National Fire news - Morning report

National Preparedness Level 5

(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 21, 2008

Fire new large fires were reported yesterday in Colorado, Montana, Texas and Utah. Currently, 25 large fires and complexes have burned more than 627,000 acres. Firefighters continue to make good progress on the large fires in California. Fire managers prepositioned crews, engines, and aircraft to prepare for predicted dry lightning in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are providing 59 fire specialists and managers to assist with fire suppression operations in California. Canada is also providing two crews to California.

Four MAFFS C-130 air tankers are supporting the State of California. All aircraft are based at McClellan Airport in Sacramento, California. The Mission Commander is LTC Mike Barkdull, 153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, Wyoming. One aircraft is provided by the 145th Airlift Wing, Charlotte, North Carolina, three from the 302nd Airlift Wing,
Colorado Springs, Colorado and three from the 153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

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 21, 2008
Resource	Federal	State	Other	Total
Total Personnel	5,929	4,135	5,509	15,573
Helicopters	38	1	51	90
Hand Crews	172	113	119	404
Engines	208	274	363	845
Dozers	6	11	116	133
Water Tenders	4	2	241	247
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: Thunderstorms, initially dry, are expected over portions of northern California, eastern Oregon and western Nevada today. Wet thunderstorms are also expected over portions of southern California and Great Basin with drier storms over Idaho, western Montana and western Wyoming.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center

Daily statistics 7/21/08
Number of new large fires	5	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	25 fires and complexes 36 total fires	California (14) Colorado (2) Louisiana (1) Montana (1) Nevada (2) North Carolina (1) Texas (2) Utah (2) Virginia (1) Washington (2)
Acres from active fires	627,324
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires	2
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres	1,001
Fires contained since 7/20/08	3
Year-to-date large fires contained	529
Year-to-date statistics
2008 (1/1/08 - 7/21/08)	Fires: 52,281	Acres: 3,350647
2007 (1/1/07 - 7/21/07)	Fires: 54,609	Acres: 4,095,025
2006 (1/1/06 - 7/21/06)	Fires: 66,061	Acres: 4,860,956
2005 (1/1/05 - 7/21/05)	Fires: 35,511	Acres: 3,884,403
2004 (1/1/04 - 7/21/04)	Fires: 43,815	Acres: 4,653,947
2003 (1/1/03 - 7/21/03)	Fires: 32,147	Acres: 1,355,536
2002 (1/1/02 - 7/21/02)	Fires: 50,168	Acres: 3,632,508
2001 (1/1/01 - 7/21/01)	Fires: 48,000	Acres: 1,461,575
2000 (1/1/00 - 7/21/00)	Fires: 55,924	Acres: 2,850,667
5-year average
2003 - 2008	Fires: 50,455	Acres: 4,168,996
10-year average
1998 - 2008	Fires: 49,277	Acres: 3,245,643

