CAL FIRE: Chief Walters monthly Chief's Message.

Are we there yet? 

I’m talking about fire season; a term that has fostered much discussion, especially lately. When is it? Does it ever really start or end in California? Is it OK to use the term fire season? Over the past several weeks, I’ve seen and heard it mentioned in the news that “Fire season is finally here,” or “Fire season is heating up.”

The existence of fire season depends on where you are in the state any given year. I find it helpful to remind people that, if one could slide California to the other coast, it would stretch from the tip of Cape Cod to south of Charleston, South Carolina. The change in elevation here is from 282 feet below sea-level in Death Valley to 14,494 feet at the peak of Mt. Whitney. When it heats up in our inland valleys and deserts during the summer months, people on the coast turn up their heaters. Additionally, the many different types of vegetation that grow in this state lend to it being unparalleled in its diverse potential for wildfire.


Fire season has different meanings for different people for different reasons.

Historically, we have had wildfires that burned with persistence from spring through fall…the period our Mediterranean Climate grants us warmer and drier conditions that draw moisture from the vegetation covering our wildlands. That isn’t to say wildfires can’t occur at other times. Wildland fires requiring suppression have occurred in every month of the year in most parts of the state; however, it is the historical occurrence that has led to the establishment of the four fire seasons assigned to our units in a document known as the Blue Book. These fire seasons and peak fire seasons within them are designated in the Blue Book to reflect the number of resources necessary to deal with the historical occurrence of wildfires. Not surprisingly, the longest seasons are assigned to the most southern units. These seasons are established as baselines, if you will, but we adjust the number of resources prepared to immediately respond to emergencies based on operational need. Our changing climate may require us to rethink how we budget for staffing. Historical trends may not be the appropriate determination of staffing needs in the very near future. Half of the 20 largest fires in our state’s recorded history have occurred since 2003.

In the past, the declaration of fire season was an annual event in every unit. Is a declaration of fire season necessary? I don’t believe so. Every year the change in conditions is gradual; some years it’s more gradual than others. It’s not like Major League Baseball, which starts when the first pitch is thrown out, as it was on April 4 this year. Even the end of baseball season isn’t absolute, although we know it will end between October 31 and November 4 this year. That’s a much smaller window than I would care to forecast for the end of any fire season in any part of our state.

As much as anything, the use of the term fire season is useful for making the public aware of the annual increase in wildfire potential. Wildfire Awareness Week occurs annually in California the first full week of May, but we all know there have been many years when wildfires have raged well before then. This year in the Tahoe Basin an awareness week was observed the first full week of July. It makes sense for that area, because the risk there typically occurs later. It is also the best time to reach the most people, as many seasonal residents tend to be in the area during that time.

What makes a bad fire season?
Our efforts to inform the public regarding impending hazardous fire conditions this spring were challenged, because we had more rainfall than in the past four years. Our responsibility to the public is to give them the scientific facts as we know them, and how to limit their exposure to the harm that wildfires can cause. It was pointed out that fewer acres typically burned during fire seasons following higher than average rain seasons. Ironically, the year of the fewest acres burned in California’s modern history is also the year of its most devastating fire in terms of life and property loss, the Tunnel Fire in the Oakland hills, October 20, 1991, which only burned about 1,600 acres.

All it takes is one bad day!
Every spring we are asked to forecast how bad fire season is going to be. One of our former chief officers once told me, “Only fools and newcomers predict fire season!” I never forgot that, and I don’t do it. Any year can be a bad year, if you are the one impacted by wildfire.

That said, predictive services regarding meteorological and fuel conditions has improved greatly in the 39 years I’ve been in this business. We use those services for planning, but every year we need to be aware that we have to be prepared for that one bad day. Long term forecasting of wind conditions is more difficult than temperature or precipitation, and forecasting lightning potential is even harder. Add fuel conditions to the mix, and you can see how difficult it is to predict the fire seasons of a state that has an annual drought that varies in length from year to year.

A number of excellent predictive service products are available at the following sites:

Northern California - http://gacc.nifc.gov/oncc/predictive/index.htm

Southern California - http://gacc.nifc.gov/oscc/predictive/index.htm

So, yes, there is a fire season where you live in California. Every year is different; some years it never ends in some parts, but it’s a pretty safe bet that every August we’re in it. Rest assured that CAL FIRE will continue to be prepared to combat wildfire in California and keep the public informed on how to be fire safe year round…especially before and during the fire season where you live.


Del Walters, Chief
Director
Source: CAL FIRE - Link

NWS - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE - CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
1029 AM PDT TUE AUG 17 2010

...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...

