About Fire Wx Outlooks from NWS Storm Prediction Center (1 of 3)

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has a few products, the one of interest to me today is their Fire Weather Outlooks  . The SPC issues fire weather outlooks for current day 1 Fire Weather Outlook (today), current day 2 Fire Weather Outlook (outlook for tomorrow) and 3 to 8 day outlooks. Each of these outlooks are available from the Fire Weather Outlooks page.

You don’t have to go far to find more information on what is in the SPC Fire Weather Outlooks, there is a link called “Product Info” on the main page. You might want to spend a little time reading the SPC’s description of their Fire Weather Outlooks, it is short and I found it easy to understand. I’ll highlight a couple of things that I am interested in.

The Fire Weather Outlooks issued by the SPC “consists of a categorical forecast that graphically depicts fire weather risk areas across the continental United States, along with a text narrative. Through various labels and colors on the graphic, the five types of Fire Weather Outlook risk areas are:

• ELEVATED (orange) - Elevated risk from wind and relative humidity
• CRITICAL (red) - Critical risk from wind and relative humidity
• EXTREME (magenta) - Extremely Critical risk from wind and relative humidity
• ISODRYT (brown) - Elevated risk from dry thunderstorms
• SCTDRYT (red) - Critical risk from dry thunderstorms” (obtained on March 30, 2016 from http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/about.html#FireWx)

The product information document describes the criteria used for critical and extremely critical areas as well as a short description of their different outlooks. I’ll leave it to you read the document, a downloadable version may be found for pdf and ms-word. I am not including the ms-word link because it may download automatically to your computer, I will leave it to you download that file if you want it.

Upcoming on SPC Fire Weather Outlooks

Monday April 4, 2016: A video of Storm Prediction Center Mesoscale Assistant/Fire Weather Forecaster Ariel Cohen. Mr. Cohen describes the SPC fire weather forecast process for a meteorology class at the University of Oklahoma.

Wednesday April 6, 2016: A little more from the SPC on fire weather outlooks are and are not.

Recent wildfire activity in NJ - March 29th to 31st

I'd like to thank my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page who reported on four recent wildfires in New Jersey, they also report on wildfire activity on the Section B10 twitter page. This may not be an all inclusive list, but it does provide an indication that spring fire season is upon us here in New Jersey. Information on the last update is from the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page and is current as I write this. Depending on when you access this page, the information you find on the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page may be different.

March 29th: Scotch Plains, Union County NJ. Watchung Mountain Reservation, NJFFS Division A, Section A7, last reported size was five acres. Under control. Last updated on March 31st at 12:15 PM

March 30th
Port Republic, Garden State Parkway near exit 48 and 50 in Ocean County NJ, 50 acre marsh fire reported on March 30th in NJFFS Division C (Section C7). Air tankers Charlie 1 and Bravo 1 and Delta 7 (Huey with a bucket) worked the fire. There was a partial closure of the Garden State Parkway which has since reopened. IC reports 50 acres contained. Youtube video from Garden State Parkway, Report with video and photos from the Press of Atlantic City, and more photos from1stRespondernews. Last updated on March 30th at 2:59 PM

Mt Kipp Wildfire., Lebanon Twshp, Hunterdon County NJ, off of Rte 31. A large woods fire was reported on March 30th where structure protection was in place early on. The fire was reported to be contained at 61 acres. Last updated on March 31st at 12:15 PM. Article with photos and videofrom NJ.com

March 31st 
Tinton Falls, Shafto Road, near the Garden State Parkway, Division B, Section B8. This was according to the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page, "an aggressive, wind drive fire. Air tanker Bravo 1 knocked most of the head down with 5 excellent drops. No structures were threatened. Plow lines were made then firing off the line. U/C at 3 acres." Updated at 12:29 on March 31st.

Diamond Rd., near Cedar Swamp Rd in Jackson Twsp, Ocean County NJ. 10 acre fire reported earlier this afternoon is now contained. Bravo 1 made a drop and helped trucks get to the fire.  Updated at 6:50 PM on March 31st.

Revised on March 31 at 8:50 PM.

Elevated Fire Risk in New Jersey: March 30th

As some of you know I have been spending time learning more about fire weather and fire weather forecasts. As I read and learn, I find myself appreciating that forecasting fire weather is not always simple. As I am neither a meteorologist or a wildland firefighter there is only so much that I can learn in my reading and studying. However, I'd like to think that knowledge is a good thing, and that learning the language of fire weather and fire weather forecasting can only help me. My learning process is still ongoing and as appropriate I'll try to share with you in later posts about some of the things that I have been learning. But the time to do this is not today. But I do want to offer my kudos and thanks to all who are involved in fire weather forecasting both in the United States and internationally, as well as kudos and thanks to all of you who are wildland firefighters who must know how weather will affect your weather.

In the meantime and speaking of fire weather, the NWS at Mount Holly, NJ issued an updated special weather statement at 10:31 AM this morning for an elevated fire risk in their forecast area (all but NE NJ, Delaware, southeastern PA, and the eastern shore of MD):

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1031 AM EDT WED MAR 30 2016

DEZ001>003-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012-013-015>023-
027-PAZ054-055-060>062-070-071-101>106-302300-
NEW CASTLE-KENT-INLAND SUSSEX-CECIL-KENT MD-QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT-
CAROLINE-SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-
WESTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-
NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-
SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-CARBON-MONROE-BERKS-LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTON-
DELAWARE-PHILADELPHIA-WESTERN CHESTER-EASTERN CHESTER-
WESTERN MONTGOMERY-EASTERN MONTGOMERY-UPPER BUCKS-LOWER BUCKS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WILMINGTON...DOVER...GEORGETOWN...
ELKTON...CHESTERTOWN...CENTREVILLE...EASTON...DENTON...NEWTON...
WASHINGTON...MORRISTOWN...FLEMINGTON...SOMERVILLE...
NEW BRUNSWICK...FREEHOLD...TRENTON...PENNSVILLE...GLASSBORO...
CAMDEN...CHERRY HILL...MOORESTOWN...MOUNT HOLLY...JACKSON...
MILLVILLE...HAMMONTON...CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE...
WHARTON STATE FOREST...JIM THORPE...STROUDSBURG...READING...
ALLENTOWN...BETHLEHEM...MEDIA...PHILADELPHIA...HONEY BROOK...
OXFORD...WEST CHESTER...KENNETT SQUARE...COLLEGEVILLE...
POTTSTOWN...NORRISTOWN...LANSDALE...CHALFONT...PERKASIE...
MORRISVILLE...DOYLESTOWN
1031 AM EDT WED MAR 30 2016

...AN ELEVATED RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF FIRES LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...

GUSTY WINDS AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL LEAD TO AN ELEVATED RISK FOR
THE SPREAD OF FIRES FROM ABOUT 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
SUNSET ACROSS DELAWARE, EASTERN MARYLAND, EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
AND MUCH OF NEW JERSEY. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INITIALLY BE EARLY IN
THE AFTERNOON BUT THEN INCREASE TO 10-15 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 20
MPH LATE IN THE DAY. MEANWHILE...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL
LOWER TO BETWEEN 15 AND 25 PERCENT.

GIVEN THE EXPECTED WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LOW FUEL MOISTURE....
ANY FIRES THAT OCCUR COULD SPREAD QUICKLY AND BE DIFFICULT TO
CONTAIN. PLEASE VISIT YOUR STATE FORESTRY OR ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WILDFIRE
DANGER...BURN RESTRICTIONS...WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION.

