Eastern Great Basin Fuel Status
Zone UT439 History
| Date | Critical Status |
Critical Below (feet) |
Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/04/09 16:42:23 | Yes | All | Cheat Grass is fully cured, and the weather is moving toward a warming drying trend. |
| 08/04/09 16:39:29 | Yes | All | |
| 07/21/09 15:13:49 | No | Received significant moisture this week | |
| 07/16/09 10:53:51 | Yes | All | Fine fuels are cured out. |
| 07/07/09 09:28:44 | Yes | All | Fine fuels are cured out. |
| 06/17/09 11:03:47 | No | Fine fuels (Cheat Grass) is still green. Fuels are not at a critical level. | |
| 06/13/08 13:45:05 | Yes | All | Red-flag warnings and fire weather watches remain appropriate for high-wind and low humidity. Dead fuel moisture is single digit in all size classes. Pinyon, Juniper and Ponderosa live fuel moistures remain below 90%. Sage and oak live fuel moistures are still > 150%. Where those brush fuels exist, large fire growth should be impeded though they are curing rapidly. Annuals are cured. It's hot and dry (single digit rh) and we're just waiting for an ignition. |
| 06/13/08 13:41:28 | Yes | All | Red-flag warnings and fire weather watches remain appropriate for high-wind and low humidity. Dead fuel moisture is single digit in all size classes. Pinyon, Juniper and Ponderosa live fuel moistures remain below 90%. Sage and oak live fuel moistures are still > 150%. Where those brush fuels exist, large fire growth should be impeded though they are curing rapidly. It's hot and dry (single digit rh) and we're just waiting for an ignition. |
| 06/06/08 12:47:16 | Yes | All | Despite scattered moisture and high relative humidity mid-week, dead fuel moisture in all size classes have returned to single digits. 1000 hour fuels have been very receptive to firebrands during prescribed burning. Annual grasses are cured. Native/perennial grasses, oak and sage remain green enough to curb fire spread. Live fuel moisture in pinyon, juniper, ponderosa and other conifers remains low -- 75 - 80%. Expect large fire growth to occur under dry, windy conditions in these fuels. Red-flag warnings and fire weather watches remain appropriate for high-wind and low humidity. |
| 06/06/08 12:44:51 | Yes | All | Despite scattered moisture and high relative humidity mid-week, dead fuels in all size classes have returned to single digit moistures. 1000 hour fuels have been very receptive to firebrands during prescribed burning. Annual grasses are cured to 8000 feet. Native/perennial grasses, oak and sage remain green enough to curb fire spread. Live fuel moisture in pinyon, juniper, ponderosa and other conifers remains low -- 75 - 80%. Expect large fire growth to occur under dry, windy conditions in these fuels. Red-flag warnings and fire weather watches remain appropriate for high-wind and low humidity. |
| 06/06/08 12:41:22 | Yes | 8,000 | Despite scattered moisture and high relative humidity mid-week, dead fuels in all size classes have returned to single digit moistures. 1000 hour fuels have been very receptive to firebrands during prescribed burning. Annual grasses are cured to 8000 feet. Native/perennial grasses, oak and sage remain green enough to curb fire spread. Live fuel moisture in pinyon, juniper, ponderosa and other conifers remains low -- 75 - 80%. Expect large fire growth to occur under dry, windy conditions in these fuels. Red-flag warnings and fire weather watches remain appropriate for high-wind and low humidity to 8000'. |
| 05/14/08 11:55:06 | Yes | 8,000 | Forbs, sage and oakbrush have greened-up to ~8000 feet. Grasses are not widespread but are very prolific in localized areas. Annuals are cured to ~6000', natives are green at all elevations. Live fuel moisture in coniferous trees and evergreen shrubs remains very low, low RH and high wind can easily drive large fire growth in these fuels. Dead fuel moisture in all time lag classes are single digit. Red-flags remain appropriate for high-wind and low humidity to 8000'. |
| 04/30/08 09:46:10 | Yes | 8,000 | We have greened-up to ~6500 feet in forbs and sagebrush, grasses are not widespread but are very prolific in localized areas. Cheatgrass is in transition to cured below 4500 feet. Still concerned about pinyon-juniper and some mountain brush, high winds and low RH can easily drive fire spread in these fuels... live fuel moisture is below 80% in juniper, below 90% in pinyon, ponderosa and manzanita. Dead fuel moisture in all time lag classes are single digit. Red-flags remain appropriate for high-wind and low humidity to 8000'. |
| 04/01/08 10:09:47 | No | Rain and snow over the weekend with continued clouds and higher relative humidity have helped alleviate some of the critical conditions in pinyon, juniper and mountain brush. Green-up continues below ~5500, though still not as prolific as expected given winter precip. It will be interesting to see what the spring brings for moisture and fuels. | |
| 03/26/08 14:37:07 | Yes | 6,500 | Brush fuels are dormant with low live fuel moistures, potential exists for fast moving fires under dry windy conditions in these fuel types. It would be prudent to begin issuing fire weather watches and red flag warnings when conditions exist below 6500' in this fire weather zone. Green-up has begun but despite average to above average winter precipition, fine fuels are not yet prolific. |
