Reno: Wildland Fire - 3,766 acres, 65%, 1 dead, 24 homes lost (Fire Map)

Incident Name/Type: WASHOE DRIVE / Wildland Fire
UPDATE 0630 1-21: 65% Contained. Estimating full containment by tonight.
UPDATE 1530 1-20:  Washoe Fire is currently at 65% containment, Cause was improperly discarded fireplace ashes. Responsible resident came forward. 24 homes destroyed.
UPDATE 0700 1-20:  1 confirmed dead in residential area.
UPDATE 0600 1-20: 3,766 acres, 10K+ evacuated, Reno Fire Chief reports that forward progress on this fire has been halted. Fire behavior is moderating overnight due to diminishing winds, lowering termperatures and increasing humidity/moisture moving over the Sierra Nevada/Carson Range.
UPDATE 1800 1-19:  Washam's Type 3 IMT being mobilized for the Washoe Fire. Washoe County has declared a state of emergency as a wildfire has sparked South of Reno. Sierra Front says it is burning in Washoe Valley. NV Energy says 224 customers who live along U.S. 395 in the area of Andrew Lane and Ames Lane have power once again. Officials say 2,022 customers are still without power.

WASHOE DRIVE WILDFIRE PERIMETER MAP

• Date/Time Started: 01/19/2012 - 12:45 p.m  
• Administrative Unit:  Unified command with Reno Fire, Sierra Fire Protection District, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management & Nevada Division of Forestry
• Incident Command:  Reno FD is the primary agency, Incident Command Post is at Depoali Middle School.
• County: Washoe
• Location: Washoe City to Pleasant Valley on both sides of U.S. 395; 10 miles south of Reno (Lat. 39 19 33 Long. 119 48 31)
• Fire Map:  http://www.washoecounty.us/repository/files/1/washoe_dr_fire_1920.pdf
• GPS: 
• Acres Burned: 3700+
• ROS: Fast
• Fuels: Brush & grass
• Containment: 
• Conditions:  Reno Fire Chief reports that forward progress on this fire has been halted. Fire behavior is moderating overnight due to diminishing winds, lowering termperatures and increasing humidity/moisture moving over the Sierra Nevada/Carson Range.
• Structure Threats: 
• Special Hazards: 
• Evacuations: American Red Cross has set up an evacuation center at Damonte Ranch High School, 10500 Rio Wrangler Parkway in Reno. Small animals can be evacuated to Damonte High School. Large animals can be evacuated to Reno Livestock Events Center.  Evacuation information inside the 775 area code call 211. Outside the area call 775-337-5800.
• Road Closures: U.S. Highway-395 remains closed between Eastlake Blvd., to the Junction of SR 341/431 (Mt. Rose Junction) in south Reno. U.S. Highway 395 will remain closed until further notice - please make alternate plans.
• Cause: 
• Cooperating Agencies: CAL FIRE, Lyon County, Tahoe-Douglas, Mineral County, Storey County, Carson City Fire, East Fork FPD, North Lyon County Fire, Washoe County Sheriff's Dept., Nevada Highway Patrol, Nevada Army National Guard, NV Energy, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
• Resources: Water Tenders 6, Dozers 2, Hand Crews 6, Engines 39, Command Staff 50, Personnel  336
• Air Resources: 
• Comms: 
• Injuries: None reported
• Weather Info: High winds now moderating
• RR Link: 
• Agency Link:  http://sierrafront.net/press/news%20releases.htm

California Fire News 2011 

USDA: USFS Training Bombeiros in Brazil

 US Forest Service Trains Fire Brigades in the Brazilian Amazon

Fire brigades in the Brazilian Amazon listen to Scott Dehnisch, a U.S. Forest Service employee. Photo courtesy of Forrest Behm.

 Since 1991, the U.S. Forest Service has worked to develop a program focusing on improving sustainable forest management and administration, fire management and prevention and special uses in protected areas in Brazil.  The emphasis has been on exchanging experiences with a focus on critical issues such as curbing illegal logging and preserving public forests.

The Forest Service’s International Programs and support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has generated a partnership with Alianca da Terra, a Brazilian non-governmental organization that works with ranchers and farmers to get their goods to market in a sustainable way.  They also help landowners preserve forestland.  The current law requires maintaining 80 percent of forestland.  While this seems straightforward, the reality on the ground is complex.

