Fires July 9 2007
Active fires for Monday, July 9, 2007. National Incident Information Center graphic.
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Where is all the smoke coming from?
Drift-in smoke from Utah
by Pinedale Online!
July 8, 2007
Fire season is definitely here across the United States. Thunderstorms ignited 1,500 new fires over a widespread geographic region over the past three days. Presently, 41 large fires are burning in 11 western states. Fires are burning in Alaska (4), Arizona (6), California (3), Idaho (7), Montana (1), Nevada (6), Oregon (6), South Dakota (2), Utah (4), Washington (1), and Wyoming (2).
The smoke we are getting in the Upper Green River Valley appears to be drift-in smoke from large fires in other states, primarily from southern Utah.
UTAH: Milford Flat Fire
Utah has several large fires burning, including the 300,000-acre Milford Flat fire, burning three miles north of Milford in southwest Utah. This huge fire encompasses 469 square miles. The fire has caused several closures of I-15 and I-70 in Utah. There were two confirmed fatalities on I-15 as a result of traffic accidents due to this fire. Travelers are being advised to plan alternate routes as the interstate highways are being intermittently closed due to fire activity and smoke hazard. Approximately 300 structures are threatened by this blaze. The fire was started by lightning on Friday, July 6th and is burning in sagebrush, juniper and grass. There is no containment date estimate at this time. (More info on this fire)
Three other wildfires are burning in Utah, for a total of 332,064 acres currently burning. The second largest in Utah is the Neola North blaze, currently at over 45,000 acres/65% contained, located three miles north of Neola, east of the Great Salt Lake. Some smoke from this fire is being carried northeast into Wyoming, impacting our air quality and visibility here around Pinedale and the Upper Green River Valley.
IN WYOMING:
We have two wildfires burning in Wyoming, both on the eastern side of the Continental Divide. Currently, there are no out of control wildfires burning on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The Horse Creek Fire west of Pinedale is 100% contained, but still has crews on it doing mop up and monitoring.
Seminoe Fire: The Seminoe fire is burning on BLM land six miles east of Seminoe Dam in central Wyoming. It is presently at 250 acres/20% contained. Structures are threatened by this fire.
East Fork Fire: The East Fork Fire is burning on the Wind River Agency 28 miles northeast of Dubois. It is presently at 300 acres/40% contained. Structures are threatened by this fire.
Weather Outlook
Forecasts call for continued hot temperatures across the West with widespread thunderstorms this week. Gusty winds are expected in places.
Related Links:
Current Fires Map (National Incident Information Center – NIIC)
Daily Fire Report (National Interagency Fire Center – NIFC)
Active Fire Maps Imagery (US Forest Service)
MODIS Rapid Response System
Inciweb Fire Incident Reports
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