Posted on 5/4/2007, 9:07:18 PM by Knitting A Conundrum
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National Preparedness Level 2 Current hours for the National Fire Information Center are |
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May 4, 2007 Wildland fire activity remains light with 136 new fires reported. One new large fire was reported in North Carolina. Three large fires were contained: one each in California, Kentucky, and Virginia. Weather Discussion: Southern California through Arizona and New Mexico will be dry with windy conditions as a low pressure trough passes through. The Great Lakes will also be dry and windy. A high pressure over the northeastern states will carry over more low humidity. |
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Source: National Interagency Coordination Center
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We are now in National Fire Preparedness Level 2, with daily fire updates. I’ve pinged you because I have notes you are interested in this. Please let me know if you don’t want to be on my fire news update if you got this ping.
And if you want to get pinged, please let me know!
Big Turnaround Wildland Fire
INCIDENT UPDATED: 2007-05-04 16:22:01 ET
Summary
Restrictions and Closures
US1 remains closed from Waycross,GA to Folkston,GA except for local residents (must show identification). Route 177 is closed south of US 1. Okefenokee Swamp Park and Dixson State Forest/Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are closed. The Kingfisher Landing Unit of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is closed. Wilderness Overnight Canoe Trails are also closed until further notice.
Other Information
The East Entrance of the Okefenokee NWR, south of Folkston, GA, remains fully operational. Guided boat tours, canoe and kayak rentals, wildlife drive, boardwalk and observation tower remain open to the public. The West Entrance of the Okefenokee NWR at Fargo and Stephen C. Foster State Park are open. Heavier traffic is anticipated on Spanish Creek Road, Post Road and Davis Road from the 17th Annual Georgia State “Shoot the Swamp 2007” Championship Skeet Shoot.
Weather
There is a potential for isolated thunderstorms Friday (20%), Saturday(30%) and Sunday (40%). Lightning is possible.
Fire in the Okefenokee
Fire is a natural component of the Okefenokee ecosystem; since 1937, there have been over 300 fires that have burned thousands of acres here. The plants and animals on the Refuge are well adapted to survive periodic wildfires. The Big Turnaround Fire is expected to have no negative impact on wildlife populations and will benefit many species such as the Red Cockaded Woodpecker and the Greater Sandhill Crane.
The fire is burning actively under drought conditions in the area of dense shrub-scrub, cypress and wetlands. It is extremely unsafe, costly and ineffective to fight fire in the peat wetlands under these conditions. Past fire history at Okefenokee has shown that most fires in the swamp cannot be suppressed.
Public and firefighter safety is the top priority in managing all wildfires. This fire is being confined within the Refuge boundary between the Swamp Edge Break and the Perimeter Road, where firefighter and equipment can be safely positioned and most effectively reinforce fire lines to prevent fire from spreading off the Refuge.
Basic Information
Incident Type Wildland Fire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin 04/16/2007 at 1330 hrs.
Location 10 miles south of Waycross, Georgia in Ware County Georgia
Incident Commander Mark Ruggiero
Current Situation
Total Personnel 345
Size 42,557 acres
Percent Contained 40%
Fuels Involved
Majority of fire is burning in southern rough and pine plantations of various ages, with a heavy component of gallberry.
Fire Behavior
Moderate fire spread with variable winds. Flame lengths 3-5 feet, higher in heavier concentrations. Rate of spread less than 10 chains per hour.
Significant Events
Spotover on northeast side of incident in Division BB/EA. Additional resources have been shifted to assist.
Outlook
Planned Actions
Continue with line building and improving line along the Swamp Edge Break and Perimeter Road.
Projected Movement
Continued backing to the south with the possibility for westward movement if the seabreeze occurs.
Growth Potential
High
Terrain Difficulty
High
Containment Target
Given the current strategy of containment and control, this goal is being met.
Remarks
Team transition occurred end of shift 5/2. To date, 85.2 miles of swamp break construction/reconstruction has been completed. Approximately 14 miles of dozer line along the perimeter road on the east side of the incident have been completed.
http://www.inciweb.org/incident/659/
REWARD OFFERED
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine announced Thursday, May 3, there is a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of arsonists. If you have any information about suspicious fires, call the Arson Tip Hotline at 1-800-282-5804.
BURN BAND
Charlton County Commissioners have issued a County wide burn ban. Any violation of this ban will result in a $1000 fine. This will be strictly enforced.
Other fires have started burning in nearby Brantley, Charlton and Atkinson Counties. These fires are all unrelated, but are further evidence of the extreme drought conditions in Georgia right now.
