Meteorological Factors Contributing to the Canyon Creek Fire Blowup, September 6 and 7, 1988

摘要

The Canyon Creek Fire was ignited by lightning on June 25, 1988, within the Scapegoat Wilderness Area of Montana's Lolo National Forest. The fire was initially allowed to burn unconstrained in accordance with guidelines set forth in the Scapegoat-Danaher Fire Management Plan (1982). The National Weather Service's Fire Weather Office in Missoula, Montana, provided weather information for the initial decision process, allowing the fire to play its natural role in the wilderness, and throughout the summer and fall for management decisions concerning this fire. The last and most dramatic run occurred under an uncommon and unusual combination of meteorological events. The paper will document those events.