It is getting pretty bad around here. Over 1.5 million acres have burnt in Alaska this year alone. We just had the driest July on record in this area, and we are now almost surrounded by forest fires. The smoke is so thick, it looks like a dense fog outside. We have ash on the car that looks about like a very light dusting of snow.
They have shutdown all woodcutting on State and Borough property, due to the extreme fire danger. They posted this message: http://www.co.fairbanks.ak.us/HotTopics/2009_Fires_And_Other_News/PressReleases/Press%20Release%20_8_05_09_01.pdf (http://www.co.fairbanks.ak.us/HotTopics/2009_Fires_And_Other_News/PressReleases/Press%20Release%20_8_05_09_01.pdf)
They have even moved the air quality warning to Very Unhealthy, which is the second highest on the scale (http://co.fairbanks.ak.us/airquality/).
I tell you what... next time I hear some EPA goon talk about wanting to shut down my wood stove that is more efficient than my boiler, it will be real difficult not to knock his teeth in. The good news is, the local Fair starts on Friday and it always rains during the Fair. Here is hoping the trend continues.
Warbird, in case you're not aware, most fire info is placed on www.inciweb.org
I don't know which ones are in your area, but you might want to try to look them up. They are listed by state and name and the site includes the latest maps, road closures, etc.
The town of Lillooet just over an hour east of us,evacuated 2000 people a few days ago because a fire is threatening the town.They lit a backfire a couple nights ago.
This link tells some of the story and has some really good pictures in the photo folder.
Link (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/crews-hold-the-line-in-lillooet/article1242683/)
And another link closer to home here in Pemberton
Pemberton Fires (http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/pique/index.php?content=Pemberton+first+Monday+PM)
Thanks, Stamp. I didn't know about that site but do have all the local state gov't sites.
Paul, I hope they get those fire under control soon. 2 of our fires are each about 20 miles away from town. As far as I know, we have only had to evacuate a few folks. Looks like the fires in your area pose more immediate threat.
*edit* It is raining this morning!! Thank God! Hopefully it is raining over the fires, too.
Yes, rain is good.
I'm in Boise ID right now on my way to the North Fork Complex Fires in Ukiah, OR. It is raining in Boise right now and it sounds as if it's supposed to rain in Ukiah later today. If it's significant enough amounts of rain it will help with fire control. Unfortunately, often times the rain amount is too small and along with it often comes lightning and high winds which cause more problems for fire fighters.
We had 30 plus small lighting started fires in our area over the last week but none of them got very big. We had three thunderstorms go through over about 4 days that started all these but each storm also dropped 5 or 10 minutes of good rain each time so really helped. 300 firefighters living down on our high school football field and a heli center down at our airport.
I think our biggest was around 30 acres, bigger one over by Lake Chelan was about 600 acres, inciweb.org says a single fire up near Fairbanks, AK is over 340,000 acres. Have to keep things in perspective!
Thankfully, we've continued to get a bit of rain and it does appear that Autumn is rolling in. The smoke is mostly gone right now, with just a hint of smoky smell in the air. At its worst, I could barely see past the end of my fenced yard!
Warbird, I read the report on that fire in the link that Stamp posted, and it appeared that they have been just letting that fire burn for TSI purposes. If that's really the case, the best you could hope for would be a wind shift, which you must have gotten. ;)
Indeed. No wind, or wind from the proper direction, plus the rain/humidity knocking the fires down some has done the trick.
I just got back from a 19 day tour of fighting forest fires in BC . There are firefighters from all over Canada helping out once we get our mandtory 2 days off we my be sent back to do an other 19 day tour .We were glad that we could help and looking forward to going back.
Quote from: firefighter on August 09, 2009, 09:33:47 PM
I just got back from a 19 day tour of fighting forest fires in BC . There are firefighters from all over Canada helping out once we get our mandtory 2 days off we my be sent back to do an other 19 day tour .We were glad that we could help and looking forward to going back.
Glad you made it home safe and sound firefighter 8)
Have you used your mill yet?
Cheers
Lee
Glad you made it home safely! I have a couple of buddies who fight forest fires, too. Do you know how many acres in Canada have burnt this year?
