Wildland Fire Situation Report and Wildfire News, 6/22/06

Various ^ | 6/21/06 | USFS, NICC, WFAS, WBBM

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Forest Service Morning Report
http://www.fs.fed.us/news/fire/mreport.shtml

EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO BE SAFE ON THE JOB

Thursday, June 22, 2006 – 10:00 am EDT

PREPAREDNESS LEVEL	3
STATES MOST AFFECTED: AK, AZ, CA, ID, NM, TX, UT
Print Today's Morning Report (PDF file)

CURRENT SITUATION

Initial attack activity was moderate nationally with 125 new fires reported.  Twenty-five large fires (over 500 acres) are being managed.  Three new large fires were reported.  Four large fires were contained.  Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, California, Montana, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.

INCIDENT HEADLINES

• Large fire activity (over 500 acres) is occurring in seven geographic areas.

SUMMARY OF FIRE ACTIVITY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

Fire Activity	Yesterday	Year-to-Date	2000 Fire Season	10 Year Average
Number of Fires	125	53,563	46,949	38,914
Acres Burned	23,231	3,187,940	1,311,956	1,072,797

RESOURCES COMMITTED

Crews (20 persons)	Engines (5 persons)	Helicopters (7 persons)	Air Tankers (2 persons)	Overhead	Total Personnel
194	418	67	14	1,408	7,875

 

MAPS OF CURRENT FIRE ACTIVITY

• National Interagency Fire Center Fire Danger (www.fs.fed.us/land/wfas/fd_cls_f.gif)
• National Incident Information Center Large Fires (www.fs.fed.us/news/fire/firemap.shtml)
• National Interagency Coordination Center Monthly Fire Outlook (www.nifc.gov/news/OutlookMap.pdf)

REGIONAL LARGE FIRES (500 ACRES OR LARGER)

 

SOUTHWEST AREA    (website: gacc.nifc.gov/swcc)

Incident Name	State	Lead Agency	Size (acres)	Percent Contained	Estimate of Containment	Personnel	Structures Lost
Navajo Mountain 1	UT	BIA	3,350	75	UNK	253	0
Reserve Complex	NM	FS	14,450	80	6/24	772	0
Skates	NM	FS	12,461	60	6/24	249	0
Potato Complex	AZ	FS	6,262	95	6/23	75	0
Beaverhead	AZ	FS	1,497	82	6/26	129	0
Warm – WFU	AZ	FS	7,074	N/A	N/A	309	0
Brins	AZ	FS	2,456	7	UNK	695	0
Bear	NM	FS	33,250	5	UNK	213	0
Rivera Mesa	NM	ST	10,930	30	6/27	387	0

Navajo Mountain 1, 35 miles east/northeast of Page, AZ, is burning in timber, pinyon pine, and juniper.  No new information was reported.

Reserve Complex, located near Reserve, NM, includes the previously reported Martinez II and Wilson fires and is burning in ponderosa pine, pinyon pine, juniper, and grass.  A Type 1 Incident Management Team is assigned.   Hot, dry conditions, difficult terrain and limited access continue to impede containment efforts.  The Wilson fire had minimal fire activity while the Martinez fire reported spotting, torching, and extreme fire behavior.

Skates, 12 miles northeast of Silver City, NM, is burning in timber.  A Type 2 Incident Management Team is assigned.  Numerous residences remain threatened.  Numerous residences remain threatened.  Smoldering with occasional interior torching was reported.

Potato Complex, 10 miles northwest of Heber-Overgaard, AZ, is burning in pinyon pine, juniper, and grass. Patrol and mopup are continuing.

Beaverhead, 15 miles south of Alpine, AZ, is burning in timber.  The power company completed restoration of utility infrastructure.  Mopup and rehabilitation is in progress.  Moderate to low fire behavior was reported.

Warm - WFU, 3 miles south of Jacob Lake, AZ, is burning in ponderosa pine litter.  This lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use incident is being managed to accomplish resource objectives.  A Fire Use Management Team is assigned.  Possible rapid fire growth from extremely dry fuels and terrain influence is a concern.  Smoke continues to impact Hwy 67.

