Posted on 05/08/2002 9:37:17 AM PDT by cogitator
Governments Prepare for Tough Fire Season
WASHINGTON, DC, May 7, 2002 (ENS) - Federal fire officials are predicting a severe wildland fire season this year across the nation.
Wildland fire agencies, their partners and communities are getting prepared for the season ahead with the help of the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).
NIFC says that eight out of the nation's 11 geographic areas are experiencing above average fire risk, including Arizona, New Mexico, southern California, the southern areas of Utah and Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and the eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine. Lower than normal fire activity is expected in the northern portions of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
Near record dry conditions dominate Arizona and New Mexico, where wildland fire activity is expected to increase through June. Severe fire conditions in the southern parts of California and Nevada, Utah, Colorado may bring about earlier than normal fire activity.
"All signs indicate we are in for a severe fire season and our teams are working together to ensure proper planning, training and preparation to protect our forests and communities," said Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman. "We are implementing an extensive plan, including increasing personnel and equipment, to help mitigate the risks and stop fires while they are small and less expensive to manage."
The Departments of Agriculture and Interior have increased the number of firefighters that can be hired by almost 6,000, obtained more than 600 new pieces of equipment, including wildland fire engines, and bought or leased four large airtankers and 31 helicopters.
"Drought conditions across the country are an indication that we could be in for a very tough fire season," said Interior Secretary Gale Norton. "The Forest Service and the Department of the Interior will be working closely with our state partners and local communities to coordinate our wildland firefighting efforts. This collaborative approach will help us reduce wildfire risk to communities and restore and maintain land health within fire prone areas."
To help battle wildfires now burning in Arizona and New Mexico, federal agencies have secured an additional $8.5 million for the Southwest. The fire season in this region is expected to be more dangerous and last longer than usual, due to the low fuel moistures and extended drought conditions in the area.
As the summer progresses, the drought stricken southern Great Basin will experience an early and active fire season, NIFC predicts. Drought conditions along the eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine will also lead to above normal fire potential for late spring through fall, the agency said.
It is my understanding that during the Los Alamos fire, the Russian Government offered us use of two of these converted IL-76s with crews. The offer was accepted, then, inexplicably, the Forest Service decided that they had the fire under control and told them their assistance was unnecessary. The fire burned for two more weeks. The Forest Service later remarked that they cancelled the planes because the high volume of water would damage buildings on the ground (somehow that was worse than being destroyed by fire?), and that there was concern because it goes too fast to do reverse slope water drops (seems to me if you come from the other direction, it is now an upslope drop?)
.Also from what I have read, we are currently using, besides C-130s, some North American (yes, the same people who built the P-51 Mustang) manufactured planes that set liquid carry records in 1940 (and because aircraft technology hasn't improved since then, it is perfectly logical to use a plane that is over 60 years old).
But don't believe me, look at the website. There is some pretty amazing video on it.
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