Tennessee Drought, Wildfire Threat Assessment & Update

Tennessee Drought, Wildfire Threat Assessment & Update November 7, 2016 – 12 p.m., Central

HIGHLIGHTS

• Wildfire and drought threat is spreading geographically in Tennessee.

• More than 15 State agencies are currently engaged in the drought and wildfire response coordination and issue monitoring.

• Dry conditions are expected to continue in Tennessee. Weather forecasts show Nov. 15, as the earliest date in Tennessee for 50 percent or greater chance of rain.

CURRENT SITUATION 
Persistent, dry weather has significantly increased the wildfire threat along the Cumberland Plateau and eastward with many counties in the State, some of whom are addressing wildfires, also monitoring water supply issues.

The Tennessee Division of Forestry reports 96 fires active in Tennessee impacting 8,665 acres. Wildfire activity over the weekend included seven wildfires burning across Hamilton, Marion, and Sequatchie counties. In Campbell, Hancock, and Morgan counties a total of 400 acres have burned due to wildfires. One, 200 plus acre wildfire in Hamilton County was located 15 miles north of Chattanooga. Fire officials also responded to wildfires in Grundy and Sevier counties.

Drought monitoring also indicates a wider geographic footprint in Tennessee of extreme to exceptional drought conditions. All or parts of Bradley, Hamilton, McMinn, Marion, Meigs, Polk, Rhea, and Sequatchie counties currently have drought conditions in the highest range of exceptional. On Friday, the report listed only four Tennessee counties in the exceptional category.

Governors in Georgia and Kentucky have declared States of Emergency due to the large-scale wildfire threats and response operations ongoing in their states.

ISSUES BY AREA

Wildfires
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry data shows 1,109 fires have burned 29,500 acres since the beginning of 2016. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture has instituted burn bans for Claiborne, Jefferson, Loudon, and Sevier counties. Agriculture does not expect any No Safe Burning Permits to be issued statewide until the State receives substantial precipitation.

Water Supply
Water systems in eight Tennessee counties are reporting drought issues. This includes systems in Bledsoe, Blount, Grundy, Marion, Sequatchie, Polk, Scott and Van Buren counties. Seven systems in these counties have enacted mandatory water conservation measures, with others issuing voluntary conservation notices. The primary threats to these local systems are the availability of water for drinking and hygiene, and for fire-fighting capabilities.

RESPONSE ACTIVITIES
Tennessee Army National Guard (TNARG) personnel are assisting with the wildfire response in Hamilton County and TNARG helicopters made several water drops Sunday in the County.

TEMA’s East Regional Coordination Center standing up to assist the Tennessee Division of Forestrywith wildfire response coordination and situational monitoring.

Tennessee State Parks has officially issued burn bans for the following state parks:

• Pickett State Park/Pogue Creek Canyon
• South Cumberland State Park
• Cumberland Mountain State Park
• Fall Creek Falls State Park
• Norris Dam State Park
• Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park

The Drought & Wildfire Task Force is meeting bi-weekly with members to establish a common operating picture of the drought and wildfire threat to ensure effective coordination and risk communication among state and local partners.

Task Force members include representatives with the Tennessee departments of Agriculture and its Division of Forestry; Commerce and Insurance and the State Fire Marshal, Correction, Environment and Conservation, Health, Human Services, Military, and Transportation, and Tennessee State Parks, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The Tennessee Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (TN WARN), an agency providing mutual aid and assistance to utilities in the state, is also participating on the Task Force.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued a press release on Oct. 27, advising residents in a number southeastern Tennessee counties to voluntarily cut back on water use to ease drought conditions. The release recommended customers of the following water systems to temporarily limit water usage for non-essential purposes:

• Bledsoe County – Pikeville Water System
• Franklin County – Sewanee Utility District
• Grundy County – Big Creek Utility District, Tracy City Water System, Monteagle Public Utility Board
• Marion County – TN American Sequatchie Valley Water System, Griffith Creek Utility District
• Sequatchie County – Dunlap Water System, Cagel-Fredonia Utility District
• Van Buren County – Fall Creek Falls Utility District

WEATHER FORECAST
Dry conditions will continue into the middle of the week and possibly into next weekend. Temperatures will remain above seasonal normal for the next several days.

KEY MESSAGES
• Stay abreast of wildfire danger levels and heed warnings and bans on outdoor burning in your area.
• Remember, from October 15 through May 15, anyone starting an open-air fire in Tennessee within 500 feet of a forest, grassland, or woodland must secure a burning permit from the Division of Forestry. The free permit can be obtained by phone or on online at www.BurnSafeTN.org. Local jurisdictions may have other ordinances and permitting systems in place for open-air burning.
• Avoid burning on windy, dry days. When conditions are windy or dry, it is easy for open burning to spread out of control.
Closely supervise all outdoor fires. Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving.
• Have an adult present at all times when a bonfire, chiminea, fire pit, or outdoor fireplace is burning.
• A grill should be placed well away from buildings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches. If using a charcoal grill, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.
• Establish wide control lines down to bare mineral soil at least five feet wide around any burn barrels and even wider around brush piles and other piled debris to be burned.
• If you burn in a burn barrel or other trash container, be sure it is equipped with a ½” mesh screen or metal grid to keep burning material contained.
• Avoid throwing lit cigarettes out of vehicles. This type of litter can quickly start grass fires that can lead to dangerous traffic situations, such as low visibility and congestion.
• Never park a vehicle over a pile of leaves. The heat from the vehicle’s catalytic converter or exhaust system could ignite the leaves below.
• Keep water and hand tools ready in case your fire should attempt to spread.
• In the unfortunate event that a fire does get out of control, call 911 immediately and wait in a safe place for the arrival of the local fire department.

About the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency: TEMA’s mission is to coordinate preparedness, response and recovery from man-made, natural and technological hazards in a professional and efficient manner in concert with our stakeholders. Follow TEMA on Facebook, TNDisasterInfo, on Twitter, @T_E_M_A, and at www.tnema.org.