20 September 2015 (Desdemona Despair) – Here’s an update to last month’s post on wildfire data from the Western United States. Data from the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (Fuels and Fire Danger [pdf]) show that the area burned by wildfires in the Northwest is well above average, and a spike in the number of wildfires is happening late in the season. Northern California is experiencing a huge spike in the area burned, which is largely attributable to the Valley fire. Overall, this year is on track to be the first or second (behind 2006) in total area burned nationally, with 8.8 million acres (3.6 million hectares) burned cumulatively by 18 September 2015 [NIFC].

National

U.S. national cumulative acres burned in wildfires, week of 16 Septemer 2015, compared with average. Graphic: Northwest Interagency Coordination Center U.S. national weekly acres burned in wildfires, week of 16 Septemer 2015, compared with average. Graphic: Northwest Interagency Coordination Center  

Northwest

Northwest cumulative number of wildfires, week of 16 Septemer 2015, compared with average. Graphic: Northwest Interagency Coordination Center Northwest cumulative acres burned in wildfires, week of 16 Septemer 2015, compared with average. Graphic: Northwest Interagency Coordination Center Northwest weekly number of wildfires, week of 16 Septemer 2015, compared with average. Graphic: Northwest Interagency Coordination Center Northwest weekly acres burned in wildfires, week of 16 Septemer 2015, compared with average. Graphic: Northwest Interagency Coordination Center  

Northern California

Northern California cumulative acres burned in wildfires, week of 16 Septemer 2015, compared with average. Graphic: Northwest Interagency Coordination Center Northern California weekly acres burned in wildfires, week of 16 Septemer 2015, compared with average. Graphic: Northwest Interagency Coordination Center Fuels and Fire Danger