Drought conditions in the Northeastern United States (July 28th)

 

While not nearly as extreme as drought conditions in portions of the Southwestern and Western United States, drought conditions are worsening in the Northeastern United States. As you know, an increase in drought conditions means an increase in wildfire danger, I share first the map for May 31st for the Northeastern United States from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Note the abnormally dry and moderate dry conditions in New England with a portion of western New York, and smaller sections of southern New Jersey and West Virginia being abnormally dry. I can attest to at least a more normal rainfall in my little corner of Northwest New Jersey.

Bring June on and by the end of June I can also attest that the rain faucet in my little corner of Northwest New Jersey ceased to barely a trickle. As you can see, the July 5th map of the Northeast from the U.S Drought Monitor shows that more of New Jersey, including portions of Northwest New Jersey were abnormally dry. Meanwhile abnormally conditions spread in western New York. Finally abnormally dry and moderate conditions spread in New England

As most of you know we experienced a string of hot and humid weather with many areas of New Jersey receiving little or no rainfall through July 26th. I was not surprised to see that portions of Northwestern New Jersey are no in moderate drought. As for what next week's maps have in store for my portion of New Jersey, time will tell. I can say that I saw some more significant rainfall this week but am uncertain what the rest of moderate drought stricken areas of New Jersey received. Time will tell. In the meantime, I am trying to be both wildfire aware and do my part to reduce the increased wildfire risk from recent drought conditions.  I no longer smoke and have little if any reason to park on a pile of leaves, and am not aware that my car is dragging a muffler or the like. I am also trying to conserve water as I can and judiciously water a tree and a shrub that are especially stressed after a week of hot weather with almost not rain through July 26th. I am hoping that the rain I got on July 27th and 28th does not leave me feeling cocky and letting my guard down. As I am sure is the case in other states in the Northeast affected by worsening drought conditions, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has imposed outdoor fire restrictions. I am also aware that we in the Northeast are not facing the very extreme years long drought conditions in portions of the Southwestern and Western United States.

2022 wild fire season: forest fires in Newfoundland (July 27)

I am writing to follow-up on my July 25th post where I referenced some forest fires that are still currently burning in Newfoundland and the use of CL-415 water bombers on some of the wildfires. 

According to this July 27th tweet from the Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture NL, the Bay D'Espoir Highway which is the only road in and out of the  Cannaigre Peninsula in Newfoundland. The highway was reopened with some intermittent closures during daylight hours yesterday. So it would seem that folk on the Cannaigre Peninsula, residents and visitors, were able to get off of the peninsula by the highway. 

I obtained fire information from the Active Forest Fires page (appears to be updated daily) of the Newfoundland Labrador Department of Fisheries Forestry and Agriculture, they also have a twitter account which may be found here. The other currently burning 2022 forest fires listed on the Active Forest Fires page are, fires that are under control or partially contained are noted:

• Fire 135, Conway Lake reported on July 23, 0.4 hectares (under control)
• Fire 136 Paradise Lake reported on July 24 , 826 hectares
• Fire 137 Triton Brook/Deer Pond reported on July 24, 19.0 hectares
• Fire 138 Newton Lake reported on July 24, 59 hectares (50% contained)
• Fire 139 Bay d'Espoir Highway reported on July 24, 751 hectares
• Fire 140 Newton Lake West reported on July 25, 3.5 hectares (40% contained)

For more information read the CBC's July 27th report on these forest fires, I was interested that the CBC reported on the status of medical care on the peninsula:

The fire has also cut people off from medical care at the hospital in Grand Falls-Windsor. In an email, Central Health says the air ambulance was used once during the highway closure but wouldn't say how many patients were flown out of the area because a spokesperson said they 'can't speak to any details around patients.'

There is currently no doctor at the peninsula's heath centre due to staffing shortages. In a posting to its website, Central Health said the emergency room is closed until Thursday at 8 a.m. NT. The health authority had offered a virtual emergency room during the road closure.

CL-415 Water Bombers in Newfoundland and Labrador Canada

One of my areas of interest is learning more about Canada. Recently because of an acquaintance whose family is traveling in a remote section of Newfoundland, I began exploring this province on Google Earth. I find this an interesting exercise while knowing that I am limited by not being there in person. Anyway, when I heard that the travelers are in a remote area of Newfoundland with only one road into the village where they are staying, I got curious. Last night I found that this road was closed because of a wildfire or forest fire.