Brins, 2 miles northeast of Sedona AZ is burning in timber.  A Type 1 Incident Management Team is assigned.  Numerous residences are threatened, and evacuations remain in place for Oak Creek Canyon.  Hwy 89A remains closed. Steep inaccessible terrain is impeding containment efforts.  Indirect fireline construction is planned on the north and west flanks.  Extreme fire behavior with rapid upslope runs and spotting in excess of one-quarter mile were observed.

Bear, 15 miles northeast of Glenwood, NM is burning in mixed conifer. A Type 1 Incident Management Team is assigned.  Numerous residences, wildlife habitat and historical cabins are threatened.  Continuous dense stands of timber and accumulations of extremely dry fuels are hampering containment efforts.  Erratic fire behavior with crowning and large runs was reported.

Rivera Mesa, 5 miles north of Ocate, NM is burning in timber, grass, ponderosa pine and scrub oak. A Type 2 Incident Management Team is assigned.  Numerous structures, power lines, and the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch are threatened. County Road 21 is closed and State Hwy 21 is now open.   Active backing fire with short runs and group torching was reported.

 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA    (website: gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc)

Incident Name	State	Lead Agency	Size (acres)	Percent Contained	Estimate of Containment	Personnel	Structures Lost
Mato Vega	CO	ST	11,805	30	6/30	344	0
Isabelle	WY	FS	900	10	UNK	266	0

Mato Vega, 12 miles northeast of Fort Garland, CO is burning in pinyon pine, juniper, and grass.  A Type 2 Incident Management Team is assigned.  Numerous residences, an FAA communication site and commercial resources remain threatened.  Highway 160 remains closed and evacuations are still in effect.  Short range spotting with active upslope runs was reported.

Isabelle, 25 miles southwest of Laramie, WY is burning in timber.  A Type 2 Incident Management Team is assigned.  Numerous residences, ranches, agricultural lands, and the city of Cheyenne watershed are threatened.  Poor access is hampering containment efforts.  Structure protection is in place.  Erratic fire behavior along with short runs and group torching was observed.

 

EASTERN GREAT BASIN AREA    (website: gacc.nifc.gov/egbc)

Incident Name	State	Lead Agency	Size (acres)	Percent Contained	Estimate of Containment	Personnel	Structures Lost
Dutch	UT	BLM	1,763	100	---	0	0
West Canal	ID	BLM	957	100	---	0	0
Lion Creek	UT	FS	1,660	5	UNK	145	0
Hwy 46 MM 7	ID	BLM	8,705	50	6/22	81	0

Lion Creek, 5 miles northwest of Paradox, CO is burning in ponderosa pine, pinyon pine, brush, and grass.  A Type 2 Incident Management Team is assigned.  Structure protection is in place for Paradox.  Buckeye Campground and powerlines to Paradox are threatened.  Buckeye Campground remains closed.  Running and torching were observed.

Hwy 46 MM 7, 6 miles north of Wendell, ID is burning in grass and sagebrush.  Smoldering fire behavior was reported.  Gusty winds and low fuel moistures are impeding containment efforts.

 

ALASKA AREA    (website: fire.ak.blm.gov)

Incident Name	State	Lead Agency	Size (acres)	Percent Contained	Estimate of Containment	Personnel	Structures Lost
Parks Hwy	AK	ST	83,500	45	7/1	372	16
Nageethluk  River	AK	BLM	52,540	NR	UNK	0	0

Parks Hwy, 1 mile southeast of Nenana, AK, is burning in black spruce, tundra, and grass.  A Type 2 Incident Management Team is assigned.  Numerous residences, native allotments, recreational cabins, commercial property, and utility infrastructure remain threatened.  Acreage increase is partially due to burnout operations.  Smoldering and creeping were reported.

Nageethluk River, west of Anvik, AK, is burning in black spruce and tundra.  No new information was reported.  This will be the last report unless new information is received.

