Worsening Texas Drought May Stay Many Years

Texas has experienced the driest one-year period on record 

99.16 percent of Texas now plagued by severe to exceptional drought levels

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Disaster Calendar 2011 – September 29

[September 29, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,630 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

Texas Drought Map. Drought progression comparison maps for Sept 20 and Sept 27, 2011. Source US Drought Monitor. 

• Texas, USA. The Lone Star State has now experienced its driest one-year period on record in the past 12 months.
• Entire Texas is now plagued by drought, with 99.16 percent of the state listed as being in severe, extreme or exceptional drought levels (D2 – D4).
• “It is possible that we could be looking at another of these multiyear droughts like we saw in the 1950s, and like the tree rings have shown that the state has experienced over the last several centuries,” State Climatologist John Nielson-Gammon told Reuters.
• Gammon said the current drought began in  in 2005, but was mitigated in 2007 and 2010. However, it could linger on for another 9 years, if the pattern holds.
• “We’ve had five of the last seven years in drought, and it looks like it is going to be six out of eight,” he said.
• “We’re very lucky that we had 2007 and 2010, which were years of plentiful rain,” he said. “2010 was the wettest year in record. Were it not for last year, we would be in much worse shape even than we are today.”
• Texas is currently up to 20 inches of rainfall behind the month’s average, September usually being one of the state’s wettest months, Gammon said.
• Wildfires. Wildfires in Texas have consumed 3,764,123 acres and 6,919 homes and other structures.
• YTD Data provided by Texas Forest Service, (TFS) on September 29, 2011
• Wildfires: 21,546
• Acres Burned: 3,764,123

• Texas drought-related losses YTD: At least $10 billion

YTD Texas wildfire stats by TFS as of September 29, 2011.  Friday September 30, 2011 is forecast to be another extremely hazardous day for wildfires in Texas, TFS said.

• East Texas Weather Forecast: “Hotter, Drier and More Unstable Today……Winds increasing from the North Tonight with poor humidity recovery…A critical fire weather situation will be developing later today and persist into Friday.” TFS said.

Related Links

• Texas Declared Major Disaster Area
• Drought Intensifies in Southern U.S.
• The Wildfire that Broke Texas’s Back

• 2011 Disaster Calendar – September
• Texas Wildfires Torch 1,100 Homes
• Mega Heatwaves Could Kill Tens of Thousands in the U.S.  (FIRE-EARTH Forecast)
• U.S. Disaster Losses Mounting
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA  (FIRE-EARTH Forecast)
• U.S. back-to-back disasters phase has begun

• Pakistan Floods: 6 Million Affected, 2 Million Sickened, 300 Dead
• 2011 Much More Disastrous: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Global Disasters in 2011 Could Impact 1/3 to 1/2 of the Human Population  (FIRE-EARTH Forecast)
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs  (FIRE-EARTH Forecast)

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities  (EDRO Forecast)
• 2011 Disaster Calendar – August
• 2010 Disaster Calendar 
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Texas Declared Major Disaster Area

Wildfires have destroyed about 2,000 homes since Aug 30

The White House declared a major disaster exists in the State of Texas due to wildfires beginning on August 30, 2011, and continuing.

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Disaster Calendar 2011 – September 10

[September 10, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,649 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Texas, USA. The White House declared a major disaster exists in the State of Texas due to wildfires beginning on August 30, 2011, and continuing.
• Bastrop County Complex Fire has consumed about 34,068 acres, TFS reported. The 719-acre Union Chapel Fire is now included in this complex. An assessment team has confirmed 1,386 homes have been destroyed on the main fire, with 28 lost on the Union Chapel Fire. Two civilians were found dead Tuesday.
• BEAR CREEK (#536), Cass County. 49,997 acres, 30 percent contained. The fire is burning very actively in heavy timber and is threatening numerous houses. Twenty-four homes have been destroyed southeast of Linden.
• RILEY ROAD, Grimes/Montgomery/Waller counties. 21,269 acres, 30 percent contained. About 58 homes have been destroyed on this fire burning west of Magnolia.
• At least 23 other large fires are currentlt burning in Texas (NIFC).
• TFS  has responded to 179 fires for 170,686 acres in the past 7 days.

YTD Fire Stats, September 10, 2011. Source: TFS

• For additional details see earlier entries including
• Flooding in the U.S. Northeast Forces Mass Evacuations
• Texas Wildfires Destroy 1,626 Homes, as Drought Worsens
• Texas Wildfires Torch 1,100 Homes
• Texas Bastrop Blaze Burns 25,000 Acres, 476 Homes
• Drought Intensifies in Southern U.S.

US Wildfire:

• States currently reporting large fires (NIFC):
• Arizona (3)
• California (2)
• Florida (1)
• Idaho (6)
• Minnesota (1)
• Montana (4)
• Oklahoma (3)
• Oregon (7)
• Texas (26)
• Washington (2)

