IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE ALERTS or NOTIFICATIONS of LIGHTNING STRIKES in
YOUR AREA of INTEREST or CONCERN
we provide links to
SOME TOOLS
/ WEBSITES / APPS that can
EARLY FIRE DETECTION SAVES RESOURCES AND LIVES
All of these tools can aid awareness of strikes, leading to identification of any resultant fires. Early fire identification and reporting
can save resources, homes and lives.
We recommend several sites that will provide alerts / notifications to your online devices.
- LightningMaps.org https://lightningmaps.org
On home screen, select "America" in left column. Refine (navigate to) area of interest. Select a period
of time that strikes will show on screen of 15 minutes to 48 hours.
Historical records are available in "Archives/Statistics.
See associated
App Blitzortung below.
- BlitzortungLive. App
On Apple or Android Deviice download App, BlitzortungLive.
Navigate
on map to area of interest.
Click on the 3 horizontal bars on top left of screen.
Select "Configuration" ( Gear icon )
Renavigate
(if needed) to area of interest.
Select "Live Strikes" and "Push Alert" on.
Select and mark the centre of your area of interest with
a "long tap" on the map.
Move bottom bar below map to expand or shrink the notification radius of your point of interest.
The App will
send you notifications/alerts for strikes within that radius.
- My Lightning Tracker App
Down load Apple or Android App.
Setup is
similar to BlitzortungLive.
- Radar Maps from University of Washington. https://atmos.uw.edu/current-weather/northwest-radar/
Site
gives active map (extending into Boundary and Okanagan) of weather systems and the likelihood of lightning in those systems.
You can
select up to past 8 hours of system movements and paths. Good for checking what might have passed through overnight.
- Symbols of strikes
remain on screen for varying time periods. Have found it useful to take screenshots to provide a record of strikes. Fires sometimes
take days to emerge. Screenshots will also enable comparisons with fires subsequently showing up on Government websites.
- Cross Border
(USA) Fire Information
See links in Other Resources down this page
CONTACTS
Report a Wildfire:
1 800 663 5555 or *5555 on cell
Wildfire Service Wildfire Maps
BC
Wildfire Service Home Page
multiple resources and contact numbers
CREDITS
This site was the result of conversations with George Delisle who suggested that lightning strike information made
available to the public would provide an additional early warning system on fires and reduce damage and public costs.
George's Presentation
to a recent Emergency Preparedness Workshop, Mar 30 2019
Other Articles on Fire will be linked to the OTHER ARTICLES section below.
Contact Al Grant 250 446 2372 or boundaryalliance@gmail.com with questions or
suggestions or set-up help.
On the latter, maybe the grand-kids can also help.
OTHER RESOURCES
The 3 sites below provide fire mapping in Washington and Oregon that can include satellite data recognition
of "hotspots" (burns) that may not have been detected by other means. An explanation of these satellite technologies, MODIS
and VIIRS, is at the end of this section.
Pacific Northwest Large Fire Interactive Maps
https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/interactivemap/index.html?webmap=ed0a7dad32fe4848b20c6f91c74c79ea
ArcGis
Interactive Maps
https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=ed0a7dad32fe4848b20c6f91c74c79ea
Northwest Fire Science
Consortium. Oregon and Washington
http://www.nwfirescience.org/current-fire-information
FIRE IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES,
MODIS, VIIRS and MORE
In addition to lightning strike data, Fire Maps and our own Wildfire Service are informed by satellite
technologies such as MODIS and VIIRS.
MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) is a view from about 438 miles height which
sees every point in the world every 1-2 days and can "recognize" fires of about 700 to 800 square meters.depending on conditions and
interference. (See MORE RESOURCES below)
VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) is a view from about 500 miles up that provides
full global coverage twice a day. In ideal conditions VIIR may recognize fire size of 50 square meters. See MORE RESOURCES below)
FUEGO
(Fire Urgency Estimate in Geosynchronous Orbit) is a proposed system that would operate from 20,000 miles above earth and potentially
spot fires covering just 10 x 10 feet, within two minutes.
MORE
RESOURCES
Many thanks to BC Wildfire Service, Boundary Fire Zone (ministry of Forests Lands Natural
Resource Operations and Rural Development) for these links.
Modis, Viirs and other data Daily; Click the map
for your area of interest and then view jpeg or pdf images.
Great
sized U of W resolution map of real time satellite weather imagery. Covers broader area than University of Washington Radar Map.
Global
Long Term Weather Models up to 240 hours in the future.
OTHER ARTICLES
The prevailing conventional wisdom in recent years has been that wildfires are largely the result of past fire
suppression.
In this section we will feature articles that question or challenge that assumption and some of the myths that surround
some notions of "managing" wildfire, the risks and downsides of a "let it burn" policy, and that wildfire or prescribed fire, "makes
us safe"and provides environmental benefits.
With all the variables of time and place, there are no easy answers.
Our first article,
George Delisle's presentation 'Wildfire History' to Emergency Preparedness Workshop Mar 30 2019 takes a broad look at these
issues and their complexity.
DISCLAIMER
We do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability or accuracy of information on this site or its links.
Any
action you take upon the information on this website is strictly at your own risk and we will not be responsible for any losses and
damages in connection with the use of our website.
Wildfire History by George Delisle here
Mar 30 2019 Presentation to Emergency Preparedness Workshop in Rock Creek, BC.
LIGHTNING and
WILDFIRE PAGE