Taixtsalda Hill wildfire gains power and gains ground in the late afternoon heat, wind and low humidity. Winds to 33 mph yesterday made battling this wildfire difficult.

Tags:   Taixtsalda Hill Wildfire wildfire wildfire plume

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According to the National Fire Danger Rating System, extreme fire danger is the highest, most volatile rating.

"Fire Danger Level: Extreme

When the fire danger is “extreme”, fires of all types start quickly and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious and can spread very quickly with intense burning. Small fires become big fires much faster than at the “very high” level. Spot fires are probable, with long-distance spotting likely. These fires are very difficult to fight and may become very dangerous and often last for several days."

The weather criteria for fire weather watches and red flag warnings usually include the daily vegetation moisture content calculations, expected afternoon high temperature, afternoon minimum relative humidity and daytime wind speed.

Tags:   Extreme fire danger

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Pyrocumulus from the Taixtsalda Hill wildfire near Tetlin Alaska, during the afternoon blowup that is fairly typical of wildfires during warm dry weather. This is the time of day a wildfire becomes particularly dangerous.

This fire is approximately 15,200 acres, burning in Native allotments in the Tetlin Hills. It has not burned any homes and there have been no injuries.

This time lapse spans approximately 45 minutes.

Tags:   Taixtsalda Hills Wildfire wildfire pyrocumulus smoke plume

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A rapidly rising pyrocumulus from the nearby Tetlin Junction wildfire (2013) briefly produced a pileus veil, before being consumed by the heat and power of this wildfire.

At this moment, a firestorm 'firenado' was erupting on the ground, and firefighters and gear were rapidly evacuating as whole trees were ripped up and sucked skyward by violent forces.

Below link is a youtube video shot by pilot radioing information to ground and incident command.
Music is 'Barton Hollow' by The Civil Wars... aka Dead Man Walking....

Tetlin Junction Wildfire Firenado, August 2013

Tags:   Pyrocumulus Tetlin Junction Fire Pileus Firenado wildfire

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On beautiful Tagish Lake in the Yukon Territory of Canada, a wildfire is burning on the steep rugged terrain of the eastern side of this mountain lake. Burning about 7 miles (12 km) from Carcross on the South Klondike Highway.

Tags:   wildfire Tagish Lake Yukon South Klondike Highway Carcross smoke

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