Alianca da Terra is challenged by squatters who use fire to clear land for crops.  Doing so threatens the forest. For the past two years, smoke jumpers and fire managers from the U.S. Forest Servicehave been working with Brazilian representatives to improve understanding of fire management and build leadership within local fire brigades.

Training participants work out a detailed scenario. Photo courtesy of Forrest Behm

Practices are improving partly due to training of more than 250 indigenous leaders and community members in basic fire prevention, management and safety in the last two years.  Smoke jumpers and fire management officers sent from the U.S. Forest Service to Brazil have been able to build local capacity to combat fires safely and effectively as well as build leadership within local fire brigades.

Recently, representatives from the Payette National Forest trained over 80 community and fire brigade members.  As a result, the landholders and tribes in Mato Grosso are better prepared to control, manage and prevent fires from destroying farms, ranches, and the remaining tropical Amazon forests in the region.  The work preserves livelihoods and conserves biodiversity and tropical forests.

Continued work with the fire brigades will evaluate their methods, actions and offer recommendations for improving their firefighting skills.  The program will continue to build and support leadership in the fire community.
Source: USDA USFS Blog Link by Ellita Willis, Public Affairs and Michelle Zweede, Brazil Program Manager, Forest Service California Fire News 2011 

Red Flag Warning Greater Lake Tahoe area / Northern California

Red Flag Warning

 [EDIS] Red Flag Warning in effect until 4 pm pst this afternoon for gusty wind and low humidity for the Lake Tahoe basin due to strong winds and low humidity.
 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR GUSTY WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON. 

• AFFECTED AREA: FIRE ZONE 272 GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA.  
• WINDS: SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH THIS MORNING INCREASING TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH THIS AFTERNOON. 
• HUMIDITY: 10 TO 20 PERCENT. RAPIDLY INCREASING ABOVE 20 PERCENT AROUND NOON FOR NORTH LAKE TAHOE AND AROUND 3 PM FOR SOUTH LAKE TAHOE. 
• IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. 
  
  Instruction:
  A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR.CONTINUE TO CHECKWEATHER.GOV/RENO FOR UPDATES.
  Area: GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-
  Affected Counties or parts of: Modoc, Plumas, Placer, Mono, Lassen, El Dorado, Nevada, Sierra, Alpine
  Sent: 2012-01-19T06:32:46-08:00

California Fire News 2011 

This Website Censored Today In Protest Of SOPA And PIPA

 Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), also known as House Bill 3261 or H.R. 3261, is a bill that was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on October 26, 2011, by House Judiciary Committee Chair Representative Lamar S. Smith(R-TX) and a bipartisan group of 12 initial co-sponsors. The bill, if made law, would expand the ability of U.S. law enforcement andcopyright holders to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods.^[2] Presented to the House Judiciary Committee, it builds on the similar PRO-IP Act of 2008 and the corresponding Senate bill, the PROTECT IP Act.^[3]

The originally proposed bill would allow the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as copyright holders, to seek court orders against websites accused of enabling or facilitating copyright infringement. Depending on who makes the request, the court order could include barring online advertising networks and payment facilitators from doing business with the allegedly infringing website, barring search engines from linking to such sites, and requiring Internet service providers to block access to such sites. The bill would make unauthorized streaming of copyrighted content a crime, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison for ten such infringements within six months. The bill also gives immunity to Internet services that voluntarily take action against websites dedicated to infringement, while making liable for damages any copyright holder who knowingly misrepresents that a website is dedicated to infringement.^[4]

Proponents of the bill say it protects the intellectual property market and corresponding industry, jobs and revenue, and is necessary to bolster enforcement of copyright laws, especially against foreign websites.^[5] They cite examples such as Google's $500 million settlement with the Department of Justice for its role in a scheme to target U.S. consumers with ads to illegally import prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies.^[6]

Opponents say that it violates the First Amendment,^[7] is Internet censorship,^[8] will cripple the Internet,^[9] and will threatenwhistle-blowing and other free speech actions.^[7][10] Opponents have initiated a number of protest actions, including petition drives, boycotts of companies that support the legislation, and planned service blackouts by English Wikipedia and major Internet companies scheduled to coincide with the next Congressional hearing on the matter.