As I was online getting ready to write this article, I noticed that the NWS at New York, NY issued an updated special weather statement at 11:01 AM this morning for an elevated fire risk in NE NJ:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
1105 AM EDT WED MAR 30 2016

NJZ002-004-006-103>108-302200-
WESTERN PASSAIC-EASTERN PASSAIC-HUDSON-WESTERN BERGEN-
EASTERN BERGEN-WESTERN ESSEX-EASTERN ESSEX-WESTERN UNION-
EASTERN UNION-
1105 AM EDT WED MAR 30 2016

SUSTAINED WINDS FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO SOUTH WILL INCREASE TO
10 TO 15 MPH WITH SOME GUSTS 20 TO 25 MPH POSSIBLE DURING THE MID
AND LATE AFTERNOON HOURS TODAY. AT THE SAME TIME...RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TO AVERAGE 25 TO 30 PERCENT. THESE
CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH SUFFICIENTLY DRY FINE FUELS WILL PROMOTE
AN ELEVATED RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF BRUSH OR GRASS FIRES DURING
THIS PERIOD.

Stay safe everyone! And thanks to the wildland firefighters, mutual aid and everyone else working to keep us safe from wildfires today and everyday.

In New Jersey our wildland firefighters will be added by contract aircraft (thanks to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page for sharing the 2016 Contract Aviation Schedule)

State operated type 2 Huey UH-1H (type 2) helicopter: Division A -- Aeroflex (Delta 6) from March 22 through May 10 (estimated), as needed based on fire danger

35 day exclusive use SEAT Contract (March 30 through May 3):

Division B -- R.J.  Miller (Bravo 1), Air Tractor AT-802, 800 gallons

Division C -- Downstown (Charlie 1) Air Tractor AT-602, 600 gallons

Mega Fires (from 60 MInutes)

As you may know, I have been studying and reading up on fire weather. I was recently chatting with a knowledgeable friend about my study of fire weather who made a comment about mega fires that have been occurring in the western U.S.A, in  recent years. Think the Rim Fire in California (257,314 acres, 2013), the Carlton Complex 256,108 acres, 2014) in Washington and the Anderson Creek Fire (397,420 acres) that is currently burning in Kansas and Oklahoma (as I write this on March 28, 2016). For lists of fires in excess of 100,000 acres from 1997 to 2014, see this NIFC page.

I am still doing my studying and reading on fire weather, so I thought I'd share this video that I just found from a 60 Minutes episode on Mega Fires, uploaded by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) on January 22, 2013. I'm not quite sure when this episode originally aired, but it is very timely. And with the concern about the effect of global warming on fire behavior out west, mega fires has ties to fire weather.


direct link to video

SEATs in Action

I continue to read about fire weather and am learning a lot. I am hoping to be able to post an article or too about what I have been learning within the next week or so.

In the meantime, here is some nice footage of SEATs.



Direct link to video on youtube

Elevated Fire Risk in New Jersey: March 23rd

For the second day in a row there is an elevated fire risk in New Jersey, today all but northeast New Jersey has an elevated fire risk (not quite meeting Red Flag Warning criteria) along with adjoining areas of Pennsylvania and the State of Delaware. In addition, elevated fire risk extends into all of: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and the Carolinas. The National Weather Service offices covering those states have issued Special Weather Statements or Hazardous Weather Outlooks (not quite meeting Red Flag Warning criteria) for elevated or enhanced risk of wildfires.

According to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page who posted today that all fire towers in New Jersey (Divisions A, B, and C) are staffed today. Regarding yesterday's (March 22nd) elevated fire risk, I have only heard of small fire activity (around 1/2 acre or so) yesterday. But there may be activity that I do not know of.

Here is the Special Weather Statement for elevated fire risk issued by the National Weather Service at Mt. Holly at 9:08 AM on March 23rd.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
908 AM EDT WED MAR 23 2016

DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-
055-060>062-070-071-101>106-232300-
NEW CASTLE-KENT-INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-CECIL-KENT MD-
QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT-CAROLINE-SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-
SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-WESTERN MONMOUTH-EASTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-
GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-
ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY-COASTAL ATLANTIC-
COASTAL OCEAN-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-CARBON-MONROE-BERKS-LEHIGH-
NORTHAMPTON-DELAWARE-PHILADELPHIA-WESTERN CHESTER-EASTERN CHESTER-
WESTERN MONTGOMERY-EASTERN MONTGOMERY-UPPER BUCKS-LOWER BUCKS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WILMINGTON...DOVER...GEORGETOWN...
REHOBOTH BEACH...ELKTON...CHESTERTOWN...CENTREVILLE...EASTON...
DENTON...NEWTON...WASHINGTON...MORRISTOWN...FLEMINGTON...
SOMERVILLE...NEW BRUNSWICK...FREEHOLD...SANDY HOOK...TRENTON...
PENNSVILLE...GLASSBORO...CAMDEN...CHERRY HILL...MOORESTOWN...
MOUNT HOLLY...JACKSON...MILLVILLE...HAMMONTON...
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE...OCEAN CITY...ATLANTIC CITY...
LONG BEACH ISLAND...WHARTON STATE FOREST...JIM THORPE...
STROUDSBURG...READING...ALLENTOWN...BETHLEHEM...MEDIA...
PHILADELPHIA...HONEY BROOK...OXFORD...WEST CHESTER...
KENNETT SQUARE...COLLEGEVILLE...POTTSTOWN...NORRISTOWN...
LANSDALE...CHALFONT...PERKASIE...MORRISVILLE...DOYLESTOWN
908 AM EDT WED MAR 23 2016

...AN ELEVATED RISK FOR SPREAD OF FIRES THIS AFTERNOON...

GUSTY WINDS...ALONG WITH LOWERING RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES AND
DRYING FUELS WILL LEAD TO AN ELEVATED RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF
FIRES THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL GUST FROM THE SOUTHWEST UP TO 25
MPH AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL LOWER TO AROUND 30 PERCENT.

Elevated Fire Risk in New Jersey: March 22nd

There is an elevated fire risk in northern New Jersey and adjoining areas of Pennsylvania and New York. According to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page who posted today that all fire towers in New Jersey (Divisions A, B, and C) are staffed today.

Stay safe everyone!

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1135 AM EDT TUE MAR 22 2016

NJZ001-007>010-012-015-PAZ054-055-060>062-101>106-222300-
SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-MERCER-CARBON-
MONROE-BERKS-LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTON-WESTERN CHESTER-EASTERN CHESTER-
WESTERN MONTGOMERY-EASTERN MONTGOMERY-UPPER BUCKS-LOWER BUCKS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWTON...WASHINGTON...MORRISTOWN...
FLEMINGTON...SOMERVILLE...NEW BRUNSWICK...TRENTON...JIM THORPE...
STROUDSBURG...READING...ALLENTOWN...BETHLEHEM...EASTON...
HONEY BROOK...OXFORD...WEST CHESTER...KENNETT SQUARE...
COLLEGEVILLE...POTTSTOWN...NORRISTOWN...LANSDALE...CHALFONT...
PERKASIE...MORRISVILLE...DOYLESTOWN
1135 AM EDT TUE MAR 22 2016

...AN ELEVATED RISK FOR SPREAD OF FIRES THIS AFTERNOON...