It did not take me long to learn that the wildfire or forest fire that peaked my interest is the Bay d'Espoir Highway Fire. According to a report from the CBC (Monday, July 25th) the Bay d'Espoir Highway (Route 360) is the only road to access the Cannaigre Peninsula in Newfoundland. (read this July 24th CBC article for more information about the road closure). Officials expect the highway to be closed through at least Monday evening. As I write this, the Bay d'Espoir Highway Fire (Fire #139) has burned 540 hectares or 1,334.37 acres and is not contained. I obtained fire information from the Active Forest Fires page (appears to be updated daily) of the Newfoundland Labrador Department of Fisheries Forestry and Agriculture, they also have a twitter account which may be found here. The other current 2022 forest fires listed on the Active Forest Fires page are:

• Fire 135, Conway Lake reported on July 23, 1.4 hectares
• Fire 136 Paradise Lake reported on July 24 , 610 hectares
• Fire 137 Triton Brook/Deer Pond reported on July 24, 29.7 hectares
• Fire 138 Newton Lake reported on July 24, estimated size to be determined
• Fire 139 Bay d'Espoir Highway reported on July 24, 510 hectares
• Fire 140 Newton Lake West reported on July 25, estimated size to be determined

The twitter link from the Newfoundland Labrador Dept of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture includes a map. However, I am not knowledgeable enough about the geography to include a correct image from Google Earth, sorry about that. But you will get an idea of where some of the forest fires are in relation to each other.

Wind and smoke conditions have increased on the Baie D’Espoir Highway (Route 360). The route will remain closed, and a further update will be provided in 2-3 hours. #GovNL @TI_GovNL @JPS_GovNL @VOCMOpenline @GovNL @EddieSheerr pic.twitter.com/GCq6na3Zb7

— Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture NL (@FFA_GovNL) July 25, 2022

When I read in the Active Forest Fires page about the use of water bombing aircraft to work this forest fire, I wanted to see if I could find some videos of Newfoundland Labrador's water bombing aircraft on YouTube to share with you. I do not know if the Province contracts for these aircraft or if they own the aircraft outright. I did find some short videos that I will share with you. The first three short videos are of Canadair CL-415 water bombers working a small forest fire that burned on or about July 17th in Newfoundland. 

The first video is a YouTube short from Colin Lane, there does not seem to be any embed code, but here is a direct link to the video on YouTube.

Here are two more short videos, both under one minute, of  a Newfoundland Labrador CL-415 working the July 17th forest fire. Both videos are from the Newfoundland First Responders.

Direct link to video from Newfoundland First Responders on Youtube

Direct link to video from Newfoundland First Responders on Youtube

The final video, again of a Newfoundland Labradour CL-415 ,was shot in 2020. You will see a CL-415 landing at Gandor International Airport.

Direct link to video from Kyle Jackman

2022 wildfire season: NWS Incident Meteorologist (IMET) deployments (July 15 to July 21

 It has been a few weeks since I wrote about NWS Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) deployments. These specially trained NWS Meteorologists are deployed to wildfires for up to two weeks, sometimes there is a trainee assigned to the fire working with an experienced IMET. Some of the larger wildfires may have two or more IMETs. They have weather forecasting equipment and provide good service aimed at keeping the wildland firefighters and the ground and in the air safe.

I am listing the IMET deployments since July 15th, I obtained deployment information from the NWS IMET Operations Twitter account with a link to that Twitter account for each deployment. Where available, I include a link on Inciweb for each wildfire. Acreage burned, if available is from Inciweb as of the July 22nd when I am writing this post,

July 15th

• NWS Bay Area IMET deployed to the Washburn Fire (4,856 acres burned) located near Wawona, California
• NWS Alaska IMET deployed to the Bean Complex (193,766 acres burned) 100 miles west of Fairbanks, Alaska

July 16th to 17th, no deployments

July 18th: NWS Billings IMET deployed to the Moose Fire (23,620 acres burned) located near Salmon, Idaho.

July 19th

• NWS NOC IMET trainee deployed to the Moose Fire (23,620 acres burned) located near Salmon, Idaho.
• NWS Melbourne IMET deployed to the Calf Canyon Fire (341,735 acres burned) located near Las Vegas, Nevada

July 20th, no deployments

July 21st

• NWS Jackson MS IMET deployed to 2022 Initial Attack to support the Texas Forest Service at College Station, Texas.
• NWS Southern IMET deployed to the Chalk Mountain Fire  (6,705 acres burned) located near Linden, Texas.

