CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS : Inciweb Update: Elk Complex Wildland Fire

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Inciweb Update: Elk Complex Wildland Fire - 2,500 acres

Elk Complex Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED

NEWS RELEASE

Elk Complex Update #2 - July 15. 2007
Contact: Incident Information, Phyllis Swanson Phone: (530) 493-1519 July 15, 2007 2:50pmThe Titus Fire is threatening structures and a voluntary evacuation is taking place.The Little Grider Fire cont... more

Summary

Numerous lightning fires within the Happy Camp Ranger District boundaries that started Wednesday, July 11, 2007.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	07/10/2007 at 00 hrs.
Location	Happy Camp Ranger District
Incident Commander	Kent Swartzlander

Current Situation

Total Personnel	876
Size	2,500 acres
Percent Contained	10%
Estimated Containment Date	07/22/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	Mature heavy timber overstory with brush understory, large quantities of dead fuels and snags.
Fire Behavior	Active fire behavior with significant growth on the Titus, Elk, and Little Grider fires. Very active fire behavior resulted in crews being pulled off the line for safety on the Little Grider Fire.
Significant Events	Little Grider fire made a significant run this afternoon towards the town of Happy Camp.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Protection of Happy Camp is #1 priority. Dozer line is being constructed on the West side of Happy Camp. Structure protection is being implemented. Outlying structures are also being protected east of the Titus Fire.
Projected Movement	12 hours: Cooler temperatures and higher RH's are expected to moderate fire behavior. There will be spread due to rollouts and short upslope runs.
Growth Potential	High
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Containment Target	Unknown
Remarks	Trigger points for evacuations are in place. Contingency dozer lines are being implemented.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	Not available
Current Temperature	75 degrees
Current Humidity	75 %

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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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