Wildfire Today

News and opinion about wildland fire

Wildfire Today

Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

Wildland firefighters’ silent crisis

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags , , 14 Comments on Wildland firefighters’ silent crisis
Bighorn Fire, night ops in Summerhaven
Bighorn Fire, night ops in Summerhaven. Coronado NF, Arizona. Photo by David Melendez, June 23, 2020.

Today The Guardian published a well-researched article written by Daliah Singer about stresses the 20,000 wildland firefighters face on the job, including mental health issues. Here is an excerpt from “Burning out: the silent crisis spreading among wildland firefighters.”

“ ‘The exposure to human suffering in the last three years is not something you’d see at a typical day of work at firefighting – entire communities destroyed, loss of human life, loss of wildlife, loss of the landscape that we treasure. That’s not what wildland firefighters signed up to do, but it’s what they’re exposed to,” says Nelda St Clair, who worked in wildland fire for 40 years and is now the national critical incident stress management program manager for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

“Mental struggles can become more acute in the offseason, when firefighters lose their connections to their crews and transition from rigorous schedules to quieter lives.

“ ‘[Wildland firefighters] have more risk than the average firefighter because of social disconnection,” says Thomas Joiner, a psychology professor at Florida State University and one of the country’s foremost experts on suicide. A recent study by his team included a sample of wildland firefighters – just 20 individuals – and found that 55% of them reported clinically significant suicidal symptoms compared with 32% of non-wildland firefighters.

“Dr Patricia O’Brien, a clinical psychologist and former hotshot – an intensely trained firefighter working directly on fire lines – expanded those results with a survey of more than 2,500 current and former wildland firefighters. Her early data, which is not yet peer-reviewed or published, shows that rates of self-reported probable depression, generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD, as well as past-year suicidal ideation, past-month binge drinking, heavy alcohol use and smokeless tobacco use were all two to 10 times more prevalent among wildland firefighters than the general public.”

(end of excerpt)

The article refers to research conducted by former hotshot Dr. Patricia o’Brien.  Here is an excerpt from the abstract of her work.

“Wildland firefighters in the sample reported relatively high rates of probable depression (17.3%), probable generalized anxiety disorder (12.8%), probable PTSD (13.7%), past year suicidal ideation (20.1%), past-month binge drinking (57%), heavy alcohol use (22%) and smokeless tobacco use (36.9%). These rates were 2-10 times higher than rates typically seen among the general public. Further, data showed a disparity between the prevalence of depression and PTSD identified by the study screening measures and the rates at which participants reported having been diagnosed by a healthcare provider. Finally, wildland firefighters in the study reported exposures to a variety of stressful events. Results of the study provide preliminary research data suggesting that wildland firefighters may be at greater risk of developing mental health conditions than the general public, and that a significant proportion of those conditions are under-detected and under-treated. Findings highlight the need for health surveillance and evidence-based health promotion and illness/injury prevention program development for wildland firefighters, particularly in psychological and behavioral health domains.”

 

Help is available for those feeling really depressed or suicidal.

Dixie Fire makes strong push to the east, reaches Hwy. 395

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories WildfireTags , 1 Comment on Dixie Fire makes strong push to the east, reaches Hwy. 395

A spot fire occurred five miles ahead

2:33 p.m. PDT August 17, 2021

An update from the Dixie Fire’s Incident Management Team includes the fact that the fire has been mapped at 604,000 acres, an increase of 26,000 over the previous update.

The numbers of confirmed destroyed structures has risen to 638 residences, 134 commercial buildings, and 400 minor structures.

Resources assigned include 516 fire engines, 186 water tenders, 20 helicopters, 103 hand crews, and 203 dozers, for a total of 5,963 personnel.

Dixie Fire map August 17, 2021
Dixie Fire map, northeast area. The white line was the perimeter on the morning of August 17, 2021. The green line was the perimeter at 11:30 p.m. August 15, 2021. The yellow areas represent intense heat.

Strong frontal winds caused the Dixie Fire, between Susanville and Chester, California, to grow substantially in several locations Monday.  (see map above) The fire is so huge, more than 578,000 acres, generalizations can’t be used. The south portion has been relatively quiet for several days, while other portions across the north end have been extremely active.

A weather station near Susanville recorded winds Monday afternoon from the southwest, west, and northwest at 10 to 18 mph gusting up to 29 mph while the relative humidity at one point dropped to 9 percent.

(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Dixie Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.)

