A glance at fire season prospects for U.S. West – ‘Fire season is just about year-round now’
By The Associated Press
12 April 2012 A state-by-state look at 2012 fire season prospects for the West: ARIZONA—Arizona had its worst fire in history in 2011, the Wallow Fire that charred more than 840 square miles in the state and parts of New Mexico. State officials say the strong winds that fanned the fire will be less of a factor this year. But an abundance of grass in southern Arizona and drought, some of it severe, means an active season. “I’m anticipating a more normal fire season with the caveat that there’s still residual fuel from years past and, of course, there is still drought,” said Cliff Pearlberg of the Arizona State Forestry Division. CALIFORNIA—Another active wildfire season for a state that has received little moisture this year and that in recent years has seen huge fires which destroyed hundreds of homes, especially in Southern California. Above-normal fire threats for June and July in mountain areas, the central coast and inland Southern California, according to Daniel Berlant of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. While typical fire season runs from May through October, Southern California always is at risk. “Fire season is just about year-round now because we always have those Santa Ana winds that are always threatening,” said Los Angeles County fire Inspector Quvondo Johnson. COLORADO—Significant fire potential across eastern Colorado’s plains, dry Rockies forests and the Western slope due to drought, low humidity and lack of precipitation. Snowpack is below normal and evaporating faster than usual. The National Weather Service has issued red flag fire warnings in many parts of the state on an almost routine basis since March 6. Multiple counties have enacted open-air fire bans. […] NEW MEXICO—Fire officials are preparing for another rough year. Forecasters have been issuing fire weather watches as spring storms bring dry lightning and gusty winds to the state. More than 80 percent of the state is mired in drought, and Gov. Susana Martinez has warned 2012 could be a repeat of a destructive 2011. “What it boils right down to is the potential is still there,” says Dan Ware of the State Forestry Division. NEVADA—An early fire season expected after a late season in 2011 that blackened 665 square miles in 815 fires. A 93-year-old woman died in a January blaze that destroyed 29 homes and forced 10,000 people to evacuate their residences outside Reno. Drought affects virtually all of the state. “We’re going to see an early fire season,” state Forester Pete Anderson says. “It pretty much hasn’t ended, frankly.” […] UTAH—Fire officials worry about large swaths of fuel, including waist-high grasses, left over from bountiful rains and snow in 2011. Already, farmers clearing land and fence lines have sparked numerous small fires. “We’re hoping to get more moisture to green things up, but we have nowhere near the rain and snow we had last spring. Things are dry and it doesn’t take much to get a fire going,” says Jason Curry of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. […]