• Washington, USA. A large wildfire in Goldendale, Washington, has consumed about 5,300 acres and destroyed at least 64 buildings, reports said.
• A firefighter described the fire as “a greased pig rodeo,” moving first in one direction, then another by shifting winds. Hundreds of people have been evacuated.
• Oregon, USA. Major wildfires, continue to burn in Central and Eastern Oregon, Most of the blazes have been ignited by lightning.
• The largest blaze burning in Oregon is the High Cascades Complex near Madras, which was started by lightning, has so far consumed about 108,000 acres, reports said.
• The Shadow Lake Fire has consumed more than 7,000 acres since August 28 when it was ignited by lightning.
• Wyoming, USA. A large wildfire located about 24 miles north of Dubois, WY, near the Double Cabin Campground and Guard Station, has consumed more than 20,000 acres.
• The Norton Point fire was started by lightning.
• Idaho, USA. The Saddle Complex Fire, which was ignited by lightning on August 10, has consumed 30,511 acres, InciWeb reported.
• 30 Wyoming Air National Guard members have been deployed to Idaho to help fight wildfires, reports said.
• Salt (Salmon-Challis National Forest): 17,546 acres at 17 percent contained. This fire is 16 miles southwest of Salmon. Evacuations are in effect. (NIFC)
• California. Canyon Fire (Kern County Fire Department): 14,802 acres at 91 percent contained. This fire is five miles southeast of Tehachapi.
• Montana. Forty One Complex (Bitterroot National Forest): 6,027 acres. This complex of four fires is eight miles east of Hamilton.
• Oklahoma. Ferguson Fire (Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge): 40,002 acres at 85 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles northeast of Cache.

Other Global Disasters

• Zanzibar. About 200 people have perished after a boat carrying more than 800 people capsized in the Indian Ocean due to strong currents.

Related Links

• Mega Heatwaves Could Kill Tens of Thousands in the U.S. FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• U.S. Disaster Losses Mounting
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA  FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• U.S. back-to-back disasters phase has begun
• 2011 Much More Disastrous: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Global Disasters in 2011 Could Impact 1/3 to 1/2 of the Human Population
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs FIRE-EARTH Forecast

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities EDRO Forecast
• 2011 Disaster Calendar – August
• 2010 Disaster Calendar 
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Texas Wildfires Destroy 1,626 Homes, as Drought Worsens

Extreme and exceptional drought levels plague nearly 96 percent of Texas

Wildfires have consumed more than 3.62 million acres of Texas since January

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“Oppressive heat and fires were the story in the country’s mid-section and southern Plains as no relief was seen there this past week. In a bit of cruel irony, it was the strong and persistent winds of Lee, which just missed the mark of the drought’s epicenter in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, that fanned the large number of fire outbreaks in Texas.” Drought Monitor

Disaster Calendar 2011 – September 8

[September 8, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,651 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Texas, USA. The total number of homes destroyed by Bastrop fire is now confirmed at 1,386. At least 240 additional homes have been lost on other fires since Sunday, for a total of about 1,626, TFS reported.
• The worst fires in Central Texas for at least a century are fulled by a year-long intense drought, low humidity and strong winds generated by the remnants of weather system that had earlier spawned Tropical Storm Lee.
• Texas has been plagued by its worst drought in at least 6 decades.
• Drought is expected to continue in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
• Fire Management Details(Texas Forest Service, TFS)
  • Date: Thursday, September 8, 2011
  • National Preparedness Level: 3
  • Southern Area Preparedness Level: 4
  • TFS Preparedness Level: 5
• Fire Stats
  • Total Number of Fires YTD: ~ 18,776
  • Acres burned: ~ 3,621,589 [“That’s roughly the size of Connecticut.” Rick Perry said.]
  • Structures Destroyed by Fire: 4,155 units [FEWW Estimate: ~5,200]
  • Fires in the past 7 days: TFS has responded to 176 fires for 126,844 acres.
  • Since Sunday about 1,626  homes and other structures have been destroyed in various fires.
  • At least 5,000 people have been forced to abandon their homes.
  • About 700 people are in emergency shelters.
  • The 34,000-acre Bastrop Complex Fire near Austin is reportedly 30 percent contained.
  • BEAR CREEK (#536), Cass County. 25,000 acres, unknown containment. The fire is burning very actively in heavy timber and is threatening numerous houses. Eight homes have been destroyed.
  • PEDERNALES BEND (Spicewood), Travis County. 6,500 acres, 80 percent contained. Sixty-seven homes were destroyed.
  • RILEY ROAD, Grimes/Montgomery/Waller counties. 11,000 acres, 60 percent contained. Seventy-five homes have been destroyed just west of Magnolia.
  • TAMINA ROAD, Montgomery County. 150 acres, unknown containment. Hundreds of homes were evacuated Monday, but none was reported lost.
  • UNION CHAPEL, Bastrop County. 912 acres, 90 percent contained. Twenty-five homes were destroyed just west of Bastrop.
  • PETERS CHAPEL, Harrison County. 650 acres, 80 percent contained. The fire is burning actively in pine plantation. Numerous homes have been evacuated. Two homes were destroyed.
  • STEINER RANCH, Travis County. 125 acres, 50 percent contained.  More than 1,000 homes were evacuated. Thirty-five homes were destroyed.
  • #491, Limestone County. 3,000 acres, 95 percent contained. One was lost 20 miles east of Waco.
  • DELHI, Caldwell County. 6,000 acres. Six homes were lost on this fire east of Lockhart.
  • BAILEY, Colorado County. 2,300 acres, 90 percent contained. This fast-moving fire threatened 40 homes near Columbus. Ten homes were destroyed.
  • DIANA (#545), Upshur County. 2,500 acres, 70 percent contained. Twenty homes are threatened.
  • LUTHERHILL, Fayette County. 2,700 acres, 95 percent contained. The community of Ruttersville was evacuated. Fourteen homes were destroyed.
  • MOORE, Smith County. 1,500 acres, 90 percent contained. Ten homes were evacuated and five were lost on this fire burning on the Smith/Gregg County line. Two civilian fatalities were reported.
  • Wildfires in East Texas have consumed at least 2,000 acres, killing a woman and her baby and destroying more than a dozen homes, a report said.
  • BOOT WALKER (#553), Marion County. 1,000 acres, unknown containment. Thirty homes are threatened.
  • TOAD ROAD (#552), Upshur County. 350 acres, unknown containment. Three homes were lost and dozens remain threatened.
  • HOPEWELL (#854), Walker County. 1,035 acres, 90 percent contained. Thirty homes have been evacuated, five homes were destroyed.
  • HALSBRO COMPLEX, Red River County. 958 acres, unknown containment. Fifteen homes are threatened, but none reported lost.
  • #502, Nacogdoches County. 4,000 acres, unknown containment. More than a dozen homes have been evacuated, but none lost.
  • ARBOR, Houston County. 3,000 acres, 90 percent contained. Up to 15 homes are reported lost.
  • OLD MAGNOLIA, Gregg County. 1,000 acres, 80 percent contained. Several structures and a gas plant are threatened. Two fuel tanks exploded.
  • #839, Leon County (Concord Robbins). 4,689 acres, 90 percent contained. Twenty homes are reported lost and more than 300 were evacuated.
  • 101 RANCH, Palo Pinto County. 6,555 acres, 85 percent contained. The fire is burning on the south side of Possum Kingdom Lake near the town of Brad. Thirty-nine homes and nine RV’s have been reported destroyed.
  • Death toll from the fire outbreak has climbed to at least 4, a report said.
  • Yesterday (September 7, 2011) TFS responded to 20 new fires for 1,422 acres, including new large fires in Red River, Smith, and Cherokee/Rusk counties.
  • TFS has responded to 176 fires for 126,844 acres in the past seven days.
  • Texas drought-related losses YTD: At least $10 billion

