Global Disasters/ Significant Events – 24 July 2013

Fire breaks out on evacuated Gulf gas well

Fire has broken out on a blown-out Gulf of Mexico gas well, a federal official has just confirmed.

Natural gas spewing from the Hercules 265 drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico about 55 miles off the Louisiana off the coast of Louisiana, Tuesday, July 23, 2013.  Photo released by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. 

The drilling rig operated by Walter Oil & Gas was evacuated early Tuesday after the blowout occurred; the fire broke out late Tuesday.

“All 44 personnel on board have been safely evacuated and are being transported to a secure location. No injuries have been reported. No oil has been released.” Walter Oil & Gas said in a statement.

Earlier The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) posted the following statement on their website:

BSEE Responds to Well Control Event at South Timbalier Block 220, 55 miles offshore Louisiana

July 23, 2013– The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is responding to a report of a loss of well control 55 miles offshore Louisiana in 154 feet of water. Walter Oil & Gas this morning reported the loss of control of Well A-3 on an unmanned platform at South Timbalier Block 220 while doing completion work on the sidetrack well to prepare the well for production. The well is flowing gas and no oil is being released. The operator reports that 44 personnel have been evacuated safely from the Hercules 265 jack-up rig.

BSEE inspectors conducting an overflight reported a light sheen one-half mile by 50 feet in area which is dissipating almost immediately. BSEE inspectors will remain at a near-by platform to keep abreast of the situation. BSEE is closely monitoring Walter Oil & Gas’ mobilization of its response efforts to stop the flow of gas and secure the well.

BSEE is closely coordinating with the Coast Guard and other federal agencies on response efforts.

-oOo-

Other Major Disasters/ Significant Events

Lake County, Ohio, Declared Disaster Area after Extensive Flooding

Officials have declared the Lake County a disaster area, after flooding hit many cities in the County on Saturday affecting thousands of residents, and damaging at least 3,000 homes.

The heaviest flood damage occurred in the western half of Lake County from Wickliffe to Mentor, officials stated.

-oOo-

Warm Springs wildfire spreads, more Oregon homes evacuated

The Sunnyside Turnoff fire started at about 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 20 along Highway 3 near Warm Springs, Oregon. Unseasonably hot weather, coupled with low humidities and strong winds caused the fire to escape initial and extended attack efforts. Inciweb reported.

“Firefighters evacuated about 40 homes in the Warm Springs area Sunday afternoon as a raging wildfire spread across thousands of acres of open country on the Indian reservation,” said a report.

Fire crews had earlier evacuated 200 homes, according to reports.

-oOo-

Wildfire forces Idaho’s Redfish Lake campers and gusts to evacuate

The 210 Road Fire, which ignited Monday, has consumed about a square mile of pine and brush in the Sawtooth National Forest.

Officials have evacuated the campgrounds on the lake’s southern edge and guests staying at the Redfish Lake Lodge located at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains, said a report.

There are currently 11 major wildfires burning tens of thousands of acres across southern and eastern Idaho, fueled by drought, high temperatures and low humidity. The blazes include Papoose Fire, Ridge Fire, Brown Butte, Thunder City, Lodgepole, Rough Creek, Gold Pan, Pine Creek Fire, Bradley and Summit Fire.

-oOo-

The Disaster President Signs Missouri Disaster Declaration

The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding during the period of May 29 to June 10, 2013.

The areas most severely affected were the counties of Barton, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Chariton, Clark, Howard, Iron, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Maries, Marion, Miller, Montgomery, Osage, Perry, Pike, Putnam, Ralls, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Sullivan, Texas, and Webster.

-oOo-

NW China Earthquake Update

Death has climbed to at least 95 after a 6.6-magnitude quake  followed by a significant aftershock struck NW China on Monday.

“As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the number of people that have been treated by medical institutions was 1,243, including 185 patients reported to be in a serious or critical status,” said a report.

-oOo-

UPDATED: Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 16:09

Severe Storms and Hail Damage up to 90% of France’s Burgundy Vine

Tuesday’s storms have damaged or destroyed up to 90 percent of the vines, threatening output for both the 2013 and 2014 vintages, said a report quoting producers.

“It is awful to see these vines ripped by hail and several years of wine growers’ work destroyed by the weather in one afternoon,” said the head of France’s independent wine makers.

-oOo-

Colorado Wildfires Burn Dozens of Homes, Force Thousands to Flee

Major wildfires fueled by record temperatures, strong winds and low humidity threaten thousands of homes in Colorado

Four major wildfires burning across Colorado have destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands to flee, including 900 inmates from a state prison.

