,490

151

196,493

121

11,933

430

214,345

Rocky Mountain

FIRES

ACRES

7

307

6

0

7

407

2

0

96

82,794

20

7,319

138

90,827

Eastern Area

FIRES

ACRES

1

1

 

 

1

5

3

52

1,795

30,449

119

2,510

1,919

33,017

Southern Area

FIRES

ACRES

297

21,639

 

 

90

11,208

12

1,405

13,177

1,370,033

338

21,777

13,914

1,426,062

TOTAL

FIRES

ACRES

412

22,665

46

1,460

99

12,051

43

5,171

15,290

1,681,356

623

45,296

16,513

1,767,999

 

Five Year Average Fires

9,776

Five Year Average Acres

117,218

 

*** Changes in some agency YTD acres reflect more accurate mapping or reporting adjustments. ***

 

PRESCRIBED FIRES AND ACRES YESTERDAY:

AREA

BIA

BLM

FWS

NPS

ST/OT

USFS

TOTAL

Alaska

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Northwest

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Northern California

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Southern California

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Northern Rockies

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Eastern Great Basin

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Western Great Basin

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Southwest

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

38

0

38

Rocky Mountain

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

1

1,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

1,000

Eastern Area

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Southern Area

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

55

 

 

1

200

2

255

TOTAL

FIRES

ACRES

0

0

0

0

1

1,000

1

55

0

0

1

238

3

1,293

 

PRESCRIBED FIRES AND ACRES YEAR-TO-DATE:

AREA

BIA

BLM

FWS

NPS

ST/OT

USFS

TOTAL

Alaska

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Northwest

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

81

1,978

5

298

 

 

 

 

14

111

100

2,387

Northern California

FIRES

ACRES

12

101

3

219

3

1,324

2

6

 

 

47

704

67

2,354

Southern California

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

4

284

2

24

 

 

 

 

47

1,400

53

1,708

Northern Rockies

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

2

548

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

548

Eastern Great Basin

FIRES

ACRES

1

4

4

754

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

178

6

936

Western Great Basin

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

1

10

1

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

20

Southwest

FIRES

ACRES

7

318

2

35

2

320

 

 

 

 

42

6,298

53

6,971

Rocky Mountain

FIRES

ACRES

3

401

4

110

23

6,082

5

74

12

361

56

5,546

103

12,574

Eastern Area

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

17

1,214

4

1,512

171

18,224

54

16,206

246

37,156

Southern Area

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

90

40,733

8

6,124

186

97,509

499

385,687

783

530,053

TOTAL

FIRES

ACRES

23

824

101

3,938

143

50,005

19

7,716

369

116,094

760

416,130

1,415

594,707

*** Changes in some agency YTD acres reflect more accurate mapping or reporting adjustments. ***

 

WFU FIRES AND ACRES YEAR-TO-DATE:

AREA

BIA

BLM

FWS

NPS

ST/OT

USFS

TOTAL

Alaska

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Northwest

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Northern California

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Southern California

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Northern Rockies

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Eastern Great Basin

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Western Great Basin

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Southwest

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Rocky Mountain

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Eastern Area

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Southern Area

FIRES

ACRES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

TOTAL

FIRES

ACRES

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

 

*** Changes in some agency YTD acres reflect more accurate mapping or reporting adjustments. ***

 

RESOURCES STATUS: COMMITTED RESOURCES

AREA

CREWS
FED

CREWS
ST/OT

ENGS
FED

ENGS
ST/OT

HELI
FED

HELI
ST/OT

AIRT
FED

AIRT
ST/OT

OVRHD
FED

OVRHD
ST/OT

Alaska

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northwest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northern California

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southern California

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northern Rockies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Great Basin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Western Great Basin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southwest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 1

 

 

 

Rocky Mountain

 

 

2

16

 

 

 

 

2

 

Eastern Area

 1

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

28

 

Southern Area

13

 

54

148

6

12

 4

 

178

267

Total

14

0

65

164

6

12

5

0

208

267

 

*** NATIONAL INTERAGENCY COORDINATION CENTER ***



TOPICS: Government; Outdoors; Science; Weather
KEYWORDS: fire; fireweather; ics; nicc; nifc; wildfire; wildlandfire
Today's NICC Report.
1 posted on 03/19/2006 12:37:10 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum
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To: Knitting A Conundrum
Where
2 posted on 03/19/2006 12:37:58 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Knitting A Conundrum
Where
3 posted on 03/19/2006 12:38:58 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Knitting A Conundrum
Where
4 posted on 03/19/2006 12:41:13 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Knitting A Conundrum
Some Drought related Weather links:

Drought Monitor

Current Climate Summary Maps

15, 30, 60 & 90 Precipitation Maps
Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)
Keetch/Byrum Drought Index (KBDI)
Palmer Drought Index (PDI)
Drought Links
Western Region Climate Center (WRCC)
Climate Mapping with PRISM
Drought Index Primer for Fire Management
El Nino / La Nina

5 posted on 03/19/2006 12:43:13 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Knitting A Conundrum

Montezuma One wildfire burning on both sides of border

http://kvoa.com/global/story.asp?s=4561636&ClientType=Printable

Fire crews are keeping a close eye on the Montezuma One wildfire. It’s burning in the Coronado National Forest near the Campini Mesa on both sides of the border.

Rancher Greg Locke watched helplessly as flames charred away his pasture.

“I think it will stay away from here, but our pasture is burning up.”

For five years, Locke has operated his ranch in the area and says if the Montezuma One fire keeps growing, it will jeopardize his business.

“We don’t have cattle in here now, but when it’s time to come, we won’t be able to use the pastures, so we’ll either have to sell cattle or make another plan.”

From up above, two air tankers took turns dropping fire retardent on the flames.

U.S. Forest Service officials say so far, this is the largest fire they've seen this year in the Coronado National Forest.

Several fire crews were on the ground, including prison inmates from the Department of Corrections.

So far, 1,000 acres have already burned. Ranchers are concerned it’s going to get worse.

“We had a good rain here last year, so we have a lot of grass. We had no winter moisture, so it’s really dry. All it will take is a spark and a wind."

There were earlier reports of possible structures being threatened in the Montezuma One fire, but Forest Service officials could not confirm if that's still the case.

Most of the fire is burning in Mexico.


6 posted on 03/19/2006 12:44:28 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Knitting A Conundrum

Fire Crews Work to Contain Wildfire in Ouachita National Forest

http://www.kark.com/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=6016

Around 8,000 acres are scorched as a wildfire spreads through a portion of the Ouachita National Forest in Montgomery County.
According to Doug Klobe with the U.S. Forest Service 65% of the wildfire is contained and crews hope to have 100% controlled by sunset Saturday if the predicted rainfall arrives as expected.
Klobe believes the blaze started by a lightening strike Sunday and spread throughout the week. Klobe says the fire is in a secluded area and no structures are threatened by the wildfire. There have been no evacuations ordered.
Fire crews from Oklahoma and Washington are helping in the efforts.


7 posted on 03/19/2006 12:49:49 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Knitting A Conundrum

Drought runs deep
Drizzle isn't enough; Sebelius could put restrictions on water use
BY STEVE PAINTER AND PHYLLIS JACOBS GRIEKSPOOR
The Wichita Eagle

http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/kansas/news/14129236.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

TOPEKA - The state's drought response team set the stage Friday for a series of water-planning and wildfire-control moves as dry conditions worsen across the state. The team recommended that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius place most of the state under a drought warning and northeast and east-central Kansas under a drought watch. A decision could come as soon as Monday.

Rain and snow forecast over the next three days are likely to ease the situation only temporarily, members of the team said.

"There's not any sign at this point that we're going to get out of this very quickly," said Mary Knapp, state climatologist based at Kansas State University.

Long-range forecasts from the U.S. Climate Prediction Center call for warmer temperatures and less rainfall than normal through the end of August. Drought over the entire state is expected to continue or get worse.

Knapp said even a 2-inch rain over the weekend would still leave the state in drought conditions.

Unintentional range fires already have scorched at least 40,000 acres, said Karl McNorton, chief deputy state fire marshal.

More fires are likely unless widespread moisture arrives soon, drought team members said. As of Friday, 66 of the state's 105 counties had imposed bans on outdoor burning.

That poses a particular problem for Flint Hills ranchers, who normally begin burning pastures in the next three weeks to prepare for the summer grazing season.

"Cattle gain a lot more weight on burned pasture than on unburned pasture," said Chase County rancher Larry Pinkston, who takes care of cattle brought in to graze on the rich pasture in the Flint Hills.

Burning controls woody plants such as red cedar and buck brush and kills weeds, allowing for a hearty growth of native grass. Most years, ranchers begin burning the previous year's growth around April 1.