 

SOUTHERN AREA    (website: www.southernregion.fs.fed.us/sacc)

Incident Name	State	Lead Agency	Size (acres)	Percent Contained	Estimate of Containment	Personnel	Structures Lost
Glass Mountain Complex	TX	ST	8,249	50	6/22	58	1
Toenail Trail	TX	ST	1,862	100	---	NR	0
Hwy 349	TX	ST	2,255	80	UNK	NR	0
Deerfly	FL	ST	1,920	30	6/28	12	0
Scotts Ferry	FL	ST	550	70	6/25	NR	0

Glass Mountain Complex, 15 miles northwest of Marathon, TX is burning in grass and brush. A Type 2 Incident Management Team is assigned.  This team is also managing the Toenail Trail, West Tank, Hwy 349, Blue Canyon, and Robbers Roost fires.  Steep terrain and difficult access are hampering containment efforts.  Active fire behavior with spotting, group torching, and crowning were reported.

Hwy 349, 9 miles north of Midland, TX is burning in grass and mesquite.  A private airport, ranch, and an oil field remain threatened.  Active fire behavior with flame lengths up to eight feet was reported.  The reduction in acreage is due to more accurate mapping.

Deerfly, 14 miles northwest of Coral Springs, FL is burning in pine and grass.  Spotting distances up to one-quarter mile were reported.

Scotts Ferry, 20 miles northeast of Panama City, FL is burning in southern rough.  Rapid rates of spread and spotting up to one-quarter mile were observed.

 

 

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA (website:  http://gacc.nifc.gov/oscc/index.htm)

 

Incident Name	State	Lead Agency	Size (acres)	Percent Contained	Estimate of Containment	Personnel	Structures Lost
Perkins	CA	FS	13,425	32	UNK	1,062	7

Perkins, 5 miles west of Cuyama, CA is burning in brush and grass. A Type 1 Incident Management Team will begin today.   Southeast movement towards the San Rafael Wilderness is projected.  Rocky, rugged terrain and gusty winds are impeding containment efforts.  Extreme behavior with rapid rates of spread to the south and southeast were reported.

 

WESTERN GREAT BASIN AREA    (website:  http://gacc.nifc.gov/wgbc/index.htm)

Incident Name	State	Lead Agency	Size (acres)	Percent Contained	Estimate of Containment	Personnel	Structures Lost
Adaven	NV	BLM	996	100	---	63	5
Barth 1	NV	ST	2,214	75	UNK	137	0

Barth 1, 6 miles southwest of Carlin, NV is burning in grass and brush.  Wildlife habitat, utility infrastructure, communication sites, and pipelines are threatened.  A change in wind direction slowed the spread of the fire.

WEATHER OUTLOOK

A RED FLAG WARNING is in effect through thursday afternoon for the northern sacramento valley and nearby foothills, for strong gusty winds and low humidity.

Weather Discussion:  Hotter and drier weather is on tap for most of the west, as a high pressure ridge builds over the area.  A west to northwest wind will prevail over the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies.  In the Southwest and Colorado, some dry thunderstorms are expected west of the Continental Divide with more moisture east of the Divide.  In Alaska, scattered showers and thundershowers are expected in the interior.

 

The National Incident Information Center is here to serve you.

Monday – Friday, hours: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EDT 

Weekends and Holidays, hours: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT

Contact: Sharon Mohney or Mary Rasmussen

Phone number: (202) 205-1450

Wildfire Threatens 'Jewel Of Arizona'
http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/49140.php?

SEDONA, Ariz. (CBS/AP)  -- A 2,585-acre fire approached a popular state park in northern Arizona, and Colorado's governor banned open burning and fireworks as a wildfire there grew to nearly 12,000 acres.

Hundreds of firefighters struggled Wednesday to prevent flames from jumping a highway in Arizona's scenic Oak Creek Canyon and threatening an area of evacuated homes and resorts. The blaze was only 7 percent contained in the steep, rugged terrain, and firefighters are finding it a tough battle, reports CBS News correspondent Cami McCormick (audio). Officials say it could be weeks before this fire is out.

"We're a long way from going home," said operations section chief Kole Berriochoa. "The fire got very active, ran our crews out."

It's the northeast side of this fire that poses the greatest threat, reports McCormick. and the steep rugged terrain that's making it so difficult to fight.

"They're on very steep rocks, just knife ridges and fuel on both sides of them," said Berriochoa.

