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Labor Day fires of 2020 burned more of the Oregon Cascades than had burned in the previous 36 years combined

Bill GabbertMay 31, 2021June 8, 2023UncategorizedHDW, Labor Day Fires, Oregon15 Comments

An analysis of the Labor Day 2020 wildfires in Oregon determined that the combination of high temperatures, unusually dry fuels, and strong winds occurring at the same time was unprecedented in the area.

2020 Labor Day fires in Oregon, research published in March 2021 by John T. Abatzoglou, David E. Rupp, Larry W. O’Neill, Mojtaba Sadegh.

That flammable combination led to an unprecedented number of acres burned in the Oregon Cascades, about 11 percent of the mountain range, and more than the previous 36 years combined.

Below is a summary of research published last month titled, “Compound Extremes Drive the Western Oregon Wildfires of September 2020,” by John T. Abatzoglou, David E. Rupp, Larry W. O’Neill, and Mojtaba Sadegh.

“Several very large fires in western Oregon spread rapidly during an unusually strong offshore wind event that commenced on Labor Day in 2020. The Labor Day fires burned more area of the Oregon Cascades than had burned in the previous 36 years combined and very likely exceeded the area burned in any single year for at least the past 120 years. The fires damaged over 4,000 structures, led to several fatalities, placed over 10% of the state’s residents under some level of evacuation advisory, and contributed to the hazardous air quality across the Northwestern United States.

“A compound set of weather-related factors leading up to and during the fires facilitated these extreme fires. Unusually warm conditions with limited precipitation in the 60-days leading up to the fires allowed for fuels to become particularly dry and combustible by early September. Downslope offshore winds materialized during September 7–9, 2020 across the Oregon Cascades bringing exceptionally strong winds and dry air that drove rapid rates of fire spread. While neither of these individual factors was unprecedented, the concurrence of these drivers created conditions unmatched in the observational record.”

The authors called that the “Plain Language Summary.” To drill down even more into Plain Language, the conditions in Oregon were hot, dry, and windy.

The Hot-Dry-Windy Index (HDWI) is a new tool for firefighters to predict weather conditions which can affect the spread of wildfires.

It is described as being very simple and only considers the atmospheric factors of heat, moisture, and wind. To be more precise, it is a multiplication of the maximum wind speed and maximum vapor pressure deficit (VPD) in the lowest 50 or so millibars in the atmosphere. It does not consider fuel moisture.

In preliminary data that had not been peer reviewed when we wrote about it February 20, 2019, the HDWI was far more useful than the Haines Index in predicting the growth of the Chetco Bar Fire which burned over 191,000 acres in Southwest Oregon in July, 2017.

The HDWI for Oregon’s Willamette Valley was far above the 95th percentile September 6-9, 2020. During the 10 days prior to September 9 it was above the 90th percentile on nine days. The strong winds occurred September 7-9, and most of the growth of the Labor Day fires was during that period.

Hot-Dry-Windy Index for Oregon’s Willamette Valley for the 10 days prior to September 9, 2020, and projected for September 9-15.

satellite photo fires smoke Washington, Oregon, and California — GOES-17 photo of smoke from wildfires in Washington, Oregon, and California at 5:56 p.m. PDT Sept. 8, 2020. The photo was taken during a very strong wind event.

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

The Dog Fire in Guadalupe Mountains National Park has burned more than 1,800 acres

Bill GabbertMay 30, 2021WildfireDog Fire, Texas5 Comments

In Western Texas

8:52 a.m. MDT May 30, 2021

Growth of the Dog Fire in Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas has slowed in recent days. The lightning-caused fire 72 miles southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico has burned 1,863 acres since it was reported May 11, 2021.

Resources assigned to the fire include three hand crews (National Park Service and Texas State Forest Service), four engines (U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Texas State Forest Service), a mule string, and one Type 3 helicopter (Bureau of Indian Affairs), for a total of 86 personnel.

The National Park Service said their objective is to fully suppress the fire, “using natural and man-made barriers to keep the fire within the upper elevations of the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.”

Sawyer falling fire-damaged tree on the Dog Fire. NPS photo.

Firefighters cold-trailing on the Dog Fire, May 29, 2021. NPS photo.

Mule string on the Dog Fire, May 21, 2021. NPS photo.

US Forest Service firefighter dies in off-duty accident in Mississippi

Bill GabbertMay 29, 2021May 29, 2021UncategorizedColorado, fatality, Mississippi8 Comments

The Associated Press is reporting that a wildland firefighter died Wednesday night in Mississippi.

Evan Batson, 34, worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Colorado on the San Juan National Forest’s Columbine Wildland Fire Module. The crew was on an assignment in Mississippi assisting with prescribed fires.