Black Forest Fire, a wildfire which has consumed about 10,000 acres in a heavily wooded residential area northeast of Colorado Springs, forced the authorities to issue evacuations orders for more than 2,300 homes, forcing about 6,400 people to flee the area, according to El Paso County Sheriff. The blaze is currently at “zero  percent containment.”

As of Tuesday night, “between 40 and 60 homes” had been destroyed,” said Sheriff Maketa. “You can easily assume that [the number] is higher than that.”

“Right now, the firefighters are more focused on fighting fires, drawing lines. And law enforcement, to be very honest, is scrambling to get people out of there as well as do searches,” said Maketa, adding that firefighters had shifted from evacuation phase to search-and-rescue mode.

“Weather is not working with us right now, but our guys are giving it a heck of a shot,” he said.

The fire is burning in an area close to last summer’s devastating Waldo Canyon Fire that destroyed 346 homes and killed several people.

“It’s very, very reminiscent of what we experienced in Waldo Canyon,” Maketa said.

Royal Gorge Fire
In southern Colorado, a 4,000-acre fire dubbed Royal Gorge Fire has destroyed at least three structures  near the Royal Gorge Bridge and forced evacuation of “Old Max,” the Territorial Prison in Cañon City. Authorities have since evacuated Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. [Cause under investigation.]

Klikus Fire
Burning also in southern Colorado,  the Klikus Fire has consumed about 200 acres west of La Veta in Huerfano County, prompting mandatory evacuation of more than 200 residences. [Cause unknown.]

Rocky Mountain National Park Fire
A fourth wildfire has been burning in Rocky Mountain National Park since Monday. The fast moving blaze had grown to about 500 acres by Tuesday night, but it wasn’t threatening any structures, authorities said. [Sparked by lightning.]

Red Flag Warnings

Red Flag Warning are in effects for parts of Colorado, Utah, California and Arizona, as well as most of Nevada, NWS said.

Excessive Heat Warning

Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect  for portions of south-central Arizona that include NW and north-central Pinal County, and Maricopa County including the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

The afternoon temperatures in the region are forecast to climb to 112 degrees, warned NWS.

Related Links

• Destructive Wildfire Activity Intensifies in Colorado June 28, 2012
• Waldo Canyon fire the most destructive in Colorado history: Officials
• Drought 2013
• World Record High Temperature Could Be Broken This Year FIRE-EARTH Forecast – June 5, 2013

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DISASTER CALENDAR – June 12, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,004 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,004 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

The Big Smoke

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,270 Days Left

[September 23, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. 

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,270 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

U.S. Wildfires Prompt Air Quality Alerts

Hundreds of wildfires across the Midwest, Northwestern and Southern U.S. prompt Red Flag Warnings, air quality alerts and more evacuation orders.

Current Hazard Mapping System Fire and Smoke Analysis – NOAA/NESDIS

Map of Analyzed Fires from Satellite Data – NESDIS

See also Washington state health provides thousands of respirators as Wildfire smoke worsens

Other Disasters

• Alabama, USA. The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Alabama following the damage caused by Hurricane Isaac during the period of August 26 to September 5, 2012.

Related Links

• Massive Wildfires Raging in Washington Threaten to Merge into ‘Monster Blaze’ Posted September 22, 2012

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

State Of Disaster Declared in Michigan Counties

Fast-moving wildfire consumes 23,000 acres in Michigan

Luce and Schoolcraft counties in Upper Peninsula were declared disaster areas, while an outdoor burning ban was issued for 49 Michigan counties.

Many homes and several tourist destinations in Lake Superior State Forest have been evacuated in the region, as a fast moving wildfire called Duck Lake Fire consumes about 23,000 acres in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, destroying scores of structures including vacation homes.

“The whole sky is just smoke,” said Beverly Holmes, Newberry village manager, who was driving on a highway east of town, AP reported. “It’s like a heavy fog.”

The fire is threatening a resort in Pike Lake area.

A second blaze at the Seney National Wildlife Refuge in neighboring Schoolcraft County, which was also sparked by lightning, had consumed about 4,000 acres of forest and wetland, as of posting.

Other Wildfires

• Florida, USA.   “A wildfire that is burning in Orlando blew heavy smoke near the busy hotel and attractions district of Walt Disney world at the start of the busy Memorial Day weekend,” a report said.
• New Mexico, USA.  The massive Whitewater-Baldy blaze ( Gila Wilderness blaze), which has destroyed more than 2 dozen cabins and outbuilding in the Willow Creek Subdivision, Gila National forest, has grown to about 90,000 acres.
  • The nearby town of Mogollon is under a voluntary evacuation.
  • The two blazes, which merged forming the giant Gila Wilderness fire, were ignited buy lightning
• Utah, USA.  Lightning also sparked a  large blaze near Great Salt Lake, Utah, which has consumed about 4,000 acres.
• Nevada, USA.  Fire is still raging south of Carson City. The Topaz Ranch Estates wildfire has so far consumed about 35km²  of brush, destroying two dozen homes and outbuildings.
• Arizona, USA.  The so-called Gladiator Fire, currently Arizona’s largest wildfire, is still raging in the Grand Canyon. The massive blaze has so far consumed about 70km²  of ponderosa pine and brush some 65km north of Phoenix. The fire prompted evacuations last week.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Hundreds Flee as Wildfires Rage in Manitoba

Flames and smoke force the closure of several highways, as hundreds evacuate homes 

Wildfires consume about 50,000 acres in southeastern Manitoba as more than 500 people move to shelters.

