National Situation Update: Friday, June 23, 2006
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Wildfires Continue in the West - Thunderstorms in the East
Midwest: A cold front is expected to continue moving slowly eastward through a large section of the Midwest bringing additional rainfall, hail, and strong damaging winds. The storm system is expected to move through the area from Missouri to Ohio and Kentucky on Friday. Another storm system is expected to bring thunderstorms to the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas. Highs in the Midwest will range mainly in the 70s and 80s on Friday.
South: Most of the South will see very hot, sunny and muggy weather again on Friday. Highs will be in the 90s from the Carolinas to the Southern Plains. Some cooler weather is expected to slowly move into the South beginning on Friday.
Northeast: A storm system is forecast to move into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic areas on Friday bringing thunderstorms, high winds, and hail. Temperatures will begin to drop on Friday into the 70s-80s. Rain showers and scattered thunderstorms are anticipated for the Northeast for the upcoming week.
West: The vast majority of the West will continue to see very hot, dry, and sunny weather. Temperatures will generally range from the 80s in the Pacific Northwest to 110 degrees in the Desert Southwest. (National Weather Service, Media sources)
Flooding in north central Ohio
Severe storms with high winds and 5 inches of rainfall in north central Ohio caused river flooding, downed trees, and wind damage to homes. The hardest hit areas were in the counties of Ottawa, Lucas, Erie, and Huron. Huron County officials estimated that 400-500 homes were impacted by the storm. Several streets and roads in the area were blocked by flood waters. There have been no reports of deaths or injuries. State and local officials are assessing damages. (FEMA Region V, Ohio EMA, media sources)
Arizona Wildfires
The BRINS Fire north of Sedona, Arizona continued expanding north Thursday along the western slope of Oak Creek Canyon and into rugged terrain of the Coconino National Forest. The fire has reached 3,256 acres with seven percent containment reported. A critical eastern flanking fireline along State Highway 89A is holding and protecting dozens of structures on the eastern half of Oak Creek Canyon with some spotting observed.
Approximately 581 residential structures and 40 businesses remain threatened with no structures damaged to date. Nearly all 400 homes in Oak Creek Canyon remain evacuated. Some residents are being escorted to their homes to collect belongings. State Route 89A (Sedona-to-Flagstaff) remains closed in both directions from northern Oak Creek Canyon to northern Sedona. The Coconino Forest is scheduled to close to all visitors Friday for the duration of the fire season.
Incident Command anticipates the fire to spread at least two miles north through unpopulated and inaccessible mile-high terrain of Lost Wilson Mountain and Sterling Canyon during the next 24 to 48 hours before reaching a series of trails and roads that present the next opportunity to construct firelines. Only hotshot crews and aircraft have access to the expanding burn area. Eight helicopters, 13 hand crews, and 31 engines are assigned; 695 total personnel. Daytime high temperatures topping 100 degrees are reported with favorable wind conditions in Oak Creek Canyon and gusting, erratic winds in the Sterling Canyon area.
The Arizona State Operations Center in Phoenix remains activated at watch level 24/7 with support agencies alerted. The Coconino County EOC is activated 24/7. Two American Red Cross shelters are established, one at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and one at an elementary school in Sedona. The Coconino County Department of Health maintains an air quality health advisory due to smoke.
A Fire Management Assistance Grant was approved by FEMA Region IX on June 18. No other requests for Federal assistance at this time beyond Federal agency firefighting resources. FEMA Region IX will continue to monitor wildfire activity and response. (FEMA Region IX, Arizona Division of Emergency Management, and media reports)
California Wildfire
The 13,425-acre Perkins Fire in Santa Barbara County, California, has prompted transfer of command to a Type-1 IMT this morning. Containment has reduced slightly to 32 percent with three homes destroyed; no other structures threatened. No anticipated date of full containment. Eight helicopters, 35 engines and 50 crews are assigned; 1,062 total personnel. No FMAG requested at this time. (FEMA Region IX and media reports)
Colorado Wildfires
MATO VEGA (FEMA-2646-FM-CO): This 11,805 acre fire, possibly caused by lightning, is burning in timber, logging slash, and grass, eight miles northeast of Ft. Garland, CO on the northwest side of US Highway 160. A Type 2 IMT is assigned. Two hundred-eighty primary structures, an FAA communication site, and commercial resources are potentially threatened. No structures have been destroyed. US Highway 160 remains closed. Short range spotting with active upslope runs was reported. The fire is 30 percent contained with an estimated containment date of June 30. The uncontained fire perimeter is within two miles of the Paradise Acres community to the northeast.
