National Climatic Data Center
Updated 08 January 2009
As 2008 came to a close, reports of new large fires dwindled across the nation. This marks the end of a relatively mild fire season for the United States as a whole, as compared to the previous years of 2007 and 2006. However, some areas of the nation experienced significant and costly fire activity in 2008. Severe to exceptional dryness occurred across many parts of the United States throughout much of the season, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Drought conditions and high fire risk were particularly persistent in areas of the Northwest and Southeast.
Fire activity was primarily clustered in the western and southeastern regions of the nation in 2008, declining to small areas of activity in the central U.S. by the end of November. Across the nation, the majority of fire activity occurred during the months of July and August. California suffered severe fires throughout the year, driven by high temperatures, dry conditions, and strong Santa Ana winds. Mid–November fires ravaged much of Southern California, resulting in the destruction of hundreds of dwellings.
Following the highly destructive wildfire seasons of 2006 and 2007, 2008 started off on the same track, with fewer fires, but more acreage burnt than average. Ample June precipitation accompanied a marked decline in acreage burned, dropping 2008 to levels below those of recent years. From July to November, a greater number of fires were reported, when compared to the 1985–2008 average, but with less acreage burnt. July and August were particularly active, with no fewer than 34 large fires burning across the nation at the end of July. Tragically, the 2008 wildfire season claimed the lives of 21 firefighters, according to news reports, including 9 who died in a helicopter crash in Northern California in early August.
By year's end, only small areas in Texas, Hawai'i, California, and the Southeast U.S. were reporting extreme to exceptional drought. Fire danger also dropped to moderate levels across most of the U.S., except for portions of California, Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska, where risk remained high. This is a marked improvement over drought conditions present at mid-summer, when much of the Southeast, South, northern Great Plains, the West, and Hawai'i was in moderate to exceptional drought and fire danger was high to extreme over most of the western United States.
| 2008 Year Totals | Nationwide Number of Fires | Nationwide Number of Acres Burned |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 77,772 | 5,159,907 |
| 2007 | 85,705 | 9,328,045 |
| 2006 | 96,385 | 9,873,745 |
| 2005 | 66,753 | 8,689,389 |
| 2004 | 65,461 | 8,097,880 |
| 2003 | 63,629 | 3,960,842 |
| 2002 | 73,457 | 7,184,712 |
| 2001 | 84,079 | 3,570,911 |
| 2000 | 92,250 | 7,393,493 |
| 1999 | 92,487 | 5,626,093 |
| 1998 | 81,043 | 1,329,704 |
| 1997 | 66,196 | 2,856,959 |
| 1996 | 96,363 | 6,065,998 |
| 1995 | 82,234 | 1,840,546 |
| 1994 | 79,107 | 4,073,579 |
| 1993 | 58,810 | 1,797,574 |
| 1992 | 87,394 | 2,069,929 |
| 1991 | 75,754 | 2,953,578 |
| 1990 | 66,481 | 4,621,621 |
| 1989 | 48,949 | 1,827,310 |
| 1988 | 72,750 | 5,009,290 |
| 1987 | 71,300 | 2,447,296 |
| 1986 | 85,907 | 2,719,162 |
| 1985 | 82,591 | 2,896,147 |
| Average (1985 – 2008) |
77,202 | 4,641,405 |
For the year as a whole, nearly 80,000 wildland fires burned more than 5 million acres (2 million hectares), according to preliminary year-end statistics from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). These values rank 2008 near average in terms of the number of fires and above average for acreage burnt. The 2008 fire season's estimated 77,772 wildfires were 570 fires more than the 1985–2008 average of 77,202 fires. Acreage burnt in 2008 was approximately 518,502 acres (209,831 hectares) more than the 1985–2008 average of 4,641,405 acres (1,878,317 hectares), ranking 2008 as the ninth most acreage burnt since 1985, when NCDC considers reliable records to have become available. The quantity of acreage burnt in 2008 was close to 4 million fewer acres (1.62 million hectares) than either of the previous years of 2007 and 2006. Since the mid–1980s, the total number of acres burnt has gradually increased, though 2008 levels show a reduction to quantities lower than the four previous years. The number of wildfires reported by NIFC during that same period does not show a significant linear trend.
The wildfire season in the U.S. generally extends from March 1st through November 30th. The 2009 wildfire summary page will resume coverage in early April unless fire conditions in 2009 warrant an earlier start.
The month began with four large wildfires present in Utah, Oklahoma (2), and Kentucky. By mid–month Missouri, Georgia, and most notably California (2), reported significant fires. Large wildfire numbers increased to a total of twelve by the end of the month; these were located in Arizona (1), Oklahoma (4), Missouri (4), and Mississippi (3). Severe mid–month fires in California were attributed to a "perfect storm" effect of strong Santa Ana and Sundowner winds combined with high temperatures and low moisture levels.