READ THIS FIRST

Continued hacking and content censorship

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.

WordPress is HACKING this blog!

WordPress Continues to Hack Fire-Earth, Affiliated Blogs

The Blog Moderators Condemn in the Strongest Possible Terms the Continued Removal of Content and Hacking of FIRE-EARTH and Affiliated Blogs by WordPress!

United States of Censorship

Even Twitter Counters are disabled when Blog posts criticize Obama, or contain “forbidden phrases.”  See also: Google’s Top 10 List of ‘Holy Cows’.

Disaster Calendar 2011 – October 9

[October 9, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,620 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Manitoba, Canada. About 50,000 acres of land have been consumed by wildfires in southeastern Manitoba forcing more than 500 people to move to shelters.
• Dry conditions and winds of up to 90 kmh helped spread the fire covering an area 40 km long and six km wide near the town of Bissett,  a report said.
• “Fires also raged outside the southeastern Manitoba communities of Lac du Bonnet and Stuartburn, where a state of emergency was declared and 60 people were asked to leave for safety.”
• Alberta, Canada. At least 12 fires are burning across Alberta, including a large fire north of Fort McMurray, which started in May.
• McMurray fire has consumed more than 700,000 hectares,  fire officials said: “We expect that fire to be burning up until, probably, the next couple of months.”
• “We’ve had just about 950,000 hectares of Alberta burn this year, and last year at this time we only had 80,000, so that’s quite a significant difference.”
• Cairo, Egypt. Clashes between Coptic Christians and the security forces in Cairo have left at least 23 people dead and 150 injured, reports said.
• About 10 percent of Egypt’s 81 million population are Christians.
• “The only beneficiary of these events and acts of violence are the enemies of the January revolution and the enemies of the Egyptian people, both Muslim and Christian,” said the country’s Prime Minister.

Related Links

• Slave Lake Hit by Back-to-Back Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar – September
• 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

Wildfires Raging in Arizona, Alaska, NC, Georgia, Texas …

RED FLAG Warnings Issued for parts of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Florida

Some 770,000 acres are ablaze nationwide, with the worst hit state currently being Arizona where 3 major fires cover about 300,000 acres:

• Wallow Fire: 144,000 233,000 acres [as of 3:00 PM MST, 22:00UTC]
• Horseshoe Two Fire: 100,000 acres
• Murphy Fire: 40,000 acres

Wallow fire, which is consuming at least 144,000 acres near the New Mexico-Arizona state line is said to be the third largest in the state’s history.

Arizona fires have forced hundreds of residents to abandon their homes in several mountain towns.

Dry lightning is blamed for the Arizona wildfires, in line with FIRE-EARTH forecast posted on April 29, 2011.

The worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history

Forecast: Large-scale lightning outbreaks

Unfortunately, the worst may NOT be over yet.  In addition to more tornadoes and violent storms this year and the next, FIRE-EARTH forecasts phenomenally large-scale outbreaks of potentially deadly lightning clusters throughout the United States.

Hazard Mapping System Fire and Smoke Product

Current HMS Fire and Smoke Analysis. Click image to enlarge. Source: NESDIS

Fires and Smoke Satellite Analysis: North America

Source: NOAA

Click image to enlarge critical area.

National Weather Hazards Map

Click Map to enter NWS portal.

Other Major Fires:

Alaska: 6 fires,  84,000 acres
California: 3 fires, 2,000 acres
Colorado: 3 fires, 25,000
Florida: 1 fire
Georgia: 1 fire, 166,000
New Mexico: 3 fires, 110,000 acres
North Carolina: 1 fire, 45,000
Texas: 10 fires, 40,000

Other Wildfire Stats

Year-to-date statistics

• Date: 2011 (1/1/11 – 6/6/11)
• No of Fires:  27,250 [FIRE-EARTH Estimate]
• Acres Burned: 7,000,000 [FIRE-EARTH Estimate]

Previous Record [National Interagency Fire Center]

• Date: (1/1/06 – 5/23/06)
• No of Fires:  40,214
• Acres Burned: 2,478,309

Annual Average [Based on figures provided by National Interagency Fire Center]

• Date: 9-year average
• No of Fires:  27,020
• Acres Burned: 937,610

Conclusion: The U.S. wildfires 2011 have so far consumed 8 times as many acres as the YTD annual average for the previous 9-year period, while the average number of fires has remained almost unchanged.