GUSTY WINDS...ALONG WITH LOWERING RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES AND
DRYING FUELS WILL LEAD TO AN ELEVATED RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF
FIRES THIS AFTERNOON.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
950 AM EDT TUE MAR 22 2016

CTZ005-006-009-NJZ002-004-006-103>108-NYZ067>075-176-177-222300-
NORTHERN FAIRFIELD-NORTHERN NEW HAVEN-SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD-
WESTERN PASSAIC-EASTERN PASSAIC-HUDSON-WESTERN BERGEN-
EASTERN BERGEN-WESTERN ESSEX-EASTERN ESSEX-WESTERN UNION-
EASTERN UNION-ORANGE-PUTNAM-ROCKLAND-NORTHERN WESTCHESTER-
SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER-NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)-BRONX-
RICHMOND (STATEN ISLAND)-KINGS (BROOKLYN)-NORTHERN QUEENS-
NORTHERN NASSAU-
950 AM EDT TUE MAR 22 2016

...AN ELEVATED RISK FOR SPREAD OF BRUSH FIRES THROUGH THIS
AFTERNOON...

GUSTY WINDS UP TO 25 MPH...ALONG WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES OF
25-30 PERCENT...AND DRYING FINE FUELS WILL LEAD TO AN ELEVATED
RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF BRUSH FIRES THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

Campbell Mountain Fire (British Columbia) July 2014

I have a couple of irons in the fire so to speak, and am not quite ready to post on either at the moment. I have recently been reading women in the United States and Great Britain who flew aircraft during World War II in service to their country as civilians. I am not ready to post about this at the moment, but those articles will be coming in a few weeks, depending on how the spring fire season in New Jersey develops.

Just today, I got interested in some of the nuances of fire weather forecasts in the United States, I am still reading and learning, As we are in or near the spring fire season in New Jersey, I hope to have something to say about this sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, here is a nice video with footage (including helos with buckets and an air tanker) working the Campbell Mountain Fire in British Columbia, Canada in July 2013. Enjoy.


Direct link to video on youtube

Elevated Fire Risk in New Jersey: March 18th

I must be learning something about when conditions are right for enhanced fire danger. I was out a little while doing a couple of errands, noted the winds and wondered if fuels were dry after the rains earlier this week. I had not checked for relative humidity. But I had a feeling. So I went home and and checked the website for the National Weather Service at Mt. Holly NJ (Philadelphia) and saw this special weather statement issued at 9:40 AM:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 940 AM EDT FRI MAR 18 2016

DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ009-010-012>027-PAZ060-061- 070-071-101>106-182200- NEW CASTLE-KENT-INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-CECIL-KENT MD- QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT-CAROLINE-HUNTERDON-SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX- WESTERN MONMOUTH-EASTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN- NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY- ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY-COASTAL ATLANTIC-COASTAL OCEAN- SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-BERKS-LEHIGH-DELAWARE-PHILADELPHIA- WESTERN CHESTER-EASTERN CHESTER-WESTERN MONTGOMERY- EASTERN MONTGOMERY-UPPER BUCKS-LOWER BUCKS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WILMINGTON...DOVER...GEORGETOWN... REHOBOTH BEACH...ELKTON...CHESTERTOWN...CENTREVILLE...EASTON... DENTON...FLEMINGTON...SOMERVILLE...NEW BRUNSWICK...FREEHOLD... SANDY HOOK...TRENTON...PENNSVILLE...GLASSBORO...CAMDEN... CHERRY HILL...MOORESTOWN...MOUNT HOLLY...JACKSON...MILLVILLE... HAMMONTON...CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE...OCEAN CITY...ATLANTIC CITY... LONG BEACH ISLAND...WHARTON STATE FOREST...READING...ALLENTOWN... MEDIA...PHILADELPHIA...HONEY BROOK...OXFORD...WEST CHESTER... KENNETT SQUARE...COLLEGEVILLE...POTTSTOWN...NORRISTOWN... LANSDALE...CHALFONT...PERKASIE...MORRISVILLE...DOYLESTOWN 940 AM EDT FRI MAR 18 2016

...AN ELEVATED RISK FOR SPREAD OF FIRES THIS AFTERNOON...

GUSTY WINDS, ALONG WITH LOWERING RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES AND DRYING FUELS WILL LEAD TO AN ELEVATED RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF FIRES THIS AFTERNOON.

Here is the fire weather forecast from the National Weather Service at Mt. Holly NJ (Philadelphia) for the counties that include the Pine Barrens (a glossary of fire weather terminology used by the National Weather Service may be found here):

NJZ012-013-015-019-020-027-191415-
MIDDLESEX-WESTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-
SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEW BRUNSWICK...FREEHOLD...TRENTON...
MOORESTOWN...MOUNT HOLLY...JACKSON...WHARTON STATE FOREST
1004 AM EDT FRI MAR 18 2016

                      TODAY        TONIGHT      SAT

CLOUD COVER           MCLEAR       MCLEAR       PCLDY
PRECIP CHC(%)         0            0            0
PRECIP TYPE           NONE         NONE         NONE
MIN/MAX TEMP          63           31           44
MAX/MIN RH %          26           62           31
MAX AM WIND (MPH)     W  8 G24                  N  7
MAX PM WIND (MPH)     W 16 G32     NW  8 G23    NE  4
PRECIP AMOUNT         0.00         0.00         0.00
PRECIP DURATION       0            0            0
HAINES INDEX          5            3            4
LAL                   1            1            1
MIXING HGT (MAX/MIN)  13060        0            5000
TRANS WIND (MAX/MIN)  W 38         NW 19        NE  5
VENTILATION RATE      574640       0            30000
DISPERSION            VERY GOOD    VERY POOR    POOR

Smokejumping: perspectives of a female smoke jumper

Thanks to Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation, who shared on March 14th about Ramona Beyuka, a woman who has been smokejumping for about a dozen years. As I shared a video the other day from the late 1940s about smokejumping, this video fits into what I shared previously and was too good to pass up. Ramona jumps with the McCall Smokejumpers out of McCall Idaho. What to go Ranoma.


Direct link to video from Great Big Story on Youtube

Enjoy!

Smokejumpers: more history

I wrote an article on Smokejumper history in July 2009, that I edited last summer to delete some outdated links. I was on  Archive dot org's Fedflix just now looking for another video which I have yet to find. In the course of my search on Fedflix, I found a 55 minute video called "Smoke Jumper Training for Airborne Fire Fighting in Missoula, Montana circa 1945-1949. I believe that this is a much longer version of the short (4 minute) version that I embedded in my July 2009 post on SmokeJumper History.

Some of you know that I appreciate the history of wildland firefighting, so it is in that spirit that I share this video here. Enjoy.


Direct Link to video on Archive dot org

New Jersey Wildfire Activity: March 11th

Spring wildfire season in New Jersey is here.

There has been wildfire in activity in New Jersey over the past few days. Here are some wildfires that I know of. This is not an all inclusive list, I am sure that there is wildfire activity that I don't know about.

• Hanover Township, NJ. Hanover Fire, 5 to 10 acre wildfire on March 8. NJFFS Sections A7-8. I learned of this fire from the NJ Forest Fire Service A-7-8 Association's Facebook page. Unfortunately, I don't believe that this page is available to the public, so I am not posting the link here. 
• Evesham Twp, Burlington County NJ. Country Arms Wildfire. NJFFS Section B1. Reported in March 9th. Twenty homes were initially threatened and their were evacuations, since lifted. I understand that the fire was contained on March 10th at 48 acres. Article with video from 6 ABC, NJ dot com article.
• Hunterdon County NJ, numerous small brush fires on March 10th, all were extinguished within an hour or so, see this article from the NJFFS Section A2 Facebook Page.
• Woodland Township, Burlington County, Sooy Rd Wildfire. NJFFS Section B2. 300 acre fire first reported on March 10th. The wildfire has burned about 300 acres near Penn State Forest. No homes are threatened. According to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildfire Page the wildfire was at 75 percent containment as of 8 AM this morning. Article 1 (NJ dot com), Article 2 (Burlington County Times)

Thank-you New Jersey Forest Fire Service wildland firefighters, municipal fire department responders, and other first responders for keeping us safe.

