Red Flag Conditions In The Mid-Atlantic States.........

[hwoods]

A Red Flag Warning was posted @05:30 Today (Sat. 3-4-06) for Maryland, Delaware, and parts of surrounding states. After 4 years of wetter than normal conditions, life in this area is getting interesting again. So far, no major Fires that I'm aware of, but some Fires have occured, but due to aggressive initial attack, they were contained quickly. More of the same tomorrow, with warmer temps, but lessening winds.

[ramseycl]

We got our first red flag warning in mid February, scarey. Every day we get some homeowner doing a controlled burn that gets out of control.

[hwoods]

Today (3-10-06) brought weather that we haven't seen in Maryland in 4 or 5 years. Temps in the 70's, Humidity in the 30's, Wind Southwest at 20, Gusting to 35, added to this year's rainfall being below normal, and we have Fires that are really running. I spent the afternoon in central Calvert County, in the Barstow area, on a Fire that started around 13:00 and wasn't controlled until dark. And, a shower, a few hours sleep, and I'll be heading back in the morning to continue mopup. I'll try to post a photo or two later.

[Deputy10D9]

We had Red Flag Warnings yesterday (03/10/06) here in NJ. In my division (B) in central NJ, we had a total of 18 fires for the day. Most under a few acres. Today was quiet, still dry but less wind. Division A in northern NJ had a few larger fires today.
Photos can be found at www.sectionb10.org
Pete
Deputy 10D9

[hwoods]

Until we get a decent rainfall, at least an inch, we're going to continue with a busy period. We're having Fires, and in a decent quantity, but very aggressive initial attack is keeping them small. Most are being held at 5 acres or less, with a few larger ones here and there. The Barstow Fire went to 15+ acres, with a barn lost as well as several homes threatened. Plow lines held OK, and mopup is now complete.

[Deputy10D9]

Today, (03/12/06) we received about .50" of rain. Knocked the BUI down a bit to 23.

[ffsolden21]

Deputy i'm currently a volunteer in morris county but was wondering if there was any opprotunity to get involved in forest fire fighting during the summer months. I attend school out of state where we have a lot of forest fires because of "permit fires" getting out of hand. Please forward any contact information to me. I live in Florham Park. Thaanks

[Deputy10D9]

You'll have to call the division A office which covers northern NJ.
Here is their number. They will direct you in the right direction.
973-827-6100

[hwoods]

A Red Flag Day. Again. That makes 5 days so far, here in Maryland. And we are having Fires too. So Far, we've had more Fires than any time since 2001, since Sept of '01 started a wet period that seems to be ending now. Largest Fire in this area started on Thursday Morning in Millersville, Md. The Grover Fire hit 120 Acres before containment, and mopup is still in progress at this time. Dozer work was difficult due to a very "chopped up" area with steep ravines and swampy patches.

[hwoods]

Sunday, and another Red Flag Day. The good news, at least for now, is that the Media has taken a great interest in what's happening in the Fire business, and they are reporting on Fires, posting Red Flag Warnings, etc. This is new in this area, in the past a really big Fire might get a brief mention, and that would be it, now Camera/reporter teams are coming to Fires, interviewing people from both VFD and Forestry Crews, and devoting more air time to Fire stuff in general.

[Eng34FF]

I spent the afternoon in central Calvert County, in the Barstow area, on a Fire that started around 13:00 and wasn't controlled until dark. And, a shower, a few hours sleep, and I'll be heading back in the morning to continue mopup. I'll try to post a photo or two later.

Harve

Wow, you don't make it down here much. I was on the ambulance when our company was dispatched for that fire.

On a related note, our big fire on Solomons Island last week was started in dry leaves under a deck. Final damage estimates at $5M. Not a brush fire, but certainly related to the dry conditions.

Info at www.svrsfd.org and www.thebaynet.com

[CJPTRUCKIE]

Yesterday (3-19-06) there was a good size mountain fire in Northern Frederick County Maryland. The call was dispatched around 10:45 am and was extingished about 6:30 pm. This fire required additional brush trucks, Engines and manpower from 5 counties (Frederick co , Carroll County , Washington County) Maryland and (Franklin County, Adams County) Pa. Frederick county sent an initial dispatch (a single company) which responded with 2 brush trucks and a engine, followed by an engine/tanker from the initial company. Command ask for the Frederick county Wildland team and county brush strike force, this brought 8 brushtrucks, numerous support vehicles, the wildland trailer and Wildland Team members. Addition manpower, Brush trucks, Engines, Tankers were alarted numberous times during the incident. Around 1pm frederick county communications sent out an all page and broadcasted a call for any dept in the county with extra manpower that could assist on the fire to respond. This is the 5-6 major brush/woods/mountain fire in Frederick county over the past week. The county wildland team has also responded an additional 5 times in the last week to other counties and states (twice requested to assist Montgomery County MD, Twice to Loudoun County Va, and once to assit Jefferson County West Va)

No rain in the forcast this week, but they are calling for 1-3 inches of snow this late tonight and tomorrow in this area.

[mustang911]

The one in Thurmont on Sunday burned approx. five acres up in the Catoctin Mountains. Adams and Franklin Counties in PA also had a big one Sunday night, Emmitsburg went up to assist. A couple days before those, Jefferson County, WVA had a big mountain fire, from what I understand. The Wildland team went over to assist and many Frederick companies transferred to Jefferson County to cover. Have not had a major brush/woods fire in couple days up here. I just hope I didn't jinx it!

[CJPTRUCKIE]

I was stuck in class up in thurmont most of the day Sunday during the big fire but was able to get over there for a few to see what was going on. My dept was there for a while with our brush truck. I was on the transfer to Jefferson Wva during the big fire over there, I was E/T 284. We always transfer to Jefferson Wva with E/T 284, but for some unknown reason Co.7 was transfered before us, you would of thought with all the woods fires Co. 7 would be held back do to the wildland team. Anyway we had another great ride to Wva and enjoyed our time there at Jefferson Co.2. To bad we missed the House fire in Jefferson Co 2's area....

[hwoods]

To clear up a couple of points: Eng34, I work for DNR out of Cedarville, I was running the Dozer on the Barstow Fire. And, For you guys wondering how I seem to know all about Fredneck stuff, I'm from Northern Frederick County, Graceham to be exact. Done more than a few Fires in the Catoctins over the past 40some years.

[ShaversFork]

Had a couple of Harry Homeowner mulch bed fires over the weekend- amazing people throw their butts into pine mulch.
NC Forestry is doing a couple of controlled burns today- we had some rain end of last week. Still have a buch of stuff smoldering from the last weeks controlled burns. Just wait until the trees start budding and suck that last bit of water from the ground- that's about the time spring gobbler hunting begins and spring cleaning debris burning - fires up. Relaced my White's last week- remember-Smokey says- don't play with matches.

[ShaversFork]

Hey HWOODS- my buddy Matt says HI. Said Barstow Rules. Thats where the real men fight fire. Whatever- he's in Hot Lanta now on a federal FF job. Says he misses the hot days and cool nights. You could always spot Matt- he was always wearing forestry yellow-the rest were trying in turnout gear.
Master of the progressive one lick method.

[hwoods]

Awrite! Thanks. BTW, Isn't Shavers Fork in WVA? Flows North toward the Tygart and the Cheat Rivers..........