[Printable]
000 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. $$ 21