National (FIRE) Preparedness Level Upgraded to PL3

*National (FIRE) Preparedness Level Upgraded to PL3 *
Fire activity and incident management team commitment has increased in several geographic areas requiring significant commitment of smokejumpers, T1 IHCs, and other tactical resources. Due to the elevated level of fire activity and national mobilization of tactical resources the National Preparedness Level is being raised to 3. *National Interagency Coordination Center*

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 daily. July 29, 2009 Moderate fire activity was reported. Four new large fires developed: one each in California, Utah, Texas, and Colorado. Weather: Hot, dry, and unstable conditions will continue across the West Coast today. Thunderstorms are possible across northern California and southern Oregon. Wet and dry thunderstorms will continue across the southern Sierra Nevada and the southern Great Basin. Southern Texas will be dry and windy. The Alaska interior will be hot and dry with winds over the eastern interior. Source: National Interagency Coordination Center Weekly statistics 7/29/09 Number of new large fires 4 States currently reporting large fires: Number of active large fires 17 Alaska (2) California (2) Colorado (1) Idaho (1) Montana (1) North Carolina (1) Oregon (2) Nevada (1) Texas (3) Utah (1) Washington (1) Acres from active fires 392,653 Fires contained since 7/28/09 0 Year-to-date large fires contained 400 Year-to-date statistics 2009 (1/1/09 - 7/29/09) Fires: 56,356 Acres: 3,376,579 2008 (1/1/08 - 7/29/08) Fires: 54,244 Acres: 3,536,009 2007 (1/1/07 - 7/29/07) Fires: 56,754 Acres: 4,632,448 2006 (1/1/06 - 7/29/06) Fires: 69,966 Acres: 5,302,848 2005 (1/1/05 - 7/29/05) Fires: 37,429 Acres: 4,338,531 2004 (1/1/04 - 7/29/04) Fires: 47,032 Acres: 5,412,203 2003 (1/1/03 - 7/29/03) Fires: 35,060 Acres: 1,750,334 2002 (1/1/02 - 7/29/02) Fires: 51,669 Acres: 3,836,714 2001 (1/1/01 - 7/29/01) Fires: 49,383 Acres: 1,498,837 2000 (1/1/00 - 7/29/00) Fires: 59,664 Acres: 3,231,204 10-year average 1999 - 2008 Fires: 51,887 Acres: 3,766,088 Current Wildland Fires Alaska Fires: 2 Acres: 370,384 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 0 Railbelt Complex (Fairbanks Area, Alaska Department of Forestry): 337,884 acres at an unknown percent contained. This complex of two fires is 12 miles southwest of Nenana. Numerous structures are threatened. Information: Call 907-832-1835, 907-832-1097 or visit the incident website. Rock Slough (Upper Yukon Zone, Bureau of Land Management): 32,500 acres at an unknown percent contained. This fire is 47 miles northeast of Fort Yukon. California Fires: 2 Acres: 1,143 New fires: 1 Fires contained: 0 Knight (Stanislaus National Forest): 750 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 10 miles north of Twain Harte. Structures are threatened and evacuations are in effect. Information: Call 209-532-3671 or visit the incident web site. NEW Ash (Merced-Mariposa Unit, Cal Fire): 393 acres at an unknown percent contained. This fire is five miles south of O'Neals. Moderate fire activity was reported. Colorado Fires: 1 Acres: 250 New fires: 1 Fires contained: 0 NEW Spring Creek (White River Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 250 acres at zero percent contained. This incident is ten miles southeast of Rangely. Idaho Fires: 1 Acres: 150 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 0 Good Luck (Salmon Challis National Forest): 150 acres at 60 percent contained. This incident is 25 miles southwest of Salmon. Structures are threatened. Montana Fires: 1 Acres: 589 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 0 Rescue (Helena National Forest): 589 acres at 60 percent contained. This incident is 22 miles northeast of Helena. Nevada Fires: 1 Acres: 519 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 0 Independence (Elko District, Bureau of Land Management): 519 acres at 98 percent contained. This incident is 20 miles northeast of Wells. North Carolina Fires: 1 Acres: 2,660 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 0 Carolina Bay (National Forests in North Carolina): 2,660 acres at 60 percent contained. This incident is eight miles south of Havelock. Structures are threatened. Oregon Fires: 2 Acres: 4,161 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 0 Cougar Creek (Malheur National Forest): 744 acres at 35 percent contained. This fire is 10 miles south of John Day. Moderate fire activity was reported. McGinnis Creek (John Day Unit, Oregon DOF): 3,417 acres at 60 percent contained. This incident is ten miles southwest of Kimberly. Structures remain threatened. Texas Fires: 3 Acres: 11,492 New fires: 1 Fires contained: 0 2009 Summer Wildfire Response (Texas Forest Service): 6,956 acres at zero percent contained. These fires are located throughout the state. Reported acreage is a cumulative total. NEW Owl Creek (Texas Forest Service): 3,000 acres at 50 percent contained. This incident is seven miles southeast of Gatesville. Active fire behavior was reported. Beaver Lake (Texas Forest Service): 1,536 acres at 70 percent contained. This incident is two miles northeast of Juno. Utah Fires: 1 Acres: 350 New fires: 1 Fires contained: 0 NEW Cedar Bench Complex (Dixie National Forest): 350 acres at 10 percent contained. This complex consists of two fires. The incident is located nine miles north of St. George. Fire behavior was active. Washington Fires: 1 Acres: 955 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 0 Johnson Lake Complex (Colville Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs): 955 acres at 90 percent contained. This complex is six miles northeast of Nespelem.