CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS : Inciweb: Vista Wildland Fire - 200 acres

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Inciweb: Vista Wildland Fire - 200 acres - 0 percent

Vista Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 1:02 HRS. AGO

Summary

A wildland fire ignited around 11:30 a.m. yesterday in the Sequoia National Forest near the Sherman Pass Vista approximately 40 miles northeast of Kernville, California. The fire is burning in a southeasterly direction in a remote portion of the forest. The Vista Fire is approximately 200 acres+ burning in brush and timber. Currently, 75 firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service are working the fire, including 4 engines, 1 patrol, 2 hand crews, 2 helicopters, and 2 air tankers. The biggest threat is to natural resources in the forested area on the Kern Plateau and to valuable wildlife habitat including California spotted owl, northern goshawk, and Pacific fisher habitat. Fire officials ask visitors to avoid traveling along the Sherman Pass Road for firefighter and public safety. Smoke drifting from the Vista fire may impact residents of the Kennedy Meadows community. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Under Investigation
Date of Origin	08/22/2007 at 1130 hrs.
Location	South of Paloma Meadow
Incident Commander	Dave Brinsfield

Current Situation

Total Personnel	209
Size	200 acres
Fuels Involved	Timber,mixed conifer and some logging slash.
Fire Behavior	Fire remained active through the night creeping to the southeast toward Dark canyon and the Domeland wilderness.
Significant Events	Transition with Swartzlander's Type II team is expected today at 6:00pm.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Continue holding and flanking with direct attack. Considerable line construction was accomplished through the night but is not secure for conditions expected today.
Growth Potential	High
Terrain Difficulty	Medium
Containment Target	Containment will depend on fire behavior during day shift.
Remarks	Initial concern regarding potential need for evacuation of forest visitors in the Blackrock area. No evacuations are in progress at this time.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	1-5 mph NW
Current Temperature	50 degrees
Current Humidity	62 %

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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