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NOUS44 KOHX 011059
PNSOHX

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
559 AM CDT TUE OCT 1 2013

FIRE WEATHER/FIRE PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES TODAY WITH A
LOOK AT UNDERSTANDING HOW WEATHER CONDITIONS AFFECT FIRE BEHAVIOR.

WEATHER IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FACTORS IN DETERMINING THE
SPREAD RATE AND INTENSITY OF FIRES. TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
WEATHER PARAMETERS ARE WIND SPEED AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY. IN
GENERAL...THE HIGHER THE WIND SPEED AND LOWER THE RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...THE GREATER THE POTENTIAL AND INTENSITY OF FIRES.
WINDY CONDITIONS WILL HELP IN SPREADING THE FIRE DOWNWIND...WHILE
LOWER HUMIDITIES WILL QUICKLY DRY OUT VEGETATION AND MAKE WILDFIRES
EASIER TO IGNITE AND HARDER TO CONTAIN.

FORECASTING CHANGES IN WIND DIRECTION IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT IN
REGARD TO FIGHTING WILDFIRES. A CHANGE IN WIND DIRECTION WILL MAKE
THE FIRE SPREAD IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION...WHICH COULD PLACE LIFE
AND PROPERTY IN HARM`S WAY. PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS AND DURATION ARE
VERY IMPORTANT IN DETERMINING THE DAY`S FIRE POTENTIAL. RAIN AND
SNOW WILL WET DOWN VEGETATION...MAKING FIRE IGNITION AND BURNING
MORE DIFFICULT...WHILE MAKING THE CONTAINMENT OF WILDFIRES EASIER.

RESIDENTS WHOSE HOMES ARE IN FORESTED AREAS...OR THOSE WHO PLAN ON
VISITING AREA FORESTS...SHOULD FOLLOW FIREWISE PRACTICES AND KEEP
ABREAST OF THE LATEST FORECAST FROM YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH LOCAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES ABOUT POSSIBLE
BURN RESTRICTIONS AND PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...ESPECIALLY DURING
PROLONGED DRY CONDITIONS. A GOOD WEBSITE TO OBTAIN FIREWISE AND
BURNING RESTRICTION INFORMATION IS WWW.BURNSAFETN.ORG.

CHILDREN CAN ALSO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN PREVENTING FIRES BY
REMEMBERING THE FOLLOWING SAFETY TIPS:

1. NEVER PLAY WITH MATCHES...LIGHTERS...FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS...OR ANY
FIRE!!!

2. TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT FIRE PREVENTION.

3. TELL AN ADULT RIGHT AWAY IF YOU SEE SMOKE...FIND MATCHES...OR SEE
SOMEONE PLAYING WITH MATCHES.

4. STAY CALM DURING AN EMERGENCY AND LISTEN TO INSTRUCTIONS FROM AN
ADULT. REMEMBER...SMOKEY BEAR NEEDS YOUR HELP TO SPREAD THE WORD
THAT "ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES".


THE TOPIC FOR WEDNESDAY WILL BE...DROUGHT AND ITS EFFECTS ON
WILDFIRES.

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FOR ADDITIONAL FIRE WEATHER INFORMATION...PLEASE GO TO THE FOLLOWING
WEBSITE: WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/OHX/FIREWX.PHP.

$$