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National Situation Update: Thursday, February 9, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West: Light snow and flurries will dust parts of Montana and Wyoming as a polar air mass moves out of British Columbia. Scattered showers are forecast for southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico as an upper level disturbance moves across northern Mexico. Santa Ana winds will continue to blow through the mountains of Southern California for another 24 hours.

Midwest: Light snow and flurries are forecast for the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest as northwesterly winds bring polar air southward out of Canada. Accumulations will be light with an inch to as much as three inches.

South: Except for a lingering sprinkle or flurry in the Carolinas early today, the South will enjoy dry weather. A weak polar high drifting through the region will keep temperatures below seasonal means east of the Mississippi River.

Northeast: Snow showers and flurries will linger across the interior Northeast but no substantial accumulations are anticipated except close to the Great Lakes. A few inches could pile up near the eastern end of Lake Ontario, and an inch or two could fall in spots southeast of Lake Erie. Around the rest of the region, fairly quiet weather conditions and seasonable cold will prevail. However, this weekend, there is the potential for significant winter storm. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS and Various Commercial and Media Sources)

Southern California Wildfires

• The Sierra Fire began February 6, 2006 at 0728 EST and is located in the Black Star Canyon area of the Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. The fire is wind driven, located in steep inaccessible terrain, and moving towards the Highway 91 and the Highway 241 interchange. Both highways remain closed.  The cause is under investigation, but authorities believe fire started from a controlled burn.
• The fire has grown to 7,180 acres and is approximately 22% contained with full containment expected on February 11th.  No injuries or structure damage and/or loss have been reported.  Major Southern California Edison power transmission lines, Arco LPG pipeline, and public/private communication site on Sierra Peak in the area remain threatened.  Evacuations have been lifted in the communities of Anaheim and Orange.  All surface streets are reopened.  A large number of Type 1 Engines are being demobilized and replaced with Type III Engine Strike Teams and Type 1 crews.
• A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for southwestern California.
• 1902 firefighters from local, state, and federal agencies are attempting to suppress the fire. Unified Command will continue with USFS, CDF, Orange County Fire Authority, City of Anaheim and City of Orange. FEMA Region IX will continue to monitor in close coordination with CDF and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
• A Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) request was approved February 6, 2006 by FEMA for this incident
  Latigo Fire
• A 25 acre brush fire started around 5 am (local time) yesterday morning, north of the City of Malibu, in the Latigo and Newton Canyons and a few miles from Pepperdine University campus.  As a precaution, the Santa Monica-Malibu School District ordered all Malibu public schools closed.  As of 11 am PST yesterday, the fire was 7% contained. No expected containment date has been projected.  Currently 1,500 residence structures and 100 commercial properties are threatened.
• Cause of the fire is under investigation, but authorities believe the fire was started by a burning car parked along the side of the road.  They are also worried about the winds picking up again.
• The fire is being controlled with about 400 local fire fighters and equipment.
• Federal involvement is not expected at this time.  (FEMA Region IX)

Volcano Activity

Seismicity at Alaska's Augustine volcano remains at low levels but is still above background. Low-level ash plumes and occasional pyroclastic flows on the island's flanks continue. The current Level of Concern Color Code remains Orange.

Pyroclastic flows are high-density mixtures of hot, dry rock fragments and hot gases that move away from the vent that erupted them at high speeds. They may result from the explosive eruption of molten or solid rock fragments, or both. They may also result from the nonexplosive eruption of lava when parts of dome or a thick lava flow collapses down a steep slope. Most pyroclastic flows consist of two parts: a basal flow of coarse fragments that moves along the ground, and a turbulent cloud of ash that rises above the basal flow. Ash may fall from this cloud over a wide area downwind from the pyroclastic flow. (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Volcano Observatory)

Tropical Activity

There are no active tropical disturbances in the Atlantic and Pacific. (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)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)