InciWeb: Hwy 89 Wildland Fire

Sunday, June 24, 2007

InciWeb: Hwy 89 Wildland Fire

Hwy 89 Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 14 HOURS AGO

Summary

The Highway 89 fire was first reported at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 23. It is burning on public land in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper and Jeffrey Pine, approximately 1/4 mile NE of Markleeville (Alpine County), California.

The fire is currently at 45 acres (reduced acreage due to more accurate GPS mapping) and is 30% contained.

Road Closures: CA SR 89 has REOPENED between the intersection of CA SR 88 at Woodfords and through the Markleeville area & Monitor Pass to the intersection with U.S. 395 near Topaz Lake. A pilot car is shuttling vehicles between Airport Road (turnoff to Turtle Rock Park) and Markleeville - expect delays.

Evacuations: Indian Creek Campground is under a voluntary evacuation. Two structures are threatened at this time. The Alpine County Airport is being used as a helibase and is closed to general aviation.

A Type III Incident Management Team has been ordered and is expected to take over management of the fire at 1800 on 6/23.

Incident Commanders: Unified Command of Dave Easton (USFS) & Scott Johnson (BLM). ICP is at Turtle Rock Park.Hand Crews: 6 Engines: 10 Watertenders: 1 Dozers: 1 Airtankers: 3 Helicopters: 2

Total Incident Personnel: approximately 200

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Under Investigation
Date of Origin	06/23/2007 at 0300 hrs.
Location	Markleeville, California
Incident Commander	Dave Easton (usfs) & Scot

Current Situation

Total Personnel	200
Size	45 acres
Percent Contained	30%
Estimated Containment Date	06/24/2007 at 1800 hrs.
Fuels Involved	Grass, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper and pine understory.
Fire Behavior	Wind is pushing the fire through very dry fuels.
Significant Events	CA SR 89 has REOPENED between the intersection of CA SR 88 at Woodfords and through the Markleeville area & Monitor Pass to the intersection with U.S. 395 near Topaz Lake. A pilot car is shuttling vehicles between Airport Road (turnoff to Turtle Rock Park) and Markleeville - expect delays. Indian Creek Campground (BLM) is under a voluntary evacuation.

Outlook

Planned Actions	A Type III Incident Management Team has been ordered.
Growth Potential	Extensive if the anticipated wind event occurs.
Terrain Difficulty	Moderate.
Remarks	Not available

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	20 mph SW
Current Temperature	80 degrees
Current Humidity	8 %

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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Sunday, June 24, 2007