Fire Weather Awareness Week PNSMON

...FIRE WEATHER/FIRE PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK...

THIS WEEK...OCTOBER 5TH THROUGH THE 9TH...IS NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION WEEK. IN CONJUNCTION WITH FEDERAL...STATE AND LOCAL FIRE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT MORRISTOWN WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS WEEK BY CONDUCTING A FIRE WEATHER...FIRE PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK.

DURING THE WEEK...DIFFERENT TOPICS CONCERNING FIRE WEATHER AND PREVENTION WILL BE DISCUSSED WHICH WILL HELP EDUCATE AND INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF FIRE WEATHER AND FIRE SAFETY. THE TOPIC TODAY IS GENERAL FIRE WEATHER.

WEATHER IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FACTORS IN DETERMINING THE POTENTIAL AND SEVERITY OF WILDFIRES. THE SPREAD RATE AND INTENSITY OF FIRE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO WIND SPEED... TEMPERATURE...AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY. ALSO...CLIMATIC CONDITIONS SUCH AS LONG TERM DROUGHT PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE NUMBER AND INTENSITY OF WILDFIRES.

ACCURATE AND TIMELY WEATHER INFORMATION IS VITAL TO PLANNING FOR WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION. A CORE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TO PROVIDE DAILY FIRE WEATHER FORECASTS TO FEDERAL AND STATE LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES. IN ADDITION...SPECIALIZED AND DETAILED FORECASTS ARE PROVIDED...WHEN NEEDED...TO AID IN MANAGING WILDFIRES AND CONDUCTING PRESCRIBED BURNS.

UNFORTUNATELY...ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF WILDFIRES IN TENNESSEE IS ARSON. APPROXIMATELY HALF THE ACRES BURNED BY WILDFIRES IN TENNESSEE ARE DUE TO FIRES SET INTENTIONALLY BY ARSONISTS. THE THOUGHTLESS ACTS OF ARSONISTS NOT ONLY DAMAGE FORESTS...WATERSHEDS...AND WILDLIFE HABITATS...BUT THEY ALSO POSE A DIRECT THREAT TO YOU AND YOUR PROPERTY. HELP FIRE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES CATCH ARSONISTS BY PROVIDING INFORMATION. SIMPLE TIPS OFTEN PAY OFF DURING AN INVESTIGATION. CALL THE ARSON HOTLINE AT 1 800...7 6 2 3 0 1 7.

THE TOPIC FOR TUESDAY WILL BE...UNDERSTANDING HOW WEATHER CONDITIONS AFFECT FIRE BEHAVIOR.