Road Closures/Evacuations/School Closure:
US Highway 1 from Hatcher Point Road in Ware County to US 301 in Charlton County is closed. State Route 177 in Ware County is closed, State Route 15/121 in Brantley County is closed from Hoboken to the Charlton County Line. The 10-15 homes in Racepond area remain under a manadtory evacuation order. Residents there should stay prepared to respond quickly to emergency orders, if necessary.
A Fire Advisory has been issued for: the Uptonville and Mattox area, old US1 and Old Spanish Creek Road to Grace Chapel Road. Under a Fire Advisory, you should stay vigilant and listen for Emergency Responders.
Residents of evacuation zones in Charlton County who have not received their mail may pick it up at the Folkston Post Office after 3:00 p.m.
Ware County schools will be OPEN Friday, May 4 with a one hour delayed start.
Residents of Woodrow Cox Road and Ed Tatum Road who were evacuated Tuesday night may return to their homes. This order included approximately 20 homes. These residents should remain alert and prepared to take emergency protective measures if advised to do so by local authorities.
Atkinson County Schools will be OPEN Friday, May 4, with a two day delay until further notice.
Brantley County
Participants and attendees of the Twin Oaks Bluegrass Festival scheduled for May 3-5 near Hoboken should make note of road closures in the immediate area and plan for time delays casued by detours and possible smoke.
Pierce County
Pierce County Schools will be CLOSED Friday, May 4 for a scheduled holiday.
Sweat Farm Road/Big Turnaround Fire
Georgia Forestry Commission and partnering local, state and federal agencies are working to make progress on containment. The fire has not crossed US Hwy 1. Fire crews are strengthening containment to protect private/public property and forest resources. Crews are staged along the fire in case there are any flare ups and continue to reinforce the firebreak lines along US Hwy 1.
Crews are looking for long term burning spots in already charred areas and strengthening the lines by mopping up where the fire has already been. Fire is used through controlled burns to lessen the fuels on the forest floor so that the fire will burn less intensely when it reaches that area. Georgia Forestry Commission Rangers are highly trained and skilled in protection people, their property and our forests.
Structure protection continues in the National Wildlife Refuge (NWF) as well as the Swamp Park. The Ashville Hotshots firefighters are securing the historic cabin on Floyds Island. The Maul Hammock Shelter located in the NWF. The burning of the swamp will, in the long-term, ultimately benefit the swamp Wilderness habitat, which is a fire-dependent ecosystem. Okefenokee Swamp Park, Dixon Memorial State Forest/WMA, south of Waycross, are closed until further notice. The Kingfisher Landing Unit of the Okefenokee NWR, in Racepond is closed. Wilderness Overnight Canoe Trails are closed until further notice.
Residents of Waycross, Jacksonville and neighboring communities to these fires need to continuously monitor official advisories for the status of the fires and the potential for harmful smoke inhalition. Anyone with respiratory illness should stay indoors.
Residents need to be mindful of daily outdoor activities. Sparks from lawnmowers, outdoor grills and vehicles may ignite a fire in these extremely dry conditions.
A public/general information line has been established in Charlton County. The number is 912-496-3687.
Firewise Communities
A National Fire Prevention and Education Team is available to assist homeowners and communities affected by the wildfires. For more information on specific steps to help your homes survive a threatening wildfire, visit http://www.firewise.org/ or call Gayle Slauson, Georgia Forestry Commission, at 706-568-2158 or 912-427-5759.
| Incident Type | Wildland Fire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Tree On Powerline |
| Date of Origin | 04/16/2007 at 1330 hrs. |
| Location | South of Waycross |
| Incident Commander | Troy Floyd/ Tony Wilder |
| Total Personnel | 931 |
|---|---|
| Size | 96,456 acres |
| Percent Contained | 75% |
| Estimated Containment Date | 05/15/2007 at 1800 hrs. |
| Fuels Involved |
Majority of the area is in southern rough and pine plantations with timber stands of various ages, and some mature loblolly or slash pine as well as a heavy component of gallberry. Swamp/bays are intermixed throughout and due to a low water table are readily available to burn. |
| Fire Behavior |
Light winds reduced overall fire behavior, however spotting was noted on several divisions. Low RH in the teens made for high fireline intensities and flame lengths although rates of spread were moderate. |
| Significant Events |
US Hwy 1 remains closed in sections. Evacuations on the SE portion of the fire remain in effect. |
| Planned Actions |
Continue to prepare contingency lines ahead of the main head of the fire. Keep the fire within the Swamp Edge Break. Continue to build containment around Green Swamp and Gum Slough. Continue to build and prepare lines around breakout in Divison G. Continue to monitor, patrol and mop up areas west of the Swamp Road. |
|---|---|
| Estimated Date of Control | 06/01/2007 at 1800 hrs. |
| Projected Movement |
North |
| Growth Potential |
High |
| Terrain Difficulty |
High |
| Containment Target |
Containment depends on significant rain event. |
| Remarks |
The Southern Region Type 1 (RED) IMT has transitioned with Wilders Type 2 Team and will be taking over management of the Big Turnaround Fire. |
OOps! That one was for the Sweat Road fire in Georgia
Michigan
A wildfire in Baraga County has burned 400 acres in the Baraga Plains area. No injuries or structure damage have been reported, but 6-10 homes were evacuated this afternoon.