Air tankers will be brought in Thursday to drop retardant, but Berriochoa says the battle will have to be won on the ground.

Flames had neared the two-lane highway that runs through the middle of the canyon, but crews were able to burn away fuel in its path, officials said. The fire also approached the area of Slide Rock State Park, a popular recreation spot that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors a year.

Officials said the fire burned at a moderate rate Wednesday but cautioned that any strong winds could change everything.

"It can get real bad, real quick with the right weather conditions," said Mike Dondero, deputy incident commander for the team fighting the fire. "If we get any weather that makes the fire cross 89, that's our biggest fear."

The blaze started Sunday in a camp used by transients and spread quickly, forcing the evacuation of about 460 homes and businesses in the canyon more than 90 miles north of Phoenix. The Forest Service is offering a reward up to $5,000 for information leading to a conviction of those responsible for the fire.

Mike Yeager has a home in the lushly forested canyon, whose walls are tinted crimson by iron oxide.

"It makes me so mad. I just want to spit," he said. "These people started a fire in the most beautiful place in the world."

Gov. Janet Napolitano declared a state of emergency Monday to activate the state's 211 phone system, which provides people with information about natural disasters and other emergencies.

Oak Creek Canyon "is the jewel of Arizona," said Napolitano, who toured the area by air. "We want to do everything we can do to save this area."

In southern Colorado, a wildfire grew to 11,800 acres as Gov. Bill Owens banned open burning and fireworks on state-owned land — and urged local officials to do the same. Thunderstorms ignited several fires across the state.

No homes were destroyed by the blaze, but about 300 were evacuated as helicopters dropped water on smoldering ground within two miles of a rural subdivision east of Fort Garland.

Officials said the fire was 30 percent contained by Wednesday afternoon, with crews allowing it to burn itself out in uninhabited wilderness.

Owens toured fire lines near Fort Garland and likened the statewide danger to the disastrous fire year of 2002, when 235 homes were destroyed.

"The current hot, dry conditions increase the potential for a major fire every day," Owens said.

Debbie Pettigrew decided not to evacuate but backed a trailer up to her house in case she had to pack family heirlooms and leave in a hurry. She said her family's roots run deep in the area and some of her furniture dates to the covered-wagon era.

"It's not just trees that are burning, it's history," Pettigrew said.

In New Mexico, heat, wind and rugged terrain slowed efforts to control fires that have burned nearly 70,000 acres of forest.

The largest blaze, burning across about 33,250 acres in southwestern New Mexico, continued to threaten cabins in the Willow Creek area, fire officials warned.

In California, firefighters battled a blaze of more than 13,000 acres that had stopped short of a critical ridgeline in Los Padres National Forest. No homes were threatened as the fire burned away from the small town of New Cuyama, about 45 miles east of Santa Maria. Wildfires have charred more than 3.1 million acres nationwide so far this year, well ahead of the average of about 900,000 acres by this time, the National Interagency Fire Center reported. Huge grass fires that swept Texas and Oklahoma this spring account for much of the increase

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Was waiting for my email copy of the nicc, but CIDI is late, so I used the FS morning report.

Let me know if you'd like to be on the Wildfire ping list. News updated as I find it and have time. If you find it first, feel free to post it!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

wildfire news ping!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Senators worry about wildfire preparedness

June 22, 2006 06:41 AM

U-S senators are questioning whether the cash-strapped federal government is ready for what's expected to be an unusually severe fire season.

Over three million acres have burned here in the West so far.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee held a hearing Wednesday about a recent government report that found federal, state and local agencies have no consistent policy for sharing the rapidly increasing cost of fighting wildfires.

The Government Accountability Office says that means one county can find itself unexpectedly footing a multimillion-dollar bill to pay for firefighting, while the federal government covers another county's costs.

Officials from the Forest Service and the Interior Department say they're working with state and local governments to clarify how costs should be divided.

