998  
NOUS44 KOHX 070411  
PNSOHX  
TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-080300-  
 
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED VALID START TIME  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN  
300 AM CDT TUE OCT 7 2008  
   
..PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
 
 
FIRE WEATHER/FIRE PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES TODAY WITH  
A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW WEATHER CONDITIONS AFFECT FIRE BEHAVIOR.  
 
AS WAS STATED YESTERDAY...WEATHER IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT  
FACTORS AFFECTING 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.  
 
FORECASTING CHANGES IN WIND DIRECTION IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO  
THOSE WHO ARE BURNING OUTDOORS. A CHANGE IN WIND DIRECTION COULD  
CAUSE A FIRE TO ESCAPE AND SPREAD RAPIDLY...WHICH COULD PLACE LIFE  
AND PROPERTY IN HARM'S WAY. PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS AND DURATION ARE  
VERY IMPORTANT IN DETERMINING THE DAY'S FIRE POTENTIAL. RAIN OR SNOW  
WILL WET DOWN AREA VEGETATION...MAKING IT SAFER TO BURN WOODY  
DEBRIS.  
 
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME DEBRIS BURNING SAFETY TIPS TO HELP PROTECT  
LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM WILDFIRES:  
 
1. BEFORE BURNING...CONTACT YOUR LOCAL OR STATE FIRE AUTHORITIES.  
BECOME FAMILIAR WITH BURNING LAWS AND REGULATIONS. A STATE ISSUED  
BURNING PERMIT IS REQUIRED FROM OCT 15TH THROUGH MAY 15TH. THE  
PERMIT IS OBTAINED BY CALLING YOUR LOCAL TENNESSEE DIVISION OF  
FORESTRY OFFICE.  
 
2. BEFORE YOU BURN...REMEMBER TO CLEAR THE GROUND OF FLAMMABLE  
MATERIAL...AT LEAST 10 FEET AROUND...FROM THE AREA TO BE BURNED.  
KEEP TOOLS AND WATER ON HAND WHILE BURNING.  
 
3. WATCH THE WEATHER...STAY INFORMED OF POSSIBLE WEATHER  
CHANGES...ESPECIALLY WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION. THE MORNING IS  
USUALLY A GOOD TIME TO BURN BECAUSE WINDS ARE LIGHTER AND THE  
RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS HIGHER.  
 
4. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF YOUR FIRE. DO  
NOT LEAVE IT UNATTENDED UNTIL THE FIRE IS COMPLETELY OUT.  
 
5. KNOW WHAT TO DO AND WHO TO CALL SHOULD YOUR FIRE GET OUT OF  
CONTROL.  
 
KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST FORECAST FROM YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER  
SERVICE AND THE TENNESSEE DIVISION OF FORESTRY ABOUT POSSIBLE BURN  
BANS...ESPECIALLY DURING PROLONGED DRY CONDITIONS.  
 
THE NEXT TOPIC DURING 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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