Envirocast^TM TV for Thursday October 30, 2003

Gusty and Shifting Wind Conditions in Southern California

Background

Images

These high-resolution images, acquired by the IKONOS satellite, show wildfires near Devore Los Angeles on October 28, 2003.

NOTE: Credit for use of IKONOS images should include "Courtesy of Space Imaging" or similar and must include the Space Imaging logo.

Incident Headlines

· 11 large fires are burning on 648,633 acres in Southern California on federal, state, and private lands.

· To date, 3,155 structures have been lost in California.

· Sixteen civilians (unconfirmed) have died due to fire-related incidents. One firefighter fatality occurred yesterday.

Fire Activity:

Fires near Devore, Los Angeles on October 28, 2003 (images on your right):

Taken on Oct. 28, 2003, the image is shown in false color. Taken in the
near-infrared light spectrum, the bright red areas actually show green or
living vegetation. The blackened or charred areas in the middle of the image
show areas that have been burned by the wildfire.

Zoom-in-Area:

		Annotation	Limited Annotation	No Annotation
Natural Color	NTSC 720x486
Natural Color	NTSC 640x480
False Color	NTSC720x486
False Color	NTSC 640x480

Overview of Larger Area (October 28, 2003):

		Annotation	No Annotation
Natural Color	NTSC 720x486
Natural Color	NTSC 640x480
False Color	NTSC720x486
False Color	NTSC 640x480

Active Fire Map of Southern California:

This animation was created using the still active fire map frames available to your right. It shows how the fires evolved in Southern California from October 28to October 30, 2003.

Note: The animation above shows how you can use the images below in your weathercast to show the fire evolution. Save the still active fire map images to your right at the appropriate resolution for your system (either 720x486 or 640x480) and dissolve from one to another in sequence to achieve the above effect.

	October 28	October 29	October 30
NTSC 720x486
NTSC 640x480

The images were compiled at the USDA Forest Service (USFS) Remote Sensing Applications Center in cooperation with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the University of Maryland, the National Interagency Fire Center, and the USFS Missoula Fire Sciences Lab and processed at StormCenter to include a USGS map background.

Weather Broadcast Tips:

NOTE: These are some weather-based forest fire tips that you may find of use when you talk about the forest and wildland fires. As always, please use these in context with official weather advisories and information.

BACKGROUND: With a very deep and cold upper level trough establishing itself along the West Coast, official National Weather Service forecasts are calling for strong and gusty surface winds in many of the southern California fire areas. If convective activity (see arrow on sample GOES W satellite imagery from 1800UTC on October 30, 2003) were to develop over land areas over the next few days, it is possible that locally gusty outflow winds associated with small showers could add to the high wind situation.

TIPS FOR YOUR VIEWERS

The following tips for viewers are based on the shifting character of the high winds in California fire areas over the past two days:

Residents should not take lulls in aggressive fire behavior as meaning that the fire is under control. A slight shift in wind direction or a pick-up of winds can cause fire flare-ups or erratic fire front behavior.

Gusty and shifting wind conditions make fire fighting efforts even more difficult and hazardous.

Don’t wait until the last minute to evacuate!! When an evacuation order is issued, respond quickly.

Always think of personal and family safety first, but be sure to consider the safety of your pets, as well.

Environmental Impacts:

REGIONAL LARGE FIRES (500 acres or larger)

Southern California http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/fire/south/fwx/operations/index.html

Incident Name	State	Lead Agency	Size (acres)	Percent Contained	Estimate of Containment	Personnel	Structures Lost
Old	CA	FS	47,960	10	UNK	2,392	860
Cedar	CA	FS	251,000	15	11/5	3,662	1,800
Grand Prix	CA	CDF	91,207	40	10/31	1,808	98
Simi Incident	CA	CDF	105,665	40	11/4	1,575	95
Paradise	CA	CDF	49,800	20	11/1	1,315	233
Padua	CA	FS	10,466	90	10/31	455	0
Piru	CA	FS	68,022	30	UNK	1,512	8
Paradise 2	CA	NPS	1,298	98	11/15	52	0
Roblar 2	CA	CDF	8,592	85	UNK	68	0
Albanita/Hooker – WFU	CA	FS	4,292	N/A	N/A	40	0
Mountain	CA	CDF	10,331	100	---	339	61

Cedar is located 10 miles east of Ramona, CA. A Unified Command between a CDF Type 1 Incident Management Team and various fire agencies in San Diego County has been established. Threatened residences and commercial properties have been evacuated. Structure protection is a priority. Extreme fire behavior with flame lengths over 200 feet and long range spotting were observed.

