National Fire News Morning Report ~ 7/25/08

Friday, July 25, 2008

National Fire News Morning Report ~ 7/25/08

(On a scale from 1 to 5)

Current hours for the National Fire Information Center are
(MST) 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday
208-387-5050
This report will be updated daily.

July 25, 2008

Firefighters continue to make excellent progress toward containment goals on the large fires in California. They expect to contain five large fires this weekend. Currently, 27 large fires have burned more than 735,000 acres.

Australia and New Zealand are providing 44 fire specialists and managers to assist with fire suppression operations in California. Canada is providing two crews to California.

Two MAFFS C-130 air tankers from the 145th Airlift Wing, Charlotte, North Carolina are supporting the State of California at McClellan Airpark in Sacramento, California. The Mission Commander is LTC Charles Davis, 145th Airlift Wing, Charlotte, North Carolina.

The following table lists the number of personnel assigned to the wildland fires in California. This information was provided by the U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region and CalFire.

July 25, 2008
Resource	Federal	State	Other	Total
Total Personnel	5,515	2,469	4,144	12,128
Helicopters	30	0	41	71
Hand Crews	149	54	79	282
Engines	207	171	289	667
Dozers	7	6	94	107
Water Tenders	3	2	204	209
NOTE: Total personnel includes all personnel assigned to California. Individuals assigned to resources such as engines, dozers, overhead, etc. are included in the "total personnel" category. The "other" category includes contractors, military, and local government.

Weather Discussion: Weather conditions will be warmer and drier over most of the West. Some thunderstorms are expected over Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. Hotter and a little drier weather is on tap for central and northern Texas.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center


Daily statistics 7/25/08
Number of new large fires	4	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	26 fires and complexes 37 total fires	California (15) Colorado (1) Florida (1) Montana (2) North Carolina (1) North Dakota (1) Texas (3) Utah (1) Virginia (1) Washington (1)
Acres from active fires	736,694
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires	1
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres	696
Fires contained since 7/24/08	3
Year-to-date large fires contained	548
Year-to-date statistics
2008 (1/1/08 - 7/25/08)	Fires: 53,658	Acres: 3,458,609
2007 (1/1/07 - 7/25/07)	Fires: 55,877	Acres: 4,552,563
2006 (1/1/06 - 7/25/06)	Fires: 68,775	Acres: 4,028,952
2005 (1/1/05 - 7/25/05)	Fires: 36,726	Acres: 4,205,025
2004 (1/1/04 - 7/25/04)	Fires: 44,606	Acres: 4,956,902
2003 (1/1/03 - 7/25/03)	Fires: 33,655	Acres: 1,630,690
2002 (1/1/02 - 7/25/02)	Fires: 51,296	Acres: 3,751,566
2001 (1/1/01 - 7/25/01)	Fires: 48,749	Acres: 1,478,481
2000 (1/1/00 - 7/25/00)	Fires: 58,468	Acres: 2,956,463
5-year average
2003 - 2008	Fires: 51,928	Acres: 4,440,410
10-year average
1998 - 2008	Fires: 50,780	Acres: 3,956,463

