Update: 'White Fire' costs estimated at $1.5million

Update: 'White Fire' costs estimated at $1.5million - Tehachapi News - Tehachapi News:

Photo of a heli-drop on the White Fire, on June 26.
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Credit: fabmom05

Update: 'White Fire' costs estimated at $1.5million

By: Carin Enovijas, Tehachapi News Editor

Description: Blaze is now 40 percent contained

Posted by editor Tue Jun 26, 2007 14:39:08 PDT

As of 1:30 p.m. PST, the “White Fire” has burned more than 10,400 acres as it continues to spread across the steep ridges of Oak Creek and Horse Thief Canyon areas, approximately 20 miles northwest of Rosamond and due south of Tehachapi, according CAL Fire public information officer Craig Tolmie.

“With the given erratic winds, the fire will continue to spread to the northeast and northwest,” predicted a CAL Fire 12 hour status summary, prepared at 7 p.m. yesterday, prior to the destruction of the last 1,100 acres.

A unified command report from early this morning estimated that $1.5 million in resources have been utilized so far, with 865 firefighting personnel on the scene, currently achieving 40 percent containment of the wildfire.

According to Tolmie, one member of the CAL Fire team has been transported to an unspecified medical facility for treatment of injuries sustained while fighting the blaze. The firefighter’s condition is unknown at this time, Tolmie reported.

Tolmie also confirmed that five structures have been destroyed in the Oak Creek Canyon area, although the type of structure remains unknown. As many as 150 structures remain at risk in the Oak Creek and Blackburn Canyon areas, and according to CAL Fire updates, area wind farms and the community of Tehachapi could be at risk within the next 24 to 48 hours.

One Tehachapi News reader responded via email to a previous fire update, stating that her home had been destroyed. Attempts to contact the homeowner were unsuccessful as of press time.

“Falling snags and rolling material are causing slopovers in steep portions of the fire line. Adverse weather conditions are causing rapid fire growth. Perimeter control and structure protection is being hampered by poor access to the incident,” stated CAL Fire updates.

Firefighters continue to access the blaze via Tehachapi Willow Springs Road, said Tolmie, adding that local wind farms should be safe for at least 24 hours before any potential threat becomes imminent.

Representatives from Oak Creek Wind Energy Systems were unavailable for comment at press time, although office staff indicated those representatives are currently cooperating with firefighting crews.

“At this point, things are looking good,” reported Tolmie, adding “Steep terrain is causing difficulties and requiring a lot of effort by hand crews.”

Update: Oak Creek Energy Systems offers to aid firefighters

Stuart Smith, project developer for Oak Creek Energy Systems, reported at approximately 2:30 p.m. today, that the White Fire remains at a safe distance from the Oak Creak Canyon wind farm facility.

Smith said he has met with firefighters to show them different access routes to the area’s canyons and steep, wilderness terrain.

“It’s not threatening us at this point,” Smith said. “The fire crews have cut a wide path between the fire and our site.”

Smith also said that the fire has burnt some of the surrounding areas that have been proposed for future wind energy sites.

“That’s the unfortunate part. It’s beautiful country out there to begin with and wind energy preserves the country. It doesn’t tear it up,” Smith said.

Smith also indicated that the smoke and overall air quality has improved drastically since yesterday.

“The smoke was fairly thick yesterday it’s much better today,” he said. “Yesterday it blocked out the sun. We didn’t see blue skies until we left at the end of the day.”

Smith said that due to their rural location, the company is “used to” making themselves available to help firefighters in any way they possibly can during an emergency or other situation.

“We’re happy to open up the conference room to the fire department if they need assistance. They know they can come up and get maps or water or just use it as a pit stop place if they need to,” said Smith.

Topics: White Fire, kcfd, CAL Fire, BLM, Tehachapi, Oak Creek, rosamond