Management of this incident is a cooperative effort among federal, state and local agencies. This has been a seamless operation and I commend the dedicated men and women who are working so hard in this firefighting effort, Dombeck said. Local area business, agencies and groups are commended for their provision of shelter to evacuees in the city of Los Alamos and neighboring communities. Extreme weather conditions such as high winds, and low relative humidity create an extreme burning condition that sometimes prevent firefighters, aircraft and engines from stopping the forward movement of fire. Because of these conditions it is often difficult to prevent structural salvage when there is an unacceptable risk to human life.
Prescribed fire has numerous beneficial effects when carefully and professionally managed.
U.S. Forest Service applications of fire, both naturally ignited and prescribed, consider the effects of smoke on air quality, the lives and resources at risk, and the benefits to the land it is entrusted. The Forest Service s prescribed fire program has increased significantly over the past three fiscal years. In fiscal 1997, the Forest Service accomplished nearly 900,000 acres of prescribed fire fuel treatments, up from 600,000 acres in 1996. In fiscal 1998 and 1999, 1.4 million acres of prescribed burns were accomplished each year. Over the pas five years less than one percent of Forest Service prescribed burns escaped.