Fork Ridge Fire - September 12, 2024

 The Fork Ridge Fire started on September 12, 2024 in the Cherokee National Forest near Cleveland, Tennessee.

 

 WVLT. "This Fire Was Lightning-Caused: Fork Ridge Fire Continues to Burn in Cherokee National Forest." WVLT News, 18 Sept. 2024, www.wvlt.tv/2024/09/18/this-fire-was-lightning-caused-fork-ridge-fire-continues-burn-cherokee-national-forest/. Description: This photo shows the ground and some trees on fire. I chose this image because it is relevant to this post.

    The Fork Ridge Fire began on September 12, 2024, in the Big Frog Wilderness of Tennessee’s Cherokee National Forest, consuming around 65 acres of land. Dry weather and rugged terrain made containment challenging for firefighters, prompting authorities to close sections of the Benton MacKaye Trail to protect public safety. Hikers were rerouted, and local access to popular outdoor spaces was temporarily disrupted (U.S. Forest Service, "2024 Fork Ridge Fire").

    The fire’s impact on the physical environment was significant. Vegetation loss increased the likelihood of soil erosion and disrupted ecosystems, forcing wildlife to relocate and reducing habitat availability. Long-term effects on the forest’s ecological balance, including changes in plant and animal populations, are expected. Smoke from the fire reduced air quality, affecting both the environment and the health of nearby residents (WVLT).

    For the human environment, the fire caused several challenges. Local communities and visitors faced health risks from reduced air quality, especially those with respiratory conditions. Outdoor recreation, an important part of the region’s culture and economy, was temporarily halted, inconveniencing hikers and nature enthusiasts. The closures also emphasized the risks of wildfires in areas with high recreational use (U.S. Forest Service, "2024 Fork Ridge Fire").

    While the Fork Ridge Fire was contained to a relatively small area, it highlighted the broader challenges of managing wildfires in remote, protected regions. It also underscored the importance of fire preparedness and mitigation strategies to protect both people and the environment in fire-prone areas. Efforts to recover and restore the forest, including ensuring safe trails for future visitors, will likely continue for years (InciWeb).

   U.S. Forest Service. "2024 Fork Ridge Fire - Cherokee National Forest." InciWeb, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2024, inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/tncnf-2024-fork-ridge-fire-cnf. Description: This map shows the trails that were closed in response to the fire. I chose this image because it is relevant to this post.

 The Fork Ridge Fire serves as a reminder of the significant risks posed by wildfires in vulnerable areas, especially within national forests and wilderness regions. While such fires are a natural part of many ecosystems, the growing intensity and frequency of these events have raised concerns about their long-term consequences for both the physical and human environment. In this case, the fire caused vegetation loss, potentially leading to soil erosion and disrupting wildlife habitats. Additionally, smoke pollution affected local air quality, posing health risks to nearby communities (Gainesville).

    One of the key implications of this fire is the impact on local ecosystems. Fires can have long term effects on plant and animal populations, particularly in sensitive wilderness areas where recovery can take decades. The loss of vegetation not only affects the food chain but also disrupts the carbon and water cycles that are crucial for maintaining forest health. Furthermore, the fire highlighted the vulnerability of popular recreational areas. When trails are closed and access is limited, the economic and social benefits tied to outdoor activities are temporarily lost, affecting tourism and local economies (WVLT).

    To mitigate such impacts, several strategies could have been employed. First, controlled burns or prescribed fires could have been used in the area prior to the fire season to reduce the amount of fuel available, potentially preventing a fire from growing as large and destructive. Forest management techniques, such as thinning dense tree stands and clearing dead wood, could also have helped lower fire intensity. Additionally, public awareness campaigns could educate hikers and visitors about fire risks and the importance of following fire safety guidelines, reducing human-caused ignition sources (U.S. Forest Service, "Cherokee National Forest Trail").

    Another critical aspect of fire mitigation is early detection and rapid response. Improved monitoring technology, such as drones or satellite systems, could assist in detecting small fires before they spread uncontrollably. Collaboration between fire management teams, local authorities, and residents can also enhance preparedness and ensure effective evacuation plans if necessary. Finally, addressing climate change by promoting policies to reduce carbon emissions may help decrease the extreme weather patterns that exacerbate wildfire conditions (Gainesville).

    While the Fork Ridge Fire is a natural occurrence in some aspects, the growing frequency of such fires and their widespread consequences call for enhanced preventive measures, community involvement, and a shift toward proactive fire management to protect both the environment and human populations (InciWeb).

 

 Gainesville. "Fork Ridge Fire." Gainesville Fire Data, 2024, data.gainesville.com/fires/fork-ridge/7146ca8b-76b0-4ce5-886a-96aedd83d823/.  Description: This photo shows a hillside on fire during the Fork Ride Fire. I chose it because it is a photo of the fire this post is about.

Video: https://www.wvlt.tv/video/2024/09/18/fork-ridge-fire-continues-burn-cherokee-national-forest/

 Description: This video is of a news report of the fire. Several people are shown discussing the fire.

