National Fire News Report ~ 8/8/08

National Preparedness Level 4

(On a scale from 1 to 5)

Current hours for the National Fire Information Center are
(MST) 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday
208-387-5050
This report will be updated daily.

August 8, 2008

Weather conditions throughout the country continue to increase wildland fire activity. Sixteen large fires continue to burn in California. Seven large fires also remain active in the South.

Wildland fire activity was heavy yesterday. Two new large fires were reported in Texas and one in Washington. Two large fires were contained: one each in Kansas and Washington.

Australia and New Zealand are providing 44 fire specialists and managers to assist with fire suppression operations in California.

Weather Discussion: Thunderstorms are predicted for much of the West today. Gusty winds are expected over the northern Sierra and western Nevada. A few southern states, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, and north Texas.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center

Daily statistics 8/8/08
Number of new large fires	3	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	33 fires and complexes 34 total fires	Arkansas (1) California (12) Colorado (1) Idaho (2) Montana (4) Nevada (1) New Mexico (1) North Carolina (2) Texas (4) Utah (1) Washington (1) Wyoming (3)
Acres from active fires	516,769
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires	3
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres	36,605
Fires contained since 8/7/08	2
Year-to-date large fires contained	603
Year-to-date statistics
2008 (1/1/08 - 8/8/08)	Fires: 56,424	Acres: 3,971,076
2007 (1/1/07 - 8/8/07)	Fires: 58,656	Acres: 5,455,244
2006 (1/1/06 - 8/8/06)	Fires: 73,193	Acres: 5,905,804
2005 (1/1/05 - 8/8/05)	Fires: 40,209	Acres: 5,109,149
2004 (1/1/04 - 8/8/04)	Fires: 50,382	Acres: 5,584,592
2003 (1/1/03 - 8/8/03)	Fires: 38,731	Acres: 1,913,228
2002 (1/1/02 - 8/8/02)	Fires: 54,633	Acres: 4,974,357
2001 (1/1/01 - 8/8/01)	Fires: 56,004	Acres: 1,625,321
2000 (1/1/00 - 8/8/00)	Fires: 63,916	Acres: 4,115,937
5-year average
2004 - 2008	Fires: 55,773	Acres: 5,205,173
10-year average
1999 - 2008	Fires: 55,391	Acres: 4,208,690

