7 Named Fires Already Burning In AZ; 50/50 Chance Of Strong Monsoon As Heat, Drought Intensify
As a heat wave builds in the midst of an epic drought, fires have broken out across the state. The fire danger will remain high at least into July, according to the US Weather Service. Fortunately, the weather service still predicts a near-normal monsoon will dampen the “significant wildland fire potential” expected to grip the southwest for the balance of May and all of June. On the other hand, AccuWeather’s forecast now suggests we have just a 50/50 chance of a wet monsoon while still facing the prospect of another hot summer.
The fire restrictions imposed this week could well give way to forest closures soon, as the Forest Service copes with the dangerous conditions.
Western representatives in Congress are scrambling to mount a federal response. Rep. Tom O’Halleran, a member of the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging a big increase in funding for wildfire preparedness, mitigation and response. The Forest Service in recent years has spent $2-$3 billion annually fighting fires, which now consumes some 60% of its budget.
“In Arizona, the 2020 wildfire season saw 2,520 wildfires burn nearly 980,000 acres of state, federal, and tribal lands in almost every corner of our state—nearly doubling the 520,000 acres that burned in 3,627 fires over the previous two years combined,” said O’Halleran. “As a member of the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, I’m working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that our appropriations will fully fund desperately-needed wildfire preparedness, mitigation, and response operations.” The National Interagency Fire Center reported that U.S. wildfires burned 10.27 million acres as of December 31, 2020 — the highest yearly total since accurate records began in 1983. Colorado experienced the three largest wildfires in state history.
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