2000–01 fires in the Western United States

2000–01 fires in the Western United States
Elk Bath, showing fire in Bitterroot National Forest
Statistics
Total area6,966,995 acres (28,194.43 km2)
Impacts
Deaths4 firefighters
DamageUSD $2 billion

The 2000–2001 Western United States wildfires were a series of unusually severe wildfires that caused more than $2 billion (USD) in damage[1] and resulted in the deaths of four firefighters.[2] Overall, 6,966,995 acres burned across the United States and 2.2 million of those acres were in Idaho and Montana alone. A declaration of a state of emergency brought six military battalions and firefighting teams from as far away as Australia and New Zealand to the Western United States.[3] Federal and state land management organizations recognize the fires as historic "both in extent and duration". The ten year fire season average is 3.1 million acres; the fires in 2000 destroyed more than double that acreage.[4] Nearly $900 million (USD) was spent fighting fires. Long-lasting ecological damage, including flooding, top soil runoff, and air quality damage continues to this day.[3]

The damage was particularly severe in the Bitterroot National Forest. One of the most stunning photos from these fires are two elk seeking shelter in the East Fork of the Bitterroot River. The photo became known as Elk Bath.

References

  1. ^ Billion Dollar Weather Disasters 1980 - 2008[permanent dead link‍] National Climatic Data Center. Accessed 2009-02-01.
  2. ^ White, Katherine (15 December 2003). The 2000-2002 Forest Fires in the Western United States By Katherine White. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 9780823944880.
  3. ^ a b Ward, Tony J.; Smith, Garon C. "Air Sampling Study of the 2000 Montana Wildfire Season". University of Montana.
  4. ^ "Northern Idaho and Western Montana Summer 2000 Wildfires" (PDF). U.S. Department of Commerce - NOAA. February 2001.
  • Lorch, Donatella, and Mark Matthews. "Flaming Fury." Newsweek 21 August 2000: 58-59.
  • Engelbett, Phillis. "Wildfire." Dangerous Planet The Science of Natural Disasters. Vol.3. Ed. Phillis Engelbert. Detroit: The Gale Group, 2001.


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