National Fire News Report ~ 7/29/08

National Preparedness Level 4

(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 29, 2008

Firefighters contained the Hell's Half Complex and Gap Fire in California yesterday. The Telegraph Fire near Mariposa, California remains active.

A total of 25 complexes and fires have burned 532,950 acres. Three large fires were contained and two new large fires were reported.

On June 26 a firefighter was fatally injured on the Panther fire near Happy Camp, California. The firefighting community extends condolences to the family and friends of the fallen firefighter.

Australia and New Zealand are providing 44 fire specialists and managers to assist with fire suppression operations in 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.

Weather Discussion: Windy conditions are predicted for the northern Sierras to the Rockies. Wet and dry thunderstorms may occur over the northern Great Basin, Northern Rockies, and eastern Oregon. California and northern Texas will remain dry.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center

Daily statistics 7/29/08
Number of new large fires	3	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	25 fires and complexes 38 total fires	California (12) Florida (1) Montana (3) North Carolina (1) Oklahoma (1) Texas (3) Virginia (1) Washington (2) Wyoming (1)
Acres from active fires	532,950
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires	2
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres	422
Fires contained since 7/28/08	3
Year-to-date large fires contained	562
Year-to-date statistics
2008 (1/1/08 - 7/29/08)	Fires: 53,342	Acres: 3,551,250
2007 (1/1/07 - 7/29/07)	Fires: 56,877	Acres: 4,920,260
2006 (1/1/06 - 7/29/06)	Fires: 70,215	Acres: 5,374,600
2005 (1/1/05 - 7/29/05)	Fires: 37,639	Acres: 4,414,730
2004 (1/1/04 - 7/29/04)	Fires: 47,284	Acres: 5,443,879
2003 (1/1/03 - 7/29/03)	Fires: 35,060	Acres: 1,750,334
2002 (1/1/02 - 7/29/02)	Fires: 52,387	Acres: 3,986,535
2001 (1/1/01 - 7/29/01)	Fires: 49,564	Acres: 1,506,485
2000 (1/1/00 - 7/29/00)	Fires: 59,883	Acres: 3,319,422
5-year average
2003 - 2008	Fires: 53,071	Acres: 4,740,944
10-year average
1998 - 2008	Fires: 51,937	Acres: 3,681,900

Current Wildland Fires
California	Fires: 12	Acres: 459,375	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 2
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.
Bear Wallow Complex (Klamath National Forest): 8,524 acres at zero percent contained. This complex of two fires is 13 miles southeast of Happy Camp. The fire was active yesterday. Residences are threatened. Voluntary evacuations are in effect. Information: Call (707) 467-1512 or visit the web site.
Blue 2 (Six Rivers National Forest): 5,424 acres at 25 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles east of Klamath. Cultural and communication sites are threatened. Trails and roads are closed. Information: Call (707) 457-3974 or visit the web site.
BTU Lightning Complex (Butte Unit, Cal Fire): 59,440 acres at 95 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 27 miles north of Yuba City. Minimal fire activity continued. 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. Moderate fire activity was reported. Information: Call (530) 283-7882 or visit the web site.
Gap (Los Padres National Forest): The fire was contained at 9,443 acres. Information: Call (805) 961-5770 or visit the web site.
Hell's Half Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): The fire was contained at 15,146 acres. Information: Call (530) 629-2184 or visit the web site.
Iron and Alps Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 78,226 acres at 75 percent contained. This complex of four fires is one mile north of Junction City. The community of Corral Bottom and power lines are threatened. Evacuations are in effect. Information: Call (530) 623-6415 or visit the web site.
Lime Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 57,808 acres at 74 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 14 miles west of Hayfork. Residences, ranches, and youth camps remain threatened. Evacuations and road closures are in effect. Information: Call (530) 226-2500 ext. 2 or visit the web site.
Panther (Klamath National Forest): 650 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 14 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Active fire behavior was reported. Structures are threatened.
Siskiyou Complex (Klamath National Forest): 55,084 acres at 46 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 18 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Structures and cultural sites are threatened. Information: Call (530) 627-3532 or visit the web site.
Telegraph (Merced-Mariposa Unit, Cal Fire): 29,600 acres at 10 percent contained. This fire is five miles north of Mariposa. Communites, communication facilities, power lines, and water supply systems are threatened. Evacuations and road closures are in effect. Information: Call (209) 966-4784 or (209) 966-4785 or visit the web site. Evacuation Hotline: (209) 966-1133 (recorded)
Yolla Bolly Complex (Mendocino National Forest): 70,635 acres at 25 percent contained. This complex of three fires is 47 miles southwest of Redding. Residences and cultural sites are threatened. Information: Call (530) 934-1278 or visit the web site.
Ukonom Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 35,690 acres at 30 percent contained. This complex is 10 miles east of Orleans. Moderate fire activity was reported. Structures, cultural sites, and a telecommunication facility are threatened. Roads are closed. Information: Call (530) 627-3532 or visit the web site.
Florida	Fires: 1	Acres: 156	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Lake Charles 29 (National Forests in Florida): 156 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is 18 miles northeast of Ocala.
Idaho	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 190	New WFU: 1
NEW Flag Knoll (Caribou-Targhee National Forest): 190 acres. This fire is 13 miles south of Swan Valley. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives.
Montana	Fires: 3	Acres: 6,097	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Parmenter (Kootenai National Forest): 130 acres at 60 percent contained. This fire started on private land two miles west of Libby. Information: Call (406) 283-7675 or visit the web site.
Harley (Lewis and clark National Forest): 167 acres at 10 percent contained. This fire is three miles west of Neihart. Residences are threatened and evacuations are in effect.
Cascade (Custer National Forest): 5,800 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 10 miles west of Red Lodge. Communities are threatened and evacuations are in place. Information: Call (406) 446-2103 or visit the web site.
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 80 percent contained. This fire is located seven miles south of Creswell. Residences are threatened. Information: Call 919-218-3179.
North Dakota	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Brown (Dakota Prairie National Grasslands): The fire was contained at 3,000 acres.
Oklahoma	Fires: 1	Acres: 5,000	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
NEW Ravia (Central and Western Office, Oklahoma Department of Forestry): 5,000 acres at 60 percent contained. This fire is located six miles northwest of Tishomingo. Wind driven fire activity was reported. Mill Creek is threatened.
Texas	Fires: 3	Acres: 2,425	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
Bradley Ranch (Texas Forest Service): 1,400 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire started on private land twenty miles west of Wichita Falls.
Highway 62 (Texas Forest Service): 425 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire started on private land 16 miles southeast of Wellington.
NEW Rock Creek (Texas Forest Service): 600 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 18 miles southeast of Vernon. Active fire behavior was reported.
Virginia	Fires: 1	Acres: 4,664	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
South One (Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge): 4,664 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is located 12 miles southeast of Suffolk. Precipitation fell on the fire yesterday.
Washington	Fires: 2	Acres: 13,729	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Cold Springs (Gifford Pinchot National Forest): 7,729 acres at 98 percent contained. This fire is 40 miles northwest of Goldendale. Cultural resources are threatened. Information: Call (509) 395-2670 or visit the web site.
262 (Mid Columbia National Wildlife Refuge): 6,000 acres at 75 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles northwest of Othello. Structures are threatened and roads are closed.
Wyoming	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 800	New WFU: 0
Gunbarrel (Shoshone National Forest): 800 acres. This fire is 40 miles west of Cody. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives.