We are all to sadly getting use to seeing wildfires devistate parts of the south, the mid west and the west, BUT Minnesota?
California
Texas
And now MINNESOTA ...
Quite a sight to see 2 CL-215's working togther.
U.S. Wildfire season on near-record pace
Large fires burning in Minnesota, Idaho, Montana and Texas
Several large new fires burning California, Idaho and Minnesota have pushed the total acreage during this year’s wildfire season to 7.7 million acres nationwide, about 1.5 million acres above the 10-year average and close to the record season of 2006, when 8.8 million acres had burned by this time of year.
By comparison, last year’s total at this point in the fire season was 2.7 million acres; in 2009, it was 5.5 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Currently, large fires are burning in eight states: California (3), Idaho (11), Minnesota (1), Montana (8), Oklahoma (3), Oregon (6), Texas (11) and Washington (2). Visit Inciweb for updates on all fires burning currently.
The biggest single fire in the country is burning on the Superior National Forest in Minnesota, where the Pagami Creek Fire has burned across a footprint of about 94,000 acres since it started about a month ago. The fire was started by lightning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, about 14 miles east of Ely. It’s about 11 percent contained with 565 firefighters on scene.
Minnesota DULUTH, Minn. – Wildfire 8% Contained as of today (Sunday) Gusty south winds materialized as expected in the area of the Pagami Creek fire Saturday, but the massive wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness didn’t spread as officials feared it might.
“The fire this afternoon heated up a little along the edges of it, but we aren’t seeing much for any fire spread,” said Doug Anderson, public information officer for the firefighting effort, late on Saturday afternoon.
“On the north side, where it’s heating up a little bit, they’re hitting it now with our water-scooper aircraft just to keep it cool and keep it from spreading.
The following was taken from the Star Local News in Texas. It is a very good article deling with PREVENTION.
Wildfire Prevention and Education is one of the keys to help when wildfire conditions become high, and is something we all can do! You dont need any special training or tools just an awarness to the conditions, a willingness to follow the rules, regulations and suggestions from the experts and a big dose of common sence!
Texas
Caution urged to help prevent wildfires
Published: Saturday, September 17, 2011 2:11 PM CDT
So far, the wildfires in Texas have been many miles from McKinney.
But that doesn't mean the city shouldn't stay prepared for a sudden change in fortune.
McKinney Fire Marshal John Nickles is reminding all McKinney-area residents that wildfires could become a problem here, urging them to use extreme caution to help prevent wildfires.
Although there has been some rain in the area in the past week, drought conditions continue and a fire can still quickly spread out of control.
Nickles said there are many ways that a wildfire can be started, including seemingly harmless activities such as outdoor grilling, building campfires, pulling a trailer with a chain that could drag and cause a spark and improperly disposing of smoking materials out of car windows.
McKinney has an ordinance that prohibits outdoor burning within the city limits.
"While prohibiting open burning, this ordinance does include provisions for recreational fires," Nickles explained, "fires intended for cooking, warming or ceremonial purposes. It's important for people to think about what can cause a dangerous fire and to avoid those activities."
He said about 90 percent of wildfires in Texas are caused by people.
"The unsafe burning of leaves, brush, household trash and other debris is the top cause of wildfires in Texas," he said.
As of this past July, any worker planning to do any welding, metal cutting or other work that could potentially start a fire must get a hot work permit from the fire marshal's office, located at 2200 Taylor Burk Drive. The city will continue to require the free permits as long as the Collin County outdoor burn ban is in effect.
The McKinney Fire Marshal's Office issued a release Friday stating, "As Texas faces the most destructive wildfire season in state history, the danger rises significantly for urban and suburban areas across Texas.
"The record-breaking drought has killed vegetation such as grass, trees and shrubs, providing fuel for fires in and near cities. Gusty winds and extended record high temperatures increase the threat of wildfires."
Several wildfires have been reported in Texas within the past few weeks, including ones west of Fort Worth and southeast of Dallas.
The most devastating wildfire in the state has been in Bastrop County, in the hill country of South Texas. The wildfires there have destroyed 1,500 homes and are still burning.
In addition to homes being burned, both domestic and wild animals perished in the Bastrop County fires. Also, thousands of tall pine trees were burned in Bastrop State Park.
Bastrop County is known as "the land of the lost pines" because there are many miles between the tall pines of East Texas and those in Bastrop County."
Nickles hopes that by being extremely cautious, McKinney area residents can help make certain that such tragic fires do not occur in the city.
Remember Smokey Bear is counting on you for your help. ONLY YOU CAN !!!!