• Oklahoma, USA. D3 and D4 (extreme and exceptional) drought levels now plague nearly 85.5 percent of the state.
• New Mexico, USA. D3 and D4 drought levels have intensified across NM, currently gripping about 72.2 percent of the state, a rise of more than 11 percent since last week.

Global Climate

The forecasters at Climate Prediction Center (CPC) have upgraded last month’s La Niña Watch to a La Niña Advisory. “La Niña, which contributed to extreme weather around the globe during the first half of 2011, has re-emerged in the tropical Pacific Ocean and is forecast to gradually strengthen and continue into winter.”

“This means drought is likely to continue in the drought-stricken states of Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico,” said Mike Halpert, deputy director of the CPC. “La Niña also often brings colder winters to the Pacific Northwest and the northern Plains, and warmer temperatures to the southern states.”

Other Global Incidents

• Wellington, New Zealand. A mystery virus with flu-like symptoms has forced at least one Wellington school to shut  down, as a third of of the students and half the staff were sickened, a report said.
• “Some students were also suffering ear and chest infections.”

Related Links

• Mega Heatwaves Could Kill Tens of Thousands in the U.S. FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• U.S. Disaster Losses Mounting
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA  FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• U.S. back-to-back disasters phase has begun
• 2011 Much More Disastrous: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Global Disasters in 2011 Could Impact 1/3 to 1/2 of the Human Population
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs FIRE-EARTH Forecast

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities EDRO Forecast
• 2011 Disaster Calendar – August
• 2010 Disaster Calendar 
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Texas Wildfires Torch 1,100 Homes

Wildfires Continue to Consume Texas

181 fires consume 118,413 acres and about 1,100 homes in 7 days

Texas wildfires have burned about  3.6 million acres and 4,400 structures [FEWW Estimate] so far this year.

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In view of the continued hacking and censorship of this blog by the Internet Mafia, the Moderators have decided to maintain only a minimum presence at this site, until further notice.

FIRE-EARTH will continue to update the 2011 Disaster Calendar for the benefit of its readers.

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Disaster Calendar 2011 – September 6

[September 6, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,653 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Texas, USA. Some 181 fires have consumed 118,413 acres and destroyed about 1,100 homes in the past 7 days. Texas wildfires have burned at least 3.6 million acres and 4,400 structures [FEWW Estimate] so far this year.
• The worst fires in Central Texas for at least a century are fulled by a year-long intense drought, low humidity and strong winds generated by the remnants of weather system that had earlier spawned Tropical Storm Lee.
• Texas has been plagued by its worst drought in at least 6 decades.
• Fire Management Details(Texas Forest Service, TFS)
  • Date: Tuesday, September 6, 2011
  • National Preparedness Level: 3
  • Southern Area Preparedness Level: 3
  • TFS Preparedness Level: 5
• Fire Stats
  • Total Number of Fires YTD: ~ 18,741
  • Acres burned: ~ 3,600,000 [“That’s roughly the size of Connecticut.” Rick Perry said.]
  • Structures Destroyed by Fire: 4,400 units [FEWW Estimate]
  • Fires in the past 7 days: TFS has responded to 201  fires for 118,413
  • About 1,100  homes have been destroyed in various fires.
  • At least 5,000 people have been forced to abandon their homes.
  • About 700 people are in emergency shelters.
  • The 30,000-acre Bastrop Complex Fire near Austin is still zero-percent contained.
  • At least 13 of the blazes are larger than 1,000 acres (including 7 that have torched more than 3,000 acres).
  • Wildfires in East Texas have consumed at least 2,000 acres, killing a woman and her baby and destroying more than a dozen homes, a report said.
  • Death toll from the fire outbreak has climbed to at least 4, a report said.
  • Yesterday (September 5, 2011) TFS responded to 22 new fires for 7,544 acres, including 10 new large fires.
  • Texas drought-related losses YTD: At least $10 billion