Current Wildland Fires
California	Fires: 15	Acres: 671,939	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
Northern California Joint Information Center - Call 530-226-2749.
American River Complex (Tahoe National Forest): 20,541 acres at 95 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 11 miles northeast of Foresthill. Fire activity was minimal. Information: Call (530) 367-6223 or visit the web site.
Basin Complex (Los Padres National Forest): 149,924 acres at 79 percent contained. This complex is five miles southeast of Big Sur. Voluntary evacuations remain in effect for all residents off of Carmel Valley Road from Arroyo Seco in the south to Cachagua Road junction in the north. Information: Call (805) 961-5770 or visit the web site.
Bear Wallow Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 7,114 acres at zero percent contained. This complex of two fires is 13 miles southeast of Happy Camp. Fire activity was moderate. Recommended evacuations are in effect. Information: Call (707) 457-3879 or visit the web site.
Blue 2 (Six Rivers National Forest): 4,906 acres at 25 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles east of Klamath. Cultural resources are threatened. Trails and roads in the area are closed. Information: Call (707) 457-3879 or visit the web site.
BTU Lightning Complex (Butte Unit, Cal Fire): 59,440 acres at 90 percent contained. This complex of fires is 27 miles north of Yuba City. Fire activity was minimal yesterday. Information: Call (530) 538-7826 or visit the web site.
Canyon Complex (Plumas National Forest): 37,753 acres at 90 percent contained. This complex of six fires is 16 miles northeast of Paradise. Fire activity was moderate yesterday. Information: Call (530) 283-7882 or visit the web site.
Gap (Los Padres National Forest): 9,443 acres at 97 percent contained. This fire is located six miles northwest of Santa Barbara. No new information was provided. Information: Call (805) 961-5770 or visit the web site.
Hell's Half Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 15,146 acres at 96 percent contained. This complex of two fires is eight miles southwest of Burnt Ranch. Structures are threatened. Evacuations are in effect. Information: Call (530) 629-2184 or visit the web site.
Iron and Alps Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 69,992 acres at 62 percent contained. This complex of four fires is one mile north of Junction City. Several communities are threatened. Evacuations are in effect. Information: Call (530) 623-6415 or visit the web site.
Lime Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 116,448 acres at 65 percent contained. This complex of four fires is 14 miles west of Hayfork. Ranches, camps, and private lands and communications towers. Information: Call (530) 226-2500 ext. 2 or visit the web site.
NEW Panther (Klamath National Forest): 102 acres at 16 percent contained. This fire is 14 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Moderate fire behavior was reported.
SHU Lightning Complex (Shasta-Trinity Unit, Cal Fire): 86,500 acres at 95 percent contained. This complex of two fires is in Shasta and Trinity counties. Fire activity was moderate yesterday. Information: Call (530) 225-2510 or visit the web site.
Siskiyou Complex (Klamath National Forest): 54,657 acres at 38 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 18 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Structures and cultural sites are threatened. Forest road, campground and trail closures are in effect. Information: Call (530) 493-1518 or visit the web site.
Soda Complex (Mendocino National Forest): 8,652 acres at 95 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 15 miles northwest of Upper Lake. Minimal fire behavior was reported. Residences are threatened. Information: Call (707) 275-2017 or visit the web site.
Ukonom Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 31,281 acres at 28 percent contained. This complex is 10 miles east of Orleans. Structures are threatened. Trail and road closures are in effect. Information: Call (530) 627-3291 or visit the web site.
Colorado	Fires: 1	Acres: 668	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
NEW Kraft (Little Snake Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 668 acres at 70 percent contained. This fire is 25 miles northwest of Maybell. Minimal fire behavior was observed.
Florida	Fires: 1	Acres: 156	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
NEW Lake Charles 29 (National Forests in Florida): 156 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is 18 miles northeast of Ocala.
Montana	Fires: 2	Acres: 804	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
NEW Lindbergh Lake (Northwestern Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation): 104 acres at 65 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles southwest of Condon.
Echo Canyon (Southern Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation): 700 acres at 40 percent contained. This fire is three miles west of Billings. Moderate fire behavior was reported. Structures are threatened.
North Carolina	Fires: 1	Acres: 40,704	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Evans Road (North Carolina Division of Forest Resources): 40,704 acres at 75 percent contained. This fire is located seven miles south of Creswell. Fire activity was minimal. Residences are threatened. Information: Call 919-218-3179.
North Dakota	Fires: 1	Acres: 3,000	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Brown (Dakota Prairie National Grasslands): 3,000 acres at 30 percent contained. This fire is located 20 miles north of Marmarth. Fire activity was moderate.
Tennessee	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Parkway (Cherokee National Forest): This fire was contained at 481 acres.
Texas	Fires: 3	Acres: 7,030	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
717 Fire (Texas Forest Service): 400 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire started on private land one mile west of Caddo.
Lamkin (Texas Forest Service): 4,100 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire started on private land 21 miles east of Comanche.
Well 35 (Texas Forest Service): 2,530 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire started on private land 26 miles west of Mineral Wells. Active fire behavior was reported.
3M Ranch (Texas Forest Service): This fire was contained at 1,035 acres.
Utah	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Wildland Fire Use	Fires: 1	Acres: 696	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Mill Hollow (Ashley National Forest): 696 acres. This fire is 18 miles north of Helper. It is being managed for resource benefit.
Virginia	Fires: 1	Acres: 4,664	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
South One (Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Reserve): 4,664 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is located 12 miles southeast of Suffolk. Fire activity was minimal yesterday.
Washington	Fires: 1	Acres: 7,729	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 1
Cold Spring (Gifford Pinchot National Forest): 7,729 acres at 98 percent contained. This fire is 40 miles northwest of Goldendale. Minimal fire behavior was reported. Cultural sites are threatened. Information: Call (509) 395-2670 or visit the web site.
NEW Stuhlmiller (Washington Forest Service): This fire was contained at 1,200 acres.

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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.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Friday, July 25, 2008