CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS : Inciweb: Jack Wildland Fire - 330 acres

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Inciweb: Jack Wildland Fire - 330 acres - 15%

Jack Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED

South aspect, north of the community of Wawona
Credit: NPS

Summary

The Jack Fire started on Oct. 29 from lightning associated with thunderstorms moving over the Park. Jack is located on the north and south sides of Turner Ridge north of Wawona. It was originally placed under wildland fire use management for resource benefits and public safety. On Nov. 8, the fire spread outside the fire use management zone causing a change in strategy. At this point, management actions were taken to slow fire spread south toward Wawona. Crews are constructing control line in areas that will inhibit future fire spread if necessary. At a public meeting held in Wawona Monday fire managers explained to community members that the prevailing conditions, shorter daylight hours, cooler nights and elevated moisture levels in the vegetation, are conducive to managing the fire until the weather puts it out. The fires this year in Lake Tahoe and Southern California are a reminder that is important to use fire as an ecological restoration tool as well as to create defensible space around fire prone communities.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	10/29/2007 at 1500 hrs.
Location	1.5 miles north of Wawona
Incident Commander	Jeff Hinson

Current Situation

Total Personnel	15
Size	330 acres
Percent Contained	15%
Estimated Containment Date	11/20/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	South half of the fire is in oak woodland, manzanita, and bear clover. This is the portion of the fire nearest Wawona. The North half of the fire is heavy ponderosa pine and mixed conifer.
Fire Behavior	Some activity along north and south edge. The smoke production that is visible are fuels burning inside the perimeter. Fire behavior remains low.
Significant Events	Line constructed along northeast edge. Existing fire line improved south of fire. Helicopters dropped water on southeast edge hot spots. Mop-up began today along cold perimeter lines. The fire lines are holding.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Construct line on southwest edge. Improve existing line on the soutt, and continue mop-up operations.
Projected Movement	Fire activity should increase as Sunday's moisture dissipates. A dry cold front is moving south across the district bringing an increase in humidities and wind over the higher terrain. TEmperatures will be slow to rebound behind the cold front.
Growth Potential	Medium
Terrain Difficulty	High
Containment Target	November 30, 2007 is the expected containment date.
Remarks	Visible smoke was diminshed on the south side od the fire throughout the week. Fire line construction has been holding the fire in the southern section also. The helicopter has been utilized throughout the incident to continue to cool any part of the fire lines. Fire information and education outreach has continued within the community of Wawona, Wawona Hotel, visitors and other interested parties. Fire managers have noted the increased attention by homeowners to increasing there defensible space around their property. Thank-you. There are no new photos of note today. The fire growth has been to the northern flanks below Turner Ridge.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	2 mph NW
Current Temperature	35 degrees
Current Humidity	60 %

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