National Fire News Report ~ 9/22/08

Monday, September 22, 2008

National Fire News Report ~ 9/22/08

(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 22, 2008

Initial attack activity was light across the nation. Currently, eight large fires are burning in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Wyoming.

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: Clear weather with drier conditions are expected along the West coast, with light north/offshore winds across parts of northern California. Winds out of the southwest will increase across the Southwest and parts of the Great Basin Continued cool and moist weather will continue over much of the northern and central Rockies, with some snow across the higher terrain of Idaho and Montana. The Gulf states will have widespread showers and thunderstorms. Elsewhere, seasonable fall conditions will arrive a little early.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center


Daily statistics 9/22/08
Number of new large fires	0	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	7	California (2) Montana (2) Oregon (5)
Acres from active fires	231,673
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires	1
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres	1,060
Fires contained since 9/21/08	2
Year-to-date large fires contained	695
Year-to-date statistics
2008 (1/1/08 - 9/22/08)	Fires: 67,981	Acres: 4,718,774
2007 (1/1/07 - 9/22/07)	Fires: 71,053	Acres: 8,090,146
2006 (1/1/06 - 9/22/06)	Fires: 82,764	Acres: 9,085,800
2005 (1/1/05 - 9/22/05)	Fires: 51,997	Acres: 8,144,601
2004 (1/1/04 - 9/22/04)	Fires: 59,833	Acres: 7,726,122
2003 (1/1/03 - 9/22/03)	Fires: 48,564	Acres: 3,135,040
2002 (1/1/02 - 9/22/02)	Fires: 66,705	Acres: 6,524,094
2001 (1/1/01 - 9/22/01)	Fires: 61,997	Acres: 3,029,047
2000 (1/1/00 - 9/22/00)	Fires: 79,444	Acres: 6,838,748
5-year average
2003 - 2007	Fires: 62,842	Acres: 7,553,089
10-year average
1999 - 2008	Fires: 66,771	Acres: 6,208,025

Current Wildland Fires
California	Fires: 2	Acres: 192,024	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Hidden (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park): 1,536 acres at 48 percent contained. Information: Call (559) 565-3703 or visit the web site.
Klamath Complex (Klamath National Forest): 190,488 acres at 75 percent contained. The complex is 14 miles west of Etna. Moderate fire activity was reported.
Montana	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Line Creek (Miles City Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 862 acres.
Nevada	Fires: 1	Acres: 382	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Vinegar (Cedar City Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 382 acres at 85 percent contained. This fire is 35 miles north of Reno.
Oregon	Fires: 4	Acres: 39,267	New fires:	Fires contained: 0
Double Day (Medford Unit, Oregon Department of Forestry): 1,275 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is two miles south of Butte Falls. Moderate fire activity was observed. Information: Call (541) 664-3326 or visit the web site.
Gnarl Ridge (Mt Hood National Forest): 3,316 acres at 10 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.
Rattle (Umpqua National Forest): 16,907 acres at 48 percent contained. This fire is 30 miles east of Glide. Extreme fire behavior was observed. Structures are threatened. Area closures and evacuations are in effect. Information: Visit the web site.
Lonesome Complex (Rogue River National Forest): 17,869 acres at 28 percent contained. This complex of three fires is 20 miles northeast of Prospect. Historical structures are threatened. Information: Visit the web site.
Utah	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Scooby (Salt Lake District, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 380 acres.
Wyoming	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
	WFU Fires: 1	WFU Acres: 1,060	New WFU fires: 0
Shingle Mill (Bridger-Teton National Forest): 1,060 acres. This wildland fire use incident is being managed for resource benefit.

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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Monday, September 22, 2008