Month: August 2024

Fire Weather Outlook for fall 2024

Courtesy of Doctor Daniel Swain at weatherwest.com

As previously noted, this autumn looks like an especially warm one across the interior Western U.S. and likely extending increasingly toward the coast in CA (especially central and southern CA) Sep through Oct or Nov. The latest batch of seasonal model outlooks came out a few days ago, and they continue to paint a similar picture: very high odds of a broadly much warmer than average airmass over the Southwest for autumn, and also a modest tilt in the odds toward a drier-than-average autumn (especially Sep and Oct and especially in central and southern CA as well as the central/southern Rockies). Unless there is another “saved by the bell” moment (like last year’s tropical soaking from Hilary or a very early season atmospheric river up north), this likely portends a very active autumn fire season across much of CA and the interior West–potentially leading to a second peak in fire activity that could eclipse July’s wildfire surge despite conditions that will likely not be quite as hot.

Why is this the case? Well, vegetation in most of California and across much of the interior West (outside of the core monsoon zone in the deep SW) reaches peak seasonal dryness in September or October following the canonically long and dry summer (which, in many spots, has been record hot to date). That, combined with a spurt of grass and brush growth thanks to milder and wetter growing conditions the past 2 winters and springs, means there’s both more fuel for the (potential) fires at lower elevations as well as the potential for vegetation to be even drier than usual (perhaps approaching record dryness levels again) in precisely those areas most susceptible to autumn heatwaves and offshore (Santa Ana/Diablo) wind events (and therefore wind-driven fires). That could be a volatile combination this year, and updated seasonal outlooks from federal fire agencies mirror this concern.

We don’t have any ability to predict offshore wind events at seasonal scale, nor (beneficial) atypical rain events or (harmful) autumn lightning outbreaks. But we can, to a reasonable degree of certainly, predict how anomalously warm the autumn may be–and we also know with 100% certainty what came before (i.e., a wet winter/spring and record hot July). The stage is therefore set for a potentially fiery autumn–perhaps much more so than “usual”–but we could get lucky (or unlucky) with early rains, offshore wind events, or fall lightning events. That is to say: while the predictable aspects of autumn fire risk are ringing alarm bells, that isn’t always the whole story (based, essentially, on luck in one direction or another). But I do think it’s quite likely that this autumn will feature much more active fire conditions not only in California (where this is not uncommon) but also across portions of the interior West (where it is decidedly less common)–and almost certainly more active conditions than the past couple of (relatively quiet) years. So…enjoy the relative reprieve over the next 10 days or so, and stay tuned!

Register now for a California Forest Stewardship Workshop

Save the Date!
October 9 – December 11, 2024
 
 


Register now for a California Forest Stewardship Workshop

 Online October 9 – December 11, 2024, and in-person Saturday, November 2nd in
Humboldt County

Join the workshop to better understand and protect your forests by developing a Forest Management Plan. Topics include:
•Forest management objectives and planning
•Forest health
•Forest and fire ecology, wildlife, watersheds
•Fuels reduction, targeted grazing, and forest resource marketing
•Mapping, inventory and silviculture
•Project development & permitting
•Getting professional help and cost-share opportunities
Participants will utilize online resources on their own time to complete learning modules and short activities.
Zoom meetings with all participants and presenters will take place once a week on Wednesdays, 6:00pm-7:30pm. The in-person field day will cover silviculture, forest inventory and mapping activities. Participants who complete the workshop will be eligible for a free site visit with a California Registered Professional Forester, California Certified Burn Boss, or California Certified Range Manager.
All forest landowners across California are welcome to join!
Registration is available at:
http://ucanr.edu/forestryworskhopregistration
Registration fee is $60.00.
Scholarship funding for registration fee is available.
For questions, contact Kim Ingram, kcingram@ucanr.edu. 

 
 

UC ANR Forest Stewardship | http://ucanr.edu/forestryworkshops

Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County’s monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, August 14. 2024 starting at 5:30 PM via Zoom.

Hi All,

The Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County’s monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, August 14. 2024 starting at 5:30 PM via Zoom.

The link is below and the agenda is attached.

This month David McAdams of the Siskiyou Media Council will be joining us to talk about the great things they are doing and how that service can enhance wildfire mitigation efforts throughout the County.

See you there!

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81207146063…

Meeting ID: 812 0714 6063

Passcode: 013174

One tap mobile

+16699006833,,81207146063#,,,,*013174# US (San Jose)

+16694449171,,81207146063#,,,,*013174# US

Training for California State-Certified Prescribed Fire Burn Boss offered

Upcoming Trainings We’re offering a variety of upcoming webinars, field trainings, and other training events for professionals whose work can help increase the pace and scale of vegetation and fuels treatments in California.
Watch Previous Webinars Apply Today IN-PERSON TRAINING California State-Certified Prescribed Fire Burn Boss (CARX) Course Dates: Monday, November 4 – Friday, November 8Time: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.Location: South Bay Training Center, Los Osos, CA
Deadline to apply: Friday, August 23 at 5 p.m. This in-person course provides information about and develops the skills required for planning and managing prescribed fire on State or private lands. The curriculum includes portions of the NWCG courses RX301, RX341, and RX410 classes, but should not be considered a substitute for any of these RX classes. There is no course equivalency between this class and any NWCG course.  In addition, CARX certification is not equivalent to NWCG RXB1 or RXB2 qualification.

This course contains instructor-led training, including simulation exercises and a task book. Students will conduct one day of reconnaissance in the field in addition to classroom work.  Students are required to complete the prerequisites (coursework, firing, and leadership requirements) prior to taking the course.  As detailed in the course plan, this course was developed and formatted into the SFT curriculum development model. Stakeholders are encouraged to study this information carefully and seek clarification from SFT if questions arise. Certified persons may act as contractors within land designated as State Responsibility Area (SRA) by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

This course is intended for experienced prescribed or cultural fire practitioners who wish to be recognized by the state for their knowledge and expertise. This could include retired fire professionals, landowners and community members, NGO staff, private contractors, tribal members and cultural burners, state and local agency staff, and others.

Deadline to apply is Friday, August 23 at 5 p.m. Apply Today
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