Mr. Batson and his co-workers had gone to dinner in Natchez. They were walking to a casino when he jumped a fence to take a shortcut from the top of a bluff to a grassy area, but he jumped too far. Natchez Police Department Cmdr. Scott Frye said the drop was about 100 feet down.

His co-workers, some of whom are EMTs, administered first aid along with the Natchez Fire Department.

“There was no motor vehicle access where he was,” Police Chief Joseph Daughtry said.

Later Mr. Batson was pronounced dead.

“His death occurred outside of work hours and is still under investigation,” said Lawrence Lujan, a spokesman for the US Forest Service. “Evan worked on the Payette, Medicine Bow-Routt, Manti La Sal, and San Juan National Forests as a career wildland firefighter during his tenure. We share this profound loss with Evan’s family, friends, and crew members and hold them in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

From the USFS website:

“The Columbine Wildland Fire Module (WFM) is a ten-person crew based out of the Columbine Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest. Columbine WFM is a resource that responds to fires locally, regionally, and nationally, and provides self-sufficient, highly skilled fire professionals to assist with wildland and prescribed fire operations, fire behavior and fire effects monitoring, hazard fuels reduction, and a range of other fire and resource related missions. Columbine has existed as an “initial attack” module since the early 2000s. With support from Forest Leadership working to expand the San Juan National Forest’s managed and prescribed fire programs, Columbine was reborn as a Wildland Fire Module in 2013.”

Our sincere condolences go out to Mr. Batson’s family, friends, and co-workers.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Mike and Scott.

Fire on Mt. Wilson spreads into Wilson Creek drainage in Nevada

Bill GabbertMay 29, 2021WildfireNevada, Wilson Creek Fire1 Comment

Wilson Creek Fire, May 28, 2021, via GBCC.

10 a.m. MDT May 29, 2021

The Wilson Creek Fire in Eastern Nevada had burned about 700 acres when it was mapped Friday, but the fire was very active that evening and into the night, growing substantially. Judging from the heat detected by satellites Saturday morning it may be two to three times larger.

It was started by lightning and was reported at 10:30 a.m. May 20.

The fire is east of Highway 93, 21 miles north of Pioche, Nevada, 44 miles north of Caliente, Nevada, and 17 miles west of the Nevada/Utah border.

Below is a Friday night update from the Incident Management Team:

“The lightning-ignited fire on Mt. Wilson is burning in timber, pinyon-pine, brush, and grass. There is no immediate threat to structures or private property. Public and firefighter safety is the top priority.

“The fire today moved down and out of the rocky terrain that has been largely inaccessible to firefighters, burning through some heavy fuels and making a run into the Wilson Creek drainage.

Wilson Creek Fire, as seen from Cave Mtn. at 3:51 p.m. MDT May 28, 2021.

“Ground resources suppressing the fire are one Type 1 hand crew, one Type 2 Initial Attack hand crew, and eight smokejumpers. Two additional Type 1 hand crews are en route. Also en route are two engines to support the one engine onsite, and a bulldozer. Current aerial resources are one Type 1 helicopter and one Type 2 helicopter with a Type 3 helicopter available as needed. Aerial resources earlier today included three large air tankers and five Single Engine Air Tankers, or SEATs.

“Smoke will be visible to residents and recreationists in eastern Nevada and western Utah. Motorists are encouraged to be aware of increased fire vehicle traffic in the area. The fire is 50-percent contained with full containment expected Saturday evening, June 5. It was first reported Thursday morning, May 20.”

Forest Service smokejumper injured on a wildfire in New Mexico

Bill GabbertMay 26, 2021May 29, 2021Wildfireinjury, New Mexico, smokejumpers13 Comments

Was parachuting into a fire 9 miles north of the Mexico border

Updated 9 a.m. MDT May 29, 2021

A Gofundme account has been set up for Tim Hart who was critically injured while parachuting into the Eicks Fire in southeastern New Mexico. He works out of the jumper base at West Yellowstone, Montana.

Below is the text from Gofundme, May 29, 2021:

On May 24th, West Yellowstone Smokejumper Tim Hart suffered multiple injuries after a hard landing during a fire jump in southern New Mexico. Tim was flown via air ambulance to a hospital in El Paso, Texas where he remains in critical condition.