.LOW PRESSURE OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC WILL MOVE INTO NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA ON TODAY. THIS WILL WILL BRING AN INCREASE IN WINDS
AND VERY DRY AIR TO THE PORTIONS OF THE SIERRA AND NORTHWEST
NEVADA.

THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL CREATE THE
POTENTIAL FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

WESTERN LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA-
EASTERN NEVADA COUNTIES-
1029 AM PDT TUE AUG 17 2010

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON
UNTIL 9 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR
NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA...

* AFFECTED AREA: FIRE ZONE 271 WESTERN LASSEN-EASTERN
  PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA-EASTERN NEVADA COUNTIES.

* WIND: SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 10 TO 20 MPH
  WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 35 MPH THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

* HUMIDITY: AFTERNOON HUMIDITY WILL TO 10 TO 15 PERCENT WITH
  POOR OVERNIGHT RECOVERY TONIGHT.

* IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL
  LIKELY CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
WILL OCCUR.  CONTINUE TO CHECK WEATHER.GOV/RENO FOR UPDATES.

North Ops News: Red Flag Warning/Dry Lightning - 5 CDF strike teams move north

CAL FIRE Moves Fire Resources in

Preparation for Dry Lightning

Sacramento – CAL FIRE has moved an additional 20 fire engines into Mendocino, Shasta and Siskiyou counties in preparation for a possible increase in fires due to dry lightning.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning till 9 p.m. tonight for the upper portions of California due to significant lightning potential without much rainfall. The combination of the dry lightning and gusty winds will lead to a heightened fire danger.
A Red Flag Warning is also in effect for the Eastern Sierras for Tuesday from 1 p.m. till 11 p.m. due to gusty winds and low humidity.

While temperatures have been unseasonably cooler over the past few weeks, the number of wildfires CAL FIRE has responded to has remained steady. Most of these fires have been contained to 10 acres or less, mainly due to the mild weather and the aggressive initial attack by firefighters.
CAL FIRE urges Californians to be extremely cautious, especially during Red Flag Warnings.
A few helpful reminders and safety tips include:

• Any mowing or weed eating should be done before 10 a.m. (and NEVER during extremely dry conditions).
• Never use lawn mowers in dry vegetation.
• Ensure that your campfire is properly extinguished
• Never pull your vehicle over in tall dry grass

Source: Link
 More North Op's info: BEU moved Engine S/T into SCU, SCU strike team moved North, ST 9171C from CZU going to MEU, LNU ST9140C to SKU, ST9420C to NEU

VA/MCI San Bernardino County 7 fatalities and 18 injured

At least eight people were killed when an off-road race truck plowed into a crowd in southern California on Saturday night, authorities said.
Six were pronounced dead at the scene around 7:48 p.m. local time, said Tim Franke of the San Bernardino County Fire Department. The California Highway Patrol said Sunday the final death toll was eight.
Four more were transported to hospitals via air ambulance in serious condition. Five others were transported with minor to moderate injuries.
Eight air ambulances and several engine companies responded to the scene.

The race was in the Lucerne Valley area of San Bernardino County, Franke said.

CA-LNU-Palisades - wildland fire - 10 to 12 acres

Overhead and strike teams requested for this morning

IA Sizeup: 1655hrs - Smoke showing from the Valley Floor.
5-7 acres, moderate to rapid rate of spread, IC states potential for a couple hundred acres depending on spotting issues.  
Location: above Calistoga on Hwy 29 milepost 42.1.
#CaFire, #LNU

CA-PNF-Caribou Complex - Wildland Fire - 65 acres(Hot, Woody's, Rock, Belden fires)

CA-PNF-Caribou Complex  (Woody's, Hot, Beldon & Rock fires)
At 5 PM yesterday Plumas National Forest fire crews were dispatched to four separate fires located in the Feather River Canyon. Two (Woody's and Hot) are located near Woody's Hotsprings about 2 miles east of Twain. The other two fires (Belden and Rock) are between Belden and Caribou.
Numerous orders for resources were processed by NOPS at this time. 
Plumas EOC suffered sustained power outage during dispatch of these incidents 
Updates: 1930hrs - From CalTrans 1901hrs Hwy 70 closed from Greenville Wye to Jarbo Gap due to wildland fire.
Rock Incident hold in rocky broken fuel type for last hour. This is the historical pattern for fire near Rock Creek Dam.
Jumpers unable to jump the Rock incident. Will be landing in Chester and ground transport to fire.
Location: Two (Woody's and Hot) are located near Woody's Hotsprings about 2 miles east of Twain. The other two fires (Belden and Rock) are between Belden and Caribou.
Fuels/Terrain: Mixed fuels in very steep, rocky terrain

Resources: 0800 - LPF ST enroute

1930 - PNF Doz-2 committed to HOT fire, PNF Doz-3 committed to WOODY fire,

TNF sending an immediate need s/t 4660C.
1900hrs - Request just went in for A-11 and A-12 for two more tankers. Also, A-10 for a load of Jumpers from Redding. Shasta Trinity sending Strike time 3675c to the Hot fire., S/T 4660 C -Tahoe Engines 42, 31, 34, 73, 61.
1830hrs - Request for 2 additional air tankers for total of 8 and 2 heavy lift helicopters (helitankers).
From west to east on hwy 70 - west to east (down canyon to up canyon), Rock, Belden, Hot and Woody.

