Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By IAN MINIELLY
Ironwood — The Smokey the Bear sign out front of the Ottawa National Forest office in Ironwood on Friday listed the fire danger as “Very High.” The Forest Service calls their Smokey the Bear signs, “Adjective ratings,” while the public according to the Forest Service generally refers to the signs as Smokey the Bear signs.
Under a very high threat warning, the Forest Service says, “fires start easily from all causes, and immediately after ignition, spread rapily and increase quickly in intensity.” With the week of warm weather and dry conditions across the Range it should come as no surprise the threat has reached the threshhold it has.
The Forest Service uses a five point tiered system available in the Forest Service Handbook to describe the risk of wildfires.
—Low, where fuels do not ignite readily from small firebrands, although more intense sources like lightning may start fires. Under a low threat fires in open grasslands may burn freely hours after a rain, but fires in woods may occur, but there is little danger of spotting..
—Moderate, fires can start from most accidental sources, but in general the number of fires starting in these conditions is low, except for lightning caused fires. The average fire under these conditions is moderate, but there is little chance of persistant spotting and control of fires under these conditions is relatively easy.
—High, under a high threat all dead fuels ignite readily. Unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape and spreas rapidly. Fires under a high threat may become serious and are difficult to control.
—Very High, fires start easily from all causes and upon ignition spread rapidly and increase in intensity quickly. Spot fires in these conditions are a constant danger. A direct attack by fire fighting efforts are rarely possible after a fire in these conditions is burning, even after only a few minutes.
—Extreme, Fires under these condition start quickly, spread rapidly, and burn intensely and all are threats to become serious. A fire is more likely to develop into a high intensity affair under these conditions, even from a small fire, than under any other threat. Often these kinds of fires cannot be attacked head on until the weather or fuel available changes and can only be impacted from the flanks as they rage.
Other factors impacting the National Fire Danger Rating System the Forest Service takes into account are fuel, weather, topography, and risk.
