(The above data is from the National Interagency Fire Center. We added the descriptions on the right in order to decode the acronyms for the Geographic Area Coordination Centers. Click the image above to see a larger version.)
An update of the wildfire situation in the western United States reveals that almost 29,000 personnel are currently working on active fires. The numbers from the National Interagency Coordination Center’s Incident Management Situation Report for August 19 show 573 hand crews, 1,811 fire engines, and 194 helicopters assigned to fires.
In addition, 46 incident management teams are deployed:
- 2 Area Command Teams
- 16 Type 1 IMTs
- 27 Type 2 IMTs
- 1 National Incident Management Organization team
There were 4 new large fires reported on Friday, to bring the total of uncontained large fires to 96.
Almost all of these numbers are higher than we last reported on August 15.
There are so many more people behind the scenes in these incidents. Hard working citizens from all over the country determined to maintain the ICPs. I would like to make recognized and thank everyone of them for their efforts put forth to give these brave men and women. They have provided a place to sleep, a shower and a hot meal to rejuvenate before putting their lives in danger to keep our homes, wild life and vacation destinations from being overtaken by one of nature’s most dangerous element!