Burnout on the Hess Fire in Alaska. InciWeb photo.
Five more hotshot crews are leaving today from Redding to assist with fires in Alaska: Elk Mountain, Modoc, Mad River, Eldorado and American River.
Alaska is in Preparedness Level 5, the maximum on the scale. The state has had more wildfire activity than usual for the last month or so, but record high temperatures last week beefed it up even more. The number of acres burned in the state varies greatly annually. In most years the total acreage burned is between 300,000 and 500,000. In 2013 it was 1.3 million and in 2015, 5.1 million acres burned. So far this year the total is 937,000 acres. The average over the last 10 years is 1.3 million.
Hotshot crews mobilizing from Redding to Alaska. USFS photo.
The largest fire currently burning in the state is the 145,000-acre Hess Creek Fire 26 miles southeast of Steven’s Village. The blaze was very active Sunday, adding another 30,000 acres.
The second largest is the 96,000-acre Swan Lake Fire 50 air miles south of Anchorage on the Kenai Peninsula. The activity on this fire has slowed in recent days.
Hotshot crews mobilizing from Redding to Alaska. USFS photo.
Precipitation during June in the West, compared to normal.
Most of the Western United States, in this case west of the 100th meridian, had below normal precipitation in the month of June. And, the area was cooler than normal, except for California, Oregon, Northern Idaho, and Washington.
Temperature during June in the West, compared to normal.
Below are more details from the Western Regional Climate Center:
“June in the West
“June, 2019
“Precipitation was below normal across much of the West; however, June is typically one of the driest months of the year for some parts of the region. Temperatures were above normal in coastal states and near to slightly below normal elsewhere in the region.
“Scattered areas of the West observed above normal June precipitation, generally associated with isolated thunderstorm events for locations west of the Rockies. Owyhee Dam in eastern Oregon logged 2.38 in (60 mm) in June, 259% of normal. Nearly all of this precipitation (2.27 in/58 mm) fell in one day on June 13. Some areas east of the Rocky Mountains saw persistent precipitation throughout the month. Fort Collins, Colorado, reported 2.59 in (66 mm) for June, 119% of normal and saw at least trace amounts of precipitation on 22 days of the month. Wolf Point, Montana reported 4.49 in (114 mm), 165% of normal, the 3rd wettest in a relatively short record beginning in 1998 and had at least trace precipitation on 17 days in June.
“Much of the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West observed drier than normal conditions this month. Missoula, Montana recorded 0.66 in (17 mm), 32% of normal and the 6th driest June since records began in 1948. Portland, Oregon, observed 0.45 in (11 mm) of precipitation, 26% of normal and the 10th driest June in an 82-year record. In the US Drought Monitor, some areas of improvement were seen along the northern border of New Mexico and Arizona. Western Oregon, western Washington, and several areas along the northern border of the western states saw expansion of drought conditions this month.
“California saw the greatest departures above normal temperature for June. In northern California, Ukiah reported an average temperature of 72 °F (22.2 °C), 4.4 °F (2.4 °C) above normal and the third warmest June since records began in 1949. In the southern Central Valley, Bakersfield logged an average temperature of 81.9 °F (27.7 °C), also 4.4 °F (2.4 °C) above normal and the 10th warmest June in a record that began in 1937. Some areas of Oregon and Washington also saw temperatures several degrees above normal. Temperatures in Roseburg, southern Oregon, averaged to 67.7 °F (19.8 °C), 3.8 °F (2.1 °C) above normal. Elsewhere, temperatures were near to slightly below normal. For example, in eastern Nevada, Ely reported an average temperature of 58.6 °F (14.8 °C), 1.4 °F (0.8 °C) below normal. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, temperatures averaged to 73.8 °F (23.2 °C), 1.1 °F (0.6 °C) below normal. Phoenix, Arizona, reported a June average temperature of 91.1 °F (32.8 °C), 0.3 °F (0.2 °C) above normal.
“Much of Alaska experienced warmer and drier than normal conditions during June. Anchorage reported its all-time warmest and driest June in a 68-year record. Temperatures averaged to 60.5 °F (15.8 °C), 5.2 °F (2.9 °C) above normal. Precipitation totaled 0.06 in (2 mm), 6% of normal. In the northwestern part of the state, Kotzebue reported an average temperature of 56.8 °F (13.8 °C), 11.1 °F (6.2 °C) above normal and set the record for warmest June by 3.4 °F (1.9 °C). Records for Kotzebue began in 1897. Although a few southeastern Alaska stations reported above normal precipitation this month (e.g., Ketchikan reported 7.97 in/202 mm, 120% of normal), moderate to extreme drought conditions persist in this region. Roughly 3% of the state is experiencing drought conditions, all in the Panhandle. Ketchikan anticipates needing backup generators through at least October as reservoirs remain too low to generate hydropower.
“Above normal temperatures dominated in Hawaii, driven primarily by above normal sea surface temperatures in the Central Pacific. Kahului, Maui, logged an average temperature of 80.9 °F (27.2 °C), 2.9 °F (1.6 °C) above normal and the warmest June since records began in 1954. Many areas of the state observed above normal precipitation. Honolulu recorded 5.68 in (144 mm), more than 2000% of normal. A large portion of this, 4.2 in (107 mm) fell during intense thunderstorms associated with an upper-level low-pressure system that drew moist air into the region on June 25. The storm also caused downed trees, flooding, and several injuries due to lightning strikes on Oahu. In contrast, the windward side of the Big Island reported well below normal precipitation, Hilo observed 3.90 in (99 mm), 53% of normal. Drought improvement occurred on the windward sides of the islands in Hawaii and Maui Counties, with more island-wide improvement for Oahu and Kauai. Moderate to extreme drought conditions remain to some degree on the leeward sides of all islands.”
