Since yesterday, 111 new fires were reported nationwide. Currently, firefighters are working to suppress and contain 40 large fires across the country. The Aspen Acres Fire in Colorado grew by 24,000 acres yesterday, while the Ferris Fire in Colorado and the Babylon Fire in Utah also exhibited extreme fire behavior. So far this year, 36,709 fires have burned more than 3.2 million acres across the United States.
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.
Today is Day 5 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.
We wish you a happy Fourth of July and American Semiquincentennial today. Unsurprisingly, every year wildfires are ignited by fireworks, especially during years like this, which find critically dry vegetation and extreme heat widespread across the country. Fireworks have no place on public lands, and even on your own property, must be handled with serious care. Do not accidentally cause the fire that endangers your community! Learn more about firework safety here: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Seasonal-fire-causes/Fireworks
Weather
A warming trend continues across the West with temperatures rising several degrees above normal. Breezy west winds 12-25 mph with gusts 25-40 mph amid relative humidity of 10-20% will develop through the Cascade gaps, across the Columbia Basin, and Okanogan Valley creating elevated to locally critical conditions. Winds will subside today in the Greater Four Corners, but very dry conditions will persist with minimum relative humidity of 3-12% and very poor overnight recovery below 30%. Isolated mixed wet and dry thunderstorms will develop along the Front Range in the afternoon, with several new ignitions possible along with strong outflow winds. Hot, record-setting temperatures will persist in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast amid low relative humidity of 25-35%, with scattered showers and thunderstorms moving into the Mid-Atlantic overnight bringing some relief. Showers and thunderstorms will continue in the Midwest, with scattered thunderstorms also expected in Florida. Near normal temperatures are expected in Alaska today as scattered showers develop in south-central Alaska, while moderate trade winds persist in Hawai’i with a decrease in showers.
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)