Rock Fire - 1830HRS 20 acres at  and no natural barriers to slow spread. Can not take action until power lines de-energized. Located near Rock Creek Dam has wind on it. Heavy fuels 1-2 acres moderate rate of spread, headed to the ridge helicopter drops may slow uphill runs.
Belden Fire - - located between Caribou Road and Belden down canyon.
Hot Fire - 

Woody fire - 1815hrs Estimate at 20 acres.
Communications: Command on 170.5500 and utilizing Tacs NIFC Tacs 1,2,3.
Notes: Request to close HWY 70 Greenville Wye to Jarbo Gap. No confirmation as to exact points. HWY 89/70 (Greenville Wye) and Hwy 70 at Jarbo Gap are traditional locations.

 More info and sources:
InciWeb: Link
WILDLANDFIRE.COM - Link

 #CaFire #PNF

Russia: Wildfires threaten nuclear facilities - Burning in Chernobyl area

Russian wildfires spread to nuclear sites and Chernobyl area

• The area around the Mayak plant – a closed nuclear facility 80 kilometres from Snezhinsk - is under a state of emergency -
  
  Mayak is the biggest nuclear complex in the world, and includes a reprocessing plant, nuclear waste treatment with interim storage, pilot facilities for the production of plutonium-based Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel, and a facility for the vitrification of liquid radioactive wastes. According to some experts there is 40 tons of plutonium at Mayak. Were that plutonium to burn, the consequences for the region would be catastrophic – the contamination could make the Southern Urals uninhabitable.

• Despite the government's denials, satellite photos show fires burning in forests contaminated by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
  
  This could cause the release of radioactive materials into the atmosphere. While the risks are not comparable to the Chernobyl accident itself, the radioactive materials in the smoke will increase the health risks when the smoke is inhaled. Also the materials can be dispersed over a large area, posing extra risks for people that are exposed.

 

Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: More than 7,600 square kilometers have been scorched by the fires

A forest watchdog said Wednesday the Russian wildfires have already raged across areas contaminated by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Earlier, emergency officials said they were starting to get the fires under control.

Fires: have blazed across hundreds of hectares in areas contaminated by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, an official from the Russian forest watchdog Roslesozaschita said Wednesday.

"According to data from August 6, in the Bryansk region alone 28 fires covering an area of 269 hectares (665 acres) were recorded on these radioactive lands," an official from the group told the Interfax news agency.

"There are maps of the [nuclear] contamination, there are maps of the fires. Anyone can put the two together. Why deny this information?" added the official in response to denials earlier this week that the fires had reached the Bryansk region.

There are fears that radioactive soil in contaminated areas could be swirled into the air along with ash.

The environmental group Greenpeace on Tuesday accused Russian authorities of downplaying the radioactive danger, saying that 20 fires could be seen raging in contaminated areas on satellite photos.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:
  Moscow has been blanketed by thick smog from the fires for days

"The elevated radioactive radiation will not lead to new contamination as with Chernobyl," said Greenpeace activist Vladimir Chuprov. "Nevertheless, smaller radioactive quantities should not be underestimated," he said.
There have been signs of improvement on the ground however, with emergency officials saying the total area of the wildfires had halved since early Tuesday. But authorities also said the number of spot fires had increased by 55 to 612.
Government under fire
The fresh concerns come as the Russian government and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin were sharply criticized by the country's press over its reaction to the natural disaster.
"His PR engineers can think of nothing more other than to yet again sit him behind the controls of an aircraft," leading business daily Vedomosti commented, referring to reports Putin had flown a water bombing jet to douse fires in one of the worst-affected regions.
"This is a tunnel vision of the PR makers who believe that a TV picture of Putin behind the wheel of something is an eternal panacea for falling ratings," it continued.
The usually pro-Kremlin daily Moskovsky Komsomolets wrote sarcastically that the "Russian authorities are heroically (if you believe the television reports) fighting the forest fires."
"They are fighting the fires, having allowed these fires right from the start to reach a catastrophic magnitude," it added.