According to statistics from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), between October 31st and November 28th approximately 206,515 acres (83,574 ha) were burned across the United States. A total of 3,268 new wildfires were reported, the third highest number of fires in November since 2000, with 1543 fewer fires than the highest value in 2005.
For the year–to–date through November 28th, 77,228 wildland fires burned approximately 5.26 million acres (2.13 million ha), based upon data from NIFC. This year represents the fifth highest number of fires, and the seventh highest amount of acreage burned since 2000. For the period from January 1st to November 28th, total acreage burnt was 2,058,745 acres (833,148 ha) below the 1999–2008 average of 7,317,369 acres (2,961,246 ha). The total number of fires between January 1st and November 28th was 5,012 fires above the 10–year average of 72,216. The below average acreage burnt combined with the above average number of fires indicates a relatively high contribution from small area fires. Seven hundred forty–five large fires have been contained this year through November 28th.
The U.S. Drought Monitor indicated abnormally dry conditions present in several areas of the U.S., with exceptional dryness occurring in the Carolinas, Georgia, the Hawaiian Islands, and Texas by the end of November. Conditions experienced very little change from the end of October into the first part of November. Persistent dry conditions kept many parts of the nation at high levels of fire risk until the middle of the month, when most areas of risk decreased in severity.
At the start of November, moderate fire danger was reported across most of the nation, with large patches of high to very high danger across Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada and Colorado. By mid–month, fire danger had decreased to low levels across much of the nation, with exceptions in the southwestern U.S., especially southern California, southern Nevada, and Arizona, where very high to extreme fire danger developed. By the end of November, with the wildfire season drawing to a close, only low to moderate fire danger remained, primarily along the periphery of the contiguous United States, with small pockets of high danger present in California, southern Illinois, and the area around Tampa Bay, Florida, according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) - Wildland Fire Assessment System.
| Year–To–Date Totals as of November 28th | Nationwide Number of Fires | Nationwide Number of Acres Burned |
|---|---|---|
| 11/28/2008 | 77,228 | 5,258,624 |
| 11/28/2007 | 80,281 | 8,900,885 |
| 11/28/2006 | 89,975 | 9,524,251 |
| 11/28/2005 | 61,661 | 8,451,099 |
| 11/28/2004 | 64,344 | 8,063,921 |
| 11/28/2003 | 59,149 | 3,825,786 |
| 11/28/2002 | 71,644 | 7,124,849 |
| 11/28/2001 | 81,681 | 3,555,138 |
| 11/28/2000 | 91,094 | 7,309,887 |
| 5–yr average (2003 - 2007) |
71,082 | 7,753,188 |
| 10–yr average (1999 - 2008) |
72,216 | 7,317,369 |
The critically low 10–hour dead fuel moisture levels that had plagued the western U.S. from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and southern California up to Wyoming and South Dakota for much of the fall dramatically improved by mid–month. Improvements also were seen in the 10–hr fuel moisture levels across the Mid–Atlantic and Southeast U.S. during the first half of November. However, patches of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, and California remained at critically low levels of dead fuel moisture until the end of November when conditions across the nation improved measurably.
100–hr and 1000–hr fuel moisture levels, which had been low across much of the nation, including extremely dry conditions in parts of the southwestern U.S., improved by the middle of the month. Sections of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado remained dry at mid–month, but not to the critical degree present at the beginning of November. By the end of November moderately dry conditions spread northward, though with no areas of the nation reporting moisture at critically low levels.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), a widely used drought index for fire risk, showed dry conditions at the beginning of the month throughout the western U.S., as well as parts of Texas and the Southeast, with conditions most severe in California and Nevada. KBDI–indicated fire risk dwindled by the middle of the month, except in portions of California, Nevada, and Texas, where relatively high risk remained. By November's end, fire risk was at the month's lowest level, with only small patches of elevated risk persisting in the western U.S., Texas, and Florida.
October began with several large wildfires active in California (4), Oregon (4), Idaho (1), and Colorado (1). By the middle of the month, however, just five large fires were active, all in California. At the end of October, one fire remained active in California, while three others kindled in Utah, Arizona, and Oklahoma. Santa Ana winds during the middle of the month hampered efforts to battle several large wildfires in Southern California (see NASA's Aqua Satellite mission image page for higher resolution images).