Other Disasters

• Japan. Death toll from Typhoon TALAS has climbed to at least 48 with 54 others reported missing.
• About 3,000 people are still in evacuation centers.
• Dozens of villages and tens of thousands of people in central Japan are still cut off.
• TALAS was the worst storm to hit Japan in 3 decades.
• Connecticut , USA. The White House has  declared Connecticut a major disaster area because of the damage  caused by Tropical Storm Irene beginning on August 27, 2011.
• Virginia, USA. The White House has  declared Virginia a major disaster area due to the damage caused Hurricane Irene during the period of August 26-28, 2011.
• New Hampshire, USA. The White House has  declared a major disaster exists in the State of New Hampshire due to the damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene beginning on August 26, 2011.
• Pennsylvania, USA. The White House has  declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania due to the damage caused by Hurricane Irene during the period of August 26-30, 2011.
• Rhode Island, USA. The White House has  declared a major disaster exists in the State of Rhode Island due to the damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene during the period of August 27-29, 2011.
• Massachusetts, USA. The White House has  declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts due to the damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene during the period of August 27-29, 2011.
• Pakistan. Death toll from flooding in Pakistan has climbed to at least 123, reports said.
• Floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains in southern Sindh province have destroyed about half a million mud huts.
  
• At least 100,000 heads of cattle are dead or missing.
• Floods have destroyed about half million acres of cropland, and 80 percent of harvest-ready crops in the region.
• At least third of a million people have been displaced.
• More than 2.2 million others have been severely affected.
  

Related Links

• Texas Bastrop Blaze Burns 25,000 Acres, 476 Homes
• Mega Heatwaves Could Kill Tens of Thousands in the U.S. FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• U.S. Disaster Losses Mounting
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA  FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• U.S. back-to-back disasters phase has begun
• 2011 Much More Disastrous: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Global Disasters in 2011 Could Impact 1/3 to 1/2 of the Human Population
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs FIRE-EARTH Forecast

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities EDRO Forecast
• 2011 Disaster Calendar – August
• 2010 Disaster Calendar 
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

TS Lee: Louisiana and Mississippi declare states of emergency

Governors of Louisiana and Mississippi declare states of emergency, as Lee moves closer to the Gulf Coast

Up to 40 centimeters of rain is expected to fall over southern Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, with as much as 50 centimeters  (20 inches) forecast in some areas, the hurricane center said.

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FIRE-EARTH will continue to update the 2011 Disaster Calendar for the benefit of its readers.

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Disaster Calendar 2011 – September 3

[September 3, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,656 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Louisiana, USA. Governor Jindal has declared a state of emergency in 35 parishes expecting flash flooding and high tides as a result of the storm system.  State officials have urged voluntary evacuations in parts of Lafourche Parish and Grand Isle, Jindal told reporters.

• Mississippi, USA. Governor Barbour has declared a state of emergency in seven counties expected to receive heavy rain and floods as the storm moves slowly north.

• Sindh Province, Pakistan. Flooding triggered by days of monsoon rains in Pakistan’s Sindh province have killed about 70 people, destroying or damaging about a half of a million homes, wiping out hundreds of villages, washing away roads, bridges and other infrastructure, breaching irrigation canals, inundating vast tracts of land, destroying or damaging 2.5 million acres of crop, leaving hundreds of thousands of cattle dead, and displacing or severely affecting more than 2 million people, officials have said.
• The latest disasters in the area is a double whammy for tens of thousands of 2010 flood victims who had already lost their homes and were living in thatched huts which have all collapsed.\

• Texas, USA. Some 18,612 wildfires in Texas so far this year have consumed at least 3,477,685 acres, destroying 2,450 homes/structures, Texas Forest Service reported. [Note: the actual figure may be closer to 3,100 structures – FEWW]

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Losses Mounting
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA  FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• U.S. back-to-back disasters phase has begun
• 2011 Much More Disastrous: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Global Disasters in 2011 Could Impact 1/3 to 1/2 of the Human Population
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• 2011 Disaster Calendar – August
• 2010 Disaster Calendar 
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

The Wildfire that Broke Texas’s Back

Expecting Miracles !!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated the entire state of Texas a disaster area with 213 of the states 254 counties declared as primary natural disaster areas, folowing one of the worst droughts on record.

The Lone Star State. Source: The Texas Forest Service. Click image to enlarge.

Since January 1, 2011, the drought, wildfires and other natural disasters have destroyed at least a third of the  corn, oats, wheat, pasture and forage crops in the Lone Star State.

The back-to-back disasters have also destroyed tens of thousands of cattle, horses and other farm animals, so far this year.

The High Five Interchange, Dallas, Texas. Source: Flickr. Some rights reserved.

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by area (695,620 sqkm), after Alaska, and second largest by population (pop: 21 million), behind California.

Drought Monitor Maps showing classification changes for selected time periods. Source: National Drought Mitigation Center/UNL. Click images to enlarge.

 

Map of below normal 28-day average streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the day of year (Texas). Source: USGS. Click images to enlarge.

 

Related Links

• U.S. Drought Getting Deadlier
• U.S. Wildfires – June 21 Update
• Texas Dynamic Dyer Mill Fire Devours 50 Buildings
• U.S. Wildfire Update – June 17
• Wildfires Raging in Arizona, Alaska, NC, Georgia, Texas …
• Texas Wildfires – Update April 30
• Texas wildfire conditions may worsen
• Texas Wildfires Scorch 1.8 Million Acres
• TEXAS FIRES – April 21 Update
• Texas Fires: More Towns Evacuated
• TEXAS ON FIRE

U.S. Wildfires News and Blame Games

Was it climate change, drought, soaring temperatures, low humidity and lightning, or Gen McCain and his illegal immigrants?

In reply to a comment posted on June 14, 2011, FIRE-EARTH said: “… when the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake struck Tokyo Region, the authorities blamed it on the Korean immigrants. Mobs of vicious locals rounded up thousands of the Koreans and massacred them. http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?menu=c10400&no=320400&rel_no=1“

The Incorrigible McPain

“There is substantial evidence that some of these fires have been caused by people who have crossed our border illegally [… ] the answer to that part of the problem is to get a secure border,” McCain said at a press conference in Arizona on Saturday. Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters. Image may be subject to copyright.

That said, if any of the devastating fires in Arizona were found to have been started deliberately, the readers ought to ask: “Is John McCain pathologically capable of paying someone to start a fire so that he could blame it on the Mexicans?”

WILDFIRE NEWS HEADLINES

• John McCain’s wildfire accusations
• Az. sheriff also blames wildfire on Mexicans
• 2 forest rangers killed battling Florida wildfire
• Wildfire smoke blankets Jacksonville, Northeast Florida
• Wildfire smoke blankets Jacksonville, Northeast Florida
• Arizona wildfire burns horses as well as pasture and homes
• Wildfire comes close to neighborhoods in Katy
• Raw: Ground video of Katy wildfire
• Fires leave wildlife with injuries, burns, scorched habitat
• TX, AZ residents nervous about wildfire paths

Related Links

• U.S. Wildfires – June 21 Update

Texas Dynamic Dyer Mill Fire Devours 50 Buildings

The ferocious Dyer Mill Fire destroys dozens of homes, buildings in Grimes County northwest of Houston

The Dyer Mill Fire has destroyed 30 homes and 20 other building, scorching 3,600 acres in Grimes County about 80 miles northwest of Houston, reports said.

Frightening Fire Stats

• Since the start of fire on November 15, 2010, some 12,189 fires have burned 3,012,876 acres in the state of Texas (Source: Texas Forest Service.)
• Six of the 10 largest recorded fires in Texas history have occurred in 2011 (Source: TFS).
• Texas wildfires have destroyed about 1,700 homes and structures [FIRE-Earth estimate] so far this year [TFS figure: 1,273 structures lost.]

Texas: Daily Fire Danger Map

Other Fires

Another large fire is raging in Trinity and Polk counties. The massive 14,000-acre blaze is said to be one of the largest in East Texas history.

The Bearing Fire has been burning since Friday, forcing many evacuations and causing loss of property.

NUGENT, Jones County. 450 acres, unknown containment. One home was destroyed on this fire burning in tall grass 10 miles northeast of Hawley.

FORTUNE 2, Palo Pinto County. 200 acres, 25 percent contained.

Uncontained fires from previous days (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels):

BIRD RANCH 2, Cottle County. 29,976 acres, 90 percent contained. The fire is burning in rough terrain 13 miles west of Paducah. .

BOLT, Jim Hogg County. 1,300 acres, 90 percent contained.

SUTTON CEMETERY, Hardin County. 170 acres, 80 percent contained. The fire is burning in 12-year-old plantation 15 miles west of Kountze.

CAMP BOOTHE OAKS, Nolan County. 1,116 acres, 80 percent contained. The fire is 7 miles southwest of Sweetwater in tall grass.

• TFS currently is responding to six fires that have burned 33,212 acres.
• 217 of the 254 Texas counties are reporting burn bans.
• Detailed fire information can be found at inciweb.org.
• The Texas Forecast Fire Danger Map: Texas Interagency Coordination Center website under Fire Danger.

Drought information:

• Since January 2011 only five counties in Texas (Bowie, Red River, Lamar, Fannin, Grayson) have received normal rainfall.
• Over the last 60 days, around 70 percent of the state has rainfall deficits running 50 percent or less of normal rainfall.
• Over the last 30 days, around 90 percent of the state has rainfall deficits running 50 percent or less of normal rainfall.

Related Links

• North America Fire and Smoke Hazards – June 20

Texas Wildfires – Update April 30

Texas wildfires consume 2.1m acres

RED FLAG WARNINGS ISSUED for PARTS of 9 STATES

About 7,000 fires scorch more than 2 million acres, 1,132 structures

NWS has issued Red Flag Warnings for parts of California, Nevada, Arizona,  New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Florida.

In the past seven days, TFS has responded to 96 fires for 119,026 acres.

YTD Totals

• Fires: 6,973
• Acres burned: 2,124,343
• Structures lost: 1,132 [Texas fires destroy 1370 homes]

Click image to enter NWS portal.

Fatalities

• Two firefighters have lost their lives, including one near Lubbock who was killed yesterday.
• Two sightseers were killed as their plane  circled over fires Tuesday.

Cattle and Horses

NO official figures have been released so far. However,  FIRE-EARTH estimates that up to 50,000 heads of cattle and horses may have been killed or seriously injured as a result of the deadly fires since beginning of the year.

“Between 400,000 and 500,000 cattle have been injured by the fire but survived,” a report said.

Dry Conditions Decimating Texas Crops

Texas farmers produce about 100 million bushels of wheat on average each year, but they would be lucky to produce  a third of that amount this year, says Texas AgriLife Extension Service .

