[BNAWX] Public Information Statement

[EMWIN Server]

AXUS44 KOHX 051304
PNSBNA
TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-060200-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
805 AM CDT TUE OCT 5 2004

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

AS WAS STATED YESTERDAY...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 UPWIND WHILE LOWER
HUMIDITIES WILL DRY OUT VEGETATION...SUCH AS LEAVES AND BRANCHES...
FASTER...MAKING WILDFIRES HARDER TO CONTAIN.

FORECASTING CHANGES IN WIND DIRECTION IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO
FIGHTING WILDFIRES.  A CHANGE IN WIND DIRECTION WILL MAKE THE FIRE
SPREAD IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION...WHICH COULD PLACE LIFE AND PROPERTY
IN HARMS WAY.

PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS AND DURATION ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN
DETERMINING THE DAY'S FIRE POTENTIAL.  RAIN AND SNOW WILL WET DOWN
AREA 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 KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST
FORECAST FROM YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.  KEEP IN TOUCH WITH
LOCAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES ABOUT POSSIBLE BURN BANS AND
PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...ESPECIALLY DURING PROLONGED DRY CONDITIONS.

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 YOU 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 WILDFIRES.

THE NEXT TOPIC...DURING THE FIRE WEATHER/FIRE PREVENTION WEEK...WILL
BE DROUGHT AND ITS EFFECTS ON WILDFIRES.

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

$$

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