Tim has been a wildland firefighter since 2006. He began his career working on an engine for the Coconino National Forest, and continued in that capacity on the Fremont-Winema NF and the Shoshone NF. After his engine time, he became a Lead Firefighter and Squadleader on the Asheville Interagency hotshot crew. He later held squadleader positions on Augusta IHC and Ruby Mountain IHC. Tim accepted a rookie smokejumper position in 2016 at Grangeville, Idaho. He moved to the West Yellowstone Smokejumper Base as a squadleader in 2019. Tim’s talents and natural leadership have been a big part in the success of all the functional areas here in West. He is willing to take things on very thoughtfully and methodically, and with a sense of humor.

Whatever the task is in front of him- whether it’s preparing for fire jumps or cargo drops, building furniture for his new home in Cody, WY or improvising a musical jam session with his wife Michelle, he rises to the challenge! His “get- it- done” attitude will serve him well on his journey to recovery.

Thank you for supporting Tim and his family during this incredibly difficult time. They have a long road ahead of them, and any burden we may be able to lift would be greatly appreciated.

Keep Tim in your thoughts and prayers…. and keep the whiskey nearby to celebrate all of Tim’s victories down the road.

6:37 p.m. MDT, May 26, 2021

3D Map of Eicks Fire — 3D map showing the approximate location of the Eicks Fire, May 25, 2021. Looking North.

This article was first published at FireAviation.com

6:34 p.m. MDT May 26, 2021

A U.S. Forest Service smoke jumper was seriously injured Monday after a hard landing at a wildfire in New Mexico. Tim Hart of Cody, Wyoming was dispatched to help suppress the Eicks Fire in the Animas Mountains of southeastern New Mexico, nine miles north of the Mexico border. He works out of the jumper base at West Yellowstone, Montana.

Mr. Hart was flown by air ambulance to a hospital in El Paso and was in critical condition. “The Forest Service’s first priority is to provide for him and his family right now,” said Marna Daley, Forest Service spokeswoman. “We are working with the smokejumper and firefighter community to make sure those needs are being met.”

Map of Eicks Fire — Map showing the location of the Eicks Fire.

The Eicks Fire has burned 850 acres of grass and brush since it was reported May 24, 2021 in very rugged terrain along the Continental Divide. No structures have burned and none are threatened.

Some media outlets initially reported that the injured person was a Hotshot firefighter, but in a Congressional hearing on Tuesday Chief of the Forest Service Vicki Christiansen said it was a smokejumper.

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

Four killed in Blackhawk helicopter crash in Florida

Bill GabbertMay 26, 2021UncategorizedBrainerd Helicopters, crash, Florida, lodd1 Comment

FAA reports they were conducting fire water drop exercises

Leesburg Airport map — Leesburg Airport aerial photo. Google.

This article first appeared on FireAviation.com

Updated at 7:39 p.m. EDT May 26, 2021

Preliminary information is now available from the FAA about yesterday’s fatal helicopter crash in Central Florida:

Aircraft conducting fire water drop exercises, lost control of the bucket causing the rotor section to separate, crashed in a wooded area, and caught on fire. Leesburg, FL.

The FAA reports there were four fatalities, one flight crew member and three passengers.

Local media is reporting city officials said the bodies all four crew members were recovered from the crash site and are in the custody of the medical examiner’s office. Their names have not been released.

The aircraft, N9FH, was a Sikorsky UH-60A, a Blackhawk registered to Brainerd Helicopters Inc. out of Leesburg, Florida. The police department described the owner as Brainerd Helicopters Inc./Firehawk Helicopters, located at Leesburg International Airport.

Brainerd has firefighting contracts with the Federal government and other organizations.

We extend our sincere condolences to the families, friends, and coworkers of the four individuals.

In 2017 I took photos of some of Brainerd’s Firehawks at their facility in Boise.

10:57 a.m. EDT May 26, 2021

A Blackhawk helicopter crashed Tuesday afternoon near Leesburg International Airport in Central Florida. The incident was reported at 5:47 p.m. One fatality has been confirmed and the other three on board have not been found. A black column of smoke was seen at the crash site.

From the Leesburg Fire Rescue Facebook page Monday evening:

No survivors have been located. ONE confirmed death at this time. Most of the fire is under control now. US forestry is on scene plowing a line around the scene to prevent any vegetation fires. FAA has been notified of the crash and will start their investigation tomorrow.

The Miami Herald reported that the helicopter was on a firefighting training exercise.

Based on preliminary information, it appears that the helicopter went into a spin, and at some point its tail separated, Leesburg Police Capt. Joe Iozzi told WKMG, a TV station in the Orlando area.

“The tail actually went onto the airport runway area while the main body of the helicopter went into the wooded swampy area which is making it difficult for rescue crews to get back to,” Iozzi told the news station.

As this was written at 10:57 a.m. EDT May 26, the names of the personnel on board or the agency operating the helicopter have not been released.