IMETs save lives.

Tanker crash in Portugal and Helicopter crash in New Mexico

It is with great sadness that I am writing two separate crashes of aircraft while fighting wildfires. Before I get to the specifics of the crashes, I want to give a shout out to all pilots and crews of aircraft used in wildland firefighting. I am quite aware that what you do comes with a degree of risk. You are flying fires, or flying a lead plane or observation aircraft in order to work with the crews on the ground. Together you are working to keep us as safe as possible from wildfires. There is rarely a day that I don't pause and remember all of you who are in the air working a wildfire in some way, and I pause and say a short prayer. Like crews on the ground, you may be away from your loved ones for days or weeks at a time. 

Both crashes were reported by Bill Gabbert on Fire Aviation.

On Friday June 15th, an Air Tractor 802AF Fire Boss (Titan Aerial Firefighting) piloted by André Serra crashed while workin a wildfire in northwest Portugal. Mr Serra died died in the crash, my you rest in peace and always fly in favorable winds. My deepest condolences and prayers go out to Mr. Serra's family, friends, colleagues and all who loved him. For more information see Bill's June 16th post. 

A Bernalillo County (NewMexico) Sheriff Department Bell UH-1H Huey Helicopter crashed on July 16th after assisting with ground crews on the East Mesa Fire in New Mexico. Bill Gabbert reported on the crash in a July 17th post. There were four people on the helicopter when it crashed. On July 18th, Bill identified the four dead crew on the helicopter, three are from the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department and one is a fire rescue speicalist with the Bernalillo County Fire Department:

• Lt. Fred Beers
• Deputy Michael Levison
• Undersheriff Larry Koren
• Bernalillo County Fire Rescue Specialist Matthew King

I offer my condolences to the families, colleagues, friends and all who loved Lt. Beers, Deputy Levison, Undersheriff Koren and Fire Rescue Specialist King. May you rest in peace and fly in favorable winds.

Abnormally dry in Northern New Jersey

 

This is the second week that the U.S. Drought Monitor has shown abnormally dry conditions in portions of Northern and Southern New Jersey. I know that in my corner of Northwest New Jersey we have had about one-half inch of rain since June 24th. Now I want to say up front that what there is no comparison to the extreme drought that many areas in the Western United States are experiencing. Still, there are things that we in New Jersey must consider until such time as we get some decent rainfall. To that end the New Jersey Forest Fire Service issued stage 2 fire restrictions for Northern New Jersey (Division A) effective June 14th.

As of 8 a.m. Thursday, July 14, campfire and agricultural burning restrictions will go in effect for the following counties:

Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Warren, Hopewell Township in Mercer County, Union, Hunterdon, Middlesex (north of Raritan River) pic.twitter.com/yyV00sdPTX

— New Jersey Forest Fire Service (@njdepforestfire) July 13, 2022

In addition to the noted restrictions on campfires and agricultural burning, it is good idea to be careful with cigarette butts. I don't care if you smoke, but please be careful where and how you dispose of your cigarette butt. In addition, even though it is summer and not fall, it is a good idea not to park your car over dried leaves and needles and to be careful that there are not metal parts dragging under your vehicle.

Finally, I want to conclude this post by embedding a video from CBS New York (dated July 15th) where they had a nice three-minute report about the fire danger in Northern New Jersey. I liked that they did this report to educate us in New Jersey about the impact of our abnormally dry conditions on increased fire danger.

Direct link to video on YouTube from CBS New York

 

NJ Forest Fire Service and other Eastern States out of State assignments

It is the time of year where the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and other state firefighting agencies have answered the call to help work wildfires in other parts of the country.  Over the years that I have been writing this blog, I can say that I am more aware of what I will call mutual aid, whether it be structure fires or wildland fires, when the word goes out that a local fire company or an agency responsible for a wildland fire needs additional resources, the call is answered by those who are available to send people and equipment.

Today I focus on out of state deployments of crews and equipment from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and other eastern area states. I knew earlier this week that two New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) engines and five NJFFS firefighters were deployed to Texas to assist the Texas A&M Forest Service, one type 6 and one type 4 engine were deployed the weekend of July 9th. For more information see this July 11th Tweet from the NJ Forest Fire Service. In going through the July 15th Resource Summary below I saw a third engine deployed in June to Wyoming.

Knowing that New Jersey had deployed engines and firefighters to Texas, I knew that other state firefighting agencies in the eastern area had deployed crews and equipment. I focus on the eastern area because that is where I live. I am fairly certain that as resources allow, states in other parts of the United States are deploying their crews and equipment out of state. 