Related Links

• 2011 Disaster Calendar – June 4

post updated at 23:31UTC on June 6, 2011

US Wildfire Pattern Consistent with Drought

2011: The Worst Year for Wildfires?

Large parts of Alaskan (and Canadian) forests could be consumed by wildfires: FEWW forecast

US Drought Monitor

Click images to enlarge.

Temperature Forecast – 3 Months Outlook

Fire Information – National Fire News

Weather: Winds will weaken, but relative humidity will remain in the teens which will continue a heightened risk for large fire potential across New Mexico and west Texas today. Showers and thunderstorms will increase today in the southern United States. Scattered showers will continue from Washington and Oregon to Montana and Wyoming. Source

Click images to enlarge.

Source: NIFC

Related Links

• National Fire Stats Falsified?
• Denver wildfire forces evacuation of 10,000 homes
• Wildfires Wreaking Havoc Across the U.S.
• US Wildfires: 50-percent more fires than the 10 year average

• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• Climate Forcing: Positive Feedback Mega Loop
• Global Climate Extremes INTENSIFYING

• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2011-2012 MegaDisasters
• Earth: Wounded and Feverish

• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• FEWW DISASTER FORECAST 2011
• 2011 Much More Disastrous
• 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• Megadisasters Loom
• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities

Fire Information

• Georgia Forestry Commission
• InciWeb
  
• Rocky Mountain Area Fire Center
• NIFC
• WILDFIRES Satellite Page

National Fire Stats Falsified?

Hundred Wildfires Erupt in Georgia

Wildfires in Georgia – Satellite Image

About a dozens large fire (outlined in red) were burning in southeastern Georgia on March 25, 2011 when MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured the above image. “The U.S. Forest Service identified the fires as being the Sessom Community Fire and the Elm Church Road Fire. They were among at least 11 large fires burning in Georgia on March 25. The Elm Church Road fire burned 2,000 acres on March 24, threatening the town of Cogdell, said the Georgia Forestry Commission. The fire was clearly still large the next day, when this image was taken. Georgia’s governor declared a state of emergency in the counties where the two large fires were burning.” Source: NASA-EO.   Click image to enlarge. Download larger image (3 MB, JPEG).

Fire Activity Continues

Heavy fire activity continues throughout Georgia, said  Georgia Forestry Commission. Since March 23, fire fighters have responded
to as many as 100 wildfires that have burned thousands of acres.

National Fire Stats Falsified?

Meanwhile, the National Interagency Fire Center have substantially revised and reduced their Year-to-date statistics. On Thursday March 24, 2011 the figures were as follows:

Year-to-date statistics 2011 (1/1/11 – 3/24/11)

• Fires: 15,906
• Acres: 616,427

Just a day later, the burnt-out acreage had shrunk by about 14 percent,  while the number of fires had actually climbed.

• Fires: 16,208
• Acres: 530,611

No explanation was provided as to the reason for the drastic alteration in burnt-out acreage extent.

See below for a partial Print Screen:

Click image to enlarge.

Meanwhile, Georgia gov. has declared a state of emergency because of the wildfires.

Fire status on Saturday from the GFC:

• Bacon County — fire burning SW Bacon County and N. Ware County, 13,600 acres consumed, 40 percent contained.
• Clinch County — fire burning in Arabia Bay, 16,000 acres burned, including portions of the community Berry Patch and the city of Homerville. Many residential and commercial structures are threatened, evacuations are underway.
• Camden County – Mary Fields Plantation fire SW of Kingsland has destroyed 2,500 acres,  20 percent contained; Catfish Landing fire contained at 125 acres, caused when fire previously ruled arson reignited.
• Coffee County — Moseley Road fire has consumed 1,595 acres; MC Jowers fire is contained at 200 acres.
• Appling County – fire burning S. of Surrency is contained.
• Brantley County — Fire off Highway 110 East contained at 5.9 acres (ruled as arson).
• Jeff Davis County — contained at 75-80 acres.
• Long County — Ludowici fire burned 4,000 acres, three homes destroyed; 75 percent contained. Doctor’s Creek area now in focus.
• McIntosh County — Two fires burning north of Darien, homes under evacuation.
• Wayne County — fire burning near Screven, now contained at 125 acres.

