The Predictive Services Program from the Southern Area Coordination Center recently released a Fall 2024 Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory for portions of Alabama and Mississippi effective immediately. The advisory cites prolonged drought, recent periods without wetting rain, and southern pine beetle damage, as well as above-normal temperatures, impacting regional fuels and fire behavior. These trends are anticipated to continue into the fall and winter months as the region moves into the dormant season. Be sure to check out and read the full advisory document (2 pages pdf).
The advisory further states:
- Extreme fire line intensity is possible during both initial attack and extended attack.
- Typical barriers to fire spread, like roads, rivers, and hardwood bottoms may not be relied upon to stop fire progression.
- Active fire behavior may extend into the overnight hours during periods of poor RH recovery.
- Heavy fuel loading and standing hazard trees associated with Southern Pine Beetle infestations may contribute to fire intensity and present a hazard to firefighters in the area.
- Reburn due to freshly fallen leaves could occur during the days or weeks after suppression.
- Critical fire weather may be associated with but is not limited to dry cold fronts followed by windy and dry conditions, strong high pressure over the eastern U.S. combined with low pressure south of the advisory area, dry and breezy conditions adjacent to distant tropical cyclones, sea breeze fronts and erratic winds associated with outflow from nearby thunderstorms.
Check out the lastest KBDI map (WFAS) and the latest PDSI values (Drought.gov) for the contiguous US. You can always find other fuels and fire behavior advisories on the national NWCG Predictive Services page. Be safe out there.