Elevated Fire Risk in New Jersey: March 11th

Much of New Jersey and adjoining areas of southeastern Pennsylvania are experiencing enhanced fire danger for a second day this week. For more information see this NJ dot com article

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1019 AM EST FRI MAR 11 2016

NJZ001-007>010-012-013-015>023-027-PAZ054-055-060>062-070-071-
101>106-112300-
SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-
WESTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-
NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-
SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-CARBON-MONROE-BERKS-LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTON-
DELAWARE-PHILADELPHIA-WESTERN CHESTER-EASTERN CHESTER-
WESTERN MONTGOMERY-EASTERN MONTGOMERY-UPPER BUCKS-LOWER BUCKS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWTON...WASHINGTON...MORRISTOWN...
FLEMINGTON...SOMERVILLE...NEW BRUNSWICK...FREEHOLD...TRENTON...
PENNSVILLE...GLASSBORO...CAMDEN...CHERRY HILL...MOORESTOWN...
MOUNT HOLLY...JACKSON...MILLVILLE...HAMMONTON...
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE...WHARTON STATE FOREST...JIM THORPE...
STROUDSBURG...READING...ALLENTOWN...BETHLEHEM...EASTON...MEDIA...
PHILADELPHIA...HONEY BROOK...OXFORD...WEST CHESTER...
KENNETT SQUARE...COLLEGEVILLE...POTTSTOWN...NORRISTOWN...
LANSDALE...CHALFONT...PERKASIE...MORRISVILLE...DOYLESTOWN
1019 AM EST FRI MAR 11 2016

...AN ELEVATED RISK FOR SPREAD OF FIRES THIS AFTERNOON...

DRIER AIR IS MOVING INTO THE AREA BEHIND A COLD FRONT THAT PASSED
OFF THE COAST THIS MORNING. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED
TO DROP TO BETWEEN 30 AND 40 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON WITH NORTHWEST
WIND GUSTS IN THE 15 TO 20 MPH RANGE. THE COMBINATION OF LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY...GUSTY WINDS AND DRY FUELS WILL PRODUCE AN
ELEVATED RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF FIRES THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS
INTERIOR NEW JERSEY AND EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

According to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page all fire towers in New Jersey (Divisions A, B, and C) are staffed today, Friday March 11th.

Elevated Fire Risk in NW NJ: March 9th

I had taken a day off with a friend yesterday, in part taking advantage of some unseasonably warm weather. Temperatures were well into the 60s yesterday even in extreme northern New Jersey where I was yesterday. My friend and I were visiting Stokes State Forest in Sussex County when we passed some New Jersey State Forest Fire vehicles NJSFF firefighters, perhaps finishing up a controlled burn. As it was an unseasonably warm day in early March, I found myself thinking that the spring wildfire season in New Jersey is just around the corner.

I was a little busy earlier this morning. Thanks to reading this article on NJ dot com, I saw that there is a risk of wildfires today. The National Weather Service in Mt. Holly NJ issued an enhanced fire danger warning for much of their forecast area in New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania with conditions approaching red flag warning criteria for a couple of hours this afternoon:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 943 AM EST WED MAR 9 2016

SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX- WESTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN- NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-CARBON-MONROE-BERKS-LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTON- DELAWARE-PHILADELPHIA-WESTERN CHESTER-EASTERN CHESTER- WESTERN MONTGOMERY-EASTERN MONTGOMERY-UPPER BUCKS-LOWER BUCKS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWTON...WASHINGTON...MORRISTOWN... FLEMINGTON...SOMERVILLE...NEW BRUNSWICK...FREEHOLD...TRENTON... PENNSVILLE...GLASSBORO...CAMDEN...CHERRY HILL...MOORESTOWN... MOUNT HOLLY...JIM THORPE...STROUDSBURG...READING...ALLENTOWN... BETHLEHEM...EASTON...MEDIA...PHILADELPHIA...HONEY BROOK... OXFORD...WEST CHESTER...KENNETT SQUARE...COLLEGEVILLE... POTTSTOWN...NORRISTOWN...LANSDALE...CHALFONT...PERKASIE... MORRISVILLE...DOYLESTOWN 943 AM EST WED MAR 9 2016
...AN ELEVATED RISK FOR SPREAD OF FIRES THIS AFTERNOON...
RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL DROP TO OR JUST BELOW 30 PERCENT WHILE SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS OF 15 TO 20 MPH WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON. THE COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, GUSTY WINDS AND DRY FUELS WILL PRODUCE AN ELEVATED RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF FIRES THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS INTERIOR NEW JERSEY AND EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

The National Weather Service in Upton, New York has issued an enhanced fire danger warning covering a portion of their forecast area in northeastern New Jersey:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY 1015 AM EST WED MAR 9 2016
NJZ002-004-006-103>108-092300- WESTERN PASSAIC-EASTERN PASSAIC-HUDSON-WESTERN BERGEN- EASTERN BERGEN-WESTERN ESSEX-EASTERN ESSEX-WESTERN UNION- EASTERN UNION- 1015 AM EST WED MAR 9 2016

...AN ELEVATED RISK FOR SPREAD OF FIRES THIS AFTERNOON...

RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ACROSS THE AREA WILL DROP TO NEAR 30 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON. AT THE SAME TIME...WINDS WILL GUST TO AROUND 20 MPH...HOWEVER THERE MAY BE OCCASIONAL GUSTS CLOSER TO 25 MPH. THESE CONDITIONS ALONG WITH DRY FUELS...WILL COMBINE FOR AN ELEVATED RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF FIRES.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has suspended all prescribed burning operations for today, Wednesday March 9th (see their March 9th post about today's enhanced fire danger on the New Jersey Forests Facebook page). According to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page who posted today that all fire towers in New Jersey (Divisions A, B, and C) are staffed today.

Thanks to all New Jersey State Forest Fire Service wildland firefighters for keeping us safe today.

Prescribed Burns in New Jersey: March 7th and small fire in northern NJ

Prescribed or controlled burns conducted by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service continued on March 7th. According to the New Jersey Forests Facebook page prescribed burns will be conducted on March 7th in the following areas (weather permitting):

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Buckshutem Wildlife Management Area, Lawrence Township

Dix Wildlife Management Area, Fairfield Township  

GLOUCESTER COUNTY 

Glassboro Wildlife Management Area, Clayton Township 

MIDDLESEX COUNTY

Jamesburg County Park, East Brunswick Township 

MORRIS COUNTY 

Black River Wildlife Management Area, Chester Township 

Hopatcong State Park, Roxbury Township  

SOMERSET COUNTY 

Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, Franklin Township 

Somerset County Environmental Center, Bernards Township 

SUSSEX COUNTY

High Point State Park, Wantage Township
 Stokes State Forest, Sandyston Township (Obtained on March 7, 2016 from the New Jersey Forests Facebook page)

My friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page reported that there was a three to four acre fire on the top of a ridge in the Worthington State Forest, Pahaquarry Township (Warren County, NJ). Firefighters used the Dunnefield Creek Parking Area (off of Interstate 80 just east of the Pennsylvania border) as a staging area. I understand that Division A requested a helicopter. New Jersey Forest Fire Service firefighters from Division A fought the fire which started on Sunday afternoon, March 6 and was reported under control at about 2  PM today, March 7. (Depending on when you are reading this article, the information that you see on the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page may be different.