Meanwhile, Colorado Senator Ken Salazar says he's particularly worried about the government's ability to fight and prevent fires after money to clear out trees killed by bark beetles was cut by Congress from an emergency spending bill earlier this year.

http://www.kpax.com/Global/story.asp?S=5064462

[Knitting A Conundrum]

FORT GARLAND, Colo. -- The larges wildfire in the state -- the Mato Vega Fire -- has burned nearly 12,000 acres near La Veta Pass in Costilla and Huerfano counties and is only 30 percent contained.

Firefighters who are focusing on protecting homes near U.S. Highway 160 say the lower temperatures and higher humidity may help bring the wildfire under control but it's also preventing them from doing some work.

On Wednesday night, firefighters tried to take advantage of cooler, more humid weather to strengthen containment lines but the moisture made it tough.

"Things didn't go as well as planned," said fire information officer Steve Segin. "It's a double-edged sword. We were looking for higher humidities that came with this front but when we're trying to start a fire, the humidities impacted that. So, it helps lay the fire down, reduce fire behavior, but we are trying to conduct burnout operations and they were not as successful as we wanted and we were unable to secure that portion line by doing those backburns. So we got few long days ahead of us."

Segin said Thursday's plan of action is to dig fire lines along U.S Highway 160, instead of back burns, and they have a lot of lines to dig.

The fire has been burning for five days, since it was sparked by lightning on Sunday. Residents of roughly 300 houses have been ordered to evacuate, but about 70 of them are vacation homes that were empty when the fire broke out.

No homes have been lost so far and no injuries have been reported. There is concern that the hot, dry weather will return this weekend.

U.S. Highway 160 closed for the fourth day from near Fort Garland to Walsenburg.

Meanwhile, facing limited resources because of other large Western wildfires, the northern edge of the fire was being allowed to burn into wilderness because no homes were threatened.

Gov. Bill Owens toured the area on Wednesday and said the blaze should serve as a wakeup call to everyone in Colorado.

"Let's hope that this isn't the first of many fires this summer. Let's try to make sure any fires this summer aren't human-caused," Owens said.

He likened the statewide danger to the disastrous fire year of 2002, when 235 homes were destroyed.

Four Colorado National Guard helicopters are ready to help fight the blaze. Owens put them on standby alert Wednesday after he toured the fire lines. The governor also announced a fire ban on all state lands, which means no campfires and no fireworks are allowed.

On Wednesday, Colorado Springs firefighters went from house to house within Paradise Acres, the subdivision that is most threatened by the Mato Vega Fire. They removed wood piles, laying out garden hoses and leaning homeowners ladders up to roofs in case the fire spreads there.

Dragging construction debris away from one home, firefighter Jerry Montella surveyed all the wood that could be ignited by an encroaching fire.

"We would like to see a lot less than this," said Montella, among about 300 firefighters in the area.

Other Fires

Crews statewide scrambled to contain at least 20 small fires ignited by hundreds of lightning strikes from afternoon thunderstorms, said Larry Helmerick of the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center.

A heavy air tanker helped crews battle a fire about six miles southwest of Sedalia and 26 miles south of Denver that grew to several acres in a few hours, Helmerick said.

Near New Castle, about 130 miles west of Denver, a wildfire of unknown origin scorched between 100 and 125 acres and threatened homes and several natural gas wells, Burning Mountains Fire Chief Brit McLin said.

The fire was about 50 percent contained by late Wednesday and no structures were damaged.

"It started out tiny, tiny and just exploded," said Jackie Gray, who lives across the river from where the fire started.

In Teller County about 60 miles south of Denver, a 44-acre fire in ponderosa pines and grass was about 75 percent contained and residents from three evacuated homes were allowed back in Wednesday.

In western Colorado, a car wreck started a wildfire that quickly grew to at least 1,660-acres and threatened some cabins and ranches in Montrose County, prompting warnings but no mandatory evacuations, fire information officer Barbara Bassler said Wednesday.

Five homes and dozens of sheds, detached garages, outhouses and other outbuildings were threatened, but no structures were burned.

The fire in the Manti-La Sal Nation al Forest, about 225 miles southwest of Denver near the Utah border, had crept to within a half-mile of the small town of Paradox, fire officials said. The town wasn't ordered evacuated.