The U.S. Forest Service, DNR and local firefighters are still at the scene just northeast of Sidnaw and will be back in the morning for clean-up.
The evacuation order has been lifted, but the cause of the fire is still unknown.
http://www.wluctv6.com/Global/story.asp?S=6443794&nav=81AXcNHn
Florida
A wildfire along the Volusia-Flagler county line has been burning for about four days.
A team of 50 firefighters from across the state joined local authorities on Friday to combat the blaze, which has burned more than 2,000 acres.
The Division of Forestry said Friday afternoon that it’s fighting 95 active fires across the state. That’s less fires than there were Thursday, however, a state of emergency is still in effect for the entire state. The fires have caused an air-pollution issue in parts of the Bay area.
More than 18,000 wildfires have burned in Florida since the start of 2007, destroying more than 150,000 acres.
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2007/5/4/245730.html
Florida
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Since Governor Charlie Crist has declared a state of emergency, fire officials in northern Florida have continued to work on containing wildfires in several rain-starved areas.
Fire officials say today they have been fighting 123 working wildfires, which have burned some 12-thousand acres of brush and trees.
There has been no mandatory or voluntary evacuations as most of the fires were burning in areas where they were not a threat to homes or businesses.
Crist’s emergency order opens the door to federal funds to help fight fires and allows him to use the Florida National Guard.
His proclamation states that the ongoing wildfire season threatens the state “with a major disaster.”
The Florida National Guard is standing by with a Fire Hawk helicopter — which has a water tank — and another Black Hawk with a sling bucket to carry water.
http://www.fox10tv.com/global/story.asp?s=6471587
Georgia
Authorities now believe several wildfires plaguing Southeast Georgia may have been set on purpose. One man is now in custody
gwiline
Firefighters thought it was suspicious that 48-year-old Willie Frank Boyd was watching them so closely as they battled a Telfair County wildfire. Now, the Lumber City man sits in the local jail, charged with setting yet another blaze after they left the first one. He is also on probation for cocaine possession.
Boyd is the only person charged with arson thus far in a growing series of fires that have consumed nearly 100,000 acres and threatened hundreds of homes and businesses in Southeast Georgia. But authorities now believe several others were set on purpose as well.
The first and largest fire, which broke out in Ware County three weeks ago, began when a tree fell on a power line. But others, like the one Boyd is charged with setting 50 miles to the north, are considered suspicious.
“The thought that someone would intentionally endanger firefighters, innocent civilians, property, is reprehensible,” said Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John Oxendine. He is now offering up to a $10,000 reward in the suspected arsons.
Anyone with information about the potential arsons is asked to call the Georgia Arson Hotline at 1-800-282-5804.
Gov. Sonny Perdue has declared 21 counties disaster areas and estimated the cost of fighting the fires at $18 million. The Georgia Forestry Commission fears the blazes could destroy $30-million worth of timber.
http://www.wlbz2.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=59564
We’re burning pretty good in Florida right now, with no rain in sight. they have curtailed our lawn watering to one (1) day a week. Come on rain!
Pulled a lot of firefighters off the Georgia fires so they could go back to Florida to be ready. Saw a story where there have been quite a number of fires in Florida.
NOthing burns so nice as dry wetlands and piney woods...
I’m in St. John’s County, Florida, South of Jacksonville. The smoke is so thick that visibility can’t be 1/2 mile.
The ponds and creeks are drying up, we really need some tropical storm activity to break the cycle.
Florida
Blaze in Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge Shows How Perilously Dry It is: Lightning-Sparked Fire is One of Several in the State
May 4—A wildfire sparked by lightning continued to burn overnight in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, consuming more than 1,300 acres in northwest Palm Beach County.