Thanks to the crews of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service for all you are doing to keep the residents of New Jersey safe. Stay safe.

Prescribed burning season in NJ: March 3

Prescribed or controlled burns by the NJ Forest Fire Service continue. According to the New Jersey Forests Facebook Page the following controlled burns were scheduled for March 3 (weather permitting):

BURLINGTON COUNTY
Brendan Byrne State Forest, Pemberton Township 

MONMOUTH COUNTY
Pleasant Run Wildlife Management Area, Upper Freehold Township 

OCEAN COUNTY
Cloverdale Farm County Park, Barnegat Township
Lumley Tract, Berkeley Township
Manchester Wildlife Management Area, Manchester Township
Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area, Little Egg Harbor Township (obtained on March 5, 2016 from the New Jersey Forests Facebook Page)

The Press of Atlantic City published an article on March 3rd by Dan Skeldon on the importance of controlled burns in NJ (with photos) and a video. You will hear Bill Love, a section warden with the NJ Forest Fire Service explaining the importance of controlled (aka prescribed) burns. Updated on April 25,2016: I am no longer able to embed the video because I could not get the embed code to work as I wanted, I was able to go to the March 3rd article by Dan Skeldon to watch the video.

Prescribed burning season in NJ: March 1

Prescribed burns continue in NJ this week with one prescribed burn in the northern part of the state (Sussex County). According to the New Jersey Forests Facebook Page the following controlled burns were scheduled for March 1, some of which take place at night

BURLINGTON COUNTY Penn State Forest, Washington Township 

CAPE MAY COUNTY Belleplain State Forest, Dennis Township

CUMBERLAND COUNTY Buckshutem Wildlife Management Area, Lawrence Township Millville Wildlife Management Area, Commercial Township Peaslee Wildlife Management Area, Maurice River Township

OCEAN COUNTY Jakes Branch County Park, Beechwood Township Ocean County Park Rt 571, Jackson Township

SUSSEX COUNTY High Point State Park, Montague Township (obtained on March 2, 2016 from the New Jersey Forests Facebook Page

The Video below is from NBC10 in Philadelphia reporting on the prescribed burn at the Penn State Forest in Burlington County on Monday night, February 29th. I am never quite sure how long the video will be available, but it should be available for several days after I post this article. I had some trouble with the embed code supplied with the video, so if you can not get the video to play, click on the link before the video and you should be able to see the video.



Direct link to video and article

Prescribed burning season in NJ: February 27th and 28th

I wrote about the start of the spring prescribed burning season in New Jersey  last Wednesday, February 24th. I understand from the NJ Forest Fire Service's February 21st press release that prescribed burns were planned for February 22nd in Burlington. Ocean and Cumberland counties.

The New Jersey Forests Facebook page lists the prescribed burns that were planned for this past weekend, February 27th and 28th (go here to see article):

ATLANTIC COUNTY 

Hammonton Wildlife Management Area in Mullica Township; Maple Lake Wildlife Management Area in Estell Manor City; Stockton College in Galloway Township; Strawberry Field in Hamilton Township;  Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area in Estell Manor City 

BURLINGTON COUNTY Brendan T. Byrne State Forest in Pemberton Township; Warren Grove Gunnery Range in Bass River Township; and Whitesbog in Pemberton Township 

CAMDEN COUNTY Wharton State Forest in Waterford Township 

CAPE MAY COUNTY Belleplain State Forest in Upper Township; and Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lower Township

CUMBERLAND COUNTY Buckshutem Wildlife Management Area in Fairfield Township; Millville Wildlife Management Area in Commercial Township; and Peaslee Wildlife Management Area in Maurice River Township

MIDDLESEX COUNTY Pigeon Swamp State Park in South Brunswick Township

MONMOUTH COUNTY Manasquan Wildlife Management Area in Wall Township 

OCEAN COUNTY Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area in Jackson Township; Greenwood Wildlife Management Area in Barnegat and Lacey Townships; Warren Grove Gunnery Range in Stafford Township; and  Whiting Wildlife Management Area in Manchester Township (obtained on February 29, 2016 from NJ Forests Facebook page  

My friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page continue to cover the prescribed burns, today I found a couple of photos from recent prescribed burns on their home page about on-third of the way down the page (this page updates frequently); you will also want to check out their 2016 prescribed burn photo page.

I found one article reporting on two of the prescribed burns done this past weekend: Philly dot com on prescribed burns done near Stockton University

Thank-you New Jersey Forest Fire Service

I have been writing this blog on aerial wildland firefighting (and related issues) for just over seven years now. During that time my respect and admiration for the men and women of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service along with the contract aircraft has increased with each passing year. They do a great job keeping us safe all year round, and not just during the wildfire season. For example, I believe that they helped out across the state during post-storm recovery from severe weather events such as Hurricane Irene and Super Storm Sandy.

Please join me in thanking the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Thank-you everyone!

I recently found this New Jersey Forest Fire Service Tribute on youtube (uploaded in March 2010) by awolfpack343. Great photographs of current and older equipment.


Direct link to video

Spring is coming: longer days and Prescribed Burning season

In late February there are a couple of signs that spring is near. One is that daylight is starting to get noticeably longer. For example I am seeing eleven hours of daylight today as opposed to 9 hours and 16 minutes on December 21, 2015. For those that are interested in such things, you may go the U.S. Naval Observatory webpages where they have a page for sun or moon rise data for most locations in the United States and many international locations that may be found here. The USNO data is printed gives you data for one year, which is great. However, in addition to sunrise and sunset I like to know additional information such data on the length of the day and twilight in an easy ready format. I found a website that gives me that and more by month for my location, sunrisesunset. I'm not sure of the precision of their data but it is good enough for most of my uses.

Another sign that spring is coming is the start of prescribed burning season here in New Jersey. This year the announcement of the beginning of prescribed burning season came from the NJ Forest Fire Service in a February 21st press release, here is an excerpt from their press release:

“The state’s prescribed burning program, conducted only under exacting conditions and by highly trained personnel, is an important management tool in protecting lives and property, while providing an important additional benefit of keeping our wildlands ecologically healthy,” said Richard Boornazian, DEP’s Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources. ... 

Prescribed burns, also known as controlled burns, help reduce forest fire risks prior to entering the prime wildfire season, which in New Jersey generally begins in the early spring, when leaves and debris are abundant, tree cover is sparse, and conditions tend to be dry and windy.

“Prescribed burns that take place now reduce accumulations of forest undergrowth, fallen branches, leaves and downed trees that can become tinder for wildfires during dry periods in the spring,” said State Fire Warden Bill Edwards. “Both the safety of our firefighters and the general public are our top priorities as we implement these burns.”

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has a nice information page on prescribed burning in New Jersey that may be found here. I could not get the video to play on my Apple browsers, perhaps those of you with windows based machines will have more luck.

If I can find information on locations of prescribed burns in New Jersey, I'll post them here from time to time. In the meantime, my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page have a photo page for the 2016 prescribed burn season.

2015 Soda Fire ESR -- Reflections

I conclude this series on the 2015 Soda Fire ESR with some of my own reflections.

