Today’s Lookout Livestream discusses the Dragon Bravo Fire, on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, in Northern Arizona, and the Monroe Canyon Fires, in Central Utah. Both are currently being influences by very dry conditions, and strong SW winds. Under the current conditions, the fires are largely uncontrollable, with most firefighting progress being made on the heels (southern edges) of both fires. Dragon Bravo, grew by around 20,000 acres overnight, with strong southwest winds exacerbating the situation. The Monroe Canyon Fire, 125 miles south of Salt Lake City, has doubled in size since July 25th, driven by similar weather patterns. Our broadcast emphasizes the challenges of suppressing large fires, noting the limited effectiveness of previous fuels treatment projects in stopping the headward progression of the Monroe Canyon Fire, and the need for landscape-scale thinking in fuels management. We also note that the scars from recent fires are often the thing which stops the spread of a subsequent fire.
Cover photo source: Kaibab Lodge Facebook page.
Lookout Livestream
Summary
- Zeke Lunder introduces the Dragon Bravo Fire, noting that is provides a good opportunity to educate the public about the impossibility of stopping the most volatile wildfires.
- Zeke introduces some of the tools and concepts used by wildfire analysts to predict fire movements.
- Zeke mentions the Monroe Canyon Fire as another topic of interest, noting his lack of personal familiarity with either the Dragon Bravo or Monroe Canyon Fire areas.
Weather and Fire Conditions
- Zeke discusses the large-scale weather patterns affecting the Dragon Bravo and Monroe Canyon Fires, including a high-pressure area over the Mississippi River.
- The high pressure is blocking weather systems from reaching California, and leading to critically dry conditions in Utah and Arizona.
- Zeke explains the impact of the monsoon season, which has not been active, leading to increased fire danger.
- The Dragon Bravo fire grew by 20,000 acres overnight, and the Monroe Canyon fire is also active, with both fires showing signs of growth.
Satellite Imagery and Fire Progression
- Zeke uses satellite imagery to show the active areas of the Dragon Bravo and Monroe Canyon fires, highlighting the heat signatures.
- The Dragon Bravo fire has been growing rapidly, with significant daily spread observed.
- Zeke explains the challenges of mapping the fires due to cloud cover and the importance of providing maps for firefighters.
- The Dragon Bravo fire has burned through the Saddle Mountain Wilderness, with the fire continuing to spread north.
Fire Management and Fuels Treatment
- Zeke discusses the fire management strategies used for the Dragon Bravo fire, including (failed) firing operations and road preparations.
- The difficult in using roads as fire lines is noted, as they are often not in favorable alignment with the wind direction, or oriented perpendicular to the fire’s spread.
- Zeke reviews a map of planned fuels treatment projects on the Kaibab NF, noting that many proposed projects will be burned by this fire.
- The impact of recent and past fires on the fire behavior is examined, with some previously burned areas showing signs of reduced fuel load.
Monroe Canyon Fire Analysis
- Zeke shifts focus to the Monroe Canyon Fire, located in Utah, and describes its rapid spread and current activity.
- The fire has doubled in size since the 25th, with active areas on the south end.
- Zeke uses satellite imagery to show the severity of the fire’s impact on different fuel types, such as conifer and aspen.
- The fire’s progression is influenced by the strong southwest winds, and the fire is expected to continue spreading to the NE.
Challenges of Fire Management
- Zeke reflects on the challenges of managing fires using prescribed burns and fuels treatment projects.
- The complexity of planning and executing fuels treatment projects is discussed, with many projects still in the planning stage.
- The impact of past fires on the current fire behavior is examined, with the Dragon Bravo Fire having move steadily thru an area burn in 2016.
- Zeke emphasizes the need for large-scale fuels treatment projects to effectively manage fires.
Public Engagement and Perspectives
- Zeke invites comments and perspectives from the public, especially those with experience in fire management.
- The challenge of using fire at the right time, in the right place, for resource benefits is discussed.
- The need for a balanced approach to fire management, considering both mechanical and natural methods, is highlighted.