Posted on 09/09/2006 7:38:34 AM PDT by george76
Federal officials on Friday were tracking 60 large, active fires that were burning more than 1 million acres, or more than 1,500 square miles, across the West.
The states in the region with the most number of fires included Idaho, Nevada, and Montana, according to the Web site of the Boise-based National Interagency Fire Center, composed of various federal agencies that coordinate to battle wildfires.
In Idaho, fires had burned more than 231,000 acres, or 360 square miles, the center reported.
State officials toured fire camps to survey the damage -- as well as to tell federal firefighting crews here, who are strapped for personnel, that the state is ready to provide assistance from National Guard troops who could transport both equipment and firefighters, should they be needed.
Already, 49 National Guard soldiers were providing security and traffic control on fires, keeping residents, hunters and the curious out of harm's way.
Gov. Jim Risch has also asked the state's colleges and universities to allow student-firefighters to stay on the firelines without penalty for not reporting for school.
Joe Ribar, head of the National Area Command Team in Elko, said crews had "turned the corner" overnight on a 144,237-acre, or 225 square mile, fire in northern Nevada, bringing it to 60 percent containment. He said they also may have turned the corner on a 109,711-acre, or 171 square mile, blaze. It was 25 percent contained.
In southern Montana, crews set backfires to keep a massive fire from spreading. The fire, estimated at 205,000 acres, or 320 square miles...
(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...
Year-to-date Statistics
2006 (1/1/06 - 9/8/06) Fires: 84,467 Acres: 8,586,570
2005 (1/1/05 - 9/8/05) Fires: 47,192 Acres: 7,924,417
2004 (1/1/04 - 9/8/04) Fires: 55,883 Acres: 7,620,615
2003 (1/1/03 - 9/8/03) Fires: 46,562 Acres: 2,947,202
2002 (1/1/02 - 9/8/02) Fires: 63,741 Acres: 6,418,149
2001 (1/1/01 - 9/8/01) Fires: 59,473 Acres: 3,016,365
Certain evidence of human induced global warming. Bush's fault! (/sarc)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.