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NOUS44 KOHX 060148
PNSOHX

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...TRANSMITTED EARLY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
300 AM CDT MON OCT 6 2008

FIRE WEATHER/FIRE PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK OCTOBER 6TH THROUGH
OCTOBER 10TH.

IN CONJUNCTION WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES...THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NASHVILLE IS PARTICIPATING IN THE FIRE
WEATHER/FIRE PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK FROM OCTOBER 6TH THROUGH THE
10TH.

DURING THE WEEK...DIFFERENT TOPICS CONCERNING FIRE WEATHER AND
PREVENTION WILL BE DISCUSSED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND INCREASE
AWARENESS OF FIRE WEATHER AND FIRE SAFETY. THE TOPIC TODAY IS
GENERAL FIRE WEATHER.

WEATHER IS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN DETERMINING THE POTENTIAL AND
SEVERITY OF WILDFIRES. THE SPREAD RATE AND INTENSITY OF FIRES ARE
DIRECTLY RELATED TO WEATHER CONDITIONS. ALSO CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
SUCH AS DROUGHT PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE WITH WILDFIRES.

ACCURATE AND TIMELY WEATHER INFORMATION IS VITAL TO CONTROLLING
WILDFIRES. A CORE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TO
PROVIDE DAILY FIRE WEATHER FORECASTS TO FEDERAL AND STATE WILDFIRE
MANAGEMENT AGENCIES. IN ADDITION...SPECIALIZED AND DETAILED
FORECASTS ARE PROVIDED...WHEN NEEDED...TO AID IN SUPPRESSING
WILDFIRES AND MANAGING PRESCRIBED BURNS.

HUMANS CAUSE 99 PERCENT OF WILDFIRES IN TENNESSEE. THE BULK OF THESE
FIRES ARE DUE TO ARSON AND ALSO BY CARELESS DEBRIS BURNING.
ADDITIONAL CAUSES INCLUDE CHILDREN PLAYING WITH MATCHES AS WELL AS
CAMPFIRE INCIDENTS. MOST OF THESE FIRES COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.

THE THOUGHTLESS ACTS OF ARSONISTS NOT ONLY DAMAGE
FORESTS...WATERSHEDS...AND WILDLIFE HABITATS...BUT THEY ALSO POSE A
DIRECT THREAT TO YOU AND YOUR PROPERTY. FIRE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITIES NEED YOUR HELP TO CATCH ARSONISTS BY PROVIDING
INFORMATION. YOU CAN DO THIS AND REMAIN ANONYMOUS BY CALLING THE
ARSON HOTLINE AT 1-800-762-3017.

DURING THE WEEK...A SERIES OF TOPICS CONCERNING FIRE WEATHER AND
PREVENTION WILL BE ADDRESSED. THE TOPIC FOR TUESDAY WILL BE...
UNDERSTANDING HOW WEATHER CONDITIONS AFFECT FIRE BEHAVIOR.

&&

FOR ADDITIONAL FIRE WEATHER INFORMATION...PLEASE GO TO THE FOLLOWING
WEBSITE: WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/OHX/FIREWX.HTM.

$$

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