I do not know the total for Canada ,but I know not much has burnt in Ontario as it has rained so much here it would be hard to get a fire from a lighting strike as the fine fuels are not capeable of igiting .BC had 700 fires burning when we were there ,we were on a fire at Tweedmere provincial park it was a very small but it grew to over 1400 hecters by the next day ,we did save the small ski chalet and the building that housed there tow machine ,we set up water sprinklers to protect the two buildings ,waiting orders to go back for an other 19 days .No I have not been home since I picked up the mill hope to use it in the fall .
Hey, firefighter. Thanks for your help. Much appreciated!
Warbird: From April 1 until yesterday in British Columbia, there were just over 2,400 fires started (half by lightning, half by people -- usually through stupidity), and 121,300 hectares have burned. That's about 300,000 acres, or 470 square miles. Right now there are 700-750 fires burning.
At the beginning of last week we were seeing about 200 new fires a day, but it was down to 20 per day at the start of this week. It's definitely cooling down.
Glad to hear it is cooling down over there. The major fires surrounding Fairbanks are dying now, thanks to some cool temperatures and that rain we got. It actually frosted last night. I was both happy and sad to see it, as it is very early to be freezing already. However, it sure is nice not to be breathing all that smoke.
Haven't had much for fires here in NB for at least two years. I know a couple burnt down in NS, one pretty big near Halifax in the spring. It's rained so much except the last two weeks that fire risk was low to moderate. I have heard that a bunch of fire fighters recently left NS for fire fighting out west. A lot of the fire fighting here in NB, by air, is done by Forest Protection Limited. They also taxi fire fighters around.
http://www.forestprotectionlimited.com/english/business/fire.html
The province used to maintain air strips in remote bush country for years, but stopped that probably 20 years ago. I know of a couple old abandoned runways. They were also used for spraying budworm, which hasn't been required on any large scale since 1993.
I've been reading about burning water in automobiles in the Alternate Methods and Solutions topic. It's beginning to concern me a bit that these guys are saying that water will burn. Heck, it's been raining so much here that we can't even walk on the front yard, the driveway is flooded and the roof leaks with no chance to fix it . If this stuff catches fire, we are going to be in big trouble. Sheesh!! There goes another big bolt of lightning. Will Lightning catch it on fire? :-\
In the end, it's all gonna burn anyway. No need to worry about it. :)
Warbird,
Yup, it's all gonna burn at some point. The Santa Cruz fire is about 10 to 15 miles from me. The area thats burning has not burned in over 60 years. Some of the area is private land that could have been logged over the years... The real serious tree huggers have stopped any tree cutting. EPA regulations have imposed so many restrictions on control burns that it's nearly impossible to do that. Heaven for bid we use any type of equipment to grade, take care of drainage issues or clear along fire roads prior to these fires. I tell ya, the people on the government payroll that come up with this stuff...need a great big boot.
No homes lost yet.
Stay safe up there.
Thanks JD. We are doing well now. Cooled off a whole lot, winter is right around the corner, and it has been raining. You stay safe, too. I hope that Santa Cruz fire doesn't get any closer to you.
The fire season has been a bad one in BC this year and on Friday we learned a bell 212 helecopter had crashed in the fraser river ,the pilot has not been found yet .Our prayers go out to the family of the pilot . We have not herd any more .WE doknow there were no firefighters on the helecopter .
That is horrible news. I'm sorry.
Firefighters Gaining Upper Hand on 11 California Wildfires
Firefighters this morning (August 17th) were gaining the upper hand on 11 brush fires burning around California. Firefighters were slowly getting the Lockheed Fire, north of Santa Cruz, under control. For days, the fire had threatened coastal communities, but most of the more than 2,000 residents evacuated last week were allowed to return to their homes. The La Brea Fire in the Los Padres National Forest, which burned 87,000 acres, is now 64% contained.
- LA Times
Mendocino Forest Fire Nearly Contained- CA
Firefighters battling a wildland fire in a remote area of the Mendocino National Forest expected it to be fully contained by Friday night, officials said Friday. About 346 firefighters, including four helicopters, fought the Summit Fire Friday west of Stonyford and a few miles from Fouts Springs, according to a U.S. Forest Service press release. The fire is burning in timber and brush in steep, rugged terrain about
25 miles west of Stonyford.