As I reflect upon what I have learned in writing about the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan, I want to take a step back and begin with saying that I have enjoyed learning a little about the sagebrush-steppe ecosystem. I say that I have only learned a little because I know that watching some videos online and reading some documents only skims the surface about how special the sage-steppe ecosystem is. I have said this before in other contexts on this blog, and it bears repeating here. I hope that one day, I can visit this part of Idaho where the 2015 Soda Fire burned. It is unfortunate that I first made the acquaintance, so to speak of the sage-steppe ecosystem in western Idaho and eastern Oregon through this tragic wildfire.

Reflecting on the wildfire and then the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan, I keeping coming back to the complexity of stabilizing and then restoring this ecosystem (and any other ecosystem) after wildfires. At the same time through my correspondence with some of the Idaho BLM staff and reading what the Idaho BLM has shared about the ESR plan on social media I see that there are some very good and knowledgeable people who are overseeing and implementing the ESR plan. I can also see that they love the sage-steppe ecosystem. The BLM staff and others who are implementing the ESR plan are very well equipped to do so. They know what they are doing and I take a great deal of comfort in that. 

I hope that through my blog, I have given you a small amount of insight into what goes into post-fire recovery. The ESR plan will be going on for another four plus years. I look forward to following the progress made as the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan continues to be implemented.

2015 Soda Fire ESR -- Interview with Idaho BLM (part 2 of 2)

Continuing with the second part of my e-mail interview with Idaho BLM about the 2015 Soda Fire ESR. Sorry I am posting this a day late.

Q5) RRamblings: Is emergency stabilization the first step in post-fire recovery and if so, can you briefly describe what progress is made to date and when they will be completed. Perhaps focusing on soil/water stabilization; habitat for sage-grouse, threatened and endangered species; and noxious weeds and invasive species.

Idaho BLM: Yes, emergency stabilization is the first step in post-wildland fire recovery.  To date, we have completed numerous soil/water stabilization activities, such as waterbarring in areas prone to water run-off, drill and aerial seeding to prevent soil erosion, and repairing culverts to prevent flooding.  We have used aerial herbicides in areas where there was a large concentration of cheatgrass and medusahead pre-burn to prevent their reemergence and provide a blank landscape for us to replace them with desirable perennial grasses that will stabilize the soil and create a healthy environment for us to go in and plant sagebrush seedlings at a later date.  The aerial and drill seeding in other areas of the burn also helps us to combat the spread of cheatgrass and medusahead by putting those desirable perennial grasses there to out compete with the invasives and make the soil more stable for sagebrush in the future.  We finished drill seeding for this season in early January and should have the aerial seeding complete the first part of February.  There will be more herbicide, drill and aerial seeding this spring.  All of this activity will not only benefit the sage grouse, but other native animal and plant species who call this landscape home.  

Q6) RRamblings: How long will it take to reestablish sage-brush and other native plants? Will there be a negative impact on wildlife?

Idaho BLM: It will take many years to re-establish a functioning sagebrush community.  The length of time depends on many variables such as seeding establishment, weather, moisture. Wildlife will move to other areas while Soda recovers.  However many of the treatments will provide new and lush perennial grass growth that is desirable to upland and big game species.

Q7) Rramblings: When will the Burned Area Recovery (BAR) start?

Idaho BLM: ES or emergency stabilization funding can continue for up to 18 months after the fire.  Burned Area Recovery funds can be utilized from years 1-5 depending on the treatment. However the program is being revised as we speak and these time frames can change. 

Q8) Rramblings: Can you briefly describe any challenges in implementing the post-fire ESR plan?

Idaho BLM: It is always a race against time when doing ESR work.  Weather and contracting challenges are a common occurrence, but we work through them and get things done.

  

Q9) Rramblings: Is there anything else that you would like to say to my readers? 

Idaho BLM: Multiple use management adds challenges to an already challenging ESR program.   ESR plans are to be completed and signed within 21 days after the fire containment and treatments begin immediately.  Challenges include obtaining funding, and procurement requirements that make purchasing goods and signing up contractors prior to optimum treatment windows.   Large and complex and multiple fires that span several years are challenging to personnel.  The work that government employees in the Boise District do is hard, complex, but their effort comes from the heart. I want people to know that we do this work because we love and believe in it and there isn’t anything else we would rather be going.

Thanks to staff from the Idaho Bureau of Land Management for taking the time for this e-mail interview. I learned a lot.

My final article in this series will be some personal reflections that I plan to post on Monday, February 22.

2015 Soda Fire ESR -- Interview with Idaho BLM (part 1 of 2)

I want to thank the staff from the Idaho Bureau of Land Management for taking the time to answer a few questions I had on the 2015 Soda Fire ESR. I present this interview, conducted over e-mail in two parts, the second part of the interview will post this Saturday, February 20th.

Q1) RRamblings:  I know that the Soda Fire burned 279,144 acres in  Owyhee county Idaho and Malheur county Oregon. How does the Soda Fire compare with other fires of significant size that have burned in this region and (if applicable) how is the post-fire ESR Plan (aka 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan) different? For example, were there more invasive species and noxious weeds that perhaps contributed to the spread of the fire?

Idaho BLM: There have definitely been other large fires in the region in recent memory (Murphy Complex, Tri-State), but what sets the Soda fire apart is that almost all of the acreage burned was in sage grouse habitat known as sage brush steppe.  Invasives such as cheat grass and medusa head definitely played a part in the severity of the Soda fire due to their low moisture content but so did erratic wind behavior, and overall dry conditions of the landscape.  Because of the recognized threat to sage grouse habitat posed by wildland fire and how invasives play a part in that and in edging out their healthy habitat, three new polices were issued:  Secretarial Order 3336, Sage Grouse Implementation Plan Amendment and the National Seed Strategy.  These policies allowed for changes in the ESR program as they recognized that it will take years to combat invasives and promote a resistant and resilient landscape.

Q2) RRamblings: Am I correct that the ESR plan is a five-year plan that runs through FY20?

Idaho BLM: Yes, the Soda fire ESR plan is a five year plan.  It was signed the latter part of September 2015.

Q3) RRamblings: How has secretarial order 3336 impacted emergency stabilization (ES)? How do you expect secretarial order 3336 to impact burned area rehabilitation (BAR) and restoration? If there are numerous impacts, can you focus on the most important treatments affecting the Sage-Grouse.

Idaho BLM: SO 3336 paved the way for ESR to go from strictly a three year stabilization and restoring to pre-fire condition to a five year program that opens up more allowable treatments and the ability to do re-treatments to bring the fire damaged area back to resistance and resilience and moving toward functioning habitat.   The most important thing for sage-grouse habitat is keeping fires to a minimum and to prevent invasive species such as cheat grass from spreading which degraded the vegetative community as a whole and can increase the size and frequency of wildland fires.  The most important treatment(s) are a combination of many that are used to keep invasives as a minor part of the community and start the process to moving back to a functioning sage-grouse habitat.  All treatments in combination are important.

Q4)  RRamblings: I understand that the Sage-Grouse depends on Sage-Brush, and that large areas of Sage-Brush were burned in the fire. Am I correct that there was no evidence of Sage-Grouse mortality from the Soda Fire? If so, what happened to them.  

Idaho BLM: There was a chance of some sage-grouse mortality due to the fire.   Sage-grouse probably moved to suitable habitat away from the fire perimeter.

