Wildfire Awareness 6/2010
Did You Know?
- Almost 1/3 of the United States is covered by forests
- Forests cover 41% of the land in the state of Idaho
- About 90% of Idaho's land that was covered by forests in the year 1630 is still covered by forests today
What is a Wildfire?
Wildfire is the term applied to any unwanted and unplanned fire burning in the forest, shrub, or grass. Put simply, a wildfire is one of the most destructive natural forces known to mankind. While sometimes caused by lightning, nine out of ten wildfires are human-caused. Although wildfire is one of the most destructive natural forces known to mankind, people can play a critical role in conserving our natural resources and helping protect the public and firefighters by preventing unwanted fires.
After a fire, the hard work of rehabilitating the landscape begins. Most of it needs to be done quickly because there is often little to hold the soil in place. Soil erosion and land slides can be a big problem. This is especially true if the burn is on a steep slope. This was the case in Boise in 1959 and 1996 when the Boise Foothills burned.
What do I do if I see a Wildfire?
If you see a fire, dial 9-1-1 immediately.
The earlier a fire is reported, the quicker firefighters can put the fire out. Firefighters can supress a ground fire much quicker than a fire that has spread to tree tops.
Where can I get more information?
There are many great informational resources online.
http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/ - National Active Fire Map
http://www.idahoforests.org/fire_links.htm - Idaho Forest Fire Information
http://www.fs.fed.us/ipnf/cdc/ - Main website for the Coeur d'Alene Interagency Dispatch office. The "fire season" link gives access to closures and restrictions, how to report wildfires, news releases, and situation reports for the nation, as well as our local geographic area.
http://www.inciweb.org/ - The Inciweb provides current wildfire information for incidents across the country.
http://www.nifc.gov/ - The National Interagency Fire Center site in Boise.
http://www.idl.idaho.gov/bureau/firemgt.htm - Idaho Dept. of Lands site with many links for fire info, prevention, smoke management, laws, etc.
http://www.firewise.org/ - Homeowner and community fire prevention info.
http://www.fs.fed.us/ipnf/ - The Idaho Panhandle National Forests' homepage. "News and Public Announcements" takes you to latest press releases for the national forests in North Idaho
*Much of the information above provided by the courtesy of the USDA Forest Service. Visit the USDA Forest Service online at: www.fs.fed.us/