“This year’s crop condition ratings show about 40 percent of the Texas crop in very poor condition, which compares with 65 percent very poor in March of 2006 and 53 percent very poor in May of 2009,” said Dr. Mark Welch, AgriLife Extension economist specializing in grain marketing and policy.

Related Links

• Texas wildfires consume nearly 2m acres
• Texas wildfire conditions may worsen
• Texas Wildfires Scorch 1.8 Million Acres
• TEXAS FIRES – April 21 Update
• Texas Fires: More Towns Evacuated

• TEXAS ON FIRE
• Wildfires Devastating Texas; Gov. Perry Tours
• Local officials in a parched Texas county have resorted to asking their constituents to pray for rain
• Drought sears farmers’ hopes: They had wanted to take advantage of record prices for commodities
• U.S. Agrees to Help Fight Mexico Wildfires

• Global Disaster Forecast – UPDATE 17 Mar
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• Extreme fire danger, continued major flooding in the US

• US Wildfire Pattern Consistent with Drought
• National Fire Stats Falsified?
• Denver wildfire forces evacuation of 10,000 homes
• Wildfires Wreaking Havoc Across the U.S.
• World on Fire
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather

Texas wildfires consume nearly 2m acres

RED FLAG WARNINGS ISSUED for PARTS of 8 STATES

Texas wildfires scorch about 2 million acre, 905 structures

NWS has issued Red Flag Warnings for parts of California, Arizona,  New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Florida.

IF IT ISN’T FLOODED, IT MUST BE BURNING!

Click image to enter NWS portal.

TEXAS FOREST SERVICE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT
Thursday, April 28, 2011
National Preparedness Level: 1
Southern Area Preparedness Level: 4
TFS Preparedness Level: 5

In the past seven days, TFS has responded to 103 fires for 91,542 acres.

YTD Totals

• Fires: 6,329
• Acres burned: 1,930,118
• Structures lost: 905 [Texas fires destroy 1370 homes]

Largest Fires

ROCKHOUSE, Presidio and Jeff Davis Counties. 292,739 acres, 66 percent contained.
DEATON COLE, Val Verde County. 40,000 acres, 50 percent contained.
SCOTT RANCH, Irion County. 10,000 acres, 40 percent contained.
PLEASANT FARMS, Ector County (and C-BAR, Crane County). 12,800 acres, 75 percent contained.
OASIS, Kimble County. 6,400 acres, 10 percent contained.

Latest: CR 266, Duval County. 1,500 acres, 89 percent contained.

BOYS RANCH, Potter and Oldham counties. 500 acres, 85 percent contained.
CHAMPION, Mitchell County. 1,000 acres, no containment.
HAPPY, Castro County. 3,000 acres, 75 percent contained.
FULLER, Scurry County. 5,200 acres, 70 percent contained.
SPADE RANCH, Terry County. 4,000 acres, 90 percent contained.
MATHIS, Cottle County. 300 acres, 90 percent contained.
T-BAR RANCH, Lynn County. 1500 acres, 90 percent contained.
PK COMPLEX, Stephens and Palo Pinto Counties. 126,734 acres, 94 percent contained.
WILDCAT, Coke County. 159,308 acres, 90 percent contained.

Fatalities

• Two firefighters have lost their lives, including one near Lubbock who was killed yesterday.
• Two sightseers were killed as their plane  circled over fires Tuesday.

Cattle and Horses

NO official figures have been released so far. However,  FIRE-EARTH estimates that up to 50,000 heads of cattle and horses may have been killed or seriously injured as a result of the deadly fires since beginning of the year.

“Between 400,000 and 500,000 cattle have been injured by the fire but survived,” a report said.

Dry Conditions Decimating Texas Crops

Texas farmers produce about 100 million bushels of wheat on average each year, but they would be lucky to produce  a third of that amount this year, says Texas AgriLife Extension Service .

“This year’s crop condition ratings show about 40 percent of the Texas crop in very poor condition, which compares with 65 percent very poor in March of 2006 and 53 percent very poor in May of 2009,” said Dr. Mark Welch, AgriLife Extension economist specializing in grain marketing and policy.

Related Links

•  Texas wildfire conditions may worsen
• Texas Wildfires Scorch 1.8 Million Acres
• TEXAS FIRES – April 21 Update

• Texas Fires: More Towns Evacuated
• TEXAS ON FIRE
• Wildfires Devastating Texas; Gov. Perry Tours
• Local officials in a parched Texas county have resorted to asking their constituents to pray for rain
• Drought sears farmers’ hopes: They had wanted to take advantage of record prices for commodities
• U.S. Agrees to Help Fight Mexico Wildfires

• Global Disaster Forecast – UPDATE 17 Mar
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• Extreme fire danger, continued major flooding in the US

• US Wildfire Pattern Consistent with Drought
• National Fire Stats Falsified?
• Denver wildfire forces evacuation of 10,000 homes
• Wildfires Wreaking Havoc Across the U.S.
• World on Fire
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather

Texas Wildfires Scorch 1.8 Million Acres

6,251 fires consume  1,837,958 acres, 902 structures and at least 20,000 livestock

Wildfire Image of the Day: Texas Wildfires Burn Near McDonald Observatory

The dome of the 15-yo Hobby-Eberly Telescope at McDonald Observatory is seen against a background of burning mountains in Texas on April 18, 2011. Photo Credit: Frank Cianciolo, McDonald Observatory 