- Contra Costa Times
We have had very few fires where I work due to all the rain .BC is now looking at if they need more help and the trip that was to leave ontario has been postponed but hopefully they will still go .the big thing is mother nature starts most off them and most times in the end she also puts the big ones out ,but in the mean time it is the firefighter who has to do it for here .Keepup the good work.
When I went to work on the Alaska Pipeline Project in 1974, I drove the AlCan highway in October. I drove for 3 days through an old burn in BC and the Yukon Territories. Hard to calculate how many acres were burned. I never thought I'd get through it, but I did. Coming back through the same area a year later, the brush and berry bushes were thick. Made for great game habitat, I'm sure. Same thing happened in the early 1900's in northern Idaho and western Montana; the "Sleeping Child Fire" consumed millions of timber acres. A few years after and for 30-40 more years, it made for the best elk/moose habitat in North America. Lodgepole Pine is about a 100 year species and it's survival is based on fire. If Lodgepole isn't harvested, then the bark beetle will kill it and then comes the lightning fire. Just look at Yellowstone in 1988; burned 80% of the Park. Looks great now and will for another 80 years, then it will all happen again.
Well BC needs more help leaving on monday for an other 19 days , they 92 fires to day and haverequested more help .
Explosive Fires in Angeles National Forest Continue to Rage
August 26 – According to the Whittier Daily News an explosive, heat-driven wildfire In the Angeles National Forest has blackened more than 1,700 acres above Azusa and threatening more. Meanwhile, a second fire emerged several miles west along the Angeles Crest Highway.
For more information, visit the Whittier Daily News website.
E-Forester
Just returned from BC yesterday finished the second 19 day tour was on a three thousand hecter fire called the Notch Hill fire no homes lost and every thing went well hopefully there will be no more this year .BC is very different from Ontario very steep .glad to be home .
Glad you are safe. A friend of mine has been down in California, battling the blazes there. I think he is heading home soon. That is some seriously hard work you guys do.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2010/04/23/nb-water-bomber-crash.html
"The pilot of a water bomber died in a crash near Miramichi, N.B., on Friday.
The water bomber, operated by Forest Protection Ltd., crashed shortly after taking off from Miramichi Airport just before 2 p.m. AT, according to a company spokesman.
Miramichi police deputy chief Paul Fiander confirmed the pilot, Ron Clowes, died in the crash.
He was a 62-year-old experienced pilot from Grand Falls, N.B., with more than 13,000 hours of flying time, said police Sgt. Brian Cumming. He had worked for Forest Protection for 10 years."
CBC News
Apparantly it was a Grumman Avenger that crashed.. Why are they flying museum pieces like that? It had to be 50-60 years old.
Ian
Got to the west coast and I bet you'll fly into the bush on Beaver's, single and twin Otters. Very reliable aircraft is why. They are all rebuilds of course, not original equipment. ;D
It was one of 20 TBM Avengers in the fleet.
"Forest Protection Limited (FPL) of Fredericton, NB once owned and operated the largest civilian fleet of Avengers in the world. FPL began operating Avengers in 1958 after purchasing 12 surplus TBM-3E aircraft from the Royal Canadian Navy. Use of the Avenger fleet at FPL peaked in 1971 when 43 aircraft were in use as both water bombers and spray aircraft. The company sold three Avengers in 2004 (C-GFPS, C-GFPM, and C-GLEJ) to museums or private collectors. The Central New Brunswick Woodsmen’s Museum has a former FPL Avenger on static display. An FPL Avenger that crashed in 1975 in southwestern New Brunswick was recovered and restored by the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum and is currently on display. FPL was still operating 3 Avengers in 2010 configured as water-bombers, and stationed at Miramichi Airport. With one crashing just after takeoff killing the pilot on April 23, 2010. There are several other Avengers in private collections around the world today."
Wikipedia
Wildfire Danger Reaches "Extreme" Level in Northern Minnesota
Pioneer Press (Minnesota, 4/29) - Due to a long stretch of dry weather, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has increased fire danger levels to the highest possible for the northern half of the state. According to the state Department of Natural Resources, an "extreme" danger level means "the situation is explosive and can result in extensive property damage" resulting from fires that "start quickly, spread furiously, and burn intensely."