Sources

U.S. Forest Service. "Cherokee National Forest Trail to Close Due to Wildfire." U.S. Department of Agriculture, 14 Sept. 2024, www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cherokee/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1205450

Gainesville. "Fork Ridge Fire." Gainesville Fire Data, 2024, data.gainesville.com/fires/fork-ridge/7146ca8b-76b0-4ce5-886a-96aedd83d823/

U.S. Forest Service. "2024 Fork Ridge Fire - Cherokee National Forest." InciWeb, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2024, inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/tncnf-2024-fork-ridge-fire-cnf 

WVLT. "This Fire Was Lightning-Caused: Fork Ridge Fire Continues to Burn in Cherokee National Forest." WVLT News, 18 Sept. 2024, www.wvlt.tv/2024/09/18/this-fire-was-lightning-caused-fork-ridge-fire-continues-burn-cherokee-national-forest/ 

Colorado’s Marshall Wildfire - 2021

 On December 30, 2021 a grass fire started from a firestorm that evolved in the span of one hour and caused destruction to many homes. Forecasters predicted high winds and a high-wind warning was issued for Boulder County on December 29th. There was a burn ban in Boulder County because of the high wind warning. Two accidental ignitions took place in the morning of December 30, 2021 and these ignitions sparked grass fires close to Highway 93 and Marshall Road. Since the winds had the strength of a hurricane that were 100 mph, the winds spread the fire and created a roaring wall of flames in less than an hour (NOAA, 2024). Since the county had been in six months of drought, the fire spread even quicker than normal. It is believed that the first fire started on a residential property in Eldorado Springs, and the second fire started in Marshall Mesa Trailhead near Highway 93. There is video evidence that the fires merged, and also burn patterns that were analyzed to help determine where the fire took place. The fire in Eldorado was intentionally started to burn old materials and since it was rainy and there were calm winds during the burn, firefighters were not concerned. Since the fire grew due to strong winds and spread so quickly, the fire department required that residents notify them the next time they create a controlled burn. The fire in Eldorado was originally burned out, but it started again due to the high wind gusts and the other fire was likely started by Xcel Energy Power lines. This was one of the most devastating wildfires in Colorado history, and it has taken years for people to rebuild their lives and homes. One of the reasons the fire was so extreme was because the landscape was already changing due to climate change.       

The fire destroyed 1,084 homes and also 7 commercial properties. Many people knew to evacuate because of social media posts in the area. Because of this, 50,000 residents evacuated successfully. The county was covered in thick smoke and only two people died from the fire, which officials thought was very surprising given the extreme circumstances. The fire covered many subdivisions (Figure 1) and as people were trying to evacuate, it was hard to see some of the buildings such as hotels and restaurants because of how thick the smoke was. To help mitigate these dangerous fires in the future, meteorologists have made an early warning system called the Hourly Wildlife Potential Index, which helps make predictions of winds and temperatures to help indicate the risk of fires across the US (NOAA, 2024). A Navigating Disaster called Boulder County Program was also developed to help minimize the severity of wildfires in the future and to also help minimize the risk of wildfires occurring altogether. Since the Marshall Fire, recovery navigators have held 1,200 appointments to help survivors after the damaging wildfire (Boulder County, 2024). The fire created about $2 billion in damage, which was hard to recover from (Drugan, 2023).      

    

(NOAA, 2024)

Figure 1. Marshall Fire burn assessment map. The yellow icons show damage and the red shows destroyed structures. 

(NOAA, 2024)

Figure 2. Forecast generated at 5 pm on December 29 that shows wind speeds from the surface to jetstream.  

(Colorado Sun, 2023)

Figure 3. Firefighters putting out Marshall Fire on December 30, 2021. 

Marshall Fire investigation: most destructive fire in Colorado history composed of 2 fires

This video explains how each fire started and how the fires got more intense over time. The video shows damage that took place during the wildfire and the thick clouds of smoke that were described in many news articles that covered the wildfire. 

References

 

Dougherty et al. Marshall Fire Investigative Summary and review. (2023, June 8). https://assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/marshall-fire-investigative-summary.pdf

 

Drugan, T. (2023, August 16). Humans started the devastating Marshall fire, 18-month investigation concludes. Drought, high heat and finds fueled its spread. The Boulder Reporting Lab. https://boulderreportinglab.org/2023/06/08/humans-started-the-devastating-marshall-fire-an-18-month-investigation-concludes-drought-high-heat-and-winds-fueled-its-spread/

Looking back at Colorado’s Marshall Fire. NOAA Research. (2024, January 8). https://research.noaa.gov/looking-back-at-colorados-marshall-fire

Marshall Fire and wind event recovery. Boulder County. (2024, November 7). https://bouldercounty.gov/disasters/wildfires/marshall/

Prentzel, O. (2023, June 12). Marshall fire was caused by reignited burn on residential property, Xcel Energy Power Line, Boulder County Authorities say . The Colorado Sun. https://coloradosun.com/2023/06/08/marshall-fire-investigation-results-colorado/