Texas Wildfires Update

Report: Saturday, April 23, 2011

• National Preparedness Level: 1
• Southern Area Preparedness Level: 4
• TFS Preparedness Level: 5

Texas Fires YTD Totals

• Fires: 6,251 [10 new fires]
• Acres Burned: 1,837,958
• Structures Destroyed: 902
• Source: Texas Forest Service (TFS)

TEXAS FIRES – April 21 Update

TEXAS BURNING FROM STEM TO STERN: TFS

Texas Totals: 828 Structures and 1,779,788 acres consumed by 6,057  fires 

Report: End of Wednesday, April 20, 2011
National Preparedness Level: 1
Southern Area Preparedness Level: 3
TFS Preparedness Level: 5

Texas Fires YTD Totals

Fires: 6,057
Acres Burned: 1,779,788
Structures Destroyed: 828
Source: Texas Forest Service (TFS)

Fatalities
Two firefighters have lost their lives, including one near Lubbock who was killed yesterday
Two sightseers were killed as their plance  circled over fires Tuesday.

Livestock
NO official figures have been released so far. However,  FIRE-EARTH estimates that up to 20,000 heads of cattle may have been killed or injured as a result of the deadly fires since beginning of the year.

Dry Conditions Decimating Texas Crops

Texas farmers produce about 100 million bushels of wheat on average each year, but they would be lucky to produce  a third of that amount this year, says Texas AgriLife Extension Service .

“This year’s crop condition ratings show about 40 percent of the Texas crop in very poor condition, which compares with 65 percent very poor in March of 2006 and 53 percent very poor in May of 2009,” said Dr. Mark Welch, AgriLife Extension economist specializing in grain marketing and policy.

Related News Links

• Agricultural Drought Task Force   
• Firefighters battle two blazes near Magnolia, Shenandoah

Related Links

• Texas Fires: More Towns Evacuated
• TEXAS ON FIRE
• Wildfires Devastating Texas; Gov. Perry Tours
• Local officials in a parched Texas county have resorted to asking their constituents to pray for rain
• Drought sears farmers’ hopes: They had wanted to take advantage of record prices for commodities
• U.S. Agrees to Help Fight Mexico Wildfires

• Global Disaster Forecast – UPDATE 17 Mar
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• Extreme fire danger, continued major flooding in the US

• US Wildfire Pattern Consistent with Drought
• National Fire Stats Falsified?
• Denver wildfire forces evacuation of 10,000 homes
• Wildfires Wreaking Havoc Across the U.S.
• World on Fire
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather

Last Updated: April 21, 2011 at 09:28UTC

Texas Fires: More Towns Evacuated

Wildfire force Evacuations of several  towns, Communities

More than 6,000 Fires Consume 1.78 million hectares, 743 structures

Fire Status

• Texas Forest Service (TFS) Preparedness Level: 5 [Maximum Alert]
• Red Flag Warnings

Year-to-Date Stats

• Total Fires:  6,044
• Acres Burned: 1,787,363
• Structures Lost to Fire: 743

Current Situation

• 10 new fires
• 1 million acres burned since April 6
• “The 100 acre Pinnacle Fire, now 90 percent contained destroyed 6 homes, caused numerous evacuations, and threatened 100 homes & 10 businesses.” TFS reported.

New large fires from yesterday

• CR 4600 (Woodville 285), Tyler County: 130 acres, 25% contained

Large, uncontained fires from previous days

– PK COMPLEX, Stephens and Palo Pinto Counties. 147,065 acres total.

• PK West Fire is 89,715 acres, unknown containment.
• PK East Fire is 10,996 acres, unknown containment.
• Hohertz Fire is 40,575 acres, unknown containment.
• Jackson Ranch Fire is 6,687 acres, 50 percent contained.

• 600+ homes are threatened [residents evacuated]
• 31 homes have been confirmed destroyed.
• “Residents of Possum Kingdom Lake had largely evacuated and were desperately trying to learn the fate of their homes. The forest service said 149 homes had been destroyed,” a report said.
• More homes have been reported as destroyed yesterday, waiting confirmation.
• The town of Strawn has been evacuated.
• 30 homes at Bunger and several communities surrounding Possum Kingdom Lake have been evacuated; the fire is now 6 miles.

A wildfire threatens an upmarket hom near Possum Kingdom, Texas, April 19, 2011. Photo: LM Otero/Associated Press. Image may be subject to copyright.

– WILDCAT, Coke County. 150,000 acres, north of San Angelo, unknown containment.

• More than 400 homes have been saved.
• The communities of Grape Creek, Quail Valley, Bronte, Robert Lee and Tennyson are threatened.
• Evacuations are in effect for multiple communities.

– COOPER MOUNTAIN RANCH, Kent, Stonewall, Scurry and Fisher counties.

• 152,000 acres, 80 percent contained.
• Four homes have been destroyed.

– ROCKHOUSE, Presidio and Jeff Davis counties. 191,066 acres, 75 percent contained.

• 23 homes and 2 businesses were destroyed in the Ft. Davis area.

– SWENSON, Stonewall, King, and Knox counties. 122,500 acres, 90 percent contained.

– BRYSON COMPLEX, Jack County. 7,500 acres, 50 percent contained.

• More than 150 homes were threatened and saved in the town of Bryson.
• 70 people have been evacuated.

– PIPELINE, Tyler County. 7,000 acres, 75 percent contained.

• Forty homes are threatened

– SMITH, Young County. 2,000 acres, 85 percent contained.

– CR 104, Eastland County. 2,000 acres, 85 percent contained.

