CA-SHF - Gulch - Wildland Fire - 2,847 acres - 80%

Update-1030 - 09-10-08 - 2,847 acres - 80%
Expected Full Containment: September 11, 2008
Current Resources: Crews: 14, Engines: 22, Helicopters: 3, Dozers: 3, Water Tenders: 19.
Firefighters continue to make significant progress improving and holding direct fire containment lines, and mopping up hot spots within the fire perimeter. Firefighters do not anticipate additional fire growth – only isolated tree torching and backing fire of interior islands of unburned material within the fire perimeter. Fire suppression damage repair has been initiated.
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Gulch Wildland fire perimeter map
Credit: USFS

Summary

The Gulch Fire started on Sunday, September 7, 2008, three miles west of Platina, California in Shasta County. Northern CA Interagency Incident Management Team II (Kaage) is managing the fire for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

Firefighters made good progress with contructing containment lines along the southern and eastern flanks of the fire. The fire remains active on the north and western flanks of the fire.

Shasta County Sheriff's Department has issued mandatory evacuation notices to the residences along Harrison Gulch Road, and evacuation advisory notices to the community of Platina.

On Monday, September 8, the fire burned along both sides of Highway 36 between Harrison Gulch Ranger Station and the town of Platina. Highway 36 is currently open to traffic but is subject to change depending on current fire activity. For up-to-date road information, call CalTrans at (800) 427-7623.

Basic Information
Incident Type Wildland Fire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin Sunday September 07th, 2008 aprox 11:16 AM
Location CA-SHF
Incident Commander Bill Kaage
Current Situation
Total Personnel 359
Size 2,935 acres
Percent Contained 20%
Fuels Involved
4 Chaparral (6 feet): Predominately brush with mixture of aok and grey pine.
Fire Behavior
Firefighters observed flanking fire with down-wind runs, group torching and spotting.
Significant Events
Firefighters made significant progress in containing and holding fire spread on the southern fire perimeter along Highway 36, and slowed eastward fire growth.
Planned Actions
Along the southern and eastern sides of the fire, crews will patrol and mop-up hot spots within 100 feet of the fire perimeter. Along the southern wester corner and western side of the fire, crews continue to contruct direct and indirect fire containment lines. Crews will provide point protection for structures in the Harrison Gulch area.
Growth Potential Extreme
Terrain Difficulty High
Remarks
The fire remained active through out Monday night, September 8. State Highway 36 is currently open to traffic; however, the public is encouraged to contact CalTrans (800-427-7623) for the latest road conditions. On Monday, September 8, Shasta County Sheriff's Department issued mandatory evacuation notices to Harrison Gulch Road residents. The communities of Platina and Wildwood remain under evacuation advisory notices. Northern CA Interagency Incident Management Team II (Kaage) assumed command of the fire for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
Weather
Current Wind Conditions 20 mph W
Current Temperature 61 degrees
Current Humidity 40 %