CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS : InciWeb: Elk Complex Wildland Fire - 15,149 acres

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

InciWeb: Elk Complex Wildland Fire - 15,149 acres - 79% containment.

Elk Complex Update 8/1/07

Incident: Elk Complex
Released: 10:00 hrs

Total Complex Acreage: 15,149 acres Incident Resources: 839 personnel

Total Complex Containment: 79% Cost to Date: $16,800,000 Injuries to Date (minor): 15 Fatalities to Date: 1

Expected Full Containment: 8/05/2007

Siskiyou County Public Health Officer, Stephan Perlman, M.D. advises residents throughout Siskiyou County to be aware that air quality may be extremely poor in many areas due to severe smoke. In areas with visibility less than 2 miles, residents are advised to remain indoors and refrain from physical exertion. An incremental increase in fire behavior is occurring each day. Slow moving surface fire with short runs, isolated torching, creeping and rolling out of burning materials was observed yesterday.

Firefighters plan to use aerial ignition to burn portions of the interior of the fire on the King Creek 2/Wingate/Titus Fires. This involves releasing ping pong ball size incendiaries (PSD's) as the helicopter flies over the area to be burned. Crews continue to secure established fireline. Patrol and mop up the Little Grider Fire will continue.

Complex Fire Details

Of the thirty identified fires in the Elk Complex, 25 are 100% contained. The contained fires will continue to be monitored, patrolled and staffed as necessary. The remaining five fires are as follows:

Wingate/Titus/King Creek 2 Fires is 11,581 acres (increase in acreage due to limited burning of interior) and 66% contained. Firelines have been constructed and limited burning of interior areas will continue. A closure for campers and miners, from Five Mile Bridge to Norcross Campground on Elk Creek Road remains in place.
Elk Fire (1,144 acres) 96% contained and remains in aerial patrol.

Hummingbird Fire (80 acres) 0% contained. The fire remains in aerial patrol.

Sources of info include: http://www.inciweb.org/ (including other fires) or the incident information office at (530) 841-4451. Visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/condition/ for information on fire restrictions and local closures.

The Forest Service, in cooperation with the Siskiyou County Air Pollution Control District, has installed an air quality monitoring station in Happy Camp. Real-time data may be viewed online at http://www.satguard.com/usfs/Chart new.asp Get=4&UnitID=36&CustID=2&sDate=7/29/2007.

Elk Complex Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED

ELK COMPLEX FIRE PROGRESSION MAP
Credit: Elk Complex GIS

view pictures || view maps

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	839
Size	15,149 acres
Percent Contained	79%
Estimated Containment Date	08/05/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	Mature heavy timber overstory with brush understory, large quantities of dead fuels and snags.
Fire Behavior	Slow moving surface fire with short runs on aligned slopes with isolated torching, creeping and roll-out on steep slopes, during the night.
Significant Events	Continued to secure line burned on previous days. Patrolled and mop-up.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Assess opportunities to apply interior aerial ignitions on the Western portion of the fire. Evaluate further burn operations on the Wingate/Titus/King Creek 2 fire. Secure the line burned on previous days.
Projected Movement	12 hours: Continued spread expected due to further drying of fuels and potential burnout/backfire operations. 24 hours: Potential for re-burn in areas wetted by previous rain event as drying continues. Short range spotting activity could increase fire spread. 48 hours: Potential for re-burn in areas wetted by previous rain event as drying continues. Short range spotting activity could increase fire spread. 72 hours: Potential for re-burn in areas wetted by previous rain event as drying continues. Short range spotting activity could increase fire spread.
Growth Potential	High
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Containment Target	Likely to meet objectives based on current weather projections.
Remarks	Expect an increase in containment as direct strategy and burnout continues. A total of seventy-seven miles of fireline has been constructed to date. This includes twenty-eight miles of dozer line and forty-nine miles of handline and brushed roads. A six mile portion of the Klamath River will be used as a west flank containment line for the Wingate/Titus/KingCreek2 fires. Fire acreage and containment: of the thirty identified fires in the Elk Complex, 25 fires are 100% contained. The remaining fires are as follows: King Creek 2/Wingate/ Titus 11,681 acres-66%(increase in acreage due to burn operations); Elk 1,144 acres-96%; Hummingbird 80 acres-0%. Elk fire and Hummingbird fire is in aerial patrol.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	Not available
Current Temperature	Not available
Current Humidity	Not available

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