Grand Prix is 2 miles west of Mira Loma, CA. This fire is burning in heavy chaparral and has exhibited extreme behavior, including sustained runs and spotting. Evacuation orders have been lifted for the southern perimeter. Evacuation orders for the Lytle Creek area remain in effect.

Old is on the north side of San Bernardino, CA and burning in Chaparral. Structure protection is in place for numerous residences and commercial properties. Rapid rates of spread and spotting were observed.

Piru is 14 miles northwest of Santa Clara, CA. Extreme fire behavior, steep rugged terrain and heavy fuel loading have hampered suppression efforts. The fire crossed the Sespe River Drainage and increased in size by over 50%; intense fire behavior with uphill runs was observed. Structure protection continues to be a priority.

Paradise is burning in heavy chaparral six miles northeast of Escondido, CA. Fire spread was influenced by the Cedar fire. Torching and crown fires were observed as the fire moved through wooded areas. Structure protection is in place for numerous residences.

Paradise 2 is seven miles northeast of Three Rivers, CA. This fire is burning in mixed conifer and chaparral with active fire behavior. Fire activity continued in thermal belts with no perimeter growth.

Mountain is 13 miles northeast of Temecula, CA. This fire is burning is heavy brush and hardwood slash. Fire activity has decreased from yesterday and road closures have been lifted.

Padua is in chaparral, six miles north/northeast of Claremont, CA. Interior islands of fuel continue to burn. Evacuations orders for the southern perimeter have been lifted; evacuation orders for the Mt. Baldy Village area remain in effect.

Northern California http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/fire/intel/ncsc/

Incident Name

State

Lead

Agency

Size

(acres)

Percent

Contained

Estimate of

Containment

Personnel

Structures

Lost

Whitmore

CDF

1,004

10/30

1,146

Whitmore is located six miles east of Whitmore, CA. The fire is in timber. Minimal fire activity was reported.

Southwest Area www.fs.fed.us/r3/fire

Incident Name

State

Lead

Agency

Size

(acres)

Percent

Contained

Estimate of

Containment

Personnel

Structures

Lost

Rose – WFU

NPS

3,694

N/A

	Image NTSC 720x486 031030_01_tva.jpg shows the true-color IKONOS image of fire near Devore, Los Angeles on October 28, 2003.
	Image NTSC 720x486 031030_03_tva.jpg is the same as above, with limited annotation.
	IImage NTSC 720x486 031030_05_tva.jpg is the same as above, with no annotation.
	Image NTSC 720x486 031030_02_tva.jpg shows the false-color IKONOS image of fire near Devore, Los Angeles on October 28, 2003.
	Image NTSC 720x486 031030_04_tva.jpg is the same as above, with limited annotation.
	Image NTSC 720x486 031030_06_tva.jpg is the same as above, with limited annotation.

	Image NTSC 640x480 031030_01_tvb.jpg shows the true-color IKONOS image of fire near Devore on October 28, 2003.
	Image NTSC 640x480 031030_03_tvb.jpg is the same as above, with limited annotation.
	Image NTSC 640x480 031030_05_tvb.jpg is the same as above, with no annotation.
	Image NTSC 640x480 031030_02_tvb.jpg shows the false-color IKONOS image of fire near Lake Arrowhead, Los Angeles on October 28, 2003.
	Image NTSC 640x480 031030_04_tvb.jpg is the same as above, with limited annotation.
	Image NTSC 640x480 031030_06_tvb.jpg is the same as above, with no annotation.

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