• 1,850 homes were threatened in the city of Cisco, as well as a church camp.
• Five homes destroyed.

– WICHITA COUNTY COMPLEX, Wichita County. 11,785 acres, 90 percent contained.

• Shepard Air Force Base and  hundreds of homes and apartment complexes around the area were threatened.
• Seven homes are destroyed.

– FRYING PAN RANCH, Andrews County. 80,907 acres, 80 percent contained.

• Numerous homes WNW of Andrews were threatened, but none have been lost.

– CANNON FIRE COMPLEX, Pecos County: Three large fires burning 50 miles east of Ft. Stockton, 80 percent contained

• The Cannon Fire:  9,248 acres
• The DRH Fire: 26,284 acres
• The Little Smokey Fire: 27,895 acres

– EAST SIDWYNICKS, Eastland County. 3,000 acres burning near Carbon City, 95 percent contained.

• 1200 homes were threatened.

– McPHERSON, Sutton County. 1,600 acres, 80 percent contained.
– SUTTON, Crockett County. 31,120 acres, 60 percent contained.
– YATES FIELD (formerly Iraan), Pecos County. 300 acres, 80 percent contained.

– ENCINO, Tom Green County. 12,659 acres, 90 percent contained.  Ten homes threatened and saved.

• Two homes damaged.

– HICKMAN, Midland County. 16,500 acres, 98 percent contained.

• 34 homes were destroyed,
• 62 homes were damaged on this fire south of Midland.

– MIDDLE PEASE, Motley County. 400 acres, 90 percent contained.
– DAD’S CORNER, Archer County. 6,100 acres, 70 percent contained.

• Fifteen homes are threatened.

More information available at TFS

Other Incidents

• In a related incident,  two people were killed when their small airplane crashed as it circled over a West Texas wildfire, a report said.
• Meanwhile, the town of Palo Pinto was under an evacuation order Tuesday night, a report said.

Related News Links

• Texas wildfires creep closer to Dallas-Fort Worth area
• As wind shifts, Texas wildfires chart a new path of destruction 
• Plane crash kills 2 sightseeing West Texas fires 

Related Links

• TEXAS ON FIRE
• Wildfires Devastating Texas; Gov. Perry Tours
• Local officials in a parched Texas county have resorted to asking their constituents to pray for rain
• Drought sears farmers’ hopes: They had wanted to take advantage of record prices for commodities
• U.S. Agrees to Help Fight Mexico Wildfires

• Global Disaster Forecast – UPDATE 17 Mar
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• Extreme fire danger, continued major flooding in the US

• US Wildfire Pattern Consistent with Drought
• National Fire Stats Falsified?
• Denver wildfire forces evacuation of 10,000 homes
• Wildfires Wreaking Havoc Across the U.S.
• World on Fire

Texas Wildfires Scorch ¼ Million Acres

Wildfire Consumes W Texas Town of Fort Davis

Out-of-control wildfires scorching 400 sq miles across Texas

A wildfire scorches more than 60,000 acres, burns 50 homes, devastates the W Texas town of Fort Davis

A massive wildfire that devastated the small mountain town of Fort Davis in West Texas, was moving at 14 MPH,  Texas Forest Service reported.

Another blaze burned a railroad bridge near Marfa, stranding about 180 passengers and crew members on an Amtrak train for about 20 hours.

List of Major Fires Erupting in the Past 36 Hours

• 62,000-acre blaze in West Texas has destroyed about 50 homes/buildings and devastated Fort Davis
• 16,000-acre blaze West Texas fire has destroyed up to 40 homes
• 71,000-acre fire in three rural counties about 175 miles west of Fort Worth
• 60,000-acre fire is threatening 2 towns north of Amarillo, in the Texas Panhandle
• 11,000-acre fire south of Lubbock, 70% contained

West Texas Wildfires

Click image for to watch video clip.

“This small town at the base of some of the most beautiful mountains in Texas now looks as if it’s surrounded by a giant, black lava flow. Once-golden rangeland is so black that Angus cattle are camouflaged.” Said a report.

Texas wildfires, fueled by high wind and ultra-dry conditions,  have scorched since April 2 some 280,000 acres of ranchland, killing livestock and destroying homes throughout the state.

At least 64 fire departments from 25 states are helping to contain the fires.

Oklahoma Wildfires

In Oklahoma, Governor Mary Fallin extended a 30-day state of emergency she declared on March 11.

“One wildfire in Cleveland in north central Oklahoma charred more than 1,500 acres and forced 350 people to evacuate while another struck near Granite in southwest Oklahoma, said Michelann Ooten, a spokeswoman for the state Office of Emergency Management.” Source.

Related Links

• WILDFIRES: Red Flag Warnings in 6 States Posted  on April 10, 2011
• Extreme Weather Conditions in the US Posted on April 9, 2011

• U.S. Weather: Flooding, Wildfires, Heavy Snow
• Severe Thunderstorms Pummel North and Central Georgia April 6, 2011
• US Weather Forecast: Thunderstorms, Strong Winds, Flooding, Fire [April 5, 2011]

• US Severe Weather Forecast: T-Storms, Tornadoes [April 4, 2011]
• Red Flag Warnings in Seven States
• Deadly EF2 Tornado Strikes Louisiana Town
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• US Wildfire Pattern Consistent with Drought
• National Fire Stats Falsified?
• Denver wildfire forces evacuation of 10,000 homes
• Fierce Storm Dumps 160mm of Rain over SoCal
• Wildfires Wreaking Havoc Across the U.S.
• World on Fire