2012: A Fire Season for the History Books

As we prepare for the upcoming fire season we should take some time to look back at the statistics for the 2012 fire season and reflect on their significance. NIFC data for the 2012 season shows that 67,315 wildfires burned 9.2 million acres in the United States, while 16,514 prescribed burns treated just under 2 million acres of land. Since 1960, when the USA started keeping track of wildfire statistics, there have only been 2 other fire seasons that consumed more acreage than 2012, and none that saw fewer significant fires. This odd pairing of statistics means that 2012 also had the largest average fire size.

With 1.5 million acres burned within state lines, Idaho suffered more damage from wildfires than any other state in 2012. Although the number of acres burned in Idaho was the highest of any state, those acres were burned by only 1,068 fires - far less than the national average of 1346. We can attribute that discrepancy to our vast amount of uninhabited wildland where many fires are allowed to burn without endangering property or natural resources.

Although most Idaho fires don’t endanger big cities or large communities, not all fires in Idaho burned innocently in uninhabited wildland last year. Despite the “valiant” effort of firefighters (as described by governor Otter), 66 homes and 29 outbuildings in Pocatello were destroyed by a fire that required the effort of 20 different state, federal, and local agencies to suppress it. The fire scorched 1,032 acres in eastern Idaho, causing $7.2 million in damages, but luckily it didn’t result in any loss of life. Unfortunately not every Idahoan escaped the 2012 fire season alive; 20 year old Moscow, Idaho native Anne Veseth died after being struck by a falling tree branch while battling the Steep Canyon Fire near Coeur d’Alene. Her death serves as a stark reminder of the inherent danger of wildfires - a lesson we should reflect on as we prepare for the upcoming fire season.

Sources:

http://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/fireInfo_stats_YTD2012.html