| 10/02/07 09:34:43 | Yes | 7,000 | Large fire growth is likely in fine fuels with windy conditions. Higher elevations (>7000') are still experiencing good overnight recovery and large dead fuel moistures remain elevated following wet weather 9/22 and 9/23. |
| 09/26/07 11:15:22 | Yes | All | Despite large amounts (1.2 to 2.2") of precip received 9/22 and 23, fuels are drying again with the return of warm, dry conditions. Large fires in fine fuels under windy conditions are possible. At higher elevations (> 7000'), large fire growth is not likely this week, though fires will occur given ignitions. |
| 09/05/07 08:40:03 | Yes | All | If one-hour fuels have dried out and RH is below 18%, fuels are critical. |
| 08/27/07 14:11:51 | Yes | All | If one-hour fuels have dried out and RH is below 18%, fuels are critical. |
| 07/18/07 11:49:12 | Yes | All | Yes, fuels are critical. |
| 07/03/07 11:18:46 | Yes | All | ERC below 7000' above historic record values (40 year period of record), above 7000' at historic values (15 year period of record). Previous records for all stations and elevational profiles were set in 2002. |
| 06/25/07 14:44:25 | Yes | ERC below 7000' above historic record values, above 7000' at historic values. Higher elevation forbs and mountain brush may still impede fire spread, but expect near 100% probability of ignition in receptive fuels at elevation. At low elevations, expect rapid fire growth on windy days. | |
| 06/20/07 09:57:33 | Yes | ERC below 7000' above the 97th percentile, above 7000' over the 90th percentile. Expect extreme fire behavior in most fuel types. Higher elevation forbs and mountain brush may still impede fire spread, but expect near 100% probability of ignition in receptive fuels at elevation. At low elevations, expect rapid fire growth on windy days. | |
| 06/20/07 09:55:06 | Yes | ERC below 7000' above the 97th percentile, above 7000' over the 90th percentile. Expect extreme fire behavior in most fuel types. Higher elevation forbs and mountain brush may still impede fire spread, but expect near 100% probability of ignition in receptive fuels at elevation. In low elevations, advise consideration of indirect tactics. | |
| 06/11/07 13:56:40 | Yes | 7,000 | Annual grasses are cured below 7000'. Live fuel moisture in pinyon and juniper is 10-15% below previous 3 to 5 years. Sage live fuel moisture is 120-130%, much below (50-60%) the previous few years for this time of year. Last week's storm moderated fire danger temporarily at elevation, but with this week's anticipated weather, I suspect we'll see ERC's breach the 90th percentile by mid-week. Elevations above 7000 have critical elements (ponderosa, conifer, 1000 hours), but much of the mountain brush, grass and forbs are green. Low elevation is just over the 90th percentile ERC today. |
| 06/11/07 13:52:50 | Yes | 7,000 | Annual grasses are cured below 7000'. Live fuel moisture in pinyon and juniper are 10-15% below previous 3 to 5 years. Sage live fuel moisture is 120-130%, much below (50-60%) the previous few years for this time of year. Last week's storm moderated fire danger temporarily at elevation, but with this week's anticipated weather, I suspect we'll see ERC's breach the 90th percentile by mid-week. Low elevation is just over the 90th percentile ERC today. |
| 05/31/07 15:03:38 | Yes | What northern Utah (zones 420-424) said but without a dense current year annual grass crop. Plenty of carryover annuals though. | |
| 05/31/07 15:01:58 | Yes | What northern Utah said but without a dense current year annual grass crop. Plenty of carryover annuals though. | |
| 05/21/07 15:25:34 | Yes | 7,000 | River and snotel data show SW Utah at 45-65% of normal precipitation for the water year. Annual grasses are completely cured below 6000 and in transition 6000-7000'. The good news is, the current annual grass crop fuel loading is not as heavy as it has been in the past two years (but is continuous). The bad news is, for the annual grasses that have not burned in the last two years, carryover fuel loads remain very high. Additionally, live fuel moisture in brush is lower than average, last measured in the 75%-85% range for pinyon and juniper. Expect rapid large fire growth on windy days. Typical May, hot, dry and windy at low elevations. |
| 05/21/07 15:23:04 | Yes | 7,000 | River and snotel data show SW Utah at 45-65% of normal precipitation for the water year. The good news is, the current annual grass crop fuel loading is not as heavy as it has been in the past two years (but is continuous). The bad news is, for the annual grasses that have not burned in the last two years, carryover fuel loads remain very high. Additionally, live fuel moisture in brush is lower than average, last measured in the 75%-85% range for pinyon and juniper. Expect rapid large fire growth on windy days. Typical May, hot, dry and windy at low elevations. |
