Summary
Zeke Lunder discusses the Dragon Bravo and Monroe Canyon fires, in Northern Arizona and Central Utah, detailing their spread, weather conditions, and firefighting strategies. Dragon Bravo, starting on the North Rim, is moving north, with strong southwest winds and low humidity. Monroe Canyon Fire, in Utah, had a major run several days ago, when the winds, topography, and fuel availability all came together in a perfect alignment. Both fires are challenging to contain due to extreme conditions and difficult terrain. The Butler Fire in California, surrounded by recent burn scars, is cooling off with minimal new major fire spread.
Lookout Livestream
Fire Misinformation
- Zeke Lunder welcomes viewers to the Lookout channel, which focuses on wildfires, fire behavior, fuels, prescribed fire, and wildland culture.
- Zeke introduces a clip about information and misinformation related to the LA fires, highlighting conspiracy theories and false claims.
- Examples of misinformation include claims about smart cities, arson, and and intentional razing of neighborhoods for 2028 Olympic preparations.
- Zeke emphasizes the importance of the Lookout channel in providing fact-based reporting amidst misinformation.
Dragon Bravo Fire Overview
- Zeke discusses the Dragon Bravo fire, noting its remarkable spread and the challenges faced by firefighters.
- The fire started on the North Rim and is moving north, with significant vegetation and broken country ahead.
- Zeke explains the impact of global weather patterns on the fire’s progression, including high pressure over Arkansas and low pressure off the coast of British Columbia.
- The fire’s southerly flow is driven by dry air from Baja, with minimal moisture from the Gulf of Mexico (the primary drive of monsoon season).
Weather Conditions and Fire Spread
- Zeke details the current weather conditions, including low humidity and strong southwest wind gusts.
- The fire’s spread is significant, with both Dragon Bravo and Monroe Canyon fires being active.
- Zeke describes the fire’s behavior, including steady backing spread and with the most active flanks being on the NE.
- Firefighters are using firing operations to create buffer zones and protect structures, but the conditions are challenging.
Monroe Canyon Fire and Fire Behavior
- Zeke provides a progression map of the Monroe Canyon fire, highlighting its rapid spread and alignment with topography.
- The fire started on Monroe Peak and quickly spread downhill, consuming thick timber and forest.
- Zeke explains the impact of fuels and topography on fire behavior, noting that the fire will likely continue to spread.
- Firefighters are focusing on containment where possible, but the fire’s rapid growth and large areas of continuous fuels pose significant challenges.
Fuels Treatment and Fire Management
- Zeke discusses the impact of fuels treatment on fire behavior, noting thinning projects can slow down fires but rarely stops them.
- The Monroe Canyon fire is moving through some areas with previous fuels treatment, but the scale of these projects was not sufficient to stop the forward spread of the fire.
- Zeke highlights the importance of local knowledge and mapping in fire management, especially during command team transitions.
- The fire’s progression is influenced by a combination of fuels, weather, and topography, making it difficult to predict and control.
Butler Fire in California
- Zeke shifts focus to the Butler fire in California, noting its containment by recent burn scars.
- The fire is surrounded on 3 sides by areas that have burned in the last 20 years, limiting its spread to about a 21,000 acre box.
- Firefighting efforts were minimal in areas with recent burns, focusing on containment rather than suppression.
- The Butler Fire is cooling off, with minimal heat detected except in the SE portions.