InciWeb: Inyo Complex Wildland Fire 18,000 acres

Saturday, July 7, 2007

InciWeb: Inyo Complex Wildland Fire 18,000 acres

Inyo Fire Photo
Credit: unknown received via e-mail

Picture map of Inyo Complex fires GeoMac Composite
Credit: CAL FIRE News/GEOMAC
UPDATED: HMS 2007-07-07; Thermal MODIS: 2007-07-07 1007 (GMT); Fire Perimeters 2007-07-06; Sit Reports 2007-07-07

Inyo Complex Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 0900

Summary

A thunder and lightning storm moved quickly through the Eastern Sierra Friday afternoon, July 6, 2007, igniting approximately 10 fires being managed as the Inyo Complex. As of 8:00 Saturday morning, the three biggest fires still actively burning are: 1)The Oak Fire burning west and north of Independence, on both sides of US 395 2) The Seven Fire burning west and north of Independence 3) The Sage Fire burning in Big Pine Canyon.

The following areas have been evacuated: Oak Creek Campground, Upper and Lower Grey's Meadow Campground, Onion Valley Campground, Seven Pines, Big Pine Canyon Camprgrounds, Independence Creek Campground, and Glacier Lodge.

Currently the roads up Big Pine Canyon, the North Fork of Oak Creek Canyon, and Onion Valley Road are closed to the public.

The Sage Fire has now burned 5,000 acres and the Oak and Seven Fires have now merged and have burned 12,000 acres.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	07/06/2007 at 140 hrs.
Location	w/sw of Big Pine, n/nw of Independence
Incident Commander	Unified Command

Current Situation

Total Personnel	425
Size	12,000 acres
Estimated Containment Date	07/18/0 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	Brush, timber, and grass
Significant Events	Evacuations are currently in effect for Oak Creek, Upper and Lower Greys Meadow and Onion Valley Campgrounds; Seven Pines; Big Pine Canyon Campgrounds,Independence Creek Campground, and Glacier Lodge. Numerous road closures.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Structure protection, line construction, burnout.
Projected Movement	Significant movement is expected.
Growth Potential	Extreme fire behavior will limit control efforts.
Terrain Difficulty	Steep, difficult access.
Remarks	There is a very large amount of open line. Numerous structures may be threatened.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	10 mph SW
Current Temperature	93 degrees
Current Humidity	12 %

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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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Saturday, July 7, 2007