Franklin County Wildland Fire Message

GUSTING WINDS TODAY WITH LOW RH

2010-11-08T10:23:00.000-06:00

MONDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2010

Fire Danger is MODERATE, but is pushing the edges a bit. Fortunately, many fields still contain green grass.

10 Hour DFM has fallen to 5%. Today we can expect Hi Temp of 72* with Low RH of 25%. Spread Index of 39. Control challenges today will include gusting southerly winds to 25 mph.

Sunday, Oak Bend/Etna had a creeping 1/2 acre fire in leaf litter and brush. No control problems.

By Fred Mullen, with research by Melissa Roof

GUSTING SOUTH WINDS TODAY

2010-10-25T12:25:00.000-05:00

MONDAY OCTOBER 25, 2010

South winds today at 17 to 20 mph, gusting to 25.
Lo RH of 45 %.
Most of the County greened after the recent rains, howerer, there are still some cured fields. With today's wind, these field's 1-hour fuels could dry fairly quickly. We could see SI of around 50 in them.

by Fred Mullen

OCTOBER 7, 2010 FIRE DANGER RATING--MODERATE

2010-10-07T10:19:00.000-05:00

Although grass lands in Franklin County are still mostly green and we have a very low Spread Index of around 20, the Arkansas Foresty Commission has our Fire Danger at MODERATE. This is mostly attributable to fairly dry conditions in wooded areas. Yesterday's KBDI was 442.
For the next few days we can look for Low Relative Humidities in the 20 % to 25 % range with10-hour DFM around 6 %. A slight chance of rain in the form of thunderstorms returns to the forcast on Sunday.
Statewide--about one-half of Arkansas is under burn bans, mostly in the Southeast portion. AFC Fire Danger rating for about 2/3s of the state is HIGH. Over past 30 days have seen over 60 fires worked by the AFC with several lagre ones--100 plus acres--in the Southeastern and Southcentral Counties.

by Fred Mullen

SEPTEMBER 6, 2010 FIRE CONDITIONS ARE DAY TO DAY

2010-09-06T13:38:00.000-05:00

Although we are well into a late summer and fall FIRE SEASON with the trend toward curing 1-hour fuels and some dormancy in timber, we still have a lot of green in place. A killing frost is still several weeks away.

So, watch the conditions daily for rain and RH.

South winds today could gust to over 25 mph.

Spread Index today is 47.

Yesterday, PV had a truck fire on I-40 that started a small--about 0.25 acre-- wildland fire. Torching in cedars was observed.

FIRE DANGER IS MODERATE

REMINDER--AFC 8-hour Wildland Fire Class is in September on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 at the Training Center in Ozark.

by Fred Mullen with research provided by Rick Covert

SEPTEMBER 3, 2010 FC BURN BAN LIFTED

2010-09-03T14:13:00.000-05:00

Most of the County has received at least one-half inch of rain during the past couple of days, so the BURN BAN has been lifted. Citizens should continue to use caution when burning and fire crews are encouraged to remain FIRE READY. RH in the 25% range and winds to 20mph plus will quickly dry out one hour fuels setting the stage for a return to higher fire danger.
Until we receive additional rain, the FIRE DANGER will remain MODERATE.

Thank you for all your fire suppression efforts the past couple of weeks.

by Fred Mullen

SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 BURN BAN CONTINUES

2010-09-01T12:15:00.000-05:00

Some areas of the County received as much as 1.25 inches of rain;however, we have not had a good general rainfall throughout the area. Higher RH will also help raise 1-Hour DFM some. Thunderstorms are in the forecast--fire crews need to be aware of outflow winds which could approach 40 mph.
High Heat Index values have returned, so be mindful to establish REHAB early.

by Fred Mullen

AUGUST 28, 2010 THUNDER SHOWERS FORECAST FOR MONDAY

2010-08-28T15:41:00.000-05:00

Next chance of precip is a 20% chance of showers on Monday, with slight chance forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.

REMEMBER--you have a family at home, wear your PPE.

by Fred Mullen

AUGUST 28, 2010 WINDS GUSTING TO 15+ MPH

2010-08-28T15:36:00.000-05:00

Fire Crews can expect East Southeast winds gusting to a about 15 mph this afternoon, before settling back to 4 to 7 this evening. Wednesday winds will also be ESE at about 10 mph.

KBDI is 700+

FIRE DANGER is HIGH

TODAYS FIRES, SO FAR--

OAK BEND-ETNA FD--1.5 acres in grass and woods near the Etna Airport. This fire was burning mostly downhill in grass before entering rough wooded land. Suppression was with hand line and water. No control problems noted.

ALTUS returned to the scene their dwelling fire from last night to mop-up. It had put embers in a scrub hardwood and cedar thicket which started numerous spot fires last night some of which flared again today.

WATALULA, OZARK, BARNES and the AFC--aprx. 4 acres grass and woods. This fire was along Hwy. 219 north of I-40 which is an area with a history of aggressive fire behavior. Fire started in a debris pile and spread in recently mowed hay field, a finished mowed field and rough scrub timber. ROS in the finished mow field was a wind-aided slightly upslope estimated 25 feet per minute with 2 foot flames. Fire was creeping in timber. No torching was observed. Values threatened included 4 dwellings with numerous out-buildings, hay barn with stored equipment, and the Seeco facility on Catabury Run Road. Suppression was with foam, water, dozer line and land owner's track hoe. This debris pile is in good black and will burn for several more hours. It is being monitered by property ower. Minor control problems included fire burning in an area where 4 fences come together and narrow gates.