Related Links

• Denver wildfire forces evacuation of 10,000 homes
  Wildfires Wreaking Havoc Across the U.S.
  US Wildfires: 50-percent more fires than the 10 year average

• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• Climate Forcing: Positive Feedback Mega Loop
• Global Climate Extremes INTENSIFYING

• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2011-2012 MegaDisasters
• Earth: Wounded and Feverish

• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• FEWW DISASTER FORECAST 2011
• 2011 Much More Disastrous
• 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• Megadisasters Loom
• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities

Fire Information

• Georgia Forestry Commission
• InciWeb
  
• Rocky Mountain Area Fire Center
• WILDFIRES Satellite Page

Denver wildfire forces evacuation of 10,000 homes

New fire rapidly scorches large area SE of Denver, Colorado

The latest fire, which erupted as firefighters struggled to contain a separate blaze (Indian Gulch in Jefferson County),  has scorched about [2,000] acres on the wooded cliffs  near Franktown, Colorado, according to Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

“We’re not aware of any structures lost, but the high winds are pushing it close to heavily populated neighborhoods, so we called for mandatory evacuations.”

Fire at Miami International Airport

“A spectacular fire that led to cancellations of 179 flights and delayed dozens more at Miami International Airport may have been caused by an electrical failure in a complex grid of underground pipes that pumps fuel to hundreds of planes each day.” Said a report.

Large fires are currently reported in the following states:

• Arizona (1)
• Arkansas (1)
• Colorado (1)
• Georgia (1)
• Kansas (1)
• Missouri (3)
• Oklahoma (7)
• Texas (1)

Year-to-date statistics 2011 (1/1/11 – 3/24/11)

• Fires: 15,906
• Acres: 616,427

9-year average [2002  to 2010]

• Acres: 396,282
• Record: 1,792,721 (2006)

Red Flag Warnings

URGENT – FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service (NWS) has issued Fire Weather Red Flag Warnings for

• SE Colorado
• Northern Central and Southern New Mexico
• Western Texas
• Wakulla and Leon Counties, Fl

Click image to enter NWS Portal.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM —  9:57 PM MDT THU MAR 24 2011

…A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY FRIDAY EVENING FOR ALL OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS DUE TO WINDS GREATER THAN 20 MPH… RELATIVE HUMIDITY BELOW 15 PERCENT AND VERY HIGH OR EXTREME FIRE DANGER RATINGS…

…A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE SOUTHWEST…SOUTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO LOWLANDS AND FAR WEST TEXAS FOR WINDS GREATER THAN 20 MPH…RELATIVE HUMIDITIES 15 PERCENT OR LOWER AND VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER RATINGS…

All Warnings List available at NWS website.

Today and tonight: A Pacific storm system and associated cold front will move across  the area this evening. Snow will develop across the mountains by
this evening, continuing overnight. Snow accumulations of up to 2 inches can be expected over the higher mountains by Friday morning.  Gusty south to southwest winds will continue to develop across the foothills and plains this afternoon, shifting to the west this evening with gusts to 40 mph possible behind the front. From Boulder to Denver to Limon and areas south, relative humidities are expected to fall below 15%. The combination of low humidities and
strong winds will produce a high fire danger. Strong winds will continue tonight along and near the foothills with gusts to 60 mph possible. [Source: NWS]

Related Links

• Wildfires Wreaking Havoc Across the U.S.
• US Wildfires: 50-percent more fires than the 10 year average

• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• Climate Forcing: Positive Feedback Mega Loop
• Global Climate Extremes INTENSIFYING

• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2011-2012 MegaDisasters
• Earth: Wounded and Feverish

• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• FEWW DISASTER FORECAST 2011
• 2011 Much More Disastrous
• 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• Megadisasters Loom
• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities

Fire Information

• InciWeb
  
• Rocky Mountain Area Fire Center
• WILDFIRES Satellite Page
  

Wildfires Wreaking Havoc Across the U.S.

12 Large Fires Burning Across the Country

Active fires have consumed more than 155,000 acres, with 6 new fires reported.

States currently reporting large fires:

• Arizona (1)
• Arkansas (2)
• Colorado (1)
• Hawaii (1)
• Kansas (1)
• Missouri (1)
• Oklahoma (3)
• Texas (2)

“The Rocky Mountain, Southern and Southwest areas are at a preparedness level 2, meaning that these areas have high fire danger and multiple large fires.” Said National Interagency Fire Center.

Oklahoma

Wildfires forced Oklahomans from their homes in two northeastern towns on Wednesday evening as fire threatened dozens of homes near the town of Prue, Osage County, and  scores of homes in the Oak Park area of Bartlesville, Washington County, officials said.

Big Island Hawaii

A large wildfire set off by the eruption of the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island earlier this month has consumed about 2,000 acres of national park land. The fire is burning on the volcano’s east rift in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park about 12km SE of the Kilauea Visitor Center.

