Fire Weather Awareness Week PNSTHU

...FIRE WEATHER/FIRE PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES TODAY WITH A LOOK AT RED FLAG WARNING - EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS...

IN COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES...SUCH AS THE TENNESSEE DIVISION OF FORESTRY...CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST...AND GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL ISSUE A RED FLAG WARNING TO HIGHLIGHT EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN WARRANTED. RED FLAG WARNINGS ARE ISSUED WHENEVER HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TO BE VERY LOW...WIND SPEEDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE HIGH... AND FOREST FUELS (SUCH AS FALLEN LEAVES AND BRUSH) ARE DRY. THESE CONDITIONS COMBINED TOGETHER COULD RESULT IN EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. THUNDERSTORMS WITH LIMITED RAINFALL CAN ALSO INCREASE THE THREAT FOR WILDFIRES. WHEN FOREST FUELS ARE DRY...CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN IGNITE TREES AND BRUSH TO START FOREST FIRES.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE ALERT TO THE INCREASED THREAT OF WILDFIRES DURING RED FLAG WARNING CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY THOSE WHOSE HOME IS IN A FORESTED AREA...OR THOSE PLANNING ON VISITING FORESTS. KEEP IN TOUCH WITH LOCAL...STATE AND FEDERAL FIRE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES ABOUT POSSIBLE BURNING RESTRICTIONS AND PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS. VISIT WWW.BURNSAFETN.ORG TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT FIRE SAFETY AND BURNING RESTRICTIONS. ALSO...STAY ABREAST OF THE LATEST FORECAST FROM YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY LISTENING TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR VISITING THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES: WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/MRX OR WWW.WEATHER.GOV .

THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME DEBRIS-BURNING SAFETY TIPS TO HELP PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM WILDFIRES:

1. BEFORE BURNING...ALWAYS CONTACT YOUR LOCAL OR STATE FIRE AUTHORITIES TO DETERMINE IF IT IS SAFE TO BURN.

2. BECOME FAMILIAR WITH BURNING LAWS AND REGULATIONS. A STATE ISSUED BURNING PERMIT IS REQUIRED FROM OCTOBER 15TH UNTIL MAY 15TH.

3. BEFORE YOU BURN...REMEMBER TO CLEAR THE GROUND OF FLAMMABLE MATERIAL AT LEAST 10 FEET FROM AROUND THE AREA TO BE BURNED.

4. KEEP TOOLS AND WATER ON HAND WHILE BURNING AND NEVER LEAVE A FIRE UNATTENDED!!!

5. WATCH THE WEATHER.

6. STAY WITH THE FIRE UNTIL IT IS OUT.

THE TOPIC FOR FRIDAY WILL BE...OUR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY FIRE WEATHER SEASONS.