Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches for enhanced wildfire danger have been issued by the National Weather Service for areas in California, Arizona, Kansas, and New Mexico. Click the map above to see a larger version.
In light of the Red Flag Warnings, the diminished number of firefighters even before the partial shutdown is something to keep an eye on. According to Leo Kay, the Director of Communication for the U.S. Forest Service, “80 to 90 percent of the agency’s firefighting resources are available” in the wake of the decision by the dysfunctional Congress to shut down much of the government. We asked if those resources are currently working, as opposed to being furloughed but on 2-hour call like some National Park Service firefighters, and he said yes, explaining that they are “excepted employees” during the shutdown.
Firefighters that are still working are telling us that they are not being paid and there is no way to accurately predict WHEN they will receive a pay check.
The Red Flag Warning for the San Bernardino area of southern California predicts a “moderate strength” Santa Ana wind for late Thursday night through Sunday, with northeast to east winds sustained at 25 to 40 mph with local gusts as high as 65 mph through and below canyons and passes. The winds will peak Friday night and Saturday.
The Red Flag Warning map was current as of 7:30 a.m. MDT on Thursday. Red Flag Warnings can change throughout the day as the National Weather Service offices around the country update and revise their forecasts. For the most current data, visit this NWS site.
furloughed but on a 2 hour call???!! what are the consequences of ignoring that call? working firefighters not getting paid? this story keeps getting crazier and crazier. how they can say not all firefighters are essential services is bewildering.
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/FXC/make_img.php?wfo=sgx&iname=Active_Screen2L&size=1&force=no
Updated NWS Los Angeles Red Flag Discussion:
“MOST SIGNIFICANT FIRE WEATHER THREAT ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN PAST 5 YEARS AS STRONG SANTA ANA WIND EVENT UNFOLDS. IN ADDITION TO THE STRENGTH OF WINDS BEING PROJECTED…THE CONCERNS WITH THIS EVENT INCLUDE THE WIDESPREAD NATURE AND LONG DURATION OF SANTA ANA WINDS…VERY LONG PERIOD OF SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES…AND EXTREMELY DRY FUELS APPROACHING RECORD LEVELS. RED FLAG WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES OVERNIGHT INTO SUNDAY. THE ONSET OF THE OFFSHORE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS BY LATE EVENING…THEN DESCEND INTO THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OVERNIGHT.”
Updated NWS Red Flag Discussion (NWS San Diego):
“THE LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE NOW INDICATES THE MOST WIND PRONE AREAS MAY HAVE SUSTAINED NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS 35 TO 50 MPH…WITH GUSTS 60 TO 85 MPH.”
Combined with warm temperatures, single digit RH’s, and below critical live fuel moisture, this is shaping up to be a potentially critical event.