The E-Forester
Ron, I can sure verify that. Every DNR Forester in the state has been sent to the northern woods on fire duty. The only one left in the south is one that is going to retire and he told me Friday that all he has been doing is answering the phone and telling everyone that all others are gone fighting fires. We have had almost no rain this spring and things are extremely dry in the north woods.
Very dangerous situation.
Finally last week they got over an inch of rain in northern MN and things are greening up. But now they are talking a chance of snow and a hard frost. ::)
It SNOWED here today!! Actually stuck a little bit, too. I am thankful for the precip, because until last week, it was very dry around here. Then we had a good bit of rain and now SNOW. I shouldn't complain but seriously, rain is way better than snow, in MAY. ;)
Regardless, this should help stave off any fires for a while. Thank God.
Warbird,
It's VERY dry just the other side of the border. We had above average winter temps with about half the yearly snow fall. Now the rain is bypassing us headed twards you. It is very dry very early in the bush.
Now they are predicting above average temperatures this summer. It will be a very interesting summer for those of us north of 60.
fb
Quote from: Warbird on May 06, 2010, 12:23:39 AM
It SNOWED here today!! Actually stuck a little bit, too. I am thankful for the precip, because until last week, it was very dry around here. Then we had a good bit of rain and now SNOW. I shouldn't complain but seriously, rain is way better than snow, in MAY. ;)
Regardless, this should help stave off any fires for a while. Thank God.
Malone in upstate NY got 17 inches last week.
Stonebroke
Snowed 24" in northern Vermont last week and 6" in northern Maine. Only had rain and showers here, but not much to it. Would shower when we were off work for the day and the bushes would dry out before the next day. Of course we were in hardwood, which dries out quick in a breeze. I said to the boss, I never seen thinning like that, 1 gallon gas jug to cut 1 ha (2.5 ac). Pretty light cutting. Hardwood was mainly aspen, but had maple, basswood and butternut to. Rock maple leaves are about out fully ( 1 more week) here now like the aspens. :)
fb, that is how it was here until just over a week ago. We also had less than half our average snowfall and it was very dry. There was a lot of concern about this fire season. Sure hope you guys get some rain soon, too. Otherwise, it could be a very unpleasant summer for all of us. :-\
Welp, what we all feared would happen, did. A couple of the bad fires from last summer were down in the peat moss (it is sort of like charcoal when it starts burning). It was burning underneath the top layer. Due to that and the extreme lack of snow this past winter, the fires smoldered all winter long.
They have now kicked back up, in addition to a few new fires and as of this morning, we are blanketed in smoke again. :( We are praying for some good, soaking rains for a couple of weeks straight, across the entire Interior of Alaska.
Sure hope the smoke is gone when asy visits us.
Warbird,
We got a small dash of rain here. The clouds are building and headed your way. I just hope they dump rain and not turn out to be dry storms. We don't need any of those. The bush is VERY dry here too. Good luck to you guys.
FB
We've been getting lots of rain so far, most creeks are in Flood stage, and our resivoirs are full. Many figure that it will be a calm fire season with all this moisture.. It won't were just growing good deep grass that will dry out.. Plus with all the bug kill we will have some good fires.. Hopin my dad gets both his Brush Engine's and Skidgine out the door and make some money this year.. Yeah i hate too see the forest burn, But It's gonna get managed one way or another whether we do it or Mother nature does it.. and either way i make money
Looks like it's going to be another 'interesting' fire year:
http://www.newsminer.com/view/full_story/13354157/article-Breaking-news--Fire-reported-in-South-Fairbanks--residents-evacuated--wildfire-in-Goldstream?instance=home_news_window_left_top_1
The wildfire in the Goldstream valley is very near the homes of 2 or 3 different friends of ours. We may be helping them evacuate in a bit. :(
Looks like they've got the Goldstream fire mostly knocked down, thank God. They are still dumping on it. That fire started 10 - 20 miles away from my house, and about 2 miles away from some close friends of ours.
Here is an article detailing just the Goldstream fire:
http://www.newsminer.com/view/full_story/13357144/article-Crews-work-to-control-700-acre-wildfire-north-of-Goldstream-Valley?instance=home_lead_story