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Home My WebLink AboutWildfire conditions JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners Mark McCauley,County Administrator FROM: Heidi Eisenhour,Commissioner Bret Black,Chief,East Jefferson Fire&Rescue DATE: August 28,2023 SUBJECT: Dry conditions persisting and wildfire planning STATEMENT OF ISSUE: EJFR has requested to present a wildfire summary to raise awareness of our local conditions over the next few months. Even though it might be cooler in the coming weeks....we are too dry.The National Interagency Fire Center is forecasting this current weather pattern to persist through October. We also want to promote our Community Wildfire Prevention Planning survey—available here: Jefferson County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (arc isg, com). ANALYSIS: Conditions are significantly different than they were this time last year in our region: f.j >{4PWMkd1N W11iftad FV*IObnthill Oubee 1 Significant Wildland fre Potential Outlook AYOY14 022 August 2023 y , W tAII1aM M Nauttr . 0 aww agar�awsatt•ew f ■w...w. �.•sw tw.w . ftraw ` S •.+. � �ararr �•...�rw aaaw•aw.wi _i traw Ark ..... �=0:07 _.sa.a..r •r•.rw �iVr Prw.MwM..4��.Y�Y��.�ww++�111\M�w. a.s w�w..�ae •_.........�.- _' �•�MIM(�r 'y+w. w�.��y.•MrYw Y....MY��.ryMi.Y.�.�rr�r. .ww4N'Ol W�..rr�.rw...�ra�alal�aa�4 .a i�.YY sit FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: Discuss, spread awareness. REVIEWED BY: Mark McCain County Administrator Dat EJFR. org bblack@ejfr. org TOPICS Current Wildfire Summary Evacuation Review How do wildfires start ? Humans cause almost 90 percent of U.S. wildfires due to factors such as discarded cigarettes, unattended campfires, burning debris, or through equipment malfunctions (utilities), negligence, or intentional act (arson). (Western Fire Chiefs Association) It is difficult to determine the cause of wildfires. NG ENC j,A, Z � c m z 2 � '00 se, Idah° August 25, 2023 Currently 78 wildfires have burned 603,921 acres in 14 states. Wildland firefighting resources and support personnel assigned to incidents includes 20 incident management teams, 377 crews, 1,303 engines, 101 helicopters and two MAFFS C-130 airtankers. With more than 18,500 wildland firefighters and support personnel working on incidents, they need your help to prevent human-caused wildfires. Check for fire restrictions before you go to your favorite place on your public lands. ev��,PP6ENCY�.^ Wildfire Weather Outlook 12 August through October 2023 Boise.iaano Issued 25 August 2023 Northwest Fire Potential Summary Significant fire potential is elevated to high risk for initiation of new significant fires today mainly from the Cascades westward due to a combination of contributing conditions including poor overnight relative humidity recovery, light eastern flow, instability in the atmosphere and lightning strikes over receptive fuels. ERC values remain quite high for much of western Oregon and southwest Washington in Predictive Service Areas (PSA) NW02, NW03, NW04 so lightning starts could be numerous enough to pose a high risk of initiation of new large fires. The light easterly wind flow over the Cascades will gradually diminish and focus mainly on Washington Friday and Saturday morning but poor overnight humidity recovery will continue. The weather pattern will trigger some more thunderstorms for both Oregon and Washington, including the west side of the Cascades this morning and possibly again Sunday morning. Above normal wildfire potential will likely continue west of the Cascades from Washington to northwest California into October. Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook August 022 August 2023 all Hawau - Pu�e�.art.o77R�ric �o� e 0 Significant Wildland Fire Potential Ido Rog . Puerto Rico Above Normal Geographic Area slgniflcant Wildland Fire PotentialBoundary r Above Normal _Geographic Area .BelowNormal _Fbdn,UveSemcen Boundary Alaska Area Boundary to .Below Normal _Predictive Services ®' Normal Alaska Area • —State Border Map produces by Normal Boundary R.s,da.S..9 • State Border Map produced by flaional Ir.aagency fa.CM6 Redicnve Services o.e normal irpMrarf•rband No potential,rMcaMa a prptar loin WWllk.MooO thatsgndicant wildland`nea w,N oar Bo-Idaho National Interagency Fire Center Significant wldla+dio.•huuldbe—p.cted0 typcal Is—and ud.rvah Orrn9mrrral ugriif—tw ddiar,d I.e oa«»s:condtan• itw.d Augu•12022 me normal significant wildland fire potential indicates a greater than usual likelihood that significant wildland fires will ocar Boise.Idaho �:gM,car...WWM in are fpi po.s,de p.t kss+keytMn uwal dwvg faataais bekrw--W pen:ds Next rsw—September 1 2i Significant wildland fires should be expected at typicaltimes and intervals during normal significant wildland fire potential conditions Issued August 1 2023 Significant wildland fires are still possible but less like) than usual during forecasted below nurmal periods Next issuance September 1 2023 Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook September 2023 1� hR J ■'e • Hawaii O Puerto Rico r Significant Wildland Fire Potential - Above Normal _GeographicArea Boundary 'c . Below Normal Predictive Services r Alaska Area Boundary `°�• ' Normal Ma produced b � -State Border P P Y Predictive Services, National Interagency Fire Center ove normal significant wildland fire potential indicates a greater than usual likelihood that significant wildland fires will occur Boise,Idaho Significant wildland fires should be expected at typical times and intervals during normal significant wildland fire potential conditions Issued August 1,2023 Significant wildland fires are still possible but less likelythan usual during forecasted below normal periods Next issuance September 1.2023 Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook October 023 l r Y h Hawaii 4 e ■ Puerto Rico ■ Significant Wildland Fire Potential . Above Normal _Geographic Area o ■ Boundary a w . Below Normal Predictive Services ■ Alaska Area Boundary Normal • -State Border Map produced by Predictive Services, ove normal significant Wildland fire National Interagency Fire Center 9 potential indicates a greater than usual likelihood that significant wildland fires will occur Boise,Idaho Sgnificant Wildland fires should be expected at typical times and intervals during normal significant wikiland fire potential conditions Issued August 1,2023 Significant wildland fires are still possible but less likely than usual during forecasted below normal periods. NeM issuance September 1,2023 SIT, _ TV- .w is Alf mo • • • • • • __ all'.• /}- ��.��'� •� -'—�''t'��• ap'f '�` i yR �r _ .tea- ry. .' •t}w North American Seasonal Fire Assessment August 2023 s q a 0 O � r t � a e �Oo Fie As sessm nt r - Below normal riarmal o/ -Aoove Normal t f Hawaii Puerto Rico Monthlyfire outlook for North America Red shading indicates areas where co ndrions would favor inaeased fire actrvity IL Green shading indicates-- he.conditions would favor deceased fire Aarvity Wildfires in Canada o Fires,detected in the last 24 hours(as of Aug, 19. 9.20 AM.) r British C A N A D A Columbia ;: :. .1 Vancouver R • * U.J. Yellowknife, BC Flames threatening Kelowna, BC and West Kelowna are among 380 wildfires burning in the British Columbia. More than Source: NASA FIRMS, Reuters, Natural Earth 20,000 have evacuated. SAMUEL GRANADOS/ THE WASHINGTON POST Local Events Beaver Valley Fire Dispatched to 5'x20' brush fire along side of Beaver Valley Road. Battalion Chief was first to arrive, Command established. "30'x60'light fuel, moving up hill, Beaver Valley Command" Battalion Chief update "Now 100'x200' Fire is running. The fire is spotting." Additional resources from Navy, Quilcene, Brinnon, Discovery Bay, DNR, Olympic NP. _.. 