19 April - TX Wildfires Have Consumed 1.6 Million Acres, Destroyed 240 Homes - Forecast Hot & Dry

[hatrack]

The wildfires that have consumed 1.6 million acres of Texas plains and pines, threatened its capital, and destroyed 240 homes is stretching, but not yet stressing, the United States' wildland firefighting capability, the US Forest Service says. On Sunday, Gov. Rick Perry acknowledged that Texas needs more federal help to deal with the situation, as dozens of fires are now burning largely uncontrolled across the state, including unusual "crown fires" in tops of trees in the east Texas pine barrens that are leaping to 100-foot heights.

"The request for assistance truly is of historic proportions," says Randall Barr, the fire chief of Tomball, Texas, near Houston. "Everybody is stretched, and the conference calls we're on every day paint a bleak picture, with no relief in sight."

Nearly 8,000 fires – ranging from small to vast – have been reported in Texas since the start of the year, as unprecedented dry conditions, large amounts of winter-cured brush and grass as fuel, and howling winds have kept nearly the entire state at risk for "explosive wildfire potential," the Texas Forest Service reports. In the past week alone, wildfires have spread across an area the size of Rhode Island.

"Fronts are coming through the state on a regular pattern, bringing with them strong winds and low humidity," Governor Perry wrote to the White House on Sunday. "Wildland fires occurring under these conditions are generating intensities that are creating very high difficulties of control ... resulting in extreme fire behavior and conditions that threaten any and everything in a fire's path."

EDIT

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0418/Can-US-handle-historic-Texas-wildfires

[tabatha]

1. NASA image acquired April 15, 2011

As of April 18, 23 large wildfires were burning in Texas. Seven of the largest fires are labeled in the image. The image also shows two wildfires burning in northern Mexico. So far in 2011, the Texas has responded to 7,807 fires, which burned 1,528,714 acres of land and 244 structures, said Governor Rick Perry in an April 16 request to President Obama that the state be declared a major disaster.

Most of the seven fires shown in the image are larger than ten thousand acres, and many have threatened communities. As of April 18, the Texas Forest Service reported their status as follows:

Cannon Fire Complex Fire – Three fires collectively burned 63,427 acres, 80 percent contained;
Cooper Mountain Ranch Fire – 152,000 acres burned, 4 homes destroyed, 50 percent contained;
Jackson Ranch Fire – 2,200 acres burned, community evacuated, 50 percent contained;
PK West – 50,739 acres burned, 31 homes destroyed and 495 threatened, 25 percent contained;
Swenson Fire – 122,500 acres burned, 90 percent contained;
Wichita Complex Fire – 11,785 acres burned, 20 homes destroyed, Shepard Air Force Base and surrounding housing threatened, 90 percent contained;
Wildcat Fire – 103,772 acres burned, multiple communities evacuated, unknown containment.

NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Holli Riebeek.

Instrument: Aqua - MODIS

To download the full high res file go to: earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=50168

Credit: NASA Earth Observatory

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/5632231268

[Frustratedlady]

2. Isn't Perry one who turned down Federal money?

Change of heart, Gov?

[Angry Dragon]

3. This is what pisses me off...........

Here you have a Regressive Party governor a state legislature crying about leaving the US and how much they have to pay in federal taxes. And then they turn around and ask the feds for help. Where do they think this money comes from??

I do believe that it is the job of government to help those in the country that need help. And the people of Texas do need help at this time. Someone has to pay for it.