PLEASENT VIEW and OZARK--aprx. 1/2 acre of I-40 ROW way at 33 MM East. Fire burned between I-40 and Lone Oak Road. Creeping fire in leaf litter and mowed grass. No control problems.

by Fred Mullen

AUGUST 27, 2010 THURSDAY'S OBSERVED FIRE BEHAVIOR

2010-08-27T14:06:00.000-05:00

On Thrusday, two fires were reported in Franklin County.

ADAMS ROAD--9 acres-- Pleasent View Fire District--1445 hours. Observed Fire Behavior included torching and possibly some wind aided crowning in 40 to 50 foot cedar trees. Flames heights in this timber were estimated to be 15 to 20 feet above tree tops. ROS in knee high cured and curled green grass was about 10 feet per minute with the wind down-slope; and, about he same against the wind up 3 to 5 % slopes.

Resources included 2 PV Engines, 2 Ozark Engines, 1 PV Water Tender, 1 AFC Dozer Crew, 1 AFC Fire Investigator

FT. CHAFFEE--unknow acerage--Ft. Chaffee and Charleston Rural--about 1450 hours. This fire was on the East Side of the Reservation near Rattlesnake Road. An observer reported 3 to 4 foot flame heights in Fuel Model 2 with ROS about 5 to 10 feet per minute. Ft. Chaffee primarlily managed the fire passively using fire guards and roads to halt spread and attacking spot overs.

Resources used are unknown.

BE READY--higher winds and slopes will produce much faster ROS than has been observed.

REMEMBER your LACES training. LOOKOUTS, AWARENESS, COMMUNICATIONS, ESCAPE ROUTES and SAFETY ZONES

KBDI today is over 700.

by Fred Mullen

August 26, 2010 FORECAST RH NEAR 20%

2010-08-26T09:15:00.000-05:00

Near RED FLAG Conditions continue.

Cooler temperatures return--along with it is much drier air.

Fire crews can expect running behavior with slope and/or wind. Torching has been observed in honeysuckle and other oily vegitation.

SEATs are available. If you have high values threatened or need to prevent growth into a larger fire, don't hesitate to request them.

AFC District 6 Fire Danger remains HIGH.

Wear your PPE!

by Melissa Roof

AUGUST 24, 2010 NEAR RED FLAG CONDITIONS

2010-08-24T13:23:00.000-05:00

Today, we will be really close to RED FLAG WARNING conditons.

RED FLAG WARNING criteria is:
1) 10-hour DFM <10%
2) RH <25%
3) Winds at 14 mph or above

Today we will meet the DFM and be really close on RH and Winds.

Today we can anticipate TORCHING, RUNNING and some wind driven SPOTTING in receptive fuels. ROS could be the fastest we have seen this fire season.

Call for Mutual Aid early.

by Fred Mullen with research provided by Rick Covert.

AUGUST 23, 2010 BURN BAN

2010-08-23T14:12:00.000-05:00

A BURN BAN remains in effect for Franklin County until futher notice.

Drier, Winder Weather in Forecast

2010-08-23T13:51:00.000-05:00

Although the AFC FDR for Franklin County remains at MODERATE, fire conditions continue to deteriorate throughout the County. Some showers the past few days may have provided brief relief to impacted areas, the return of lower RHs and higher winds have probably dried that out.

The forecast through Sunday night (August 29) is for no measurable precipation. Winds of up to 10 mph with some gusting are forecast.

Ozark and Watalula worked a two set fire at the 37 West on Saturday afternoon. This is an area of Franklin County with a memorable fire history (1980, 2002) so every pre-caution was taken by responding units. Rate of Spread in the cured ankle high bermuda grass was about 10 feet per minute. Winds were not much of a factor in ROS. Honeysuckle torched readily. A total of about 1 acre burned.

Please prepare and place additonal rehab supplies on your engines.

by Fred Mullen

August 18, 2010 Franklin County Wildland Fire Conditions

2010-08-18T13:49:00.000-05:00

Depending on where thunderstorms have dumped their rain, we still are fairly green in many areas. Some areas are cured. Ten-hour DFM is in the 5 to 6 % range and KBDI is 650 plus.
Recent fires have exhibited low ROS due to lack of wind and high per-percentage of mixed live fuels in burn. Of course, stronger surface winds could increase the ROS in similar fuels.
The Forecast is not too promising for rain--but more moisture is returning to the area, so we can see higher DPs and RH.
Fire Departments are encouraged to be 'fire ready'. Also, at this month's meeting, please try to review wildfire engine tactics and water usage. We get out of practice and tend to use streams on wildfires that are more suitable of interior attack.
Remember--Attack Mode and Command Mode. Know when to be in each.
Please use good command best practices--travel safely, declare and name command, give size up, order needed resources and be careful.
by Fred Mullen