·S1 E244

Ross Fire burns 78 square miles in North Texas as FEMA approves fire grant; national preparedness stays at Level 5 with 86 uncontained large fire

August 26

15 mins

Episode Description

Today’s EM Morning Brief covers the Ross Fire in North Texas, now more than 78 square miles at 8 percent containment with mandatory evacuations in southern Jack County and a newly approved Fire Management Assistance Grant. The national wildfire system holds at Preparedness Level 5 with 86 uncontained large fires and more than 22,000 personnel committed. Three federal declarations landed Monday, including a major disaster declaration for Indiana and an emergency declaration for Hawaii following Tropical Cyclone Lala. We also cover heavy fire load in Washington, burn scar debris flows in Pueblo County, Colorado, dangerous heat across the Southwest with cooling centers activated, a new CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities entry with a Friday federal deadline, and active measles investigations in Iowa and Illinois. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast.

Key Takeaways

• Ross Fire, Texas: More than 78 square miles across Palo Pinto and Jack counties at 8 percent containment. Roughly 630 homes evacuated, evacuation center open in Jacksboro, at least five structures destroyed, FMAG approved, TDEM surging state resources.

• National wildfire posture: Preparedness Level 5, 86 uncontained large fires, 145 active incidents, 22,183 personnel. Year to date acreage of 7.83 million is 166 percent of the ten year average. International crews from Australia and New Zealand assigned to the Northwest and Great Basin.

• Washington fire load: Little Giant at 146,042 acres and 21 percent contained with multi-level evacuations and a county state of emergency in Chelan County. Sinlahekin at 155,227 acres and 53 percent. Three Queens with Level 3 evacuations in Kittitas County. Colwash evacuations fully lifted.

• Hawaii recovery: Federal emergency declaration approved for Tropical Cyclone Lala covering three counties. About 4,330 Hawaii Island customers still without power. Route 11 rebuilt in Kau. Boil water notice active for Waiohinu and Naalehu.

• Federal declarations: Indiana major disaster declaration with Individual Assistance for 21 counties and Public Assistance for 11. Hawaii emergency declaration. Texas fire management grant.

• Southwest heat: Extreme Heat Warnings into the weekend across southern Arizona, southern Nevada, and inland Southern California with highs of 107 to 118. Cooling centers activated in Clark County and statewide in California.

• Colorado burn scar flooding: Confirmed debris flows in the Aspen Acres burn scar Tuesday. A new Flash Flood Watch runs from noon through this evening for Beulah, San Isabel, and Highways 165 and 78.

• Cyber: CISA added a Gitea code injection flaw to the KEV catalog with a federal remediation deadline of August 28, and published seven new ICS advisories covering building automation, transportation, and marine navigation products.

• Public health: Iowa reports 17 measles cases with person to person spread. Kane County, Illinois confirmed a case with school and clinic exposure sites and 21 day quarantine guidance for unprotected contacts.

• Lifelines: Memphis has 24,702 customers still without power with 10 school campuses closed. Boil water advisories active in Mississippi, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina.

Ross Fire burns 78 square miles in North Texas as FEMA approves fire grant; national preparedness stays at Level 5 with 86 uncontained large fire

Episode Description

Wildfire, national

FEMA

DHS

CISA

Severe weather and heat

Public health

Texas

Washington

Hawaii

California

Oregon

Nevada

Colorado

Montana

Idaho

Arizona

New Mexico

Utah

Alaska

Indiana

Iowa

Illinois

Tennessee

Alabama

New York

Minnesota

Oklahoma

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