By Mike O’Neal
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
Copyright 2007 Chattanooga Publishing Company
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Heavy showers and thunderstorms early Sunday provided a respite from scattered wildfires that created smoky skies across the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday.
Since Thursday, significant brush and woodland fires were reported in Polk, Van Buren, Grundy, Rhea, Franklin and Marion counties in Tennessee and in Whitfield and Dade counties in Georgia.
“The rain did help,” said Tom Hudlow, district forester with the Tennessee Division of Forestry. “The big Prentice Cooper fire jumped fire lines Saturday night, but the rain snuffed out most of the flames.”
Shawn O’Neill, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Morristown, Tenn., said, “Rainfall was helpful and needed this weekend.” He also noted that moderate drought conditions exist in Southeast Tennessee.
Arson is believed to be the cause of a blaze that has burned more than 500 acres of Prentice Cooper State Forest near Suck Creek Road and up the side of Walden’s Ridge, officials said. Crews were busy Sunday mopping up hot spots spread throughout the forest’s rugged terrain, Mr. Hudlow said.
“We stopped issuing burn permits because of dry conditions last week,” he said.
While the rain did help, the forecast for the next few days of low humidity and high winds means everything could dry out again pretty quickly, he said.
“We realize the threat of wildfires will continue,” Mr. Hudlow said. “We’ll evaluate the situation regarding permits (this) morning.”
Foresters say the Chattanooga area has two fire seasons, spring and fall.
The spring fire season accompanies warming weather and lasts from about Feb. 15 until about May 15, when the forest has usually “greened up” enough to prevent the rapid spread of forest fires, officials said.
Recent fires have been fueled by dormant trees and by the dead trees and debris left after pine beetle infestations, Mr. Hudlow said.
The entire region has experienced similar weather conditions with comparable results.
The dry weather has led to quite a few fires over the past few days, said a dispatcher with the Georgia Forestry Commission in Rome, Ga.
Fire danger ratings for Dade, Walker, Catoosa and Whitfield counties in Georgia were moderate, according to state officials.
This week’s forecast calls for seasonal weather, he said.
“Being spring, systems will have better chances of precipitation,” Mr. O’Neill said. “Another system should arrive Thursday and continue into Friday.”
The end-of-the-week front will be very similar to what occurred Saturday night regarding rainfall but without the high winds, he said.
“Things are looking to improve,” Mr. O’Neill said.