The Surprise Fire, named because such fires usually don’t occur until later in May, began with a lightning strike about 7 p.m. Wednesday, officials said.
The fire, one of at least three that burned around the county Thursday and about 80 over the past month, is a testament to one of the driest seasons the state has had in at least five years.
“The conditions are ripe for things to break loose in South Florida,” said state Division of Forestry spokesman Jim Harrell.
Gov. Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency because of dry conditions that caused a wildfire that forced the evacuation of 147 homes in Flagler County and 15 new brush fires that burned 1,400 acres across the state Wednesday night.
Crist ordered activation of the Florida National Guard to work with the Division of Forestry to fight the fires.
The Surprise Fire, at the northern end of the 221-square-mile Loxahatchee Refuge, burned without any water being dropped on it because federal resources were diverted to wildfires in Georgia, spokeswoman Serena Rinker said.
Officials monitored the fire, which was endangering no structures or people. Officials hoped it would continue its northward path toward the 57-mile L-40 Canal bordering the refuge, Rinker said.
Smoke from the fire drifted westward toward sugar cane fields and did not affect traffic. The refuge remained open to the public, though the 20-Mile Bend entrance will be closed for the duration of the fire. The refuge staff planned to monitor the fire through Thursday night.
A firefighting helicopter expected to arrive Thursday from the National Forest Service in Ocala was redirected and never came, Rinker said. “We are competing for aviation resources,” she said.
The Surprise Fire was in an area of the refuge too dense to reach by land.
Exotic, highly flammable melaleuca trees are in the fire’s path, Rinker said. When the trees burn, they spread their seeds. In April 2006, Florida’s Turnpike was closed for hours in Davie because of burning melaleuca trees.
There have been numerous brush fires this year, but most have been small, knocked out quickly by beefed-up teams of local and state firefighters.
“If it continues the way it’s continuing, we don’t know what to expect,” said county Fire-Rescue Capt. Don DeLucia.
There were other minor brush fires Thursday near Riviera Beach, Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens. A light rain during the afternoon calmed the refuge fire, but it was expected to pick up again, Rinker said.
Most of the wildlife likely had moved to safety in other parts of the federal refuge, she said. The refuge is home to alligators, white-tailed deer, bobcats and more than 250 species of birds.
“We’re concerned right now about getting this one out,” Rinker said.
The fire was burning near where lightning sparked another fire May 28-31, 2006, Rinker said. That fire burned 1,355 acres.
Drought caused the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to ban all-terrain vehicles and other motorized vehicles and airboats on the Holey Land and Rotenberger Wildlife Management Areas, Water Conservation Area 3A North in the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area, effective today.
“This isn’t a decision we make lightly,” said Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Dani Moschella. “We know we have a lot of people go out there and use the areas, but [the drought] is such a dangerous situation that we’ve had to come to this restriction.”
And if the weather patterns are near normal, it’ll be a while before summer rains start, if I remember right.
Tropical rain would surely help now.
Afternoon rains should be starting this month....sooner rather than later, I hope. Afternnon rains mess with my golf league, but I’ll tolerate it for a while.
My hubby’s up in Waycross. They are having a little problem getting fire management people. We live in Idaho! The fact that they are having trouble getting enough people from the South to handle things. The fact that there are jobs unfilled this early is scary.
The Rocky Mountain GACC puts up a list of requests for jobs they were unable to fill the day before, and there were 8 different management type jobs from Dozer Boss to Safety officer they were unable to fill.
One of the side effects of the reorganization and competitive sourcing in the BLM and Forest Services is that there are fewer qualified people available to work on fires, since they need a full time job for the rest of the year when there is litle fire action, and a lot of these jobs require some real training.
Part of the problem, I am sure, is that they all haven’t taken refresher courses, but that’s really not going to kick in until June, when their certification cards get renewed. Part of it is that the middling level people who used to do a lot of the fire work jobs have switched to private sector competitive sourcing jobs, and those people don’t do fire. And a lot of managers won’t let their people go to fire assignments unless they are at PL 3 or 4, because they are needed to do their other jobs.
And the court decision in Washington making people liable in civil suits when something goes wrong may be putting a little damper on things.
And no one has figured out yet how you’re going to get well trained professional people to work part time jobs doing fire yet.
But this is scary, to have so much trouble finding help at a time where so few people are committed to fire. What are they going to do when there is a lot of fire going on in multiple parts of the country>
I hope it’s not going to be a dry June.
Looks like the air in Ogden UT on a yellow burn day (where you aren’t supposed to use your fireplace) in winter!
Smoky air is not fun.
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