Current Wildland Fires
Arkansas	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 105	New WFU: 0
Hawk's Overlook (Ouachita National Forest): 105 acres. This fire is 12 miles southeast of Mena. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives.
California	Fires: 12	Acres: 424,698	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Bear Wallow Complex (Klamath National Forest): 13,988 acres at 51 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 13 miles southeast of Happy Camp. Minimal fire activity was reported. Information: Call 707-467-1512 or visit the web site.
Blue 2 (Six Rivers National Forest): 8,510 acres at 64 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles east of Klamath. Cultural and communication sites are threatened. Information: Call 707-457-3974 or visit the web site.
Canyon Complex (Plumas National Forest): 37,357 acres at 97 percent contained. This complex of three fires is 16 miles northeast of Paradise. Minimal fire activity was reported. Information: Call 530-283-7882 or visit the web site.
Craig (Butte Unit, Cal Fire): 2,500 acres at 50 percent contained. This fire is located 12 miles east of Oroville. Residences and cultural sites are currently threatened. Evacuations and road closures are in place. Information: Call 530-538-7826 or visit the web site.
Iron and Alps Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 89,397 acres at 73 percent contained. This complex of three fires is one mile north of Junction City. Residences remain threatened. Information: Call 530-623-6415 or visit the web site.
Lime Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 63,263 acres at 95 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 14 miles west of Hayfork. Fire behavior was minimal. Information: Call 530-226-2500 ext. 2 or visit the web site.
Panther (Klamath National Forest): 12,659 acres at 14 percent contained. This fire is 14 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Moderate fire activity was reported. Information: Call 530-841-4406.
Rich (Plumas National Forest): 6,586 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is 20 miles west of Quincy. Residences remain threatened. The Bucks Lake Wilderness and the middle fork of the Feather River Canyon is closed. Information: Call 530-283-7882 or visit the web site.
Sherwin (Inyo National Forest): 347 acres at 88 percent contained. This fire is three miles southeast of Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth Lake, summer camps, and cultural sites are threatened. Campgrounds were evacuated and trails are closed. Information: Call 760-873-2427 or visit the web site.
Siskiyou Complex (Klamath National Forest): 59,820 acres at 64 percent contained. This complex is 18 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Cultural sites remain threatened. Information: Call 530-627-3532 or visit the web site.
Yolla Bolly Complex (Mendocino National Forest): 82,259 acres at 75 percent contained. This complex of three fires is 47 miles southwest of Redding. Cultural sites are threatened. Active fire behavior was reported. Information: Call 530-833-0357 or visit the web site.
Ukonom Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 48,012 acres at 80 percent contained. This complex is 10 miles east of Orleans. Structures, cultural sites, and a telecommunication facility are threatened. Information: Call 530-627-3532 or visit the web site.
Colorado	Fires: 1	Acres: 400	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Green Mountain (Jefferson County Fire Department): 400 acres at 50 percent contained. This fire is five miles north Evergreen.
Idaho	Fires: 2	Acres: 6,494	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Rattlesnake (Nez Perce National Forest): 1,000 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is burning 30 miles west of Darby, Montana. Residences and structures are threatened. Information: Visit the web site.
Cabin Creek (Payette National Forest): 5,494 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 35 miles west of Cobalt. Information: Call 208-634-0700.
Kansas	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Barber County (Barber County Fire Department): The fire was contained at 38,400 acres
Montana	Fires: 3	Acres: 11,296	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 1,000	New WFU: 0
Wood Hump (Bitterroot National Forest): 1,000 acres. This fire is 30 miles southwest of Darby.. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives.
Russian Flats (Lewis and Clark National Forest): 743 acres at 72 percent contained. This fire is 27 miles southwest of Stanford. Information: Call 406-366-5900 or visit the web site.
Tumble Creek (Custer National Forest): 380 acres at 60 percent contained. This fire is 13 miles west of Nye. Structures and historic buildings are threatened. Road and area closures are in place. Information: Call or 406-446-2103 or visit the web site.
Cascade (Custer National Forest): 10,173 acres at 85 percent contained. This fire is 10 miles west of Red Lodge. Information: Call 406-446-2103 or visit the web site.
Nevada	Fires: 1	Acres: 300	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Jacob (Ely Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 300 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is located 95 miles south of Ely.
New Mexico	Fires: 1	Acres: 376	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Peak (Santa Fe National Forest): 376 acres at 75 percent contained. This fire is located 10 miles west of San Juan Pueblo. Information: Call 505-438-7628 or visit the web site.
North Carolina	Fires: 2	Acres: 40,966	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Evans Road (North Carolina Division of Forest Resources): 40,704 acres at an unknown percent contained. This fire is located seven miles south of Creswell. Residences are threatened. Information: Call 919-218-3179.
Double H (North Carolina Division of Forest Resources): 262 acres at 85 percent contained. This fire is 20 miles southeast of Asheville. Residences are threatened. Information: Call 919-218-3179.
Texas	Fires: 4	Acres: 5,827	New fires: 2	Fires contained: 0
Black (Texas Forest Service): 3,560 acres at 80 percent contaned. This fire is eight miles northeast of Albany.
Sharpeye (Texas Forest Service): 617 acres at 40 percent contaned. This fire is 16 miles west of Palo Pinto.
NEW Florence (Texas Forest Service): 1,250 acres at 35 percent contaned. This fire is burning 35 miles north of Austin. Structures have been evacuated.
NEW Knob Hill (Texas Forest Service): 400 acres at 95 percent contaned. This fire is 53 miles northeast of Austin.
Utah	Fires: 1	Acres: 502	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Little Bald Mountain (Wasatch-Cache National Forest): 502 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is 11 miles southwest of Grantsville. Information: Call 801-558-8016 or visit the web site.
Washington	Fires: 1	Acres: 5,000	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 1
NEW Columbia River Road (Colville Agency, Bureau of Indians): 5,000 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is located 16 miles southeast of Kennewick. Information: Visit the web site.
730 (Mid-Columbia National Wildlife Refuge): The fire was contained at 500 acres. Information: Visit the web site.
Wyoming	Fires: 2	Acres: 20,910	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 35,500	New WFU: 0
New Fork (Bridger-Teton National Forest): 11,960 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles north of Pinedale. Structures are threatened. Information: Call 866-651-4234.
Le Hardy (Yellowstone National Park): 8,950 acres at five percent contained. This fire is 65 miles west of Cody. Structures are threatened. Information: Call 307-344-7102 or visit the web site.
Gunbarrel (Shoshone National Forest): 35,500 acres. This fire is 40 miles west of Cody. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives. Information: Call 307-578-5199 or visit the web site.