A task force will begin meeting early next week to consider strategies for limited burns, a pre-emptive strike against out-of-control wildfires that threaten homes, buildings and drivers on nearby highways.

Pinkston said he's eager to burn a buffer zone around his house and outbuildings to protect them from wildfires or from the controlled burn he hopes to conduct in a few weeks.

The Flint Hills pose a particular risk this year. Plentiful rains last year left behind a thick growth of now-dry bluestem tallgrass.

If pastures are too dry to safely burn this spring, that abundance of dry fuel will present a wildfire hazard all summer.

"Every lightning storm all summer will be a concern," Pinkston said.

Butler County rancher David Stackley operates a cow-calf operation. He says he probably won't burn pastures unless a turn in the weather brings plentiful rain.

"Dry grass is better forage than no grass at all," he said. "I'll probably do some supplemental nutrition and let them fill up on dry grass."

Stackley said another concern for ranchers is low levels of water in pasture ponds.

"I have a couple of dugout ponds that are completely dry and a couple of bigger ponds getting really low," he said.

He said he's lucky to have windmills in his best pastures.

"I have one or two mills that are going to need some work, and that's going to cost me some money -- but at least I'll have water," he said.

As spring arrives and the trees leaf out, he said, ranchers who depend on streams will face problems as well.

"As those trees begin to green up and use water, those creeks will go dry in a heartbeat," he said.

On the plus side, water officials said lakes in the eastern half of the state are in good shape.

Milford, Perry and Clinton lakes are at optimal levels, and Tuttle Creek is at 96 percent of its ideal level. Farther west, Wilson and Kanopolis are at 85 percent and 81 percent, respectively, due to lack of rain since last summer.

Communities and industries that belong to market assurance programs can call for water from more than a dozen U.S. Corps of Engineers lakes in the Kansas, Neosho-Cottonwood and Marais des Cygnes watersheds.

Central Kansas lakes can get through the summer season with about 25 percent of normal inflow, and eastern Kansas lakes with about 10 percent, said Steve Spaulding, hydrologic engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Kansas City district.

From September through early February, he said, inflow ranged from 100 percent of normal at Perry to only 10 percent at Kanopolis.

"Base flows in the rivers are much less than normal, near record lows in some cases," he said.

Lakes in southeast Kansas are close to normal levels and should function normally throughout the season, said John Forslund of the Corps' Tulsa district.


8 posted on 03/19/2006 12:55:39 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Knitting A Conundrum

Burn ban doesn't stop fire from breaking out
By Jeremy Pittari/Item Staff Writer


http://www.picayuneitem.com/articles/2006/03/18/news/03fire.txt

Burn bans seem to have little effect on wildfire activity in Pearl River County, even though supervisors ask for burn bans with “teeth” in them.

The Carriere Volunteer Fire Department and the Mississippi Forestry Commission responded to a fire call in the Ozona community on Friday on Richardson-Ozona Road that was spewing smoke across the railroad tracks in the area.

A trek down the railroad tracks next to where the wildfire was burning revealed debris piles burning on property owned by Dale McCarty.

McCarty said he knew the burn ban was in effect, however he let the debris piles continue to burn, saying he had no way of extinguishing them.

“I think I saw it in the paper, but they were already burning,” McCarty said about the burn ban and his piles of burning debris.

About three or four debris piles were burning on his property. More fire raged across the creek from his property. Most of those piles on McCarty's property were intentionally set by McCarty about the time the burn ban was issued, but another pile next to a creek started when winds blew embers on it from another pile. After the debris pile next to the creek caught, the fire jumped the creek, McCarty said.

When asked why he did not put out fires burning in his debris piles after he read about the burn ban in the paper McCarty replied, “I didn't have any way to put them out. What are you going to do call a fire truck?”

McCarty later said he used some water in a jug that day to keep the fire next to the creek from crossing the railroad tracks before it jumped the creek.

McCarty said one of the piles on his property had been burning for at least a week and other piles were started about three to four days before the fire department was called out on Friday. Later he said the recent piles were started over the previous weekend.

As soon as he noticed the fire had jumped the creek, McCarty called his neighbors to inform them as it was burning through the swamp on that side.

“I've never seen swamp burn before,” McCarty said.

A responding volunteer fire fighter with Carriere, Jeff Kulas, said that fire was the second one they had responded to that day.

A deputy reportedly was on the way to the site of the fire, but Kulas said it was unlikely McCarty would receive citation for the fire.