According to statistics from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), between September 30th and October 31st approximately 323,495 acres (130,914 ha) were burned across the United States and approximately 6,392 new wildfires were reported. This latter value represents the third most fires in October in the past 10 years, and approximately 1,728 more fires than the 1999–2008 average. Overall acreage burnt in October however, was near average for the month – only 13,715 acres (5,550 ha) below the 1999–2008 average.
For the year–to–date through October 31st, 73,960 wildland fires have burned approximately five million acres (2 million ha), based upon data from NIFC. Although the season began ominously, this year–to–date period now ranks third lowest since 1999 with respect to quantity of acreage burnt. For the period from January 1st to October 31st, total acreage burnt was just over 1.5 million acres below the 1999–2008 average of 6,555,639 acres (2,652,984 ha). However, the number of fires between January 1st and October 31st was well above the 10–year average of 72,182 fires, indicating that there was a relatively high contribution from small area fires this year. Seven hundred two large fires have been contained this year through October 31st.
The U.S. Drought Monitor indicated that drought conditions remained relatively unchanged across much of the western and southeastern U.S. during October (see the U.S. Drought Monitor Change Map for more information). At the end of October, much of the western U.S. remained in moderate to severe drought. Severe to extreme drought was present in southern Texas, the southern and central Appalachians, and across the Hawaiian Islands as November approached. Extreme to exceptional drought persisted in the western Carolinas. The persistent drought conditions have kept fire danger levels high in many areas of the western United States throughout this 2008 fire season, although widespread elevated fire danger has recovered in many parts of the West during October.
As a result of the relative dryness across many parts of the nation, fire danger was moderate across the majority of the contiguous United States at the end of October. The month began with high to very high fire danger across the majority of western States. However, mid-month precipitation improved conditions in the northwestern U.S., leaving only southern California, Arizona, and southern Nevada in very high to extreme fire danger. Fire danger conditions in the Southwest improved near the end of October, but worsened in northern Nevada as well as an area including parts of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, eastern Montana, and northern Colorado, according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) - Wildland Fire Assessment System.
| Year–To–Date Totals as of October 31st | Nationwide Number of Fires | Nationwide Number of Acres Burned |
|---|---|---|
| 10/31/2008 | 73,960 | 5,052,109 |
| 10/31/2007 | 77,108 | 9,191,148 |
| 10/31/2006 | 86,976 | 9,445,153 |
| 10/31/2005 | 56,850 | 8,261,437 |
| 10/31/2004 | 63,047 | 8,044,834 |
| 10/31/2003 | 56,036 | 3,511,752 |
| 10/31/2002 | 69,413 | 6,684,556 |
| 10/30/2001 | 67,604 | 3,779,562 |
| 10/31/2000 | 87,809 | 7,048,206 |
| 5–yr average (2003 - 2007) |
68,003 | 7,690,865 |
| 10–yr average (1999 - 2008) |
72,182 | 6,555,639 |
The large area of critically low 10–hour dead fuel moisture levels, extending from the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, all the way to the western coast, shrank considerably by mid–October. However, most of California, Nevada, and Arizona remained at severely low 10–hour dead fuel moisture levels. By the end of the month critical conditions shifted eastward into New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, and small portions of Oklahoma, Texas, South Dakota, and Utah. The eastern U.S. also showed a deterioration of 10–hour moisture levels, especially in the southern Appalachian region, the mid-Atlantic and central Louisiana. Minnesota, which had maintained relatively high levels of 10–hour fuel moisture into the start of October, dried out significantly by October 31st.
Medium to large fuel moisture levels, which had been critically low across much of the western U.S. improved during the first half of October, especially in the northern and central regions of the nation. However, 100–hour moisture levels also dried across the central Appalachians and New England by mid-month. Unfortunately, the improvements seen early in the month in western and central areas of the country returned to critically dry conditions toward the end of the month. Moisture levels in the 1000–hour fuels followed a pattern similar to the 100–hour fuels in October.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), a widely used drought index for fire risk, showed extremely dry conditions at the beginning of the month throughout the western U.S., including California, Nevada, and western Oregon. In the eastern U.S., Kentucky and parts of eastern Tennessee displayed high levels of risk. Smaller exceptionally dry patches also occurred in eastern central Texas, central New Mexico, and western North Dakota. Fire risk diminished towards the middle of the month in both the western and eastern U.S., though areas of California, Nevada, eastern central Texas, and Kentucky remained exceedingly dry. The end of the month showed fewer areas of high fire risk, with the exceptions of extreme dry conditions persisting in California and Nevada, and small sections of Texas and Kentucky.