The spreading wildfire was started by lava splatters at the volcano’s Kamoamoa fissure, which erupted on March 5, and is currently being fanned by strong trade winds, said a spokesman for the National Park Service. Photo Credit: Suzanne Snow.

Current Wildfires
Arizona	Fires: 1	Acres: 4,000	* New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Duke (Coronado National Forest): 4,000 acres at 15 percent contained. This fire is 11 miles northeast of Nogales. Structures are threatened and roads are closed.
Arkansas	Fires: 2	Acres: 832	* New fires: 0	Fires contained: 3
Queen Simmons (Arkansas Forestry Commission): 632 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is ten miles northwest of Clinton.
Long (Arkansas Forestry Commission): 200 acres at 98 percent contained. This fire is six miles south of Canaan.
Colorado	Fires: 1	Acres: 1,162	* New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Indian Gulch (Jefferson County): 1,162 acres at 25 percent contained. This fire is one mile west of Golden. Muir’s IMT 1 is assigned to the incident. Residences are threanted and evacuations are in place. Information: Visit the Rocky Mountain Coordination Center.
Hawaii	Fires: 1	Acres: 2,010	* New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Napau (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park): 2,010 acres. This fire is nine miles west of Kalapana.
Kansas	Fires: 1	Acres: 144,000	* New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
* Stanton County (Kansas Counties): 144,000 acres at 70 percent contained. This fire is 30 miles south of Johnson City.
Kentucky	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	* New fires: 1	Fires contained: 1
Missouri	Fires: 1	Acres: 100	* New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Crane Cemetary (Mark Twain National Forest): 100 acres at 40 percent contained. This fire is six miles north of Houston.
Oklahoma	Fires: 3	Acres: 1,770	* New fires: 1	Fires contained: 2
Bread Town (Oklahoma Department of Forestry): 880 acres at 75 percent contained. This fire is three miles northeast of Stringtown.
Rocky (Oklahoma Department of Forestry): 530 acres at 70 percent contained. This fire is four miles northeast of Marble City.
Trall Hollow (Oklahoma Department of Forestry): 360 acres at 85 percent contained. This fire is one mile southeast of Bell.
Texas	Fires: 2	Acres: 1,400	* New fires: 3	Fires contained: 1
* Ralph Keller Ranch (Texas Forest Service): 1,000 acres at zero percent contained. This fire started on private land 14 miles northeast of Marathon. Residences are threatened.
* Koch (Texas Forest Service): 400 acres at zero percent contained. This fire started on private land nine miles south of Andrew

Source: National Interagency Fire Center

Year-to-date statistics
Period: 2011 (1/1/11 – 3/23/11)
Acres: 588,237

9-year Average
Acres: 396,282

Related Links

• Activity at Kilauea – Satellite Images
• US Wildfires: 50-percent more fires than the 10 year average

• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• Climate Forcing: Positive Feedback Mega Loop
• Global Climate Extremes INTENSIFYING

• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2011-2012 MegaDisasters
• Earth: Wounded and Feverish

• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• FEWW DISASTER FORECAST 2011
• 2011 Much More Disastrous
• 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• Megadisasters Loom
• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities

Fierce Storm Dumps 160mm of Rain over SoCal

Powerful storm wreaks havoc in Southern California

Thousands of people were without electricity Monday night in SoCal mountain areas, as a powerful storm downed power lines, and up to 3 feet of snow fell in the region.

More hazardous weather is forecast, with winter storm warnings, hazardous weather outlooks and flood warnings for much of the region.

Top News of the Day: Smorgasbord of Storms on Tap for Much of United States Today [summarized below]

Click image to enter NWS Hazards Portal.

US Weather Forecast Map

Click image to enlarge.

[Mirrored from NWS site with some editing by Fire-Earth]

The United States would experience  various weather threats today including severe thunderstorms, blizzards, flash floods, freezing rain, growing river flooding and extreme fire danger.

• Severe weather, including large hail, damaging winds and some tornadoes, is expected today in the central Plains and Midwest and Wednesday from the Mississippi Valley to the coastal Carolinas. …  10-state area at Slight Risk of severe weather development today … parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. See http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html.

• Wednesday, the risk area shifts eastward to include parts of 13 states: Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. See http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day2otlk.html.

• A major winter storm was unfolding this morning across the northern tier of the United States from Montana across the northern Plains into the Great Lakes. Showers and thunderstorms started this morning in southern Minnesota into Ohio. The system was quickly pulling in colder air and changing to freezing rain and snow. The heaviest snows are expected by Wednesday evening from North Dakota into Wisconsin and Michigan. Rain and thunderstorms and severe storms will occur just south of the frozen precipitation.