2015 Soda Fire ESR -- A very brief introduction to the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan (2 of 2)

This second article, a very brief introduction to the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan (2 of 2) is slightly different from what I had originally conceived. You may recall from my article of Friday, February 12th (part 1) that I had referred you to a BLM web page listing all planning documents related to the Soda Fire ESR/BAER Plan where I referred readers to the first document on that list, the BLM Idaho Post-Fire Recovery Plan Emergency Stabilization and Burned Area 2015 Plan (aka the2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan). In preparation for this article I went in and skimmed the other two planning documents on the BLM web page listing all planning documents related to the Soda Fire ESR/BAER Plan. I found what I thought were some differences across these documents that confused me. After some initial struggles where my eyes were starting to glaze over, I ended up making some more drastic changes to my early draft. The result is what you see here. In the spirit of trying to keep things simple, I will go into a little more detail in this article on treatment areas as described in the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan. I have revised the article I wrote on February 12th to reflect the changes I made to this article since the 12th.

In my previous article (Friday, February 12th), I listed treatment categories from the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan for Emergency Stabilization — ES (S) and Burned Area Rehabilitation — BAR (R), which I list again for your convenience:

• S/R2 Ground Seeding 
• 
S/R3 Aerial Seeding 

• S/R4 Seedling Planting 

• S/R5 Noxious Weeds 

• S/R6 Soil Stabilization 

• S/R7 Fence/Gate/Cattleguard 

• S/R8 Road/Trail Water Diversion 

• S/R9 Cultural Protection 

• S/R10 Tree Hazard Removal 
• 
S/R11 Facilities 

• S/R12 Closures (Area, OHV, Livestock) 

• S13 Monitoring
• 
S/R14 Other Treatments (2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan, p. 11)

There were many things of interest to me as I learned more about the sagebrush-steppe ecosystem, and the recovery from the 2015 Soda Fire. In the spirit of brevity, I will only focus on areas that are of the most interest to me. That is. I am going to talk about treatments used to address threats to riparian & aquatics, wildlife including the greater sage-grouse, and noxious weeds. All are described in some detail in the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan.  I will leave it to the reader to read more if you so desire. 

There is much from the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan that I am not discussing here such as treatments that will address threats to transportation infrastructure, cultural resources, recreation, horses & burrows, to name a few. 

As you continue to read I’d like to draw your attention to S/R2 ground Seeding (drill seeding) which is a treatment under both wildlife, and noxious weeds. S/R3 aerial seeding is a treatment under riparian & aquatics, and wildlife.

Riparian and Aquatics (2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan, pages 17-9)

“Fire may result in a large array of direct and indirect effects to aquatic species and riparian habitats. Direct effects to aquatic populations will generally occur in riparian areas where burn intensity was high. These areas are typically denuded of all vegetation and, during the fire, could have experienced increased water temperatures, decreased oxygen availability, and ash loading into streams. Since some of the drainages burned very hot, aquatic species may have died as a result” (2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan, p. 17).

Treatments to address the threat to riparian and aquatics are: R7 fence (repair and replace fencing), S3 aerial seeding, R11 facilities (repair and replaces facilities damaged by the fire), and R4 seedling planting (for soil and water stabilization).

Wildlife (2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan pages 20-8) 

Under wildlife, the top concern is for the greater sage-grouse (sage-grouse). Other wildlife species are also impacted, at least temporarily by the loss of the sage brush: e.g. bighorn sheep, mule deer, and pronghorn. The brewer’s sparrow, sage thrasher, and brewers thrasher are also impacted by the loss of sagebrush. Finally, the golden eagle will be impacted by the loss of prey.

Treatments include: S5 noxious and invasive weeds (aerial applications of an herbicide prior to drill seeding), S2 ground seeding (drill seeding), S3 aerial seeding (grass), S3 aerial seeding (shrubs and forbs) and S14 other - juniper removal. You may read about the details of each treatment in the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan pages 20-8).

Noxious Weeds (2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan pages 34-8)

“Noxious weeds are present in the burned area. Noxious weeds are now recognized worldwide as posing threats to biological diversity, second only to direct habitat loss and fragmentation. Noxious weeds are known to alter ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycles, hydrology, and wildfire frequency; out-compete and exclude native plants and animals; and to hybridize with native species” (2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan, p. 34). Noxious weeds are listed on pages 35 to 36 of the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan.

The first treatment listed under noxious weeds is, not surprisingly, S5 and R5 noxious weeds. This treatment includes monitoring and assessments of noxious weeds in the area burned by the 2015 Soda Fire, inventory of noxious weeds, photos and mapping of infestations of noxious weeds, treatment with chemical and bio-control agents (2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan, p. 37). Related to this is an herbicide trial under S5 and R5 noxious and invasive weeds (2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan, p. 38).

S2 ground seeding (drill seeding) is the other treatment listed for noxious weeds.

Next-up: Interview with Idaho BLM (in two parts).

2015 Soda Fire ESR -- A very brief introduction to the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan (1 of 2)

One of the documents that I obtained from the BLM websites is a document known as the BLM Idaho Post-Fire Recovery Plan Emergency Stabilization and Burned Area Rehabilitation 2015 Plan (2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan). The direct link to this plan (pdf file) is here. Alternatively, it is the first document listed on this BLM web page listing all planning documents related to the Soda Fire ESR/BAER Plan.  Just so you know, I found the last link I listed on the Soda Fire Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Page. If you are landing on this page sometime in the future, I am never quite sure how long these links will last. I assume that because the 2015 Soda Fire ESR will be going on for another five years, that some or all of these links will be good for awhile.

I find the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Planning document a little complicated; yet I have found that this document has given me an appreciation of the complexity of the 2015 Soda Fire Emergency Stabilization and Burned Area Rehabilitation (ESR). Writing about the details and the ins and outs of the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan is beyond the means of this blog. Knowing this, I reached out over e-mail to the Idaho BLM office involved in the ESR and asked them some questions. I will be sharing about the Question and Answer session in two posts next week (February 17th and 19th).

However, while the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan can be a little difficult to read, I did find it somewhat useful.  For those who are interested I am going to present some highlights from the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan that I have found useful in this article with part 2 posting on Monday February 15th. The 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan identifies two post fire recovery issues: emergency  stabilization and burned area rehabilitation. 

Emergency Stabilization (ES) and Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) Objectives and Issues

Emergency stabilization (ES) objectives are to “determine the need for and to prescribe and implement emergency treatments to minimize threats to life or property or to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources resulting from the effects of a fire. …ES Issues:

• ES Issue 1 - Human Life and Safety
• ES Issue 2 - Soil/Water Stabilization
• ES Issue 3 - Habitat for Threatened and Endangered Species
• ES Issue 4 - Cultural Heritage Resources
• ES Issue 5 - Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species” (2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan, p. 5)

Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) Objectives are: “ 1)To evaluate actual and potential long-term post-fire impacts to critical cultural and natural resources and identify those areas unlikely to recover naturally from severe wildland fire damage, 2) to develop and implement cost-effective plans to emulate historical or pre-fire ecosystem structure, function, diversity, and dynamics consistent with approved land management plans, or if that is infeasible, then to restore or establish a healthy, stable ecosystem in which native species are well represented, and 3) to repair or replace minor facilities damaged by wildland fire. … BAR Issues:

• BAR Issue 1 - Lands Unlikely to Recover Naturally
• BAR Issue 2 - Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species
• BAR Issue 3 - Tree Planting
• BAR Issue 4 - Repair or Replace Fire Damaged Facilities” (2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan, p. 6)