Southwest of Susanville the fire made a four-mile run between two fires from 2020, the Sheep and Hog Fires. The two-mile gap between those blazes is partially filled by a fire from 2016, the Willard Fire. As of early Tuesday morning the Dixie Fire has moved a short distance into that old burn. Presumably firefighters have been anticipating the fire spreading into this location and had made preparations, such as very wide dozer lines or tactical burning to remove fuel.

The Incident Management Team reported that northeast of Antelope Lake a spot fire developed five miles east of the main fire. That is a long, but not unheard of, distance for a spot fire to occur. It was three miles south of Janesville and three miles west of Highway 395. By early Tuesday morning it had spread to and crossed the highway, forcing its closure. The fire was also very active west of the lake.

Dixie Fire map August 17, 2021
Dixie Fire map, northwest area. The white line was the perimeter on the morning of August 17, 2021. The green line was the perimeter at 11:30 p.m. August 15, 2021. The yellow areas represent intense heat.

A new fire separate from the Dixie Fire has been growing on the west side of the fire near the intersection of Highways 89 and 36. It blew up Monday, running for about six miles north-northeast, and early Tuesday had advanced two miles inside Lassen Volcanic National Park, about a mile from merging with the Dixie Fire. The portion of the Dixie Fire already in the Park was also extremely active, moving a mile to the west and north.

This fire and others in the West are driven by very low fuel (vegetation) moistures resulting from drought. On the Dixie fire fuel moistures are historically low and the Energy Release Component is extremely high.

A Red Flag Warning will continue until 11 p.m. Tuesday due to low RH and gusty winds creating critical fire weather conditions. Ridgetop winds will pick up out of the west at 15 to 22 mph with gusts of 30 to 35 mph. Afternoon minimum relative humidity readings will again fall into the teens. A dry cold front will pass over the fire Tuesday night with winds out of the north.

The video below shows the Dixie Fire hitting Highway 395 Monday night.

Strong winds expected on the Dixie Fire

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories WildfireTags , 5 Comments on Strong winds expected on the Dixie Fire

The fire has burned 569,000 acres in Northern California

2:07 p.m. PDT August 16, 2021

Map of the Dixie Fire
Map of the Dixie Fire. The white line was the perimeter at 11:30 p.m. PDT August 15, 2021. The red dots represent heat detected by a satellite at 3:34 a.m. PDT Aug 16, 2021.

The heavy smoke layer that we have seen for days continued Sunday night to dampen fire activity on the Dixie Fire between Chester and Susanville, California. But on Monday Red Flag Warnings are in effect for critical fire weather conditions — 22 mph west-southwest winds gusting to 30 mph along with temperatures in the triple digits with relative humidity in the low teens. This could increase fire activity, pushing it to the east-northeast.

The Hot-Dry-Windy Index for the area on Monday is far above the 95th percentile. By Wednesday it will drop to around the 50th percentile before rising to around the 90th on Friday. The Hot-Dry-Windy Index is a prediction of potential fire spread. It is described as being very simple and only considers the atmospheric factors of heat, atmospheric moisture, and wind. To be more precise, it is a multiplication of the maximum wind speed and maximum vapor pressure deficit  in the lowest 50 or so millibars in the atmosphere. It does not consider fuel moisture.

(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Dixie Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.)

Hot-Dry-Windy Index Dixie Fire
Hot-Dry-Windy Index for the area of the Dixie Fire Monday, August 16, 2021.

On Sunday the most active portions of the fire were:

  • Northwest side as it continues to spread through Lassen Volcanic National Park.
  • North-central, northeast of Chester and northwest of Westwood.
  • Mountain Meadows Reservoir, to the west and northeast.
  • West of Antelope Lake, where the fire has moved into the 2019 Walker Fire.

Damage assessments are ongoing on the Dixie Fire. To date the teams have documented as destroyed, 633 residences and 134 commercial structures. Maps are available showing the status of structures.

The fire has burned 569,000 acres.

Resources assigned to the incident include 569 fire engines, 194 water tenders, 89 hand crews, and 198 dozers for a total of 6,579 personnel.

Twentyfive Mile Fire prompts evacuations at Lake Chelan, Washington

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories WildfireTags , 2 Comments on Twentyfive Mile Fire prompts evacuations at Lake Chelan, Washington

Estimated at 4,200 acres Monday evening

9:03 p.m. PDT Aug. 16, 2021

Map of the Twentyfive Mile Fire
Map of the Twentyfive Mile Fire at 5 p.m. PDT Aug. 16, 2021. The red shaded area represents intense heat. Scroll down for a map with a wider view.

A mapping flight of the Twentyfive Mile Fire at 5 p.m. Monday determined the fire had burned 4,262 acres and had spread into the footprint of the 2015 First Creek Fire.

