National Fire News Report ~ 9/19/08

National Preparedness Level 2

(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 Monday - Friday.

September 19, 2008

Initial attack activity was light across the nation. Currently, nine large fires are burning in California, Montana, and Oregon.

Firefighters are positioned to help support the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Teams are stationed in Galveston Island, Texas; Beaumont, Texas; and Jackson, Mississippi.

Weather Discussion: Thunderstorm activity today will be mainly across interior portions of the Pacific Northwest and northeastern California. These storms will be a mix of wet and dry, but this entire area should see a wetter transition to showers late today. Otherwise, it will be seasonably warm and dry across the Great Basin, Rockies, and much of the Northeast. Scattered showers and wet thunderstorms are forecast for most of the Southeast.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center

Daily statistics 9/19/08
Number of new large fires	2	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	9	California (2) Montana (2) Oregon (5)
Acres from active fires	222,918
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires	2
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres	412
Fires contained since 9/18/08	0
Year-to-date large fires contained	692
Year-to-date statistics
2008 (1/1/08 - 9/19/08)	Fires: 67,780	Acres: 4,714,139
2007 (1/1/07 - 9/19/07)	Fires: 70,546	Acres: 8,064,011
2006 (1/1/06 - 9/19/06)	Fires: 82,405	Acres: 8,851,135
2005 (1/1/05 - 9/19/05)	Fires: 49,459	Acres: 8,016,615
2004 (1/1/04 - 9/19/04)	Fires: 59,379	Acres: 7,704,534
2003 (1/1/03 - 9/19/03)	Fires: 48,296	Acres: 3,127,795
2002 (1/1/02 - 9/19/02)	Fires: 65,977	Acres: 6,499,593
2001 (1/1/01 - 9/19/01)	Fires: 61,617	Acres: 3,041,593
2000 (1/1/00 - 9/19/00)	Fires: 78,406	Acres: 6,888,178
5-year average
2003 - 2007	Fires: 62,017	Acres: 7,470,087
10-year average
1999 - 2008	Fires: 66,104	Acres: 6,162,380

Current Wildland Fires
California	Fires: 2	Acres: 188,196	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Hidden (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park): 925 acres at 30 percent contained. Information: Call (559) 565-3703 or visit the web site.
Klamath Complex (Klamath National Forest): 187,271 acres at 75 percent contained. The complex is 14 miles west of Etna. Active fire activity was reported.
Montana	Fires: 2	Acres: 1,514	New fires: 2	Fires contained: 0
Green Monster (Elko District, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 886 acres.
Oregon	Fires: 5	Acres: 23,344	New fires:	Fires contained: 0
Double Day (Medford Unit, Oregon Department of Forestry): 750 acres at five percent contained. This fire is two miles south of Butte Falls. Community of Butte Falls is threatened. Information: Call (541) 664-3326 or visit the web site.
Gnarl Ridge (Mt Hood National Forest): 2,300 acres at five percent contained. This previously reported incident is 10 miles south of Parkdale. Structures are threatened and evacuations and area closures are in effect. Information: Call (541) 352-6002 ext. 628 or visit the web site.
Royce Butte (Deschutes National Forest): 381 acres at 60 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles west of Crescent. The community of Crescent Junction is threatened. Structures are threatened.
Rattle (Umpqua National Forest): 14,227 acres at 28 percent contained. This fire is 30 miles east of Glide. Extreme fire behavior was observed. Structures and power lines are threatened. Highway 138 is closed and evacuations are in effect. Information: Visit the web site.
Lonesome Complex (Rogue River National Forest): 15,500 acres at an unknown percent contained. This complex of three fires is 20 miles northeast of Prospect. Residences are threatened. Information: Visit the web site.