Enough Humidity To Reduce Fire Risk

Though the Upper Cumberland has not seen much rain the last two months, there’s been enough humidity to avoid major fire concerns.

Forestry Division Assistant District Forester Joel Blackburn said said this year’s unusual weather makes it difficult to predict what lies ahead over the next several weeks. Blackburn said some strong winds are coming up from the south and bringing an increase in humidity with them.

“Right now our fuels still have moisture,” Blackburn said. “Humidity is elevated. So wind is a contributing factor, and then to mitigate that we have higher humidity so we really haven’t seen a higher fire occurrence with the wind. So we are thankful for the cloudy skies and humidity right now that’s helping us.”

Several chances of rain begin Monday night, followed by the coldest weather of the season later in the week, something that might finally kill vegetation and allergens across the region.

“There is some moisture forecasts, it’s very little,” Blackburn said. “For our area it may be a quarter of an inch. So we are receiving enough rain to increase the fuel moisture so that we’re not picking up a whole lot of fire activity, but it’s not going to be enough rainfall to be able to wipe the drought away.”

Blackburn said high winds still have the potential to create dangerous situations should a wildfire occur.

“A fire needs fuel, heat, and oxygen,” Blackburn said. “And higher winds provide more oxygen to the fire, which could increase fire activity. It also contributes to fire spread. So fires can get out of control, smaller leaf piles can turn into big brush fires or woods fires with strong winds.”