The number of active large wildfires decreased during the month of September. However, three firefighters lost their lives in the effort when their P2V Air Tanker crashed on takeoff from Reno-Stead Airport in Nevada on September 1st. The month opened with large fires being fought in eight states. However, by mid-month, just three states (California, Oregon and Idaho) were battling large wildfires. At the end of September, large wildfires were burning in California, Arizona and Oregon.
According to statistics from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), between August 29th and September 29th approximately 155,040 acres (62,743 ha) were burned across the United States and approximately 3,534 new wildfires were reported. This latter value represents the fewest fires in September in the past 10 years, and approximately 2,820 fewer fires than the 1999-2008 average. Overall acreage burnt in September was the second lowest for the month in the past decade, and was nearly a half million acres (202,000 ha) below the 1999-2008 average, as well as over 1.3 million acres (526,000 ha) fewer than that burnt in September 2006, the worst year in the past decade.
As of September 29th, 67,568 wildland fires have burned approximately 4.7 million acres (1.9 million ha) in 2008, according to NIFC. Although the season began ominously, this year-to-date period now ranks fourth lowest since 1999 with respect to quantity of acreage burnt. For the period from January 1st to September 29th, total acreage burnt falls nearly 1.5 million acres below the 1999-2008 average of 6,218,429 acres (2,516,519 ha), while the 67,568 fires between January 1st and September 29th is near the 10-year average of 67,518 fires, indicating that many of this year's fires were contained to small areas. Six hundred ninety–seven large fires have been contained this year through September 29th.
The U.S. Drought Monitor indicated that drought conditions deteriorated slightly across much of the western and southeastern U.S. through September (see the U.S. Drought Monitor Change Map for more information). At the end of September, much of the western U.S. remained in moderate to severe drought. Severe to extreme drought continued across portions of eastern Montana and western North Dakota, and extreme to exceptional drought persisted in the western Carolinas despite much-needed rainfall from a sub-tropical cyclone that moved across the region in late September. The persistent drought conditions have kept fire danger levels high in many areas of the western United States, although some reductions in fire danger are evident at the end of September.
High to extreme fire danger that had been centered on central California and Nevada spread into the Pacific Northwest, and eastward to a line from Montana to Arizona in the first half of September. Conditions improved in many areas of the western U.S. during the second half of the month, but isolated pockets of high to very high fire danger developed in South Dakota, along the Kansas – Missouri border, and in several locations in the southeastern United States, according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) - Wildland Fire Assessment System.
| Year-To-Date Totals as of September 29th | Nationwide Number of Fires | Nationwide Number of Acres Burned |
|---|---|---|
| 9/29/2008 | 67,586 | 4,728,614 |
| 9/29/2007 | 72,994 | 8,226,003 |
| 9/29/2006 | 83,752 | 9,074,358 |
| 9/29/2005 | 53,175 | 8,160,688 |
| 9/29/2004 | 60,934 | 7,737,472 |
| 9/29/2003 | 49,180 | 3,167,289 |
| 9/29/2002 | 67,049 | 6,563,740 |
| 9/29/2001 | 62,552 | 3,229,808 |
| 9/29/2000 | 79,880 | 6,849,592 |
| 5-yr average (2003 - 2007) |
64,007 | 7,273,162 |
| 10-yr average (1999 - 2008) |
67,518 | 6,218,429 |
The area of critically low 10-hour dead fuel moisture levels, which had covered an area from central California northeastward to the central Dakotas at the beginning of the month, expanded into the western High Plains and south into Texas by the end of September. Decreases in 10-hour dead fuel moisture were also occurring in portions of the Great Plains and the Southeast.
Critically low medium to large fuel moisture levels (i.e., see September 30th 100-hr and 1000-hr fuel moistures) followed a similar pattern to the 10-hour fuel moisture, with dry conditions in the western U.S., centered on Nevada.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), a widely used drought index for fire risk, showed extremely dry conditions throughout most of the western U.S. west of the Rocky Mountains. California, Nevada and western Oregon were particularly dry. Smaller regions of high fire risk occurred in western North Dakota and across parts of east-central Texas. Fire risk diminished along the mid-Atlantic coast during the month, but a substantial area of high fire risk developed across Kentucky and eastern Tennessee in conjunction with abnormally dry conditions from central Indiana to the Gulf Coast.
