Wildland Fire Update
October
15, 2004
Despite
going into the season on the heels of continuing drought and
severe conditions, the 2004 fire season materialized as a
below-average year across most of the nation. Alaska, the
lone exception, experienced its worst fire season on record.
Alaska accounted for 667 fires and 6,377,346 acres burned
to date. The lower 48 states resulted in 1,324,810 acres burned,
or only slightly more than 36 percent of the average acres
burned. Fewer
dry lightning storms and high initial attack success rates
contributed to the fire season being less severe than anticipated
across much of the nation.
Although
the fire season to date was less severe, there is a continuing
potential for fire activity in California through the late
fall.
While
the fire season has diminished in much of the country, hurricane
activity heightened in the southeastern states. This activity
involved many Incident Management Teams, Area Command Teams,
and other resources used in emergency response operations.
Crews, aviation assets, caterers and showers, miscellaneous
overhead, buying teams, and more were mobilized in the response
and recovery efforts.
As
of October 12, 2004, 474 large fires were contained in the
2004 wildland fire season. The National Preparedness has dropped
to level one. A Type 2 Incident Management Team continues
to help with the Hurricane Frances and Ivan response by managing
a base camp at the Saufley Field Naval Air Station in Pensacola,
Florida.
Daily
Statistics 10/15/04 |
Year-to-date Statistics 1/2/04 - 10/15/04 |
Number of new large fires |
0 |
Year-to-date large fires contained |
474 |
Number of
active large fires |
3 |
Fires contained on 10/14/04
|
0
|
Acres
from active fires |
56,138 |
Number of
Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires |
1 |
Acres
from WFU fires |
115 |
States currently reporting active large fires
(includes WFU):
Arizona
(1)
California (3)
|
Year-to-date Statistics |
2004 (1/1/04 - 10/15/04) |
Fires: 62,347
|
Acres:
7,833,175 |
2003 (1/1/03 - 10/15/03) |
Fires:
50,874 |
Acres:
3,185,469 |
2002 (1/1/02 - 10/15/02)
|
Fires:
68,505
|
Acres:
6,715,713 |
2001 (1/1/01 - 10/15/01) |
Fires:
64,491 |
Acres:
3,282,174 |
2000 (1/1/00 - 10/15/00) |
Fires:
83,311 |
Acres:
6,912,243 |
10-Year Average
|
1995 - 2004 |
Fires:
70,777 |
Acres:
4,177,864 |
State-by-State Summaries
Arizona |
Number of fires: 0 |
Acres: 0 |
New
fires: 0 |
Fires
contained: 0 |
Wildland Fire Use |
Number of fires: 1 |
Acres: 115 |
New
fires: 0 |
Fires
contained: 0 |
Gramma
(Grand Canyon National Park): 115 acres. This Wildland Fire
Use Incident is being managed to accomplish resource objectives.
The incident is located 20 miles west of the developed area
on the north rim of the canyon. This will be the last narrative
report unless significant activity occurs. No new information
was reported. |
California |
Number of fires: 3 |
Acres: 56,138 |
New
fires: 0 |
Fires
contained: 0 |
Power
(Eldorado National Forest): 12,000 acres at 35 percent
contained. The fire is located 28 miles southeast of
Pollock Pines. Strong winds caused crown runs and long
range spotting. Highway 88 was closed due to poor visibility.
Introduction:
Call
(530) 622-5061 or visit the Eldorado
National Forest incident website. |
Rumsey
(Eldorado National Forest): 39,138 acres at 71 percent
contained. The fire is 18 miles south of Williams. Fire
activity moderated due to an inversion over the fire.
Introduction:
Call
(530) 622-5061 or visit the Eldorado
National Forest incident website. |
Freds
(Eldorado National Forest): 5,000 acres at an unknown
percent contained. The fire is ten miles east of Kyburz.
Fire behavior included crowning, torching, and long
range spotting up to one mile ahead of the fire. The
Kyburz and Silverfork communities were evacuated. Highway
50 remains closed in both directions.
Introduction:
Call
(530) 622-5061 or visit the Eldorado
National Forest incident website. |
|
|