Current Wildland Fires
California	Fires: 14	Acres: 565,498	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Northern California Joint Information Center - Call 530-226-2749.
American River Complex (Tahoe National Forest): 20,541 acres at 85 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): 134,118 acres at 70 percent contained. This complex is five miles southeast of Big Sur. Communities are threatened and voluntary evacuations are in effect. Information: Call (805) 961-5770 or visit the web site.
Bear Wallow Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 2,690 acres at zero percent contained. This complex of two fires is 13 miles southeast of Happy Camp. Fire activity increased due to strong winds in the area. Information: Call (707) 457-3879 or visit the web site.
Blue 2 (Six Rivers National Forest): 4,547 acres at 22 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles east of Klamath. Cultural resources are threatened. Information: Call (707) 457-3879 or visit the web site.
BTU Lightning Complex (Butte Unit, Cal Fire): 55,240 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): 36,794 acres at 75 percent contained. This complex of six fires is 16 miles northeast of Paradise. Communities and archeological sites are threatened. 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. Fire activity was minimal. Information: Call (805) 961-5770 or visit the web site.
Hell's Half Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 11,868 acres at 65 percent contained. This complex of two fires is eight miles southwest of Burnt Ranch. Communities are threatened and evacuations are in effect. Information: Call (530) 629-2184 or visit the web site.
Iron and Alps Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 57,154 acres at 56 percent contained. This complex of seven fires is one mile north of Junction City. Several communities are threatened and evacuations are in effect. Information: Call (530) 623-6415 or visit the web site.
Lime Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 92,867 acres at 65 percent contained. This complex of 11 fires is 14 miles west of Hayfork. Residences, ranches, camps, and private lands are threatened. Information: Call (530) 226-2500 ext. 2 or visit the web site.
SHU Lightning Complex (Shasta-Trinity Unit, Cal Fire): 86,500 acres at 90 percent contained. This complex of two fires is in Shasta and Trinity counties. Residences are threatened and road closures are in effect. Information: Call (530) 225-2510 or visit the web site.
Siskiyou Complex (Klamath National Forest): 50,000 acres at 29 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. Some restrictions are in place for rafting access on the Klamath River. Information: Call (530) 493-1518 or visit the web site.
Soda Complex (Mendocino National Forest): 8,581 acres at 79 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 15 miles northwest of Upper Lake. Active fire behavior was reported. Residences are threatened. Information: Call (707) 275-2017 or visit the web site.
Ukonom Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 25,155 acres at 24 percent contained. This complex is 10 miles east of Orleans. Trail and road closures are in effect. Information: Call (530) 627-3291 or visit the web site.
Cub Complex (Lassen National Forest): This fire was contained at 19,718 acres.
Colorado	Fires: 2	Acres: 1,732	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
NEW Oxyoke (Pike and San Isabel National Forest): 100 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 20 miles west of Castle Rock. Residences, campgrounds and watersheds are threatened. Evacuations and road closures are in effect.
Grand Complex (Grand Mesa National Forest): 1,632 acres at an unknown percent contained. This complex of two fires is 20 miles southeast of Grand Junction. It includes the Coal Creek fire. Fire activity was minimal.
Louisiana	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Range (Kisatchie National Forest): This fire was contained at 482 acres.
Montana	Fires: 1	Acres: 620	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
NEW Cactus (Central Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation): 620 acres at five percent contained. This fire is 11 miles east of Butte. Residences are threatened and voluntary evacuations are in effect.
Nevada	Fires: 1	Acres: 1,100	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Wildland Fire Use	Fires: 1	Acres: 312	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
Callaghan (Battle Mountain Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 1,100 acres at 50 percent contained. This fire is 14 miles northeast of Austin. Fire activity was minimal yesterday.
NEW East Creek (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest): 312 acres. This fire is 21 miles northeast of Ely. It is being managed for resource benefit.
North Carolina	Fires: 1	Acres: 41,553	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Evans Road (North Carolina Division of Forest Resources): 41,553 acres at 75 percent contained. This fire is located seven miles south of Creswell. Fire activity was minimal. Residences are threatened. The fire received rain yesterday. Information: Call 919-218-3179.
Texas	Fires: 2	Acres: 2,850	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 1
NEW Maenius (Texas Forest Service): 450 acres at 10 percent contained. This fire started on private land 10 miles northwest of Blanco. Structures are threatened.
Well 35 (Texas Forest Service): 2,400 acres at 50 percent contained. This fire started on private land 26 miles west of Mineral Wells. Residences are threatened.
Miller (Texas Forest Service): This fire was contained at 100 acres.
Utah	Fires: 1	Acres: 321	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
Wildland Fire Use	Fires: 1	Acres: 689	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
NEW Dry Wash (Fishlake National Forest): 321 acres at 80 percent contained. This fire is four miles south of Kanosh. Minimal fire activity was reported.
Mill Hollow (Ashley National Forest): 689 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. No new information was provided. This will be the last report unless significant activity occurs.
Washington	Fires: 2	Acres: 8,986	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Cold Spring (Gifford Pinchot National Forest): 7,980 acres at 75 percent contained. This fire is 40 miles northwest of Goldendale. Minimal fire behavior was reported. Cultural sites are threatened.
Spokane Valley (Washington Department of Natural Resources): 1,006 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is four miles west of Spokane Valley. No new information was provided. Information: Call (123) 456-7890 or visit the web site.