Approximately 7,000 acres (2,833 ha) of the U.S. were burned by wildfires during August 2008. Large wildfires were being fought in 11 states as August began. California alone reported 12 large wildfires at the end of July. Unfortunately, unfavorable weather conditions across the Northwest U.S. contributed to an increase in wildfire activity in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana by the middle of the month. As August came to a close, 21 large fires were burning in 11 states, primarily in northern California, southern Oregon, and southern Idaho. Additional fires were being fought in several other western states, New Jersey, and along the North Carolina–Tennessee border. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the Dunn Mountain fire in Montana, which had previously been reported as contained after scorching over 60,000 acres (24,281 ha), was relisted at the end of August as zero percent (0%) contained and threatening residences, communications and power lines. The Associated Press has reported that 3 firefighting crewmembers were killed on September 1st, when their P2V Air Tanker crashed on takeoff from Reno-Stead Airport in Nevada. The aircraft had been battling the Hope Valley fire south of Lake Tahoe, CA.
As of August 29th, 64,034 wildland fires have burned more than 4.5 million acres (1.8 million ha) so far this year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). This year to date now ranks seventh (since 2000) in quantity of acreage burnt – down from second at the end of May and third at the end of June. For the period from January 1st to August 29th, total acreage burnt falls below the 1999-2008 average of 5,564,288 acres (2,251,796 ha), while the number of fires is slightly above the 10-year average of 61,857, indicating an increased contribution of smaller fires. Six hundred seventy–four large fires have been contained to date in 2008.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, drought conditions deteriorated slightly in much of the western U.S. through August. Conditions improved slightly during August over parts of southern and eastern Texas, primarily as a result of the heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Edouard (landfall on Aug. 5) following closely behind Hurricane Dolly in July (see the U.S. Drought Monitor Change Map for more information). At the end of August, much of the western U.S. was in moderate to severe drought. Severe to extreme drought continued across portions of eastern Montana and western North Dakota, and extreme to exceptional drought persisted in the western Carolinas despite substantial rainfall from Tropical Storm Fay in mid-August (see NCDC's Atlantic Hurricane Season Monitoring Page for more information on these tropical cyclones).
Fire danger increased significantly through August in Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, while improving across much of California, the southern U.S., the Dakotas and Minnesota, according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) - Wildland Fire Assessment System. The decrease in these locations corresponds with a general lack of large wildfires in states outside of the western U.S.
| Year-To-Date Totals as of August 29th | Nationwide Number of Fires | Nationwide Number of Acres Burned |
|---|---|---|
| 8/29/2008 | 64,034 | 4,573,574 |
| 8/29/2007 | 64,964 | 6,895,624 |
| 8/29/2006 | 78,822 | 7,582,939 |
| 8/29/2005 | 45,326 | 7,185,797 |
| 8/29/2004 | 54,748 | 6,976,128 |
| 8/29/2003 | 44,406 | 2,632,681 |
| 8/29/2002 | 61,630 | 6,314,411 |
| 8/29/2001 | 57,707 | 2,896,439 |
| 8/29/2000 | 72,968 | 6,241,982 |
| 5-yr average (2003 - 2007) |
57,663 | 6,642,812 |
| 10-yr average (1999 - 2008) |
61,857 | 5,564,288 |
Dead fuel moisture levels remained critically low from northern and central California northeastward to the central Dakotas. Ample rains over the southern High Plains improved fuel moisture levels and helped to reduce the spatial extent of extremely dry 10-hour fuels in that region during the first half of August. Improvements also were seen in the Pacific Northwest during the second half of August as areas of extremely low 10-hour fuel moisture levels shifted eastward.
Medium to larger fuels (i.e., see August 30th 100-hr and 1000-hr fuel moistures) followed a similar pattern to the 10-hour fuel moisture, with dry conditions in the western U.S., centered on Nevada.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), a widely used drought index for fire risk, continued to show extremely dry conditions across west-central California and through much of Nevada at the end of August. Smaller regions of high fire risk were present in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, the Gulf Coast, the Tennessee Valley, western North Dakota and the coastal Mid-Atlantic. A significant improvement in the KBDI index was seen across Florida during the second half of August as a result of Tropical Storm Fay, which dumped over 20 inches (50 cm) of rain on parts of the state.
July began with a number of wildfires in 12 states, most notably California and Arizona. By the middle of the month, most of the fires in the Appalachians and the Southwest U.S. had been contained. Unfortunately, a spate of large wildfires developed across central and eastern Washington state and many of the fires raging across northern California remained largely uncontained. As July came to a close, a dozen large fires continued to burn in northern and central California, while new fires sprang up in Colorado and several other western states. A total of 34 large fires were raging across the United States as of July 31st. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, 2 firefighters lost their lives battling July's wildfires, and Australia and New Zealand have provided 44 fire specialists to assist in containing the fires in California.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, drought conditions worsened through July across the north central tier of states — especially across Montana and North Dakota. A slight improvement in conditions during July is noted for southern New Mexico and the southern tip of Texas, primarily as a result of the heavy rains associated with Hurricane Dolly. Over the past 3 months, drought conditions have deteriorated across much of northern and central California as well as parts of the Southeast, and have significantly worsened across east central Texas. At the end of July, extreme to exceptional drought was present in the Smoky Mountains, east central Texas, the western Oklahoma panhandle, and northwestern North Dakota.