Thousands of firefighters have been deployed to fight the blazes

Firefighters continue the battle
Russian firefighters are continuing to try and control wildfire blazes that have sprung up due to the heat and the drought.
An area 10 times that of New York City, more than 7,600 square kilometers (2,934.4 square miles), has been scorched by the fires, and so far at least 54 people have been killed.
The fires are still threatening key nuclear sites, such as Russia's main nuclear research center in Sarov and the nuclear waste processing plant at Mayak.

Sources: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news - Link
http://www.dw-world.de - link

RRU NEWS - CLOSED HAZARDOUS FIRE AREA - WHITEWATER CANYON

Release Date:	08/11/2010	Release Time:	5:20 PM
Contact:	Fernando Herrera Fire Captain - PIO 951-940-6985	Subject:	ACTIVE PATROL OF CLOSED HAZARDOUS FIRE AREA IN WHITEWATER CANYON
Full Text: Due to repeated public trespassing in the closed hazardous fire area of Whitewater Canyon, CAL FIRE peace officers, in cooperation with The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other law enforcement agencies are patrolling and citing trespassers within the posted closure area. On June 8, 2010, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved the closure of Whitewater Canyon and six other hazardous fire areas in the County at the request of Riverside County Fire Chief, John R. Hawkins. The closures, as cited in Riverside County Ordinance 787.4 restrict public access to targeted hazardous fire areas unless private property access is required within those areas. Trespassers caught in the posted closed area of Whitewater Canyon will be cited in violation of Riverside County Ordinance 787.4 and may be subject to a minimum of $100 for first-time offenses. Unauthorized vehicles parked in the closed area may be subject to towing, including additional fines and impound fees. The northern area of Whitewater Canyon near the conservancy remains open to the public for recreational use. Source: Riverside County Fire - link

Power Companies Want Ratepayers To Cover Uninsured Wildfire Costs

Wildfire News

By Amita Sharma

August 10, 2010

California's power companies want ratepayers to cover all uninsured costs from wildfires. The utilities claim an insurance crisis has made the request necessary.
San Diego Gas & Electric spokeswoman Stephanie Donovan says recent large wildfire claims have prompted insurance companies to offer less coverage at higher costs.
"So it was the intention of all four investor-owned utilities in California to sit down together and put out this application requesting a wildfire expense balancing account," Donovan said.
The account would be used to bill customers for wildfire expenses that are not covered by insurance. SDG&E has already used its $1.1 billion in coverage to settle scores of lawsuits stemming from the 2007 fires and many more claims are pending.
State investigators say SDG&E lines ignited three of the fires.

Source: Link

Russia: Wildfires growing threat to Russian military assests - 52 dead

Russian troops digging canal around Sarov nuclear base as wildfires grow

Emergency action reported to have 'stabilized' situation at Sarov, the closed town where first Soviet nuclear bomb was built

Heavy smog in Kriusha, Ryazan, 155 miles south of Moscow.
Credit: Denis Sinyakov/Reuters

MOSCOW: Russia's Emergencies Minister has warned that wildfires raging in the west of the country could release radioactive nuclides from land contaminated by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
Wildfires around Moscow have forced the Defence Ministry to order munitions moved from a military depot near the capital, the Ria Novosti news agency reported. 

• Elsewhere there were reports that a secret communications center of the Russian Army had gone up in flames.
• Russian troops dug a five-mile canal yesterday to protect a nuclear arms site from wildfires caused by a record heatwave.

The forest and peat fires have killed at least 52 people, made more than 4,000 homeless, diverted many flights and pushed air pollution in Moscow to six times its normal level, forcing some residents of the capital to wear surgical masks.

"The fire situation in the Moscow region is still tense, but there is no danger either for residential areas or for economic sites," an emergencies ministry spokesman said.
Weather forecasts said the smoke, which has reached even underground metro stations, would persist until Wednesday.
The canal was dug at Sarov, a closed town 220 miles east of Moscow, whose nuclear site, ringed by forest, produced the first Soviet atomic bomb in 1949 and remains Russia's main nuclear design and production facility.
The emergencies ministry said that the situation in Sarov had "stabilised", and Russia's nuclear chief assured President Dmitry Medvedev that all explosive and radioactive material had been removed from the nuclear site as a precautionary measure.
Russia, one of the world's top grain producers, has also brought in a temporary ban on exports after crops were ravaged by the dry weather. The news sent world wheat prices soaring.
The temperature climbed to 36C yesterday.
 Sources: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/08/russia-nuclear-base-wildfires - Article Link
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/massive-fires-russia-destroy-crops-an- Link