Fire managers requested more than 250 firefighters from as far away as Salt Lake City and California, including a dozen smoke jumpers, along with air tankers or helicopters and fire engines.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9410127/detail.html

[RightWhale]

80,000+ acres is the number being reported on local radio news for the Parks Highway fire. Some smoke will be in the Fairbanks area. Thunderstorms are expected all around the region today.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Owens bans burns on state land
Governor says hot, dry conditions have created worst wildfire danger in Colorado since 2002

Thursday, June 22nd 2006
Staff and Wire Report

Saying Colorado was in the worst fire danger since the disastrous 2002 season, Gov. Bill Owens on Wednesday banned open burning and fireworks on all state-owned land and urged local officials to do the same.

“The current hot, dry conditions increase the potential for a major fire every day,” Owens said, likening the threat to the summer four years ago when wildfires destroyed 235 homes.

He spoke after returning to the Denver area from an 8,960-acre wildfire near Fort Garland about 150 miles south.

The ban takes effect immediately and will last for 30 days, unless Owens extends it.

It includes state parks and land owned by the Division of Wildlife and State Land Board. Montezuma County is home to Mancos State Park, seven state wildlife areas and 8,100 acres owned by the land board.

The ban includes fireworks, charcoal grills and campfires. It does not include gas stoves, fireplaces or fires in permanent structures in developed campgrounds.

Federal officials issued similar fire restrictions June 2 for national forests and U.S. Bureau of Land Management property in Southwest Colorado. County commissioners issued their own fire ban in late May.

Owens ordered the Colorado National Guard to prepare four helicopters for firefighting duty in case they are needed.

http://www.cortezjournal.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/06/news060622_9.htm

[patton]

...and in VA, it is so humid, charcoal won't burn.

Must be global warming. ;)

[Knitting A Conundrum]

State forestry officials warn of wildfire danger

RICHMOND, Va. Virginia forestry officials say dry conditions are leading to more wildfires.
Typically, fires ease up in April, once everything becomes green. But the Virginia Department of Forestry says rainfall is ten inches lower than usual so far this year.

In the last nine days, there have been 14 wildfires on private and state forestland in Virginia. One home and two vehicles were lost in one of the fires.

John Miller, resource-protection director for the Virginia Department of Forestry, says most of wildfires are caused by debris burning.

He reminds people to clear the area around the site of planned fires and to keep water handy. Virginians should also have a shovel and rake nearby -- and remain with the fire the entire time it is burning.

http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=5065085&nav=menu45_2

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I was beginning to wonder if it had petered out already...reportage from Alaska even through the official channels is not always that good...there are times of the year they only check in with NICC once or twice a week, if nothing extra much is happening...

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Picture site: (pics from multiple fires, both of the fire and people working the fires)

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/galleries/392-1.html?SITE=7219&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[RightWhale]

There was some rain the past week, but not enough to make a serious difference. It is still warmish, 70s in the afternoon and 55 at 'night'. The ground is very dry, next to no precipitation since winter and not much then either.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Press Release


Mato Vega Fire Information Inquiries: (719)-379-3783 June 22, 2006

Fort Garland, CO — Crews attempted to conduct burnout operations along highway 160 in La Veta Pass last night to prevent the fire from crossing highway 160 and protecting the Wagon Creek Subdivision. High humidity recovery forced the burnout operation to terminate without completion. The protection of the Wagon Creek Subdivision is a top priority. The burnout operation needs to be completed, as a result highway 160 will remain closed to public travel until this section of line is complete.

Residents in the Wagon Creek Subdivision, Paradise Acres subdivision and Old La Veta Pass area remain under mandatory evacuation orders. Residents in the Forbes Subdivision are under voluntary evacuations. There are approximately 280 homes affected by the evacuation orders.

Despite the extreme fire conditions crew did make some progress gaining 30% containment today.

Tomorrow, crews will continue to construct and strengthen dozer and hand line on the south and west sides of the fire and patrol along highway along 160 and work spot fires on the north side of the fire.

Fire Facts:

Size: 11,805 acres
Personnel Assigned: 344
Aircraft: 2 Helicopters assigned and fixed wing air tankers are available
Structures Threatened: 280
Land Ownership: Private
Type 1 Crews: 3
Type 2 Crews: 5
Engines: 31
Water Tenders: 11
Dozers: 8

-30-

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Sounds like not enough lightning to cause more fires...really dry years sometimes don't have a lot of burns because of that...

