DNR and USFS asked to initiate a fire ban

[Lee Borgersen]

10/6/2011 10:00:00 AM   
DNR and USFS asked to initiate a fire ban across northeastern Minnesota

by Anne Swenson, USFS, Nat'l Weather Service

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN

521 AM CDT THU OCT 6 2011

...WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS WITH GUSTY WINDS THROUGH THE WEEK...

A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR FOR MOST OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA FOR WARM TEMPERATURES...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND BREEZY SOUTHERLY WINDS.

GRASSES...BRUSH...CROPS AND STANDS OF TREES ARE ALL DRY ACROSS

THE REGION. ANY FIRES THAT DO IGNITE COULD BECOME FAST MOVING IN A

SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE MOST EXTREME CONDITIONS WILL BE DURING

THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS. THE RED FLAG WARNING MAY

NEED TO BE EXTENDED INTO FRIDAY TO ACCOUNT FOR PERSISTENT DRY AND

INCREASINGLY WINDY CONDITIONS.

MNZ011-019-037-038-061830-

/O.EXA.KDLH.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-111007T0000Z/

NORTHERN ST. LOUIS-CENTRAL ST. LOUIS-CARLTON/SOUTHERN ST. LOUIS-

PINE-

521 AM CDT THU OCT 6 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR LOW

RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES...WARM TEMPERATURES AND GUSTY WINDS FOR

SAINT LOUIS...WESTERN CARLTON AND PINE COUNTIES...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DULUTH HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG

WARNING FOR SAINT LOUIS...WESTERN CARLTON AND PINE

COUNTIES...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN MINNESOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 011...019...

037 AND 038.

* WINDS...SOUTHEAST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...25 TO 30 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...75 TO 80.

* IMPACTS...FOR INFORMATION ON BURNING RESTRICTIONS...VISIT THE

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AT

WWW.DNR.STATE.MN.US/FORESTRY

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL

CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

TODAY'S MESSAGE FROM USFS: The Pagami Creek Fire remains at 92,682 acres and is 71% contained. Near red flag conditions (low humidities,high temps and high winds) are forecasted for western St. Louis County this does not include the Pagami Creek fire area although it will experience near red flag conditions. The red flag extends into Friday. Fire activity has the potential to increase as a result of this forecast and there is a potential for unburned islands of fuel within the fire perimeter to ignite.

There may be increased smoke in the area as fire activity increases (especially on the east and north sides). The Superior National Forest expanded closures on Tuesday for areas adjacent to the Pagami Creek Fire as a precautionary measure to provide for public safety. The Governor ordered a National Guard helicopter with two paramedics to be stationed in Ely. They will arrive by noon.today. This helicopter will be staged in case serious injuries may require medevac from the wilderness.

ACTIVITIES TODAY:

· On the West and Northwest portions of the fire crews will patrol, mop-up existing lines and back haul unneeded equipment.

· On the Northeast and East portions of the fire, hose-lays and line construction will continue as well as patrol and mop-up of previously constructed line.

· On the Southern portions near Isabella patrol, mop-up and line improvement and rehab continues.

· On the Southwestern portions, line construction will continue between the Isabella River and Bog Lakes.

· As the warmer weather and increased winds continue, all crews will be checking hot spots that are being detected outside the existing line. Suppression forces will take a proactive approach in using aircraft to cool hot spots.

· On the southeast portion of the fire crews will be adding a secondary line in an area where several hot spots have been found outside of the existing line. (Ferne Lake area)

WEATHER: Dry and warm weather with increasing winds is forecast over the fire through the week. High temperature today is expected to be 79oF with winds out of the southeast at 6 to 14 mph with gusts to 26 mph.

AREA/ROAD CLOSURES: The Superior National Forest has expanded closures for areas adjacent to the Pagami Creek Fire as a precautionary measure to provide for public safety. Travel along Lake County 7 and FR 369, FR 373 and FR 377 is open. The area between these roads and the fire is closed. To see the updated list of closures and closure map, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/goto/superior/home or www.inciweb.org/incident/2534.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: The Superior National Forest has lifted all campfire restrictions. For more information, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/goto/superior/home.

LOCATION: The fire started approximately 13 miles east of Ely.

CAUSE: Lightning

DETECTED: August 18, 2011

RESOURCES: There are currently 436 personnel assigned to the incident. Resources include: 8 hotshot (Type 1) crews, 3 Type 2 crews, 3 engines, 0 dozers, 1 water tenders, 2 camp crews and other personnel. The following air resources are available: 2 Type 1 helicopters, 3 Type 3 helicopters, 2 CL 215, and three Beaver aircraft on floats.