As of July 31st, there have been 53,769 wildland fires and more than 3.5 million acres burned so far this year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). This year to date now ranks sixth in quantity of acreage burnt — down from second at the end of May and third at the end of June. Between January 1st and July 31st, both the number of fires and acreage burnt fall near the 1999-2008 average. Five hundred seventy–one large fires have been contained to date in 2008.
Much needed rainfall in June resulted in a reduced fire danger at the end of June. However, that rainfall did not continue into July in some areas, and fire danger had increased across northern and central portions of the western United States by the middle of the month. At the end of July, high to extreme fire danger had greatly expanded across most of the western U.S., according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) - Wildland Fire Assessment System.
According to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Experimental Fire Potential Index, large portions of the western United States extending eastward to eastern Colorado exhibited a high potential for wildfire activity going into August. Although drought continued to impact the South and southeastern U.S., fire potential remained relatively low in those regions.
| Year-To-Date Totals as of July 31st | Nationwide Number of Fires | Nationwide Number of Acres Burned |
|---|---|---|
| 7/31/2008 | 53,769 | 3,585,001 |
| 7/31/2007 | 57,017 | 5,046,917 |
| 7/31/2006 | 70,608 | 5,586,914 |
| 7/31/2005 | 38,188 | 4,641,496 |
| 7/31/2004 | 47,529 | 5,484,674 |
| 7/31/2003 | 35,987 | 1,800,473 |
| 7/31/2002 | 52,747 | 4,057,663 |
| 7/31/2001 | 49,885 | 1,531,121 |
| 7/31/2000 | 60,293 | 3,488,932 |
| 5-yr average (2003 - 2007) |
53,422 | 4,869,000 |
| 10-yr average (1999 - 2008) |
52,373 | 3,776,461 |
Dead fuel moisture levels remained critically low across portions of the West and Southwest during July. The 10-hour fuel moisture levels worsened noticeably between July 16th and July 31st over much of the western United States. By the end of July, 10-hour fuel moisture levels had recovered across much of the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio River basins.
Medium to larger fuels (i.e., see July 31st 100-hr and 1000-hr fuel moistures) continued to be dry across most of the central and western states, while states east of the Mississippi River had relatively high moisture levels.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), a widely used drought index for fire risk, showed a continuation of fire risk in northern California and Nevada, and a much increased risk of wildfire activity across the Gulf Coast from eastern Texas to the Florida peninsula.
Despite a relatively high fire danger across the southwestern U.S., and widespread dryness in 10-hr fuel moisture, June began with only four large fires in Florida and one in western Texas. By mid-June most of the large fires in Florida had been contained, but several new large fires flared up in Northern California and the Southern Plains. Additional large fires were reported in Nevada, Utah, Alaska and West Virginia. Unfortunately, by the end of the month numerous large fires were raging in Northern California and Arizona, many due to lightning strikes. Several large fires were also being battled in other western states, as well as the western Carolinas, Alaska and Louisiana.
Although drought conditions have improved slightly in North Dakota and western Alaska since the end of May, conditions have worsened across the West, South and Southeast U.S., with many areas transitioning from moderate or severe to extreme or exceptional drought through June. Hawaii and southern Puerto Rico continued to experience substantial moisture deficits, and parts of New England were also abnormally dry as of the end of the month.
As of June 30th, there have been 36,761 wildland fires and more than 2.1 million acres burned so far this year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). Thanks in part to June rainfall and the efforts of fire fighters, the year 2008 now ranks third behind 2006 and 2002 in quantity of acreage burnt to date — down from second at the end of May — and the number of fires falls well below the 1998-2008 average. Approximately 466 large fires have been contained to date in 2008.
Through the month of June, fire danger, which had been high at the end of May, greatly diminished across New Mexico and western Texas. However, by the middle of the month, fire danger began to increase across the Great Basin and worsen in Colorado, Arizona and Southern California. At the end of the month, fire danger was highest across Nevada and Southern California, with the highest danger around Las Vegas, Nevada, according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) - Wildland Fire Assessment System.
