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MOISTURE IN THE SOUTHWEST DAMPENS FIRE THREAT;
HEAVY RAIN CONTINUES TO POUND SAN ANTONIO AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS

July 3, 2002 — Weather conditions throughout the United States are expected to continue to provide relief for firefighting efforts through the Independence Day holiday weekend, according to NOAA's National Weather Service. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of wildfires in Wyoming and South Dakota taken July 2, 2002 at 9:19 p.m. EDT.)

In the West, a weather system presently over southern California will advance eastward into north central Arizona, then move toward New Mexico, Utah and Colorado on Thursday, causing a risk for isolated thunderstorms and dry lightning that could ignite new wildfires, according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.

From Friday through the weekend, thunderstorm activity will diminish and warmer temperatures and drier conditions will prevail, said SPC forecaster Rich Naden in Norman, Okla.

Special Support for Wildfires Continues
Throughout the wildfire season, NOAA is providing all possible assistance to those involved in the firefighting and disaster mitigation effort, including running twice-daily Hazard Mapping System fire and smoke analyses. NOAA is using a new technique, or algorithm, for its fire products that automatically detects wildfires in environmental satellite imagery.

For example, NOAA's geostationary operational environmental satellites (GOES) are the only satellites in orbit that allow detection of a fire right after it occurs. The technique is particularly useful with fast-growing fires, since it can provide real-time information and hunts for fires in remote areas.

Colorado Fires Contained
After more than three weeks of intense activity, firefighters in Colorado are finally breathing a collective sigh of relief. Suppression crews have major forest and wildland fires under control.

Officials claimed the Hayman Fire—the largest ever seen in Colorado at more than 137,000 acres—to be contained at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Since its start on June 9, about 40 miles southwest of Denver, the fire destroyed more than 100 homes and more than 450 outbuildings, and threatened many suburban developments.

The Fountain Gulch Fire, north of Idaho Springs, Colo., was 90 percent contained Tuesday night and was expected to be fully contained on Wednesday. The 250-acre fire which started Monday was quickly contained by a combination of dousing by air slurry tankers Monday night and hand crews working fire lines Tuesday.

Overcast skies and cooler, moist air brought relief to crews battling the Missionary Ridge Fire northeast of Durango on Tuesday. The fire grew slightly, according to reports and only smoldered along much of its 73,000-acre area. The Missionary Ridge Fire has destroyed 46 homes since it started June 9. Firefighting experts said the western portion of the fire was 75 percent contained Tuesday and about 40 percent contained on its eastern side. The adjacent Valley Fire, destroyed 10 homes in a single day before being extinguished June 25.

The Coal Seam Fire, about four miles north of Glenwood Springs, was declared 90 percent contained and smoldering late Tuesday. The fire had consumed more than 12,000 acres since its start. The Million Fire, which started June 19 near South Fork, was declared under containment Tuesday after destroying more than ten homes.

Firefighters continue to battle the Spring Creek Fire north of New Castle in northwest Colorado. That fire is about 40 percent contained after burning more than 7,300 acres.

Firefighting Efforts in South Dakota and Wyoming
In South Dakota, crews made good progress on the four-day-old, 9,000-acre Grizzly Gulch Fire on the outskirts of Deadwood and Lead. Deadwood residents were allowed to return to their homes Tuesday, but Lead was still evacuated as of Wednesday morning. National Weather Service forecasters warned of likely worsening weather conditions Wednesday, however, with 30-mph winds with gusts to 45 mph lasting into the night. There is also a slight chance of thunderstorms and lightning in the area.

Officials said they expected containment Thursday of the 7,000-acre Kraft Complex Fire near Shields, N.D. Fires there destroyed 45 structures, including 15 homes.

Firefighting crews in Wyoming were also making progress containing several wildfires Tuesday.

The Hensel Fire in Medicine Bow National Forest about 20 miles northwest of Wheatland, Wyo., was declared 95 percent contained Tuesday after having consumed more than 14,500 acres of woodlands. The Watt Fire northeast of Buffalo was 80 percent contained after burning 1,400 acres. Although declared 80 percent contained, extreme fire activity with long-range spotting was observed on the Pownell Fire north of Gillette. Also showing extreme fire activity were the Daley Complex (13,000 acres) north of Gillette and the Reese Mountain Fire (10,000 acres) west of Wheatland.

Wyoming firefighters were also contending with the 4,500-acre South Fork II Fire on Wind River Agency land, the 315-acre Cow Camp Fire southeast of Pinedale and the 125-acre She Bear Mountain Fire in Big Horn National Forest 15 miles west of Sheridan.

Fires in Arizona and the Western U.S.
Two new large fires were reported in Arizona on Tuesday. These were the only new large fires reported nationally yesterday. The most significant fire activity in the western U.S. is occurring in Utah with six large fires burning a total of 107,000 acres. Dry thunderstorms were observed in Nevada and Utah on Tuesday, and very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Utah.

HEAVY RAIN CONTINUES TO POUND SAN ANTONIO AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS

Four days of heavy rain have left at least two people dead and damaged hundreds of homes in south central Texas. Rainfall accumulations of up to 16 inches caused moderate to major flooding of 16 rivers and streams in a 38 county area.

San Antonio and Bexar County are among the hardest hit areas with more than 200 homes damaged by flood waters. Since midnight Monday, 138 roads were closed, more than 230 high water rescue calls were received and more than 450 traffic accidents were reported.

As the rain continued to fall yesterday, Governor Rick Perry activated the Texas National Guard to aid with relief and rescue efforts. The Guard dispatched 20 high profile trucks and six UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters for search and rescue operations in San Antonio and Bexar County. The state also deployed an Incident Management Team and eight Swift Water Rescue Teams to the area. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolf and San Antonio Mayor Ed Garza also asked the Governor for a declaration of disaster to help small business and homeowners.

The 9.52 inches of rain recorded at San Antonio International Airport for July 1st makes Monday the second rainiest day in the city's history. The heaviest one-day rainfall record is 11.26 inches recorded October 17, 1998. The July 1st amount also exceeds the record total for the entire month of July (8.29 inches in 1990).

While the major storm system began drifting westward Wednesday, a flash flood watch remains in effect for all of south central Texas through Wednesday night. Additional scattered thunderstorms are expected throughout the affected area on Thursday.

During the last 30 years, floods have killed an average of 127 people a year. The best way to avoid becoming a statistic is to stay away from swollen creeks, streams and rivers; obey barricade markers; and, never try to drive through low water crossings.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's Fire Weather Information Center

NOAA's Storm Watch

NOAA's River Forecast Centers

National Interagency Fire Center — Includes latest news and glossary of wildfire terms

NOAA's Drought Information Center

NOAA's Wildfire Detection

New Fire Product Makes It Easier to Find Fires

Media Contacts:
Fire Weather: Keli Tarp, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center, (405) 366-0451 or Patrick Slattery, NOAA National Weather Service Central Region, (816) 891-7734 ext. 621
Texas Flood: Ron Trumbla, NOAA's National Weather Service Southern Region, (817) 978-1111 ext. 140

 

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