Since yesterday, 274 new fires were reported nationwide, a notable increase in initial attack from the past days. Currently, firefighters are working to suppress and contain 35 large fires across the country. Evacuations are in place on fires in three geographic areas. So far this year, 37,209 fires have burned more than 3.3 million acres across the United States.
Today is the final day of the National Wildland Fire Week of Remembrance, a time to honor those who have lost their lives in the line of duty while reflecting on lessons learned from serious incidents. Throughout the week, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group is highlighting incidents from the 2016 fire season. We invite everyone to follow along and learn more.
There are two active fuels and fire behavior advisories, covering the West Slope, Front Range, and southeast of Colorado, Southern Wyoming, Eastern Nevada, Utah, and the Arizona Strip. Those living in or traveling to these areas, including firefighters and support personnel, should be aware of the critically dry fuels conditions and potential for rapidly changing fire conditions.
As this summer has already seen numerous fires consume thousands of acres, it is important to remember that early suppression of new fire starts is still a crucial objective. The vast majority of wildfires are contained within 24 hours of their discovery, also known as the initial attack stage; generally, these fires do not get large enough to be listed on the incident management summary report. Prepositioning firefighters and firefighting resources strategically for initial attack, especially in areas where predictive services have identified a potential for large fire growth, is essential during the busiest part of the fire year and must be balanced with the need for resources to fight large fires.
Weather
Isolated to locally scattered mixed wet and dry thunderstorms will develop across far northeast California and eastern Oregon into the northern and eastern Great Basin and much of the Rockies. With minimum relative humidity falling to 7-20% across much of the Intermountain West, several new ignitions are likely. New and existing fires may also be fanned by outflow wind gusts near 50 mph. Isolated dry thunderstorms may redevelop after midnight in northern Utah and northwest Colorado. Isolated mainly wet thunderstorms will develop in the central and southern High Plains. Hot temperatures will continue for one more day in the Carolinas, with isolated showers and thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop in much of the Mid-Atlantic bringing relief from last week’s heat, while scattered showers and thunderstorms develop along a cold front in the northern Plains. Above normal temperatures are expected in Alaska, with well above normal temperatures for the North Slope which will approach 80°F. Super Typhoon Bavi will gradually move west of the Northern Mariana Islands, with winds and heavy rainfall slowly diminishing.
Daily statistics
Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk
Approximately three miles west of Darwin Ranch, near upper Gros Ventre Falls in the Gros Ventre Wilderness on the Jackson Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest (34 Miles NW of Cora, WY)
