Long-Range Fire Behavior Assessment, Florida Area, 2001 Fire Season

Fire (either prescribed or wild) has played a major role in shaping and maintaining most of the ecosystems in Florida, so large fires and extreme burning conditions are not unusual. Florida has the highest frequency of lightning strikes in the United States, yet most wildfires are human-caused. The vegetation has evolved with fire and the area contains some of the most volatile fuels found anywhere. These "normal" conditions can result in rapid growth, but usually increased nocturnal relative humidity and high soil moistures result in few long duration fires. However, June and July of 1998 saw firefighting resources from across the nation mobilized to Florida because of threats to communities, the result of numerous large, long-duration, high-intensity wildfires. These fires required aggressive suppression tactics incorporating many aviation resources, over an extended period of time, and mop-up techniques not normally used in Florida. For example, the strategy of flanking a fire toward a swamp was no longer viable, since many of the swamps would not provide a natural barrier. Many experienced local fire managers report that wildfires burning in March and April have been more severe than the same period in 1998. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) has been relied upon for many years as an indicator of fire danger and fire behavior. by fire managers and the public. However, many fire managers now feel the index grossly underestimates current fire behavior and fire danger. The primacy reasons for this could be that the continued drought has resulted in no recharging to the vegetation root system, resulting in much lower than normal live fuel moistures when compared to "normal" years.

Long-Range Fire Behavior Assessment, Florida Area, 2001 Fire Season

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