11/04 After fire activity decreased the latter half of September, another increase in fire activity occurred the first half of October, as the National Preparedness Level rose from 3 at the beginning of the month to 5 on October 8-th. This was the first time the National Preparedness Level increased to 5 on 3-separate occasions in the same fire year. Fire activity then greatly moderated the latter half of October, with the National Preparedness Level decreasing to 4 on October 18-th, 3 October 22-nd and 2 October 29-th. The Southern and Eastern areas remained moderately active through the end of October. The National Interagency Fire Center says the annual acres burned for the US is above the 10-year average at 124% of normal, but the national year-to-date tally of wildfires remains below average; 93%.
