CA-BDF-Apache - San Jacinto Wilderness - 700+ acres 5%

Apache Wildland Fire Update
Todays Summary:
The Apache Fire is burning in the San Jacinto Wilderness on Apache Ridge and is visible from many areas especially at night.
Hand crews accessed the fire and established an anchor point and began building fire line along the ridgetop and the handcrews have spent the night Coyote on the fire and more crews will hike, fly to fire this morning.
Winds have died down and based on fire weather forecasts, fires projected movement is expected toward the South by South East.
Medium ROS, 15 mph winds, smoke, heavy downed timber, moving into brush.
The Steep terrain have made accessing fire difficult and ground resources have lengthy travel times to access incident.

640 personnel on fire, Resources assigned include 28 handcrews, working the fire in very steep terrain today. Aircraft should fly due to favorable weather and light winds.

Planned actions: Crews and Aircraft going direct on Fire, protection of structures as required.
Evacuations: There are no evacuations in place.
Park and trail Closures: The San Jacinto Wilderness and Mt. San Jacinto State Park are closed until further notice. The Devil's Slide, Spitler Peak, Southridge, Fobes Ranch, and Cedar Springs trails and a section of the Pacific Crest Trail are closed until further notice.
Full containment predicted for May 7, 2008.
Agencies Involved: The Apache Fire is being managed by the USFS with assistance from CALFIRE and Riverside County crews, and cooperation with the BLM, BIA, and the Agua Caliente Tribe.

Picture of Apache fire as a small stump spot fire near Apache Peak
Now fire exceeds 700 acres
Credit: Bobby Wisnouckas, a PCT hiker, who was first to discover the fire. Possibly hiker Steffie in picture?

Picture of Apache fire - Hiking away after discovery
Credit: Bobby Wisnouckas, a PCT hiker, who was first to discover the fire.

Bobby Wisnouckas and fellow hiker, Steffie, tried to shovel sand on the fire, but the winds were too strong at that altitude and the fire quickly moved to the grass and then to the logs downhill from the stump

Tuesday afternoon, April 29 Apache Fire is reported by Two Pacific Crest trail hikers as a burning stump and is now about 700 Acres.

IA: Reported Tuesday afternoon, April 29 Apache Fire is reported by Two Pacific Crest trail hikers as a burning stump and is now more than 700 Acres.
Current sizeup: 700+ Acres - 5% containment - Potential for 3000 acres
Location: San Jacinto Wilderness, San Bernardino National Forest in Riverside County -Apache Peak 7000 feet on the eastern most ridge of mountains over looking the desert.
IC: Apache IC - So CAL Type II (Team 1) IC Joseph - Carlton Joseph
Resources: 640 personnel on fire, Resources assigned include 28 handcrews, 2 helicopter, 2 helitankers, and 4 fixed wing aircraft.
Air resources: 3 T1 helos, 4 T2 helos, 1 T3 high performance helo, 4 T1 ATs
Ground resources: 28 T1 crews, 1 T1 engine, 2 STs of T3 engines
Resource orders: Order for Types 1, 2 and 3 copters; 1 & 2 Hand Crews and four Heavy Air Tankers have been placed for today.
Planned actions: Due to steep roadless terrain, Hand crews hiked in to access the fire and established an anchor point and began building fire line along the ridgetop and some handcrews have spent the night on the fire and more crews will hike, fly to fire this morning. Crews and Aircraft going direct on Fire, protection of structures as required.
Fuels: Light to Heavy brush, steep road less terrain.
Fire is being wind-driven, with ridge top winds in the area measuring approximately 35 mph.
Fire behavior: Fire behavior is wind driven in the morning hours and moderating in the afternoon..
GACC-South Ops 5-1 o700hrs: CA BDF-005147

CA-BDF-5147 APACHE So CAL Type II (Team 1) IC Joseph assumed command at 0600 hours this morning. The fire has consumed 700 acres and is 5 % Percent contained. Steep inaccessible terrain with snag hazards limits night time operations. High winds over fire have been observed. Ground resources have lengthy travel times to access incident. This incident fire behavior is wind driven in the morning hours and moderating in the afternoon. Based on fire weather forecasts, fires projected movement is expected toward the South / South East. Threats remain to Cultural Sites; Painted Rock in the West Fork of Painted Canyon structures in Zen Center and Bonita Vista Rapid.