Fire personnel reported that they expect the strong northwest winds predicted through Tuesday will push the fire unchecked to the south and east toward the community of Chelan. Lack of resources will hamper any ability for containment, they said.

A Type 3 Incident Management Team is in place and a Type 2 team has been ordered and will arrive on Wednesday.

11:53 a.m. PDT August 16, 2021

The Incident Management team released information about the Twentyfive Mile Fire at 11:00 Monday morning. They estimate the size at 4,000 acres, up from the 2,000 estimated Sunday evening. One structure has been destroyed and 135 are threatened.

The incident is under the joint jurisdiction of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Washington Department of Natural Resources, and Chelan County Fire District 7. A Type 3 Incident Management Team led by Incident Commander Escobar assumed command  at 6:00 a.m. today. Additional resources are continuing to arrive to supplement the 150 on scene.

Aircraft will be using Lake Chelan as a water source for dipping and scooping, so boaters are advised to give them a wide berth.

9:49 a.m. PDT August 16, 2021

3-D map of the Twentyfive Mile Fire
3-D map of the Twentyfive Mile Fire looking southwest at 2:41 a.m. PDT August 16, 2021.

A fire reported at 3:45 p.m. Sunday near Lake Chelan in Washington quickly grew to about 2,000 acres. Satellite data indicates that it is burning on both sides of Twentyfive Mile Creek; hence the name, Twentyfive Mile Fire. (See the map above.)

The blaze is on the west side of Lake Chelan at the north end of South Lakeshore Road 14 miles northwest of Chelan and 7 miles northwest of Manson near Grouse Mountain Campground.

Satellite heat sensing data shows that it has burned close to Lake Chelan. With Sunday’s fire behavior described by personnel on scene as “extremely long-range spotting”, it is not inconceivable that the Twentyfive Mile Fire could spot across mile-wide Lake Chelan — IF it was burning very intensely with a strong south or west wind. At 2:41 a.m. satellite data showed the fire was about two miles by two miles.

Map of the Twentyfive Mile Fire Washington Lake Chelan
Map of the Twentyfive Mile Fire. The red dots represent heat detected by a satellite at 2:41 a.m. PDT Aug 16, 2021. North is at the top of the map.

Mandatory “leave now” evacuations are in effect. Chelan County has a map showing the areas for “level 3” (go now), “level 2” (get set to leave immediately if necessary), and “level 1” (get ready to leave). Yes, the evacuation nomenclature is confusing.

A weather station that may be within the fire perimeter (WAOWF QD 1702) recorded 5 mph winds out of the north and northwest Sunday with 8 to 18 mph gusts while the relative humidity was in the teens and the temperature was in the 90s. At 8:30 Monday morning it was 71 degrees, 37 percent RH, with very little wind. The forecast for the fire area Monday afternoon calls for 13 mph winds out of the northwest gusting to 20 mph, 80 degrees, and 30 percent RH. On Tuesday the northwest winds will increase to 16 mph gusting at 22 to 30, but with the RH around 40 percent and an 18 percent chance of rain Monday night and Tuesday.

There are two other fires from 2013 and 2014 with similar names as you can see on the map below. The current Twentyfive Mile Fire started in an area that has not burned in at least 21 years. There were two large fires in 2004 to the north and south. On the southeast side is the footprint of the 2015 First Creek Fire which it may have already burned into.

Fire history Twentyfive Mile Fire
Fire history since 2000, vicinity of the Twentyfive Mile Fire

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Kelly.

Smoke forecast and air quality, August 15, 2021

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags
Air quality PM2.5 andPM10 at 8:01 a.m. PDT Aug 15, 2021
Air quality (ozone, PM2.5, andPM10) at 8:01 a.m. PDT Aug 15, 2021. AirNow.gov.

The areas with the worst air quality and smoke Sunday will be Northern California, Southern Oregon, Northeast Washington, Idaho, Northern Utah, Northern Nevada, Northwest Wyoming, and Montana — basically the northwest quarter of the country.

Above is the air quality in the Western United States (ozone, PM2.5, and PM10) at 8:01 a.m. PDT August 15, 2021. By AirNow.

Below is the forecast for near-surface wildland fire smoke at 1 p.m. PDT Sunday August 15, 2021.

Forecast wildland fire smoke 1 p.m. PDT August 15, 2021
Forecast for near surface wildland fire smoke at 1 p.m. PDT August 15, 2021. NOAA.

In case you missed it, read, Smoke linked to thousands of COVID-19 cases on West Coast.

To see other articles on Wildfire Today tagged “smoke”, including the most recent, click HERE.