I went to the Eastern Area Coordination Center, then I go to intelligence listed under predictive services listing of EACC products, many of which are updated daily during fire season. I selected resource summary, the one that I am looking at is dated July 15th (the date that I am posting). I am summarizing the deployments by type and by state:

• 3 fire crews, the Midewin International Hotshots and two Interagency Crews from the Missouri/Iowa Dispatch Center. The hotshots are deployed to Utah and the Interagency Crews are deployed to Alaska and Colorado.
• One module from Wisconsin is deployed to Texas (I need to check on what is meant by a module, it may refer to a smaller fire crew with less than 20 people.)
• Engines (with firefighters), the following states have one or more engines deployed outside the eastern region (to Wyoming, Colorado, California, Nevada, Texas): from Michigan (4), Vermont (1), Minnesota (8), New Jersey (3), Iowa (2), Wisconsin (7), Indiana (1), Illinois (1), West Virginia (2),  Maine (1), New Hampshire (1), and Ohio (1) for a total of 32 engines. 

I want to thank all the crews who are currently deployed outside their home states to support wildland firefighting operations in other parts of the United States. You are away from your homes and families doing good work to keep us safe from wildfires. 

2022 wildfire season: Washburn Fire (Yosemite) update #2

I continue to monitor the Washburn Fire because of my interest in the Giant Sequoias, an interest that I am sure are shared by many of you. As I write this, Inciweb is reporting that the fire has burned 3,772 acres and it appears that there is some progress in containment, although that can always change. I continue to see coverage of the Washburn Fire in national media such as CNN. I turn to Bill Gabbert's Wildfire Today when I am interested in a particular fire, I was not disappointed. In a July 12th article, updated early on July 13th he reports that the fire is likely human caused: 

Yosemite Superintendent Cicely Muldoon said the fire was caused by humans.

“As you all know there was no lightning on that day so it is a human start,” Muldoon said Monday night. “It’s under investigation. That’s all I can say about that right now. We’re looking at that really hard.”

More important for my purposes, Bill reported on the current status of the Giant Sequoias in the Mariposa Grove in Yosemite: 

Approximately 340 acres of the blaze is within the Mariposa grove of giant sequoias, some of which are close to 3,000 years old. The more than 500 mature giant sequoias are adjacent to heavy fuels and have so far avoided serious damage from the fire, the National Park Service reported Tuesday.

Of course conditions in the world of wildland fires can change. If there is a change in threats to the Giant Sequoias, I will let y'all know.

 

 

2022 NJ Wildfire Season: Maple Branch Fire (Wharton State Forest)

July 13th, 9:15 AM

The Maple Branch Fire is 100% contained at 98 acres, no structures were damaged. See this tweet from the NJ Forest Fire Service for more information and some photos.

July 12th, 6 PM

This just in. Another wildfire, the Maple Branch Fire, in Wharton State Forest has burned 40 acres. Seven structures are threatened. I saw an article about the fire on New Jersey Advance Media a short time ago, the article may be found here.

WILDFIRE UPDATE: Wharton State Forest – Maple Branch Fire – Washington Township @njdepforestfire is battling a wildfire in Wharton State Forest which has reached 40 acres in size and is 15% contained.

Crews have begun a backfiring operation to aide in containment. pic.twitter.com/miT0zUbfTu

— New Jersey Forest Fire Service (@njdepforestfire) July 12, 2022

2022 wildfire season: Washburn Fire (Yosemite) update #1

 

I suspect that some of you already know about the Washburn Fire from your local media, national media, and or social media. As I write this, the Washburn Fire has burned 2,340 acres in Yosemite National Park and is 0 percent contained. I liked the video report from CBS News that I have embedded here, but I never know how long the embed code will work. They report that up to five percent of all Giant Sequoias in the State of California may have been burned in recent wildfires, an estimated 75,000 Giant Sequoias. I am sharing the latest update, July 11th, on the Washburn fire from Twitter. Inciweb has a page for the Washburn Fire, but I have been unable to access Inciweb for much of the day.