The military is flying them out from a small airport nearby
Water-scooping air tankers and helicopters are being used across the province of Ontario. Photo by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
(UPDATED at 2:56 p.m. CDT July 8, 2019)
The Chief and Council in Pikangikum, Ontario have ordered a full evacuation for the community due to a wildfire that has spread to within three kilometers of the town. All residents must register at the Pikangikum High School starting Tuesday at 7:00 am. .
The EOC is organizing flights, boats and a variety of evacuation methods. Residents will be evacuated to Red Lake initially and then marshalled to communities from there. Self-evacuees must also register in order to be put on the manifest and be supported.
Until Monday afternoon, evacuation was only recommended for elders, pregnant women, and anyone with respiratory issues.
The full evacuation will include thousands of residents.
(Originally published at 9:53 a.m. CDT July 8, 2019)
For the second time in just over a month a village in Northwest Ontario is being evacuated due to smoke from wildfires.
Pikangikum First Nation, with a population of several thousand, is in a remote area 87 k (54 miles) north of Red Lake with no road access except in the winter. Around the first of June residents vulnerable to smoke, including elders, pregnant women, and anyone with respiratory issues were flown out. The military landed a C-130 on the nearby 3,700-foot dirt runway north of the village to evacuate about 300 people.
Map showing wildfires in northwest Ontario detected by a satellite as late as 3:32 a.m. CDT July 8, 2019.
With some of the residents having been back home for only a few weeks another fire, just 5 kilometers (3 miles) west of the community is forcing a repeat of the same scenario. For now, a lake separates the villagers from the fire, but not from the smoke. Officials are discouraging residents from self-evacuating by boat, saying it is not safe to do so.
The fire threatening Pikangikum is named Red Lake 39 and so far has burned over 40,000 hectares (99,000 acres). The fire is being managed by an incident management team as part of a larger cluster of fires. The team is looking for aerial ignition opportunities to tie the fire into natural boundaries. Sprinklers are being set up to protect structures.
That fire and several others in the area were very active Sunday and Sunday night, all of them running about 11 kilometers (7 miles) to the northeast (the red areas on the map above).
The Red Lake 23 Fire south of the community of Keewaywin has burned 71,993 (178,000 acres).
The Red Lake 40 Fire near Nungesser Lake has been mapped at 23,737 hectares (59,000 acres). It is 37 k (23 miles) northeast of Red Lake.
25 years ago 14 firefighters were killed on the South Canyon Fire in Colorado
Screengrab from the video below by Outside Adventure Media.
Today, July 6, is the 25th anniversary of the fatalities on the South Canyon Fire near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. In 1994, 14 firefighters were overrun by the fire on Storm King Mountain.
A trail leads to the spots where each of them were found. Granite markers, 14 of them, have the firefighters’ names and their years of birth — and death.
People who complete the strenuous hike to the 14 sites often leave something that to them, and perhaps to the deceased, had a special meaning.
During several trips to the mountain over the last couple of years Barry Stevenson of Outside Adventure Media shot video of the memorial sites. There is no narration or musical sound track. You will hear only the sounds of nature — birds, insects, and an occasional breeze.
The Storm King Mountain Memorial Trail honors the 14 hotshots, smoke jumpers, and helitack personnel who perished in the fire:
Kathi Beck, Tami Bickett, Scott Blecha, Levi Brinkley, Robert Browning, Doug Dunbar, Terri Hagen, Bonnie Holtby, Rob Johnson, Jon Kelso, Don Mackey, Roger Roth, Jim Thrash, and Richard Tyler.
At least four fires are burning on the island of Evia
3-D map of two wildfires on the Greek Island of Evia. Data via Copernicus.
(UPDATED at 3:43 p.m. MDT July 5, 2019)
Multiple wildfires are burning on the Greek island of Evia, requiring the evacuation of Makrichori, Neochori, Dafni, Gavalas, and Lofiskos. (See the map above)
Two additional fires were reported late Thursday night, officials said, and another Friday afternoon, to bring the total to four.
According to the Fire Service, resources assigned to the fires include 330 personnel with 100 vehicles, 8 water-dropping airplanes, and40 helicopters.
Officials said a 64-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of starting the first fire by using a naked flame to burn dried weeds near his house. The man will appear before a prosecutor in court Friday.
The fires are burning approximately 55 k (34 miles) north-northeast of Athens.
The red dots represent heat on the Greek island of Evia detected by a satellite, July 5, 2019.
In July, 2018 a 1,276-Ha (3,153-acre) fire burned from Kallitechnoulopis, Greece through Neos Voutzas and Rafina, reaching Mati where it finally stopped at the coast.The fire killed at least 91 people and destroyed 1,220 structures.
Dense smoke advisory for the Kenai Peninsula and areas east of Anchorage, Alaska expiring at 1 p.m. AKDT July 4, 2019, (or 4 p.m. CDT).
A Dense Smoke Advisory has been issued for the Kenai Peninsula and areas west of Anchorage, Alaska for dense smoke from the Swan Lake Fire that could reduce visibility to one-quarter mile or less.
Red Flag Warnings have been issued for areas in Western Colorado and Eastern Utah until 9 p.m. CDT Thursday. Forecasters expect 10 to 20 mph southwest winds gusting to 35, and relative humidity of 9 to 14 percent.
Red Flag Warnings July 4, 2019.Wildfire smoke map updated at 12:33 CDT July 4, 2019.
(Red Flag Warnings can be modified throughout the day as NWS offices around the country update and revise their weather forecasts.)
