Wildland Fire

Fire Update: Mild Season Could Cook Up in Dry Days of Fall

By Bea Gordon, 8-19-10

	File photo by Anne Medley

Fire season in the Northern Rockies is nearing the end of its run. It’s been largely drama-free, so far, although some late weather has kicked it up a bit, says Rick Floch, Bitterroot National Forest Fire Management officer.

With two active fires in Wyoming, three in Montana and no significant fires in Idaho, the Northern Rockies haven’t really seen the kind of burning expected for mid-August.

According to Floch, the fire season so far has seen an unusual number of storms with large amounts of rain, hail, wind and lightning.  The rain has definitely mitigated fire danger in many of the region’s forests. 

Although, “there is still the potential for some belated fire activity,” says Floch, “the days get shorter and the likelihood of lightning storms diminishes. This chance grows smaller each day as we move into the fall.”

The coming change of seasons also brings killing frost at the higher elevations.  This can be deceptively comforting.  As Floch pointed out, “much of the leafy vegetation turns to brown as it dries out [after the freeze] with warm fall days,” resulting in more flammable material.  Cold fronts with their high winds also pose a hazard to fire control. 

Elsewhere in the West:

Utah: The Willow Creek Fire in the Uinta/Wasatch-Cache National Forest continues to burn timber, brush and grass.  The fire itself, however, is relatively small, clocking in at just under 110 acres.  The larger Twitchell Canyon Fire near Fishlake National forest east of Manderfield is burning primarily in timber. Fire behavior was characterized as mostly backing and creeping with isolated torching.  The fire, which has burned 4,482 acres, has six crews and five helicopters.

Colorado: The Meadow Creek Fire has burned 1,452 acres of steep, rugged terrain near Elk Creek. Officials hope the fire will eliminate dead vegetation and improve wildlife habitat.  Potential benefits to soil nutrient levels will be balanced against potential vegetation devastation in fire management proceeding.  The Medano Fire, roughly 7,000 acres, continues to be monitored as fire behavior is expected to fluctuate in the coming days.  The Beaver Fire has increased to 2,641 acres and is 98 percent contained.  No structures have been threatened. 

New Mexico: Fires here flared earlier than in the rest of the Northern and Southern Rockies. The state currently has two active fires over 17,000 acres.  The South Fork Fire, which started in early June is reported as contained. The 17,300 acre fire in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, started in early May, is now considered 100 percent contained. 

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