#WashburnFire Daily Update for July 11, 2022. Currently 2,340 acres, 0% contained with 545 firefighters assigned to the fire.@YosemiteNPS pic.twitter.com/BPdf1fQ9nC

— Yosemite Fire and Aviation Management (@YosemiteFire) July 11, 2022

I am writing this post because I know that the Washburn Fire could threaten the Giant Sequoias in the Mariposa Grove section of Yosemite. Like many of you, I love trees and thought I have never seen the Giant Sequoias, I am awed by these magnificent old trees. Here is a nice July 11th article from New York Times article (paywall hopefully removed through July 21st) on the threat to the Giant Sequoias from the Washburn Fire and efforts being made to save them: "Emergency responders are “proactively protecting” the giant trees by removing fuels such as dead trees and using sprinkler systems to increase humidity on the ground, the Yosemite fire management office said on Sunday. Firefighters were also using bulldozers to clear vegetation that was feeding the wildfire, The Associated Press reported." Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today has done a great job reporting on the Washburn Fire, including his wonderful mapping (with the location of the Gian Sequoia Groves in relation to the fire) that may be found here. You might also want to check out KPIX, CBS in San Fransico, one of the local media outlets reporting on the Washburn Fire.

I write this out of love and respect for our precious Giant Sequoias that are again threatened by wildfires and I want you to know that I am paying attention and I care. I want to thank all the wildland firefighters on the ground, in the air, along with park officials working to keep the Giant Sequoias safe for all of your hard work to protect our natural resources and also to protect the public from the Washburn Fire. On my next trip to the west coast, when ever that is, I hope to make time to see the Giant Sequoias in person while I still can.

Reflections on fighting smaller wildfires

For not particular reason I found myself reflecting on all the smaller wildfres that wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air fight. Depending on where the fire is and what agency has responsibility for fighting this fire there may or may not air resources available. 

I can not even begin to dive deep and find out all the smaller wildfires in the United States that are put out within a couple of hours of crews responding to the fire.  In many areas, the term initial attack is used when crews go to work immediately to try to quickly contain the fire. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group defines initial attack as "an aggressive action to put the fire out by the first resources to arrive, consistent with firefighter and public safety and values to be protected." A few years ago I saw a post from a wildland firefighter, I don't remember who or where, saying something to the effect that if initial attack is successful then the public will never know about this fire. That is, it may not reported in local or social media. Of course, nearby residents and business may know about such a fire.

My line of thought is that a small wildfire requires ground and in some cases aerial resources, albeit with lesser person power than a larger fire, to quickly contain the fire. the crews are there working the smallest fire to try to keep it small and containable within a couple of hours. They do this to keep us safe. 

I have sometimes written after a larger wildfire to thank the crews for containing the fire, but it has been quite a while, if ever that I have written to thank wildland firefighters working a small fire. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart.

2022 NJ wildfire season: Meadow Road Fire (Middlesex County)

As I was making my rounds yesterday afteroon on the internet to see wildfire and related news in New Jersey, I learned about the Meadow Road wildfire that was burning in Edison (Middlesex County), NJ. The fire which was reported early in the afternoon of July 5th was reported to be 100 percent contained at about 6 PM on July 5th, 59 acres were burned. As I understand it, no structures were burned and there were no injuries. New Jersey News 12 reported on this fire on July 5th here.

I want to thank the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and mutual aid responders for working this fire and containing the fire a few hours after the fire was reported. I have learned over the years that what might start out a smaller or moderate sized fire can sometimes turn into a larger fire that could threaten homes, businesses, and cause injuries to firefighters and civilians. That did not happen here.

WILDFIRE UPDATE: Meadow Road, Edison, Middlesex County

At 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has achieved 100 percent containment of a 59-acre wildfire off Meadow Road in Edison. pic.twitter.com/OmfpoIl3dU

— New Jersey Forest Fire Service (@njdepforestfire) July 5, 2022

Happy Fourth of July (2022)

 

Obtained on July 4, 2022 from US National Weather Service IMET on Facebook

On this July 4th, the final day of a long weekend here in the United States and perhaps the start of a vacation for some of you, I wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy Fourth of July. For many of you, as is happening in my own neighborhood, people have been setting off private fireworks displays. If you are setting off private fireworks, I am sure that you are following local laws or any restrictions because of high fire danger. I like these tips in the graphic that I got from the US National Weather Service IMET on Facebook with suggestions for setting off fireworks safely so I thought I'd share it here.

Me, I either go to a public show or watch something on TV. This weekend, as I am still recuperating from an illness, I will be watching festivities and fireworks on TV later. 

2021 wildfire season: Wyoming Hotshots 2021 season

On a day when I am slightly under the weather, I am sharing this video from the Wyoming Hotshots summarizing their 2021 season.

Direct link to video on YouTube