According to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Experimental Fire Potential Index, large portions of the western United States, stretching from Washington and Idaho south to Southern California and western Arizona, exhibited the greatest potential for wildfire activity. Although drought continues to impact the South and southeastern U.S., fire potential is relatively low in those regions.
| Year-To-Date Totals as of June 30th | Nationwide Number of Fires | Nationwide Number of Acres Burned |
|---|---|---|
| 6/30/2008 | 36,761 | 2,138,704 |
| 6/30/2007 | 46,171 | 1,849,642 |
| 6/30/2006 | 56,869 | 3,714,877 |
| 6/30/2005 | 30,079 | 1,880,076 |
| 6/30/2004 | 39,739 | 1,530,108 |
| 6/30/2003 | 26,880 | 728,615 |
| 6/30/2002 | 44,661 | 2,795,216 |
| 6/30/2001 | 40,806 | 1,080,332 |
| 6/30/2000 | 49,000 | 1,653,941 |
| 5-yr average (2003 - 2007) |
41,924 | 2,222,681 |
| 10-yr average (1999 - 2008) |
41,795 | 1,853,573 |
Dead fuel moisture levels remained critically low across portions of the West and Southwest during June. The 10-hour fuel moisture levels also dried out noticeably between June 8th and June 15th over much of the western United States. By June 30th, 10-hour fuel moisture levels had recovered slightly in parts of the Southwest, but dried out across portions of the western Central Plains and east into Wisconsin.
Medium to larger fuels (i.e., the June 30th 100-hr and 1000-hr fuel moistures) continued to be dry across most of the central and southern states of the western U.S., and showed substantial drying across the western and north-central parts of the U.S. from the start of the month.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), a widely used drought index for fire risk, showed continuation of fire risk across Nevada and much of southern and western Texas, but improved conditions at the end of June for Florida, as compared to the June 8th KBDI.
At the beginning of May, wildfires continued to burn in the Southwestern U.S., as well as in central California, Florida, and the Southern Appalachians. Several large arson-suspected fires erupted in the middle of the month in Florida and the Southeast. May closed with only three large fires in Florida and one in western Texas. No large fires were reported in Alaska during May.
Long-term moisture deficits have continued to maintain moderate to severe drought conditions across portions of the southern and western United States, including California, Florida, Texas, and the Oklahoma panhandle. Western North Dakota also experienced severe to extreme drought conditions as of the end of May.
As of June 9th, there have been over 28,000 wildland fires and more than 1.5 million acres burned so far this year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). The year 2008 ranks second behind 2006 in quanity of acreage burnt to date, though the number of fires falls well below the 1998-2008 average.
The persistence of moderate-to-severe drought conditions across parts of the West has aided in perpetuating a region of extreme fire potential across parts of the Southwest, according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Experimental Fire Potential Index.
At the end of May, high to very high fire danger was observed across parts of Arizona, New Mexico, southeastern California and west Texas. Adequate precipitation has reduced the fire potential across the southern Atlantic States that had existed in April.
| Year-To-Date Totals as of June 9th | Nationwide Number of Fires | Nationwide Number of Acres Burned |
|---|---|---|
| 6/09/2008 | 28,690 | 1,562,878 |
| 6/09/2007 | 41,448 | 1,442,932 |
| 6/09/2006 | 44,751 | 2,682,263 |
| 6/09/2005 | 25,835 | 453,472 |
| 6/09/2004 | 33,611 | 574,797 |
| 6/09/2003 | 22,714 | 426,583 |
| 6/09/2002 | 33,247 | 1,313,713 |
| 6/09/2001 | 35,120 | 741,282 |
| 6/09/2000 | 44,169 | 1,200,506 |
| 6-yr average (2003 - 2007) |
34,867 | 1,343,268 |
| 11-yr average (1998 - 2008) |
35,231 | 1,124,934 |
Dead fuel moisture levels remained critically low across portions of the West and Southwest during May. The 10-hour fuel moisture levels also dried out noticeably between April 28th and May 20th over portions of the central and southeastern United States. By June 8th, 10-hour fuel moisture levels were exceptionally dry throughout much of the western U.S., and the eastern U.S. had become substantially drier. Only portions of the Great Lakes and the northern Rockies remained relatively moist.
Medium to larger fuels (i.e., the June 8th 100-hr and June 8th 1000-hr fuel moistures) continued to be dry in the Southwest, while 100-hour moisture levels showed significant drying across the eastern United States since April 28th.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), a widely used drought index for fire risk, showed a slight improvement in conditions across Nevada, but worsened conditions at the end of May for Texas and Florida, as compared to the April 28 KBDI.
Wildfire activity continued in the southern Plains into April, with fires in Oklahoma, Nebraska, west Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Additional fires flared in the central Gulf states and the central Appalachian mountains. The southern Plains and southwest continued to be a hotspot for fire activity into the middle of the month, and additional fires occurred at Friday Creek, Alaska, Hughett, Oregon and the Florida Panhandle. By the end of April the majority of fires in the southern Plains states had been contained, while new fires developed in the southwest and the mountains of eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.
