National Situation Update: Monday, June 25, 2007
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Angora Fire, CA
The Angora Fire has consumed 500 acres and is 0% contained as of 11:00 pm EDT. There are 500 structures threatened, 25 businesses and over 1000 mandatory evacuations. The fire started on Forest Service jurisdiction in the Tahoe Management Unit.
There are 165 structures lost, including primary and secondary residences and
outbuildings, evacuations are in progress, and Meyer School is the shelter. The Office of Emergency Services (OES) Fire Chief is on scene, with an OES Assistant Chief en route.
El Dorado County, CA has activated their Emergency Operations Center. The Office of Emergency Services Inland Region will assign staff to assist with this activation.
The State Operations Center, and the Inland Region Emergency Operations Centers are activated at duty officer status in support of El Dorado County, El Dorado County has declared a state of emergency due to structures lost and mandatory evacuations.
Per California Highway Patrol Highway 50 at Sly Park to the Stateline, and Highway 89 from Tahoe City to Picketts and northbound Highway 89 at Camp Richardson are closed due to this fire.
Weather is Red Flag conditions with extreme fire behavior forecast to continue through Monday, June 25, 2007. Winds are 15 to 30 miles per hour with gusts to 40, temperature is 64 degrees and humidity is 19%.
A Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was requested and approved at 10:24 pm EDT on June 24, 2007. (FEMA Region IX)
Alaska Wildfire Update
Despite light rain the West side of the fire remained very active with short range spotting, short runs, and smoldering. The East side of the fire received little to no rain.
Moderate rate of spread, active torching, and active spotting were observed. Assessment of burned and unburned structures in Ninilchick continued.
Type II helicopters and Air Tankers worked heavily in the West side, slowing the fire`s spread.
Firefighter efforts were hampered by heavy loading of beetle-kill spruce, build up of light flashy fuels, and limited accessibility to the fire area.
Numerous structures and narrow roads remain a problem as well as steep terrain in the Deep Creek area. The fire has burned 52,000 acres and is 5% contained. (Alaska Interagency Coordination Center, NIFC)
NY Severe Storms And Flooding
On June 19, 2007 slow moving thunderstorms dropped an estimated 6 to 8 inches of rain over southern Delaware County at the western end of New York's Catskill Mountain Park. The rain occurred between 4:30 pm EDT and 8:30 pm EDT Tuesday, June 19, 2007. Flash floods occurred, washing out several roads.
The New York State Emergency Management Office requested Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDA) on June 20, 2007. PDAs began on June 22, 2007 and are continuing.
There were 2 fatalities as a result of the floding. Thirty three homes were destroyed; 12 suffered major damage; six homes suffered minor damage; and 155 homes were rendered inaccessible due to the flooding.
The Region II RRCC activated to support PDA efforts and additional Emergency Support Functions (ESFs 1, 3, 6, 7, and 15) will be activated to report to the RRCC on Monday, June 25, 2007 in anticipation of a State request for Direct Federal Assistance. (FEMA Region II)
National Weather Summary
Midwest: Scattered showers and thunderstorms across the Ohio Valley is forecast for Monday, June 25, 2007. Some thunderstorms may become severe with damaging wind gusts and large hail.
Severe thunderstorms, including isolated tornadoes, may also move in from eastern Montana, across the Dakotas, to northwest Minnesota. Several inches of rain are forecast from the downpours in North Dakota.
South: West of the Mississippi, scattered thunderstorms with localized 1-to-5-inch rains will occur reinforcing a very wet pattern on Monday, June 25, 2007.
Scattered showers and storms will develop over the Southeast and a few storms may reach severe limits, producing strong wind gusts or large hail.
Northeast: Afternoon showers and thunderstorms will develop across the Virginias northward into Pennsylvania Monday, June 25, 2007 and Tuesday, June 26, 2007.
West: A strong upper-level system will move across the Northwest on Monday, June 25, 2007 resulting in showers and thunderstorms developing from Idaho through Montana. Some of the storms in Montana are expected to be severe.
For southeastern California, southern Nevada and southern Arizona, high temperatures (from 100 to just under 120 in Death Valley) are forecast. (NWS, Media Sources)
Fire Rages On In Alaska's Most Populous Region
Fire crews battled blazes throughout south central Alaska and officials confirmed that dozens of residences, seasonal cabins and other buildings have been destroyed on the Kenai Peninsula.
The largest fire covering 50,000 acres, whose western flank is 10 miles southeast of the community of Clam Gulch, may have slowed during light showers, but not by much, a fire information officer said.
The fire began Tuesday, June 19, 2007 when sparks from a grinder being used to sharpen a shovel fell into dry grass. The area is about 180 miles by road southwest of Anchorage. The blaze, dubbed the Caribou Hills fire, consumed 30 residences and 40 other buildings in the popular recreatonal area, according to the state Division of Forestry. It threatens another 600 residences and cabins.
Meanwhile, more crews were arriving from the lower 48 states to bolster the 250 people involved in firefighting efforts.
An evacuation order is still in effect for the area. Officials do not know how many people have left their homes because many of the structures are only used seasonally.
Cool, wet weather in the Mat-Su Valley north of Anchorage held fires there at bay, with acreages remaining about the same as Friday, said a fire information officer.
The Su River fire had covered about 9,000 acres near the Parks Highway about five miles east of Caswell and the Yentna River fire remained at about 60 acres. (Media Sources)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
FMAG-2700 was approved at 10:24 pm EDT, June 24, 2007 for the Angora Fire near South Lake Tahoe, CA. (FEMA HQ)
Tropical Weather Outlook
Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:
An area of disturbed weather is located several hundred miles south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Some slow development of this system is possible while it moves westward or west-northwestward over the next couple of days.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Western Pacific:
No significant activity. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
Earthquake Activity
A magnitude 5.1 earthqukae occurred a t 10:32 pm EDT, June 24, 2007. It was located approximately 35 miles NW of Eureka, CA. The depth was 7 miles. The magnitude and location was such that a Tsunami was not generated. (NOAA, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update
National Preparedness Level: 2
States Most Affected: Alaska, Idaho
National Fire Activity as of Saturday, June 24, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. EDT:
Initial attack activity: Light (101 new fires)
New large fires: 3
Large fires contained: 1
Uncontained large fires: 13
Weather Discussion: Dry, windy weather will persist over the Great Basin, southwest Wyoming, western Colorado and northern Arizona today with winds on Monday confined to Wyoming and northwest Colorado. A few mainly dry thunderstorms will occur over the higher elevations of Colorado, New Mexico and southeast Arizona today. Scattered showers are expected over the next couple of days in south central Alaska and the eastern interior. A few thunderstorms are on tap for the Southeast. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center)
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Monday, 25-Jun-2007 08:05:10 EDT