Typhoon UTOR Strikes S China; 158,000 Evacuated

UTOR made landfall in south China’s Guangdong Province after killing 6 in the Philippiens

UTOR, the 11th typhoon to strike China so far this year, struck western Guangdong with Wednesday afternoon with winds of more than 151 km/hr per hour.

Officials had already evacuated more than 158,000 people in southern China provinces of Guangdong and Hainan as a precautionary measure ahead of the typhoon’s arrival, according to local meteorological authorities.

A “Red Wave Warning” concerning the storm surges remained in effect on Wednesday, said the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center.

“Waves up to 5.5 meters high were monitored around the center of the typhoon early Wednesday. Waves up to 9 meters are expected to appear in the northern part of the South China Sea from Wednesday noon to evening,” said the report.

Related Links

• Typhoon UTOR Batters Northern Philippines August 12, 2013

Utah Wildfire Destroys Dozens of Homes, Structures

Lightning-sparked wildfire forces hundreds of evacuations

A lightning-sparked wildfire has destroyed at least a dozen homes and 15 other structures, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents from the nearby mountain resort town of Park City, Utah.

At least 250 homes were still “imminently threatened,” said a fire management officer.

“In west-central Utah’s Skull Valley, more than 20 structures were threatened by the Patch Springs Fire that covered some 16 square miles. No evacuations had been ordered, though the fire remained about two miles from the town of Terra and homes on the Goshute Indian Reservation,” said a report.

The lightning-sparked State Fire, Utah’s largest fire, has devoured more than 22,000 acres, jumping at least 6 miles across the border into Idaho, and getting uncomfortably close to the town of Samaria.

About 40 major fires are currently burning across the West. Wildfires are devouring millions of acres in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Alaska.

Two Idaho Towns Evacuated Due To Massive Wildfire

Pine, Featherville evacuated as Elk Complex Fire continues to spread

The Elk Complex threatens the mountain town of Pine and the neighboring hamlet of Featherville, about 70 miles east of Boise, Idaho.

Evacuation orders have been issued for the Featherville and Pine areas due to increased fire activity, said the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office.

The fire has destroyed an estimated 20 homes, and many structures.

The Elk Complex Fire. Running crown fire into Pine. Credit: Boise National Forest/ U.S. Forest Service.

The Elk Fire resulted from several lightning fires which burned together on the night of August 8th. Fuels continue to be extremely dry and when combining with steep terrain, is creating plume dominated fire behavior. Areas concern are the small settlement of Prairie on the west side of the fire and the Pine/Featherville corridor on the east side. The southern perimeter follows the South Fork of the Boise River from Smith Creek to the end of Anderson Ranch Reservoir near Pine. The fire continues to move up the river corridor on the west side from Pine towards Featherville. Primary objective is to secure the fireline between all homes/subdivisions and the mountains to the west. Securing Prairie homes and ranches is a high priority. Ultimately the plan is to push the northern portion of the fire into the Trinity fire from last year.

The Elk Complex Fire. Lead plane marks the spot. Credit: Boise National Forest/ U.S. Forest Service.

The Boise National Forest has expanded a large area closure that is described specifically in the CLOSURES portion of this site. A map of the closure area can be found under MAPS. The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office has a mandatory evacuation in effect from Hwy 20 to the Johnson Creek Bridge south of Featherville. [Inciweb]

The Elk Complex Fire. Blaze starting to crest over ridge. Credit: Boise National Forest/ U.S. Forest Service.  

Fire  Information
Cause: Lightning
Date of Origin: Thursday August 08th, 2013 approx. 09:00 PM
Location: 10 miles southwest of Pine

Total Personnel: 631
Size: 98,413 acres
Percent Contained: 10%
Estimated Containment Date :Tuesday October 01st, 2013 approx. 12:00 AM

Pony Complex Fire PM Update August 13, 2013

The Pony Complex fire, about  12 miles Northeast of Mountain Home, ID, has consumed at least 143,900 acres with about 30 percent containment.

The Pony Complex Fire. Credit: Boise District/ Bureau of Land Management.

Fire Situation:

There was no reported change in acreage today due to smoke and thunderstorms in the area making aerial mapping unattainable. Fire behavior today remained active, running through grass and sage while backing across timbered areas. Some single tree torching and short range spotting was observed.  The fire is slowly progressing north, towards Blacks Creek. [Inciweb]

Wildfire Cause: Lightning
Date of Origin: Thursday August 08th, 2013 approx. 09:00 PM
Location: 12 miles northeast of Mountain Home, Idaho
Total Personnel:  342
Size:  143,900 acres
Percent Contained:  40%
Fuels Involved: Grass, sage with intermixed timber.
Fire Behavior:  Fire behavior remained active, running through grass and sage and backing through timber. Single tree torching and short range spotting was observed.
Growth Potential: High
Terrain Difficulty: High
Wind Conditions: 17 mph W
Temperature: 93 degrees
Humidity 8%

Related Links

• Disaster Declared in Elmore County, Idaho  August 13, 2013
• Idaho Wildfire Threatens Entire County August 12, 2013
• Idaho Town Evacuated as Wildfires Rage  August 10, 2013