Long-term moisture deficits have continued to maintain moderate to severe drought conditions across large portions of the western and southeastern U.S. in late April.
As of May 7th, there have been over 21,000 wildland fires and more than 1.3 million acres burned so far in 2008, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). The year 2008 ranks second behind 2006 in quanity of acreage burnt to date, and is nearly twice the 2001-2008 average.
The persistence of moderate-to-severe drought conditions across parts of the West have aided in developing a region of extreme fire potential across parts of the Southwest, according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Experimental Fire Potential Index.
At the end of April, high to very high fire danger was observed across parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and west Texas. In addition, moderate to high fire danger existed across the Atlantic states from northeastern Georgia to southern Virgina.
| Year-To-Date Totals as of May 7th | Nationwide Number of Fires | Nationwide Number of Acres Burned |
|---|---|---|
| 5/07/2008 | 21,121 | 1,342,963 |
| 5/07/2007 | 26,410 | 555,258 |
| 5/07/2006 | 37,383 | 2,328,258 |
| 5/07/2005 | 20,801 | 292,309 |
| 5/07/2004 | 26,177 | 388,676 |
| 5/07/2003 | 15,413 | 353,524 |
| 5/07/2002 | 25,156 | 489,759 |
| 5/07/2001 | 25,644 | 501,518 |
| 5/07/2000 | 31,415 | 791,236 |
| 6-yr average (2003 - 2007) |
26,378 | 981,584 |
| 9-yr average (2000 - 2008) |
25,935 | 774,275 |
Dead fuel moisture levels continued to dry out across the Southwest during April. The 10-hour fuel moisture levels on April 28th were exceptionally dry throughout much of the western U.S., with the Southwest being extremely dry.
Medium to larger fuels (i.e., the April 28th 100-hr and April 28th 1000-hr fuel moistures) were also very dry, with the driest fuel conditions extending from Southern California up through Nevada and across to west Texas.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), a widely used drought index for fire risk, continued to have the largest potential for wildland fire activity in the contiguous U.S. across portions of the Great Basin, southwest Texas and New Mexico, as well as over portions of south Florida.
Fire activity that developed across the southern Plains in February persisted into early March, as numerous large blazes burned range and grasslands in Texas and Oklahoma.
Wildfire activity also impacted the central Gulf Coast region, and spread eastward into the Tennessee Valley and the Mid-Atlantic region later in the month.
Long-term moisture deficits have continued to maintain moderate to severe drought conditions across large portions of the western U.S. in late March. These conditions across the West have persisted into early April, as seen in the U.S. Drought Monitor from April 8.
As of April 4th, there have been over 12,000 wildland fires and more than 1 million acres burned so far in 2008, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).
The persistence of moderate-to-severe drought conditions across parts of the West have aided in developing a region of extreme fire potential across parts of the Southwest, according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Experimental Fire Potential Index.
At the end of March, high to very high fire danger was observed across parts of Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas, with fires burning into early April in the Texas Panhandle. In addition, the fire danger was moderate across parts of Pennsylvannia and New York at the end of March.
| Year-To-Date Totals as of March 28th | Nationwide Number of Fires | Nationwide Number of Acres Burned |
|---|---|---|
| 3/28/2008 | 11,088 | 516,243 |
| 3/28/2007 | 15,936 | 254,827 |
| 3/28/2006 | 19,116 | 1,812,628 |
| 3/28/2005 | 9,253 | 130,797 |
| 3/28/2004 | 13,658 | 150,630 |
| 3/28/2003 | 7,223 | 91,712 |
| 3/28/2002 | 14,718 | 200,752 |
| 3/28/2001 | 14,412 | 266,547 |
| 3/28/2000 | 20,346 | 569,567 |
| 6-yr average (2003 - 2007) |
13,810 | 573,025 |
| 9-yr average (2000 - 2008) |
12,651 | 498,718 |
Dead fuel moisture levels have dried-out across the Southwest during March. The 10-hour fuel moisture levels on March 30th were exceptionally dry throughout most of New Mexico, western Colorado and southern Arizona.
Medium to larger fuels (i.e., the March 31st 100-hr and March 31st 1000-hr fuel moistures) were also very dry, with the driest fuel conditions across southern Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), a widely used drought index for fire risk, had the largest potential for wildland fire activity in the contiguous U.S. across portions of the Great Basin, west Texas and New Mexico, as well as over portions of south Florida.
For all climate questions, please contact the National Climatic Data center's Climate Services and Monitoring Division:
Climate Services and Monitoring Division
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2008/fire08.html 