“Half the time people don't get cited for it,” Kulas said about residents who burn in spite of a burn ban.

Pearl River County Sheriff's Department Deputy Chief Aaron Russell said on Saturday tha no citations were written for the incident.


9 posted on 03/19/2006 12:56:53 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Knitting A Conundrum
www.news14.com Dry, windy conditions create fire hazard 3/15/2006 7:14:42 PM By: Adam Shub, News 14 Carolina

MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. -- The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag wildfire warning for central and western North Carolina on Wednesday.

It was the third alert this month. With a shortage of rain in recent weeks, wildfires have been a frequent problem across the region. Gusty winds and low humidity add to the threat.

"The conditions that we've got right now are probably the worst we've seen in a couple years,” said Dan Brandon of the North Carolina Forest Service.

With a shortage of rain in recent weeks, wildfires have been a frequent problem across central and western North Carolina.
With a shortage of rain in recent weeks, wildfires have been a frequent problem across central and western North Carolina.
On Wednesday, a morning brush fire charred seven acres of land at an industrial business in Cabarrus County.

Brandon said there has been about 10-20 brush fire calls a day.

"For about the past three weeks, everybody in the forestry service has been on without time off,” he said.

It could be a while before things improve. The region is already five inches below its average rainfall total for this time of year.

On Wednesday, a morning brush fire charred seven acres of land at an industrial business in Cabarrus County. (Photo courtesy of AirStar 6)
On Wednesday, a morning brush fire charred seven acres of land at an industrial business in Cabarrus County. (Photo courtesy of AirStar 6)
"Maybe as we get toward next week, we’ll get a little bit of relief -- but nothing to erase the deficit we've created so far,” News 14 meteorologist Matthew East said.

The Forest Service is urging people to be cautious, especially with their cigarettes.

“Until we get full leaf cover and the grass is green up and we start getting some rains, we'll continue in this type of situation,” Brandon said. Wednesday’s Red Flag Warning expired at 6 p.m.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Web Journalist: Kyle Almond

10 posted on 03/19/2006 1:00:15 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: nw_arizona_granny; WestCoastGal

Wildland Fire News and Update Ping.

Please let me know if you'd like to be added to this pinglist.


11 posted on 03/19/2006 1:01:43 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Knitting A Conundrum

Sure was nice to see that little tiny number "835" for acres of fire loss "yesterday" in the Southern Region. Compared to "1,000,000" in Texas alone, we'll take it. Thanks!


12 posted on 03/19/2006 1:38:40 PM PST by Rte66
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To: Rte66

Every day's break from the big numbers is good!


13 posted on 03/19/2006 1:44:50 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Knitting A Conundrum

"Cattle gain a lot more weight on burned pasture than on unburned pasture," said Chase County rancher Larry Pinkston, who takes care of cattle brought in to graze on the rich pasture in the Flint Hills.

Burning controls woody plants such as red cedar and buck brush and kills weeds, allowing for a hearty growth of native grass. Most years, ranchers begin burning the previous year's growth around April 1."


14 posted on 03/20/2006 8:04:29 AM PST by Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin
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To: Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin

Fire is part of the ecosystem. Definitely.

Cedar (or juniper if you want to be precise) has to be controlled, either by fire or chaining.

It's just sometimes, the fire is bigger than we want or is going where we want, or we've created more fuel than is good for the ecosystem, or there's been a drought.

All part of the equation.

What has particularly been sad about the panhandle fires is the loss of life.


15 posted on 03/20/2006 8:07:55 AM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Knitting A Conundrum

Oh, I agree. It is ALWAYS sad when there is the loss of life. But usually, adequate warnings have been issued, and people simply dig in their heels, and refuse to listen to save lives of people and/or livestock...


16 posted on 03/20/2006 8:22:04 AM PST by Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin
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To: Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin

Well, 8 of those who died died because of smoke problems leading to traffic accidents. Sad. But two did die because they didn't get out fast enough. I'm not sure what happened with the 11th.

There are times, though, especially with wind driven grass fires, that they just race far faster than the inexperienced (and sometimes even the experienced!) would expect.

Rules of thumb:

Defensible space.

Dead growth burns hot.

Nothing you own is worth being killed in a fire for.


17 posted on 03/20/2006 8:28:21 AM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Knitting A Conundrum

Yes. They need to remember, Lot's wife. Just, get out, and don't worry about material items. They are replaceable. People are not...


18 posted on 03/20/2006 8:34:00 AM PST by Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin
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