(country music)
(helicopter blades swirling)
- 2018 has proven to be challenging in its severity
and fire conditions.
But it is more consistent with the trends
than it is in an anomaly.
Since 2000, with some exceptions, fire seasons
have tended to be more active with larger acreages burned
and more severe conditions than any other time since 1960,
when recordkeeping improved.
Nearly 58,000 wildfires had burned
approximately 8.8 million acres across the country,
making 2018 the 11th year since 2000
that exceeded seven million acres burned.
It was, however, below the 10 million acres scorched
in 2015 and 2017.
While the Northwest, Great Basin, and California
were especially hard hit with fire activity this year.
Much of the fire season was dominated
by four large incidents.
Including the 435,569 acre Martin Fire in Nevada,
the largest incident in Nevada history,
the 459,102 acre Mendocino Complex,
the largest complex fire in California.
The 229,651 acre Carr Fire near Redding, California,
and the Camp Fire, one of the most deadliest fires
in U.S. history.
The Carr Fire, which grew by more than 20,000 acres
in one 24-hour period was also one of the most
costly blazes in California history with suppression
costs alone reaching more than $150 million dollars.
It consumed more than 1,600 structures,
including 1,077 primary homes.
Caused the evacuation of 38,000 residents and resulted
in 9 deaths, including firefighters and citizens.
The Camp Fire was the deadliest
and most destructive wildfire in California.
This was also the deadliest wildfire in the United States
since the Cloquet Fire in 1918.
The fire started on November 8th and was contained
by November 25th.
Conditions leading up to and during the fire combined
to create a highly combustible fuel load.
Which included drought, heavy grass, dry weather,
low humidity, unusually dry fuel and a hot, gusty
high wind event the day of the fire.
The fire costs $16.5 billion dollars and burned
153,336 acres and over 18,800 buildings were destroyed.
Overall, there have been 17 firefighter fatalities
in 2018, which is higher than the 10 fatalities
that occurred in 2017.
The 12 fatalities that occurred in 2016
or the 13 fatalities that occurred in 2015.
Another notable event from this year was the activation
of fire personnel from partners in Australia
and New Zealand.
Approximately, 150 men and women from
the two countries spent 30 days assisting on fires
in the Northwest and California.
Most were mid-level fire line and helicopter managers
and they provided a critical resource
to suppression efforts.
It was the first time since 2015, that these international
partners were called on for assistance.
In addition to the international assistance
from Australia and New Zealand, 200 active duty military
personnel from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington
were trained and mobilized to assist
at the Mendocino Complex in California.
Overall, 2018 will go down as a active season
that saw extreme fire behavior, rapid fire spread
in tinder dry conditions and record high costs.
(chopper blades swirling)