National Fire News Report ~ 9/25/08

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 25, 2008

Initial attack activity was light across the nation. Firefighters are moving closer to containment goals on large fires in California, Oregon, and Nevada.

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: Warm and dry conditions will prevail across the Southwest and central Rockies as high pressure continues to dominate across the Four Corners region. Breezy southwest winds of 20-30 mph will be seen across much of the Great Basin on westward to the Sierra Range in eastern California. Dry and warm across parts of the Ohio Valley down across the northern Florida Panhandle. Otherwise heavy rains and strong winds are expected as a coastal storm moves onshore across the Carolinas on up thru the Mid-Atlantic Seaboard. Cool onshore flow is expected across the Pacific Northwest with widespread showers.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center

Daily statistics 9/25/08
Number of new large fires	3	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	8	California (2) Oregon (6)
Acres from active fires	240,018
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires	0
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres	0
Fires contained since 9/24/08	0
Year-to-date large fires contained	696
Year-to-date statistics
2008 (1/1/08 - 9/25/08)	Fires: 67,518	Acres: 4,721,317
2007 (1/1/07 - 9/25/07)	Fires: 71,730	Acres: 8,133,904
2006 (1/1/06 - 9/25/06)	Fires: 82,955	Acres: 8,977,060
2005 (1/1/05 - 9/25/05)	Fires: 52,384	Acres: 8,154,660
2004 (1/1/04 - 9/25/04)	Fires: 60,526	Acres: 7,736,297
2003 (1/1/03 - 9/25/03)	Fires: 48,840	Acres: 3,142,368
2002 (1/1/02 - 9/25/02)	Fires: 66,983	Acres: 6,542,763
2001 (1/1/01 - 9/25/01)	Fires: 62,370	Acres: 3,031,773
2000 (1/1/00 - 9/25/00)	Fires: 79,751	Acres: 6,837,462
5-year average
2003 - 2007	Fires: 67,023	Acres: 7,554,648
10-year average
1999 - 2008	Fires: 67,518	Acres: 6,207,758

Current Wildland Fires
California	Fires: 2	Acres: 193,660	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Hidden (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park): 2,368 acres at 90 percent contained. Reduction in acreage is due to more accurate mapping. Information: Call (559) 565-3703 or visit the web site.
Klamath Complex (Klamath National Forest): 191,292 acres at 90 percent contained. The complex is 14 miles west of Etna. Active fire behavior was reported.
Oregon	Fires: 5	Acres: 46,358	New fires: 3	Fires contained: 0
NEW Kitson (Willamette National Forest): 250 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is seven miles southeast of Oakridge.
NEW Horseshoe (Deschutes National Forest): 414 acres at 20 percent contained. This fire is 25 miles southeast of Lapine. Active fire behavior was observed.
NEW Big Cove (Prineville District, Bureau of Land Management): 6,000 acres at 40 percent contained. This fire started on private land five miles west of Willowdale.
Gnarl Ridge (Mt Hood National Forest): 3,280 acres at 30 percent contained. This previously reported incident is 10 miles south of Parkdale. Structures are threatened. Information: Call (541) 352-6002 ext. 628 or visit the web site.
Rattle (Umpqua National Forest): 17,552 acres at 58 percent contained. This fire is 30 miles east of Glide. Structures are threatened. Area closures are in effect. Information: Visit the web site.
Lonesome Complex (Rogue River National Forest): 19,135 acres at 35 percent contained. This complex of three fires is 20 miles northeast of Prospect. Historical structures are threatened. Information: Visit the web site.