Treatments

ES and BAR efforts under the 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan are divided into different areas of concern (see note 1) two of which are wildlife (including but not limited to the sage grouse, noxious weeds, and riparian and aquatics. Treatments are divided into two groups: ES (S) and BAR (R). All but one of the treatment categories are the same for both Emergency Stabilization — ES (S) and Burned Area Rehabilitation — BAR (R). To keep it simple I am only listing the treatment categories once. You will see prefixes (S/R) listed in all but one case (monitoring) indicating that the treatment category falls under both ES and BAR (2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan, p. 11):

• S/R2 Ground Seeding 
• S/R3 Aerial Seeding 
• S/R4 Seedling Planting 
• S/R5 Noxious Weeds 
• S/R6 Soil Stabilization 
• S/R7 Fence/Gate/Cattleguard 
• S/R8 Road/Trail Water Diversion 
• S/R9 Cultural Protection 
• S/R10 Tree Hazard Removal 
• S/R11 Facilities 
• S/R12 Closures (Area, OHV, Livestock) 
• S13 Monitoring
• S/R14 Other Treatments 

Here are four of examples of treatments:

• drill seeding from my Dec 2, 2015 article;
• noxious (and invasive) weeds from my Nov 30, 2015 article;
• Two articles from the Soda Fire 2015 Facebook page on aerial seeding may be found here and here; and
• Two articles from the Soda Fire 2015 Facebook page on seedling planting may be found here and here.

In my next post on Monday February 15th, I will go into a little more detail about some of the treatments from 2015 Soda Fire ESR Plan.

Note 1 (added on February 15, 2016 3:10 PM EST): I have edited this article to reflect last minute changes that I have made in part 2.

2015 Soda Fire ESR - more on Sagebrush Steppe Ecosystem and the Sage Grouse

As I continued to do my background reading and research on the 2015 Soda Fire post-fire recovery Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation I gained an appreciation for the sagebrush steppe ecosystem and at the same time frustrated because I felt, and still do, feel like there is a lot that I don't know about that ecosystem and the greater sage-grouse and other wildlife that live in and depend on the sagebrush steppe ecosystem. I wrote a little about the greater sage-grouse and their preferred habit in my November 27, 2015 article.

Somewhere, I don't quite remember where, in the course of my wonderings on the internet doing background research for my current series of articles on the 2015 Soda Fire ESR I found this link for a May 2015 episode of the PBS Nature series called the Sagebrush Sea (about an hour playing time). I learned a lot about the sage-grouse on their habit, and I thought that you would enjoy watching this episode.

Enjoy!

Updated on May 2, 2016, 4 PM EDT to remove possibly incompatible video embed code. You should be able to use the supplied link from PBS (above) to watch the video.

Soda Fire Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation - Upcoming posts

I first wrote about the 2015 Soda Fire post-fire recovery in a series of six posts that ran from November 25, through December 4, 2015, focus on the Burned Area Emergency Response for the Soda Fire. For your convenience (updated on September 19, 2016), I have included links to all of these earlier articles below).

This Wednesday, February 10th, I am going to resume posting about the 2015 Soda Fire Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) in what I think will be six posts). I am still working on the upcoming posts, but this is how I think it will shake out. I will revise this post as necessary after I post each article to link to each article in this series.

Wednesday February 10th: More on the sagebrush-steppe ecosystem and the Sage Grouse. 

Friday February 12th: A very brief intro to the 2015 Soda Fire ESR (part 1 of 2)

Monday February 15th: A very brief intro to the 2-15 Soda Fire ESR (part 2 of 2)

Wednesday February 17th: Interview with Idaho BLM (part 1 of 2)

Saturday February 20th: Interview with Idaho BLM (part 2 of 2)

Monday February 22: Reflections

Earlier posts from late 2015 on the 2015 Soda Fire post-fire recovery:
November 18, 2015: Soda Fire (2015) BAER - Intro (1 of 3)
November 25, 2015: Soda Fire (2015) BAER - Intro (2 of 3)
November 27, 2015: Soda Fire (2015) BAER - Intro (3 of 3)
November 30, 2015: Soda Fire (2015) BAER - challenges ahead and invasive weeds
December 2, 2015:  Soda Fire (2015) BAER - drill seeding
December 4, 2015: Soda Fire (2015) BAER - more maps and reflections

Later articles on the 2015 Soda Fire post-fire recovery (September 2016 and later):

September 19, 2016: Revisiting Soda Fire (2015) Post-Fire Recovery (Sept. 2016)

Powerline Fire, Big Bend National Park (TX)

February 11, 2016 at 1:25 PM EST
The Powerline Fire that burned 1,792 acres in Big Bend National Park (TX) was contained on February 6, 2016. The Inciweb on the Powerline Fire updated their page on February 6 with containment information. You might also want to see this article from BigBendNow (February 11, 2016).

February 5, 2016 at 3:45 PM EST

Yes, it is winter here in much of the United States, and wildland fires are still happening, including but not necessarily limited to warmer parts of the country such as Texas. On February 1, a downed power line coupled with high winds lead to the Powerline Fire in Big Bend National Park in Southwest Texas near the Mexican border. No injuries have been reported and no park structures have burned.

I've seen two slightly different acreage and contaiment information on the Powerline Fire. The last update that I saw from Inciweb on the Powerline Fire (posted sometime on February 4th)  reports that the fire has burned 1,537 acres and is at 55 percent containment (what you see on Inciweb may differ depending on when the page is updated). The Big Bend National Park reports in a post on their Facebook page made about 12:30 PM EST today, that the fire had burned approximately 1,790 acres as of 5PM (local time?) on February 4th with approximately 75 percent containment. I wonder if the the figures reported by Big Bend National Park are the latest figures?

There is at least one type III helicopter with bucket working the fire, see this post by the Big Bend NP on their Facebook page (February 4th). See also this February 4th post by Bill Gabbert on Fire Aviation

Bill Gabbert wrote about the Powerline Fire in a February 2nd post (with updates, maps and photos).

There is a nice photo gallery of the fire on this Inciweb Powerline Fire page.

Selected media coverage:

Texas Public Radio (February 4th)

SanAntonioCurrent (February 4th)
WKSO (February 4th)

About Ag Aviation from an Ag pilot based in Mississippi

Please take six minutes to watch this nice video from the Mississippi Farm Bureau where you will hear Ag Pilot, Karl Holcomb talk about agricultural aviation in Mississippi. While perhaps specific to Mississippi, agricultural aviation plays an important role in agricultural all over the United States and over seas. Enjoy.


Direct link to video

It is airborne snow survey season again

In November 2014 I was spending some time in southern California when a lake effect snow storm brought five to seven feet of snow to portions of the Buffallo New York region. It was through that lake effect snow storm that I first learned of the Airborne Snow Survey Program of NOAA’s National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC).

As I understand it, airborne snow surveys are done to measure the amount of water contained in a snow packTwo  aircraft are used, a Jet Prop Commander and a Rockwell Aero Commander (NOAA has two of these aircraft). 

According to the NOHRSC: 

The National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC) has developed, and currently maintains, an operational Airborne Gamma Radiation Snow Survey Program to make airborne Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) and soil moisture measurements. Airborne SWE measurements are used by NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFO) and NWS River Forecast Centers (RFC) when issuing river and flood forecasts, water supply forecasts, and spring flood outlooks (obtained from http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/snowsurvey/ on February 1, 2016)

I first wrote about NOAA’s airborne snow survey program on November 24, 2014 with a follow-up article on February 9, 2015

Perhaps because of the two feet of snow we had in my part of New Jersey on January 23rd, I found myself thinking about the 2015-2016 Airborne Snow Season Survey, so I decided to write this article. If you are interested in historical snow surveys, the NOHRSC has a landing page with links to information on prior year's snow surveys.