| 05/21/07 15:19:03 | Yes | 7,000 | River and snotel data show SW Utah at 45-65% of normal precipitation for the water year. The good news is, the current annual grass crop fuel loading is not as heavy as it has been in the past two years (but is continuous). The bad news is, for the annual grasses that have not burned in the last two years, carryover fuel loads remain very high. Additionally, live fuel moisture in brush is lower than average, last measured in the 75%-85% range for pinyon and juniper (for purposes of fire behavior, these species are not considered trees). Expect rapid large fire growth on windy days. Typical May, hot, dry and windy at low elevations. |
| 05/21/07 15:16:54 | Yes | 6,000 | River and snotel data show SW Utah at 45-65% of normal precipitation for the water year. The good news is, the current annual grass crop fuel loading is not as heavy as it has been in the past two years. The bad news is, for the annual grasses that have not burned in the last two years, carryover fuel loads remain very high. Additionally, live fuel moisture in brush is lower than average, last measured in the 75%-85% range for pinyon and juniper (for purposes of fire behavior, these species are not considered trees). Expect rapid large fire growth on windy days. Typical May, hot, dry and windy at low elevations. |
| 05/11/07 10:14:56 | Yes | River and snotel data show SW Utah at 45-65% of normal precipitation for the water year. The good news is, the current annual grass crop fuel loading is not as heavy as it has been in the past two years. The bad news is, for the annual grasses that have not burned in the last two years, carryover fuel loads remain very high. Additionally, live fuel moisture in brush is lower than average, last measured in the 75%-85% range for pinyon and juniper (for purposes of fire behavior, these species are not considered trees). Expect rapid large fire growth on windy days. Some RAWS not recovering out of single digit RH for overnight readings. | |
| 05/11/07 10:03:06 | Yes | Annual grasses are cured and carry fire well on hot windy days. The grass carries the fire in pinyon/juniper and brush creating more intense fires. These fuel types need wind for fires to get large | |
| 09/11/06 10:47:51 | Yes | Annual grasses are cured and carry fire well on hot windy days. The grass carries the fire in pinyon/juniper and brush creating more intense fires. These fuel types need wind for fires to get large | |
| 08/16/06 12:17:18 | Yes | Abundant carryover fuels are available to burn on windy days across the profile. Annual grasses are cured below 7000. Heavy standing and down dead fuels from bug kill pine.Live fuels above 7000 are drought stressed. 1000 hr fuels are 8% or less | |
| 07/29/06 11:55:40 | Yes | Abundant carryover fuels are available to burn on windy days across the profile. Annual grasses are cured below 7000. Heavy standing and down dead fuels from bug kill pine.Live fuels above 7000 are drought stressed. 1000 hr fuels are 8% or less | |
| 07/12/06 08:58:55 | Yes | Abundant carryover fuels are available to burn on windy days across the profile. Annual grasses are cured below 7000. Heavy standing and down dead fuels from bug kill pine.Live fuels above 7000 are drought stressed. 1000 hr fuels are 8% or less | |
| 06/26/06 11:56:53 | Yes | Abundant carryover fuels are available to burn on windy days across the profile. Annual grasses are cured below 7000. Heavy standing and down dead fuels from bug kill pine.Live fuels above 7000 are drought stressed. 1000 hr fuels are 8% or less | |
| 06/14/06 11:01:38 | Yes | Abundant carryover fuels are available to burn on windy days across the profile. Annual grasses are cured below 7000. Heavy standing and down dead fuels from bug kill pine. | |
| 05/15/06 10:26:07 | Yes | Abundant carryover fuels are available to burn on windy days across the profile. Annual grasses are cured below 5000'. | |
| 05/15/06 10:10:48 | Yes | Abundant carryover fuels are available to burn on windy days across the profile. New fine fuels below 4500 | |
| 05/04/06 12:12:28 | Yes | Abundant carryover fuels are available to burn on windy days across the profile. New fine fuels below 4500' are transitioning to cured and are green above that elevation. Pinyon and juniper are at 85% live fuel moisture. | |
| 10/26/05 08:11:06 | No | Fires will still carry well in fine fuels on dry, windy days.... those are getting fewer and farther between. | |
| 10/14/05 09:31:34 | Yes | Fuels critical below 6500 feet in light fuels. ERC's are moderate, but high BI days are still pushing fires through fine fuels pretty darned well. | |
| 10/14/05 09:29:34 | Yes | Fuels critical below 9000 feet. Indices are still high, but expect more moderate fire behavior with shorter day lengths and better overnight recoveries. | |
| 09/22/05 11:03:50 | Yes | Fuels critical below 9000 feet. Indices are still high, but expect more moderate fire behavior with shorter day lengths and better overnight recoveries. | |
| 08/31/05 08:30:37 | Yes | Fuels critical below 9000 feet | |
| 08/31/05 08:28:26 | Yes | Fuels are dry, temps are high, RH's are low, just need some ignitions | |
| 08/01/05 10:53:01 | Yes | Fuels are critical below 9000' | |
| 07/13/05 16:39:16 | Yes | Fine fuels are critical below 6500'. | |
| 07/05/05 15:32:15 | Yes | Fine fuels cured below 6500 | |
| 06/24/05 19:47:51 | Yes | Fine fuels cured below 6500', above normal fine fuel loading |