[Knitting A Conundrum]

funny how that timing goes...there you post about the Virginia humidity, and the governor worrying about wildfire...not done on purpose!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

NEWS RELEASE

Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland

Date: June 20, 2006








Contact


Kimberley Vogel

970-870-2250

Pam Wilson

307-745-2344











Isabel Fire Continues to Burn South of Lake Owen



(Laramie, Wyo.) June 20, 2006 – The Isabel fire is now 500 acres and growing. The fire is burning in grass and mixed confer species. The fire has a high potential to be large. A type II incident management team has been assigned to the fire today and will assume management at 8 p.m. this evening. The fire is considered approximately 5% contained and has moved onto private land less than a half mile from Fox Creek Road. It is thought that the fire was most likely started by a lightning strike and was driven by high winds yesterday.



A closure has been put in place to provide for firefighter and public safety while suppression efforts are underway. The following is prohibited:

1. Going into or being upon the area described as follows: Lake Owen Recreation Area and Campground (T14N, R78W, Sec. 24, 25, 36); and the surrounding area (T14N, R77W, Sec. 18, 19, 30, 31, 32, 33); (T13N, R78W, Sec. 1); and (T13N, R77W, Sec. 4, 5, 6).
2. Going onto or being upon Forest Service Development Roads (FDR): 517 – Dry Park Road, (Junction of FDR 513 to Fox Creek Road); FDR 540 – Lake Owen Road; FDR 311A; and FDR 552 (Fox Creek Road to Lake Owen).



Residences have been threatened. Albany County has taken action to protect structures and evacuate as necessary. Resources on the fire include approximately 220 personnel including 5 hand crews. Additionally, 3 engines, 2 helicopters, 1 dozer, and 2 water tenders are on the fire.



Forest Officials ask that people traveling in the area abide by the closures and limit traffic to allow for firefighting traffic.



Albany County, Carbon County, and the Bureau of Land Management have all issued fire restrictions. Other Wyoming Counties and the U.S. Forest Service are presently considering restriction.



Forest Service Officials ask that people in the woods be especially careful with fire. Windy days often kick up fires from lightning strikes that have held over for several days. If you are going to the forest be aware of predicted weather conditions as well as recent lightning activity.





Further information on this fire can be obtained by calling the USFS Regional Office at 303-275-5354

[RightWhale]

If lightning does start a fire and Forestry can jump somebody in quick enough they can beat the fire out before it gets seriously big. That's a very physically demanding job--smokejumping. Most people are not in condition to do that kind of work unless they are fresh out of the military.

[patton]

serendipity.

[thackney]

Alaska is reporting 169,599.5 acres lost so far this year to fire.

http://fire.ak.blm.gov/content/aicc/sitreport/current.pdf

Interactive map at
http://fire.ak.blm.gov/predsvcs/maps.php

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Fire Weather Discussion for the SW GACC (AZ, NM and western TX) This I suspect was pulled off a NWC site since it's all in caps)

ARIZONA


NORTHERN ARIZONA (Flagstaff Forecast Office)
.DISCUSSION...

THE MAIN IMPACTS FOR NORTHERN ARIZONA THROUGH FRIDAY WILL BE CONTINUED VERY DRY CONDITIONS AND AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES FROM 5 TO 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THE WIND DIRECTION STEERING OUR SMOKE PLUMES IS FORECAST TO CHANGE TO VERY LIGHT NORTH TO NORTHWESTERLY TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND THEN TO EAST NORTHEASTERLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. 20 FOOT WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT AND TERRAIN DRIVEN ON THURSDAY. FORECAST GUIDANCE SUGGESTS SOME MOISTURE IN THE MID AND UPPER LEVELS WILL SNEAK INTO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS FRIDAY AND THEN SPREAD WESTWARD OVER THE WEEKEND. AT THIS TIME WE FEEL THAT ANY THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING FRIDAY WILL BE DRY AND HIGH BASED. THIS MAY CHANGE FOR THE WEEKEND.

