CA-BDU- Bluff Fire - Bishop/Owens Valley - 1400+ acres

Final update: Updated information, including an acreage revision, from South Ops as of 0730 today -

CA-BDU-002993-Bluff: The fire burned 648 acres and is 100% contained. All resources have been or will be demobed with the exception of 1 T/1 handcrew that will perform patrol or mop operations today.





Update: 3-18-2008 - CA-BDU-Bluff Fire - Chalk bluff fire Bishop, Ca

Bluff Fire Map -Bishop California

Smoke Clouds
Photo by therealbenmiller

Resources: More than 400 firefighters are battling the wildfire in rural Inyo County. An official with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation says about 260 inmates from across Southern California are fighting the fire. They are supplementing a core of firefighters from 10 agencies

Cal Fire say's that as of daybreak Tuesday, the blaze had covered more than 1,400 acres along the Owens River in the Chalk Bluff area.

Cause: Started at 12:30 p.m. Sunday when a camp stove being used by three Southern California fishermen ignited vegetation as wind kicked up. Authorities say the men turned themselves in.

Update: Bluff Fire - 1100 acres, 10% containment.
The fire is burning in 6 ft. Chaparral, Rabbit Brush, sage, and salt grass.
Fire behavior: Yesterday saw a rapid rate of fire spread due to adverse wind from the north at 30 to 40 MPH.
Evacuations: Pleasent Valley Camp Ground, Rock climbers and their 12 vehicles had to be evacuated, cattle had to be rounded up in areas.
The Long Valley - Bishop ISO power grid had to be shut off by he Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Resource orders: as of last night, included:
12hr - Overhead, Crews, Equipment, and Aircraft (both Rotor and Fixed Wing)
24hr - Engines and Crews.
A total of 394 personnel were assigned as of the time of the 209 report.

Actions planned for today (3/17) include containment, mop-up, and patrol.
It was estimated that there would be a good possibility of containment within the next 24 hours, 5 miles of line construction remained.

Update: Bluff Fire - 1100 acres - 10% contained with rapid ROS. Climbing area and campgrounds have been evacuated.Location: 6 miles north of Bishop, near Pleasant Valley Dam Rd. / Chalk Bluff Rd.
Unknown cause and fire is estimated around 1000+ acres. Fire was very active yesterday with rapid spread rates. Wind gusts were clocked at 45+ in the area. There is concern with warm weather on the way and continuous fuel on flanks.
Resources: CAL FIRE, NPS, BLM
Air:Copter 404(Columbia Helitack), AA-310, T-89, on hold at Hemet. Ramona AA Base has AA-330, T-75, T-93