Tennessee still dry

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Recent downpours haven't done much to
dampen the possibility of a wildfire season as bad or worse than
last year, forest officials say.
The rain "might have moistened the ground, but the soil is like
powder underneath the leaves," said Nathan Waters, fire prevention
officer for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's Division of
Forestry.
State fire crews have responded to 15 wildfires that have burned
about 400 acres across East Tennessee this month. The largest fire
destroyed 150 acres on Webb Mountain in Sevier County, Waters said.
The site was so dry that green leaves were igniting.
Wildfires scorched 70,000 acres statewide last year at a record
cost of $4.6 million. East Tennessee had 490 arson fires in
November alone.
While wildfire season normally extends from Oct. 15 through May
15, conditions are already bone dry, forest officials say.
Officials are reminding people who live near woods to build
firebreaks around their homes and mark their driveways.
"I know a lot of people want to hide in the woods, but it's not
a safe thing to do," Waters said. "If we can't find you, we can't
help you."
In the 12-county Knoxville fire district, wildfires last year
destroyed 16 structures valued at $892,000. But district
firefighters saved 577 structures worth nearly $60 million.
About 3,200 acres burned in the Cherokee National Forest, a
slight increase over the annual average of 3,000 acres.
"All around us were fires, but we didn't get hit as hard as
most," Cherokee National Forest spokesman Terry McDonald said.
Most of the Cherokee National Forest is 7 to 9 inches below
normal rainfall for the year, officials say. It will take more than
scattered rains and patchy early morning fog to significantly
reduce the wildfire risk, they say.
"What we need is two or three weeks of steady rain," McDonald
said.
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On The Net:
Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry:
http://www.state.tn.us/agriculture/forestry/
Cherokee National Forest:
http://www.southernregion.fs.fed.us/cherokee/

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press.

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Forest fire season begins Sunday in Tennessee
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - As forest fire season gets closer,
experts believe the deluge of rain in September will not be enough
to prevent burning in East Tennessee.
The wildfire season in Tennessee begins Sunday and lasts through
May 15. Residents must have permits for outdoor burning during the
season.
In Knoxville, rainfall totaled 7.33 inches since Sept. 1, which
is 3.85 inches above normal.
But it only takes a few days of wind and falling leaves to have
the right conditions for fires, said Nathan Waters, assistant
district forester for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
"Winter and fall are our worst seasons for wildfires," Waters
said. "Our main source of fuel around here are deciduous leaves."
Already in 2006, there have been 1,923 wildfires that burned
29,349 acres across the state, and most of those happened between
January and May 15.
In 2005, there were 2,073 wildfires across the state that burned
25,000 acres.
"I'd say our wildfire season this year will be similar to last
year, unless we get a lot of rain," Waters said.
The number of wildfires declined from 2002 to 2004. The worst
season in East Tennessee was 2001 after a long drought.
Most wildfires in the South are caused by people, either
intentionally or unintentionally. In Tennessee, about half of the
wildfires caused by people are set deliberately.
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Information from: The Knoxville News Sentinel,
http://www.knoxnews.com

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)