CENTRAL / SOUTHWEST ARIZONA (Phoenix Forecast Office)
.DISCUSSION... A LARGE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE SOUTHWEST THROUGH THE WEEKEND. AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WARM EACH DAY INTO THE HOT RANGE BY THIS WEEKEND...REACHING WELL ABOVE NORMAL MAXIMUMS. LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY MAY BE ON THE INCREASE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF EAST CENTRAL ARIZONA...AS MOISTURE SEEPS INTO THE EAST PORTION OF THE STATE.

SOUTHERN & SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA (Tucson Forecast Office)

.DISCUSSION...HIGH PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP AND EXPAND OVER SOUTHERN UTAH THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS OF MAINLY TERRAIN-DRIVEN WINDS...AN EAST FLOW WILL DEVELOP AND WILL SPREAD INCREASING AMOUNTS OF MOISTURE INTO THE REGION. ALONG WITH THE INCREASE IN HUMIDITY WILL ALSO COME A GRADUALLY INCREASING CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS...PARTICULARLY SOUTH AND EAST OF TUCSON...AS WE APPROACH THE WEEKEND.

NEW MEXICO


NORTHERN NEW MEXICO (Albuquerque Forecast Office)

.DISCUSSION...STRONG EAST WINDS THAT PUSHED INTO THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE STATE OVERNIGHT RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEYS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED OVER A LARGER AREA TODAY WITH THE INCREASE IN LOW LEVEL SURFACE MOISTURE. ANOTHER SURGE IS EXPECTED FRIDAY. DRY THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS FROM CENTRAL NEW MEXICO EASTWARD WILL BECOME MORE OF A MIXTURE OF WET AND DRY. MOISTURE IS EXPECTED TO SURGE WEST AS FAR AS THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BY SATURDAY ACCOMPANIED BY SHOWERS AND STORMS.


SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO (El Paso Forecast Office)

.DISCUSSION... ISOLATED HIGH-BASE AND MAINLY DRY THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER THE BOOTHEEL AND THE GILA. THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE DRY LIGHTNING ALONG WITH STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS.SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY WILL HAVE MORE MOISTURE AVAILABLE WITH LESS THREAT OF DRY LIGHTNING...BUT WILL ALSO PRODUCE STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS WITH OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES PUSHING SOUTH ACROSS OTERO COUNTY. HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT WILL KEEP AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES ABOVE NORMAL AGAIN THURSDAY WITH HUMIDITY FROM THE MID-TEENS TO THE LOWER 20S. HIGH PRESSURE WILL SHIFT INTO NEVADA FRIDAY...ALLOWING A DEEPER EAST TO NORTHEAST FLOW OVER THE AREA WITH A SUBSEQUENT INCREASE IN MOISTURE. THIS WILL INCREASE THE CHANCE OF WETTING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE REGION FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND.


SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO / SOUTHWEST TEXAS (Midland Forecast Office)

.DISCUSSION... UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE DESERT SOUTHWEST WILL WEAKEN ALLOWING FOR LOW LEVEL MOISTURE TO INCREASE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THIS INCREASE IN MOISTURE WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES A FEW DEGREES COOLER THAN EARLIER THIS WEEK...AND AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO THROUGH AT LEAST THE WEEKEND. A WEAK COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO SAG SLOWLY SOUTHWARD INTO THE AREA TONIGHT AND ON FRIDAY...PROVIDING A FOCUS FOR WIDELY SCATTERED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE PERMIAN BASIN ON FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE PERMIAN BASIN THIS WEEKEND. RH RECOVERY TONIGHT WILL BE FAIR TO GOOD AREAWIDE.

[george76]

GARFIELD COUNTY - Crews began battling the Jolly Mesa fire near the town of Silt Wednesday afternoon.

the fire is north of I-70 at about mile marker 100, three miles west of Silt on Jolly Mesa.

Two air tankers, eight smoke jumpers, a helicopter, three engines, and one water tender are all on scene.

Crews are also battling a fire in the Canyon Creek area and another in the Beaver Creek area near Rulison.