The House Judiciary Committee held hearings on November 16 and December 15, 2011. The Committee was scheduled to continue debate in January 2012,^[11] but on January 17 Chairman Smith said that "[d]ue to the Republican and Democratic retreats taking place over the next two weeks, markup of the Stop Online Piracy Act is expected to resume in February.

California Fire News 2011 

CA-BDF-18 Wildfire 15 - 20 acres, 0% #CaFire

 At 11:14 p.m. on January 12, 2012 the California Highway Patrol received a 911 call regarding a vehicle over the side of State Route 18 near Panorama Point. As a result of the single vehicle traffic collision, the surrounding vegetation ignited, starting a Wildland fire driven by strong gusty Santa Ana winds.
The wind driven fire burnt downhill and to the south along the west side of the highway in very steep rocky terrain.

Incident Name/Type: 

• Last Updated: 
• Date/Time Started:  Thursday January 12th, 2012 approx. 11:14 PM
• Administrative Unit: 
• IC: Howes
• County: 
• Location: SR18 s/o SR138
• GPS: 
• Acres Burned: 15
• ROS: 
• Fuels: Chaparral and light grass
• Containment: 15 acres
• Conditions:  Fire burning downhill away from the highway
• Structure Threats: No
• Special Hazards:  Steep rocky terrain.
• Road Closures: State Route 18 is closed from State Route 138 below Crestline to 40th Street in the City of San Bernardino. Alternate routes are State Route 138 via Interstate 15 or State Route 330 via Highland.  
• Evacuations: No, Residents in Waterman Canyon can come and go without restrictions in their community.
• Cause: Vehicle Accident
• Cooperating Agencies: 
• Resources: 400 personnel, 32 Engines2 Crews on scene, 8 additional on order
  2 dozers
  3 water tenders
• Air Resources: 
• Comms: 
• Injuries:  A US Forest Service firefighter has suffered a possible fractured ankle in the course of battling the blaze.
• Weather Info: 30 mph NE, 7% RH
• RR Link: 
• Agency Link: Inciweb Link

California Fire News 2011 

Red Flag Warning: Los Angeles County Mountains and Santa Monica Range

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM PST FRIDAY FOR GUSTY OFFSHORE NORTHEAST WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
 RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. THIS IN COMBINATION WITH DRY FUELS COULD CREATE EXTREME FIRE DANGER AND/OR FIRE BEHAVIOR.  PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

Red Flag Warning / Critical Fire weather 

Critical Fire weather:  LIGHT OFFSHORE WINDS WILL AFFECT MUCH OF VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES TODAY BRINGING A WARMING AND DRYING TREND TO THE REGION. 
 OFFSHORE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE A BIT STRONGER OVERNIGHT INTO FRIDAY WITH WIDESPREAD SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES. 
THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR IN THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY WHERE GUSTS AS HIGH AS 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. 
 THIS IN COMBINATION WITH A LONG DURATION OF SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES HAS PROMPTED THE ISSUANCE OF A RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS INCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE. 
 OFFSHORE  WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH ON SATURDAY.
 HOWEVER SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS MANY AREAS. IN ADDITION VERY POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERIES CAN BE EXPECTED TONIGHT AND FRIDAY NIGHT ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS AS WELL AS WIND PRONE AREAS.


 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE  HUMIDITY
 WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM PST FRIDAY. 


THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.  


 WINDS: NORTHEAST 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH STRONGEST THROUGH PASSES AND CANYONS.
 RELATIVE HUMIDITY: A LONG DURATION OF SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED WITH HUMIDITY LEVELS AS LOW AS 5 PERCENT.
 IMPACTS: IF FIRE IGNITION OCCURS THERE COULD BE THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE FIRE GROWTH WITH RAPID FIRE SPREAD. Instruction:
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS  ARE EXPECTED. THIS IN COMBINATION WITH DRY FUELS COULD CREATE EXTREME FIRE DANGER AND/OR FIRE BEHAVIOR.  PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.
Area:  SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA-LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST-
Affected Counties or parts of: Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles
Sent: 2012-01-12T09:45:00-08:00

California Fire News 2011 

NIFC SEASONAL OUTLOOK: Weather and Fuels Discussion

For Southern and Central California

SEASONAL OUTLOOK

Issued: January 2nd, 2012

Valid for: February 2012 –April 2012

Weather Discussion

After a relatively cool and wet autumn, the weather pattern quickly changed to a much drier one during December 2011. Several locations reported record, or near-record low December rainfall, especially over central California where winter snowfall has been largely absent in the Sierras.