LION CREEK: This 1,660 acre human-caused fire is burning in ponderosa pine, pinyon pine, brush and grass in the Manti-La Sal National Forest, five miles northwest of Paradox, CO. Media reports the fire resulted from a vehicle accident. A Type 2 IMT is assigned. Twenty primary structures and 15 outbuildings are potentially threatened. No structures have been destroyed. Buckeye Campground and power lines to Paradox are threatened. Buckeye Campground remains closed. Structure protection is in place in Paradox. Running and torching fire behavior was reported. The fire is five percent contained. There is no estimated containment date.
Other than FEMA-2646-FM-CO, there is no request for federal assistance at this time. (FEMA Region VIII, U.S. Forest Service, CO OEM)
New Mexico Wildfire
RIVERA MESA: The fire has burned 10,930 acres on State and private land. The fire is 30% contained. Winds are forecasted at 20-30 mph over the next several days with temperatures in the 90s and relative humidity at approximately 10%. The fire is seven miles north of Ocate in timber, grass, ponderosa pine and scrub oak. Structures, power lines, the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch, and the communities of Meami and Rayado are threatened. Highway 21 is now open while County Road 21 remains closed. An FMAG (FEMA-2647-FM-NM) was approved on June 21. (National Interagency Fire Center, FEMA HQ)
Utah Wildfires
NAVAJO MOUNTAIN 1: This 3,350 acre lightning-caused fire is burning in timber, pinyon pine, and juniper on the Utah side of the Navajo Reservation, approximately 35 miles west/northwest of Page, AZ. Cultural areas are threatened. No structures are threatened. No structures have been destroyed. Difficult terrain and the remote location continue to hamper containment efforts. Smoldering with single tree torching fire behavior was reported. The fire is 75 percent contained. There is no estimated containment date. No new information was received.
LEEDS: This 60 acre fire of unknown cause is burning in brush and grass, southwest of Leeds, UT. The fire is 30 percent contained. There is no estimated containment date. This is the final report on this fire unless significant activity occurs.
DUTCH: This 1,763 acre human-caused fire is burning in grass, sagebrush and juniper, 30 miles southeast of Wendover, UT. No structures are threatened. No structures have been destroyed. The fire was 100 percent contained June 21. This is the final report on this fire unless significant activity occurs.
There is no request for federal assistance at this time. (FEMA Region VIII, U.S. Forest Service)
Tropical Activity
Atlantic: Although two tropical waves and some thunderstorms are currently moving westward in the Caribbean, the upper-level winds are not favorable for tropical cyclone development. Meteorologists will continue to monitor progress of storm activity in this area.
Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea: No tropical storm activity.
Eastern Pacific: No tropical storm activity.
Western Pacific: No tropical storm activity.(USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
Earthquake Activity
No significant earthquake activity during the past 24 hours in the United States or its Territories. (Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update
As of 9:30 a.m. EDT June 22, there were 125 new fires reported throughout the U.S. Four new large fires were reported: two in Florida, one in Oklahoma, and one in Nevada. Four large fires were contained: one each in Texas, Nevada, Idaho, and Utah.
Red Flag Warnings have been issued for strong, gusty winds and low humidity for the northern Sacramento Valley and nearby foothills.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, California, Montana, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Texas and Wyoming.
National Preparedness Level is 3 (on a scale of 1 to 5).
Hotter and drier weather is expected to continue in the western U.S. as a high pressure builds over the area. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected in Alaska. There is not much chance for any appreciable rainfall in the western U.S. for the next few days. The extremely dry conditions have increased the threat of wildfires in most western states, especially the Desert Southwest. (National Interagency Fire Center)
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Friday, 23-Jun-2006 08:02:28 EDT