1 17. I, Additional Actions • Aircraft (Helitac) • Strike Team from Kitsap • Evacuations along BVR WOW- Brush Fire 491h in Port Townsend 8/3/23 at 9:44am Dispatched for tree into wires. f When crew arrived the power line broke, which ignited several spot fires immediately adjacent to Cappy's Trails. Luckily the firefighters were standing right there and quickly extinguished the fires. RjkY 4 Port Ludlow Brush Fire Ebb Tide Court Trail 8/16/23 at 11:45PM Security Guard found a brush fire on the trail, called 911. The initial size of the fire was reported to be approximately 5'x5'. East Jefferson Fire Rescue (EJFR) responded with a full alarm assignment, dispatching four engines staffed with 12 personnel and the Battalion Chief. Y,. The first engine to arrive observed that the fire had r grown to approximately 50'x50'. Y i WILDFIRE IS I EVACUATION COMING.4k ARE YOU990 '*A Level 1 Advisory, monitor local news/media. Prepare to evacuate should conditions worsen. READyi ..'., Level 2 Dangerous conditions exist, evacuation is probable. Leave early if you need extra time due to pets, mobility issues, etc. Level 3 Leave now, follow instructions. Never wait to be told to leave. If you feel threatened by smoke or a wildfire, evacuate early! SIGN UP FOR NIXLE ALERTS, text jeffcodem to 888777. Keep a GO BAG GID in your car! L-C) Go Bag Checklist • Face masks or face coverings • Extra set of car keys, credit cards, cash or traveler's checks • Three-day supply of non-perishable food • First aid kit & flashlight • Three gallons of water per person • Cell phone & laptop power supply • Battery-powered radio and extra batteries • Local paper maps • Sanitation supplies • Prescriptions or special medications • Copies of important documents (insurance, • Change of clothing birth certificates, passports, etc.) • Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses • Don't forget pet food and water! SIGN UP FOR NIXLE ALERTS, text jeffcodem to 888777. p t .�^�'i+Mr �,t i >s,y� � � ~ ..� :,�• ir, a S �•.iy,��, .:y-..~� f f , w dd ' 1, w ' :r� '"��• r►! • ie.G �' 4 Y:_ *y' `..+' .� :.. .•+`: .ii ..-# • ' .1 'fir: '! r`_ 1 .-s 1 s �'• ��st,�• ..�.. � - �°� - 'v •� lilt4. .ilr.... 4�,,,t+111•p,Ya. '.,y^ .ir 1- 't=1�.Tn'p `9Mi•1 'IY ��y". � u . �t i .M} r x � i t - Jj 1 •� 1 l 1 2 r. r 3 �. IF Do not wait . . . EVACUATE What about Tsunami Sirens? Analogue sirens were first used for disasters in 1949. Their range is limited, about a mile. Today they are used primarily for tornado and tsunami warning. ' They are a low cost option for a specific threat. The community has to regularly train and know what to do when activated. What about LRADs? Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) project both siren and voice recordings to alert and inform the community. Using LRAD for Wildlife Civilian LRAD systems are very effective in Emergency Alerts community alerting and messaging. They can be costly but are be used increasingly in communities with a variety of threats from Ai natural disasters. LRADs are in use or being installed in numerous cities in California such 11CLR ' as San Francisco, Mill Valley, Berkeley and Paradise. WILDFIRE IS COMING! P LAN . PREPARE . STAY AWARE . � Ina ReadyforWildfire.org Are you ready ? KTFUX I Nov 1 FI R E Ali, I N P A R A 0 1 S E I -y. a RESEARCH AND RESOURCES NFPA-NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION NFPA.ORG/PUBLIC-EDUCATION/FIRE-CAUSES-AND-RISKS/WILDFIRE/FIREWISE-USA NFPA.ORG//-/MEDIA/FILES/FIREWISE/FACT-SHEETS/FIREWISEHOWTOPREPAREYOURHOMEFORWILDFIRES PDF YOUTUBE.COM/USER/NFPADOTORG DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DN R.WA.GOV/STRATEG ICFI RE PROTECTION FIREWISE USA EDGEWOODVILLAGEPORTLUDLOW.COM/FIREWISE/ UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON-OLYMPIC PENINSULA COMMUNITY MUSEUM HTTPS://CONTENT.LIB.WASHINGTON.EDU/CMPWEB/EXHIBITS/FORKSFIRE/INDEX HTML WEATHER ATLAS-US HTTPS://WWW.WEATHER-US.COM/EN/WASHINGTON-USA/PORT-LUDLOW-CLIMATE#RAINFALL EJFR. org bblack@ejfr.org