Snowfall forecasts from the northern storm varied significantly from Montana to Lower Michigan, with more sleet in the east lowering snow accumulation totals. Snow forecasts into Wednesday evening included:

• Great Falls, MT – 20 inches on highest peaks, 12-15 inches above 6,000 feet, 5 inches below 6,000 feet
• Bismarck, ND – 12-16 inches from Minot to Harvey, 6-12 inches from Bismarck to Jamestown
• Grand Forks, ND – 12-19 inches of snow following rain and freezing rain
• Duluth, MN – widespread 10-14 inches in the Minnesota Arrowhead and northern Wisconsin
• Minneapolis, MN – widespread 6-11 inches in south-central Minnesota
• Marquette, MI – 6 inches across the Upper Peninsula with locally higher amounts
• Gaylord, MI – 6-10 inches of snow, mostly freezing rain south of Michigan Highway 32
• Grand Rapids, MI – up to ½-inch of ice build up from freezing rain in southwest Lower Michigan
• Detroit, MI – 5 inches snow after freezing rain from Saginaw to Sandusky, otherwise 5-10 inches snow
• Freezing rain in parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Red Flag Warnings for extreme wildfire danger from western Nebraska to the southern Texas border. All outside burning is prohibited in the southern Nebraska Panhandle and the southwest part of the state; the eastern half of Colorado and New Mexico; western, central and southern Kansas; the western two-thirds of Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle and western parts of the state.

• The Indian Gulch Fire started Monday in Jefferson County, Colo., and has consumed about 1,000 acres with no containment. The fire is threatening approximately 265 residences near the city of Golden. Mandatory evacuations were issued for more than 100 primary residences and voluntary evacuations were requested for about 165 residences.

• River flooding in the central Plains and Midwest continues to slowly worsen as the spring thaw progresses in the North. Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service river gauge checks early this morning showed flooding at some level at 101 sites across the country. Of the 12 cites at major flood levels, 14 at moderate flooding and 75 at minor flooding, all but a handful were in the Midwest and Upper Mississippi Valley. Another 155 gauge sites were at near flood level.

• Follow flood conditions at http://water.weather.gov/ahps/index.php?stage=7. Precipitation forecasts (see http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/qpf2.shtml.) showed 1-3 inches of rain in the forecast through tonight into Wednesday.

Perth Palatial Homes Consumed by Fire

TWIN BUSHFIRES HIT W. AUSTRALIA

Raging Blaze Destroys Scores of Palatial Homes in Upmarket Suburbs of Perth

UPDATE: ‘Sixty-four homes have now been razed in the bush-fringed Perth suburbs of Kelmscott and Roleystone, while 32 others have been damaged.’

At least 59 homes have been destroyed and scores more are damaged as massive wildfires leave trails of destruction in the SE and NE Perth suburbs of Roleystone and Red Hill.

West Australian Premier has declared the fire-ravaged areas of  Roleystone, Kelmscott and Red Hill as “natural disaster areas.”

“Residents have been forced to flee with just the clothes on their backs as a flaming “war zone” descended on their homes,” a report said.

The fire has already consumed about eight thousand hectares including an area of a national park, and several farms.

The blaze was started by lightning, according to reports, and has been fanned by 70kmph easterlies.

“Gusty winds were today still causing authorities headaches across the entire southwest of the state, with fire fighters in Bunbury, Albany and various regional areas both north and south of Perth battling complex and complicated fire fronts.” Source

Image of the Day:

The raging blaze has destroyed dozens of palatial houses. Photo: Channel Ten via SMH

Meanwhile in Queensland…

About 75 percent of the state of Queensland has been declared a disaster area “after Cyclone Yasi compounded the damage left by recent widespread flooding,” a report said.

Click below for more photos:

• ABC News Photos
  
• Perth Now
• SMH Gallery

Related News Links:

• Residents flee Western Australia bushfire
• How it unfolded: Twin bushfires in Perth
• Raging Perth bushfire claims more homes

Related Links:

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast

Dry Mouth, Burning Eyes?

IT MAY BE THE DROUGHT AND AEROSOLS IN THE AIR!

Drought and Air Quality Map (August 2010)

Download large image (4 MB, PNG)

Drought and Air Quality Map (August 2009)

Download large image (4 MB, PNG)

The two maps show aerosols as measured by MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. Top image was acquired August 1 – 31, 2010, above image exactly a year earlier on August 1 – 31, 2009,. Source: NASA E/O. For full caption click here.

How Aerosols Penetrate Atmosphere

• Car exhausts and industrial emissions heated by high temperatures
• Fires
• Dust storms
• Volcanic eruptions
• Drought, strong winds and heatwaves accelerate formation of chemical aerosols.

