Cal Fire News - California Morning Report - 2 large fires contained

California Large Fire Report -

Zaca Wildland Fire	Los Padres National Forest	44% contained	30,900 acres
Elk Complex Wildland Fire	Klamath National Forest	18% contained	8,327 acres
Fletcher Wildland Fire	Modoc National Forest	100% contained	8,121 acres
China-back Complex Wildland Fire	Klamath National Forest	100% contained	2,906 acres

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Yosemite National Park (CA)
Visitor Death On Half Dome Trail

Valley rangers received a report of an unconscious and unresponsive man on the Half Dome trail about a half mile up from the Sunrise trail intersection early on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 11th. Off-duty park safety officer Roger Farmer soon arrived on scene and reported that CPR was in progress. Helicopter 551 was immediately requested and flew to the area. Ranger/paramedic Keith Lober and ranger Jason Gayeski-Peters heli-rappelled to the man’s location. The victim. Jose Vasquez, 53, of Lodi, California, was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was short-hauled from the area. The cause of death has not yet been determined. [Submitted by Leslie Reynolds, Valley District Ranger]

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National Fire Activity – Preparedness Level 5

The National Interagency Fire Center moved to Preparedness Level 5 yesterday based on the current and expected fire activity throughout much of the West. Preparedness Level 5 goes into effect when the following conditions are met:

• Several geographic areas are experiencing major incidents which have the potential to exhaust all agency fire resources.
• A total of 550 crews committed nationally.

Initial attack was heavy on Wednesday (412 starts) and moderate on Thursday (289 new fires). Thirty-four incident management teams are now in the field.

Further information on the national situation can be found at http://www.nifc.gov/fire_info/nfn.htm

From The Morning Report for Friday, July 20, 2007: "

National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Moves To Highest Response Level

The National Interagency Fire Center moved to a PL-5 yesterday – its highest preparedness level, reflecting the most severe fire situation – based on the current and expected fire activity throughout much of the West. This move was prompted by large fire activity occurring in several geographic areas and a heavy commitment of crews, aircraft, and equipment to these incidents, along with a forecast for continued hot, dry, windy conditions.

The 2007 fire season to date has been characterized by continued drought conditions, record-setting high temperatures, extreme fuel conditions, and widespread dry lightning storms across the West and by an early, active season in the Southeast. The combination of factors has led to multiple large fires in Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Montana.


More than 1,000 new fire starts were reported to NIFC between Monday, July 16th, and Wednesday July 18th. The high level of resources required for initial attack on these fires, combined with the large number of resources assigned to ongoing large fires, means that the nation’s response capability is being spread thin.

The move to PL-5 means national fire leaders may assess the need for seeking international or military assistance. At this level additional personnel who work primarily in non-fire positions but who have some level of fire qualifications may also be called into action. PL-5 also serves as a safety reminder to all fire personnel that conditions are severe and the need to be alert is intensified.

The majority of fires to date have occurred at lower elevations and in lighter grass and brush fuels, which are conducive to rapid rates of spread and large fire growth. Late July and August is typically when fire activity escalates on higher-elevation forested lands. The weather outlook calls for continued hot and dry conditions with the potential for additional dry lightning storms.

As of Wednesday morning, approximately 15,000 people were assigned to 68 large uncontained fires. Fire managers have been moving crews and aircraft from eastern states and Alaska, where fire activity has diminished, to assist with the western fires.

The National Interagency Fire Center has moved to a PL-5 earlier than this date only once since 1990. That was in 2002, when PL-5 was reached on June 21st and remained at that level until September. Last year, NIFC moved to PL-5 on July 28th and remained at that level until September 16th.