 Most of the Sierra Nevada’s saw little if any precipitation, leading to the one of the latest seasonal closures of high elevation roadways in recent memory.

 The severe precipitation deficit in December left snowpack at a paltry 10% of average by the end of the month.

 This low precipitation amount stands in stark contrast to December 2010 when an “atmospheric river” of moisture brought steady precipitation for much of the month.

Last winter, the Eastern Pacific was in a moderate to strong La Niña condition.

 This season, the current ENSO index shows the La Niña conditions are in the weak category. Long range models indicate the La Niña may slowly strengthen this spring before dissipating during the summer.

While the weak La Niña may partially explain the lack of rainfall this year, other atmospheric factors may be responsible for the unseasonably dry weather. Last winter, the circulation across the northern hemisphere was largely influenced by a negative or cold phase, Arctic Oscillation and Northern Atlantic Oscillation.

 This resulted in a large area of low pressure in the Gulf of Alaska which was able to spawn several impressive storms in late 2010. This season, the low in the Pacific has been replaced by strong high pressure which has kept the storm track well to the north of the district. This shift may be the result of a strongly positive oscillation in the Arctic and Northern Atlantic Oscillation.

This oscillation generally lasts for a few weeks and it is reasonable to expect this oscillation to de-amplify or switch to a negative oscillation in coming weeks.

 However, the underlying La Niña condition will likely continue through the rest of the “rainy season.” Weak La Niña’s tend to result in below average precipitation for the region, especially over Southern California.

 Therefore below average precipitation can be expected through the rest of the winter and into the early spring months.

Summary:

• Temperatures near to slightly above normal.

• Precipitation below normal, especially over Southern California.

• Near normal large fire potential through March, then above normal potential over several areas by the beginning of April.

Fuels Discussion

Early fall precipitation allowed for substantial grass greenup to occur. However, at the start of the calendar year, most of this new grass crop is on the verge of returning to dormancy. Widespread curing of south aspect seasonal grasses is likely to occur in January with most fine fuels finishing curing earlier than usual this year.

Higher elevation and heavier vegetation will likely begin to dry out earlier than normal this year, given the lack of snowpack at higher elevations. In addition, ladder fuels and brush and shrubs will be more vunerable to ignition by the early spring.

Due to these factors, large fire potential will likely be above normal over many areas away from the ocean and its moderating maritime influence. Inland regions and areas from 3,000 to 8,000 feet may be the most vulnerable to new ignitions by the end of winter into early spring. If late winter snows do not arrive, expect the high risk areas to migrate to higher elevations in the Sierras. The lack of winter snow may also lead to the possibility of drought returning to a large portion of the area by the beginning to middle part of spring.

California Fire News 2011 

RED FLAG WARNING: ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS - SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS

 [EDIS] Red Flag Warning until 6 pm today for Orange County coastal areas... the Santa Ana mountains... the Inland Empire... and the San Bernardino County mountains for strong gusty winds and low relative humidities

RED FLAG WARNING 

 SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE GREAT BASIN AND UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE OVER THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES WILL BRING MODERATE TO STRONG NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITIES TODAY.
 WINDS WILL BE STRONGEST THROUGH AND BELOW THE PASSES AND CANYONS OF THE SAN BERNARDINO AND SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS EXTENDING INTO THE INLAND EMPIRE AND INLAND PORTIONS OF THE ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS.
 LOWEST DAYTIME HUMIDITIES WILL FALL BELOW 10 PERCENT WITH POOR OVERNIGHT RECOVERY IN THE WIND PRONE AREAS.
 NORTHEAST WINDS WILL DECREASE THIS AFTERNOON WITH LOCALLY BREEZY CONDITIONS CONTINUING INTO MONDAY MORNING. 


 RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY. 
NORTHEAST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 65 MPH.
RELATIVE HUMIDITY: LOWEST DAYTIME AROUND 10 PERCENT WITH POOR OVERNIGHT RECOVERY.  
OUTLOOK: FOR TONIGHT AND MONDAY POOR OVERNIGHT RECOVERY OF HUMIDITIES WITH LOWEST DAYTIME HUMIDITIES MONDAY AROUND 10 PERCENT. NORTHEAST WINDS WILL BE WEAKER 15 TO 25 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 40 MPH.


Instruction:
RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND MILD TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.
Area: ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE-SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE MOUNTAIN TOP AND FRONT COUNTRY RANGER DISTRICTS OFTHE SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST-SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE TRABUCO RANGER DISTRICT OF THE CLEVELAND NATIONALFOREST-
Affected Counties or parts of: San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange
Sent: 2012-01-08T08:18:27-08:00

California Fire News 2011 

Red Flag Warning: Santa Ana Winds - Los Angeles, Ventura County, LPNF Mountains

RED FLAG WARNING TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING. BRINGING A MODERATE TO LOCALLY STRONG SANTA ANA WIND EVENT ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.  SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES MAY OCCUR. IF FIRE IGNITION OCCURS THERE COULD BE THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE FIRE GROWTH WITH RAPID FIRE SPREAD WHICH COULD LEAD TO A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.

RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND MILD TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

FIRE WEATHER

Update 1545hrs: [EDIS] red flag warning in effect from tonnight through sunday for gusty northeast winds and low relative humidity for much of los angeles and ventura counties.

 SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE GREAT BASIN THROUGH TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING. BRINGING A MODERATE TO LOCALLY STRONG SANTA ANA WIND EVENT ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS.

 THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY OFFSHORE WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, AND DRY FUELS HAS PROMPTED THE ISSUANCE OF THE RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM PST SUNDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS.

  THIS WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM PST SUNDAY.
.
 WINDS:  WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE SHARPLY THIS EVENING ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND DESCEND INTO THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OVERNIGHT.NORTHEAST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH.
RELATIVE HUMIDITY: HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TO LOWER RAPIDLY WITH THE ONSET OF THE OFFSHORE WINDS. WIDESPREAD HUMIDITIES OF 10 TO 15 PERCENT CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE WARNING AREA WITH ISOLATED SINGLE DIGITS IN THE MOUNTAINS. 10 TO 15 PERCENT WITH ISOLATED SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITY.
 IMPACTS: IF FIRE IGNITION OCCURS THERE COULD BE THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE FIRE GROWTH WITH RAPID FIRE SPREAD WHICH COULD LEAD TO A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.
Instruction:
 A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND MILD TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.Area: VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST - LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST-
Affected Counties or parts of: Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles

California Fire News 2011 

ORANGE COUNTY, SAN BERNARDINO, RIVERSIDE COUNTY, THE INLAND EMPIRE

 RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM TO 6 PM PST SUNDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY.

Update1530hrs: [EDIS] red flag warning from 8 am to 6 pm sunday for orange county coastal areas... the santa ana mountains... the inland empire... and the san bernardino county mountains.

Discussion:  SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE GREAT BASIN AND UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE OVER THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES WILL BRING MODERATE TO STRONG NORTHEAST WINDS AND MUCH LOWER HUMIDITIES SUNDAY WITH STRONGEST WINDS THROUGH AND BELOW PASSES AND CANYONS. NORTHEAST WINDS WILL DECREASE SOMEWHAT AND CONTINUE FOR SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING.

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM TO 6 PM PST SUNDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY

  WINDS: NORTHEAST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH.
 RELATIVE HUMIDITY: LOWEST DAYTIME AROUND 10 PERCENT WITH POOR OVERNIGHT RECOVERY.
 OUTLOOK: FOR SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. POOR OVERNIGHT RECOVERY OF HUMIDITIES WITH LOWEST DAYTIME HUMIDITIES MONDAY AROUND 10 PERCENT. NORTHEAST WINDS WILL BE WEAKER 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH.
Instruction:
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS... LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.
Area: ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS - SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS - THE INLAND EMPIRE - SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS - INCLUDING THE MOUNTAIN TOP AND FRONT COUNTRY RANGER DISTRICTS OFTHE SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST - SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS INCLUDING THE TRABUCO RANGER DISTRICT OF THE CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST.
Affected Counties or parts of: San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange
Sent: 2012-01-07T13:25:58-08:00

California Fire News 2011