Aerosol concentrations

• Are influenced by the weather
• Affect weather patterns
• Help/hinder cloud formation
• Filter light, making regional temperatures cooler
• Absorb energy, heating the atmosphere.

Worst Affected Areas in August 2010

• Russia (drought and heatwaves causing fires)
• South America (Drought over the Amazon basin causing fires; volcanic eruptions)
• Canada (wildfires caused by drought in Canada’s boreal forest)
• Central Africa (fires started by farmers to clear land for farming)
• North Africa, Arabian peninsula, and southwest Asia come (caused by dust storms)
• China, Europe, and the U.S. (industrial emissions, mainly from burning coal; vehicle exhaust)

Related Links:

• The Eight Steps that Help Kill More of Our Fish
• FIRE!
• Moscow Heat, Smog Claim Many Lives

• Humongous Dust Storm Sweeps Africa
• More Dust Storms Plague Arabian Peninsula
• S. Arabia Nets Climate Change Q3 Dividends

More Fires!

Where There’s Fire …

Satellite Images Capture about 150,000 Fires Burning in S. America

Some 148,946 fires, outlined in red, were burning on August 23, 2010 when MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image. “Most of the fires are concentrated in Bolivia, where the governments of two states had declared a state of emergency because of widespread fires three days earlier. Scores of fires also burn in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.” Source: NASA E/O. Click image to enlarge. Download large image (11 MB, JPEG). For ull caption click here.

Related Links:

• A Heated Planet on Fire!

• Moscow Heat, Smog Claim Many Lives
• Moscow Chokes
• July the Month of Instantaneous Combustion
• Collapse Headlines 28 July 2010
• Moscow heat breaks 130-year record

• Severe Drought Grips Southern Russia
• World Sizzling in Hottest Year to Date
• U.S. Had 8th Warmest June, Wetter
• Earth: Wounded and Feverish
• Collapse Diary

• Kansas heat wave kills 2,000 cattle
• 2010 Disaster Calendar [JULY]
• 2010 Disasters

• Satellite images of wildfires

FIRE!

A Heated Planet on Fire!

Smoke Covers Western Russia

Fires outside of the city of Nizhniy Novgorod

Fires is in the Ural Mountains

Click images to enlarge. Download large image (12 MB, JPEG)

Fires in two regions of W. Russia continued to produce thick smoke on August 15, 2010, when these images were captured by MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. Top: Fires outside of the city of Nizhniy Novgorod, east of Moscow. Above: Fires is in the Ural Mountains,

• See also: Smoke over Western Russia

Fires in B.C., Canada

Click image to enlarge. Download large image (4 MB, JPEG)

A thick plume of smoke from multiple fires burning in British Columbia hangs over the Pacific Ocean. This natural-color image was captured on August 13, 2010, by MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite. On August 15, 2010, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported that, over the previous 24 hours, a dozen new fires had started in British Columbia, half of them from lightning, and the other half from human activity. As of August 15, a total of 201 fires were burning in the province […] more than three-fourths of British Columbia was under high or extreme wildfire danger, following a weekend of scorching temperatures.” Source: NASA E/O.

• See also: Fires burning in B.C. since Late July 2010

Fires near Porto Velho, Brazil

Click image to enlarge. Download large image (8 MB, JPEG)

Multiple fires burned along the Madeira River in the vicinity of Porto Velho, Rondônia, This natural-color image was captured on August 7, 2010, by MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite.  “In mid-August 2010, wildfires were burning throughout Brazil, according to news reports.” Source: NASA E/O.

• See also:  World of Change: Amazon Deforestation.

Fires in Madeira, Portugal

Click image to enlarge. Download large image (442 KB, JPEG)

Large fires were burning on the Portuguese island of Madeira blowing smoke south over the Atlantic Ocean on August 13, 2010. This photo-like image was taken by by MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite the same day. “According to news reports, the largest of the fires burned through 95 percent of the Funchal Ecological Park, a 1,000-hectare preserve set aside to restore native vegetation to the island.”  Source: NASA E/O.

Related Links:

• Moscow Heat, Smog Claim Many Lives
• Moscow Chokes
• July the Month of Instantaneous Combustion
• Collapse Headlines 28 July 2010
• Moscow heat breaks 130-year record

• Severe Drought Grips Southern Russia
• World Sizzling in Hottest Year to Date
• U.S. Had 8th Warmest June, Wetter
• Earth: Wounded and Feverish
• Collapse Diary

• Kansas heat wave kills 2,000 cattle
• 2010 Disaster Calendar [JULY]
• 2010 Disasters

• Satellite images of wildfires

Santa Barbara Fires 2009 Updates

The Jesusita fire/ Santa Barbara Fires 2009

This post is upgraded to provide continuous coverage.

For regular updates see: Calif Fires 2009 – Open Page