FEMA: California Situation Update - Nov 17, 2008

California Wildfires Situation Update:
Monday, November 17, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Weather West: The Santa Ana winds in Southern California should all but disappear Monday, but a weak offshore flow will keep temperatures high and humidities low. (NOAA, National Weather Service and Various Media Sources)
State Actions:

Governor's Proclamations of Emergency: Santa Barbara County - November 14, 2008
Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties - November 15, 2008

California OES SOC is at Level II, 24 hour operations.
California OES Regional Emergency Operations Center is at 24 hour operations.
California has requested fire resources under the mutual aid agreement with the Federal fire community.
Fire Command is maintaining Level 2 status.

FEMA Region IX Actions
FEMA Regional Watch is operating at Level 2, 24/7 with selected ESFs
Regional ERT White team is in Pasadena.
Region IX liaisons at Southern REOC in Los Alamitos, GACC SouthOps in Riverside, and OES SOC in Sacramento
OES and the Region will begin conducting PDAs starting Monday in Santa Barbara County and moving toward a request for a Federal Declaration. Region has identified staff to handle PDAs and is coordinating actively with the State. The other 3 Counties have indicated they will not be ready for PDAs until later in the week.

Federal Actions:
Fire Management Assistance Grants FMAGS Issued:
Tea Fire - 2790, November 13, 2008
Sayre Fire - 2791, November 15, 2008
Triangle Complex (formerly the Freeway Complex) - 2792, November 15, 2008
4 MDRC units with MDRC kits moved to Pasadena, CA
2 MDRC units placed on standby for deployment to R-IX
Joint PDAs will begin on Monday, Nov 17 in Santa Barbara County
Bothell MERS units enroute to Pasadena, CA

Specific Fire Incidents (Priorities set by California Fire):
Priority 1
Triangle Complex (formerly the Freeway Complex)
Riverside/Orange County: In the Anaheim Hills area west of Corona in Riverside County toward and into Yorba Linda in Orange County.
Fire has moved into Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties and is threatening the community of Diamond Bar (approximately 1,000 residences in Los Angeles County)
Approximately 23,722 acres burned with zero percent containment.
Destroyed structures: 60 homes
Damaged structures: 101 homes and 1 commercial property
3,500 homes, 100 businesses threatened
A mandatory evacuation is in effect for the Olinda Ranch, Valencia and Lambert Road areas
Approximately 25,600 have been evacuated
Currently 19% containment
7 shelters with with unknown occupants
Approximately 49,923 residents evacuated
3,699 fire fighting personnel

Priority 2
Sayre Fire (Los Angeles County):
The fire is currently listed at 10,077 acres
With 40 percent containment
Destroyed structures: 477 homes, 10 commercial properties and 124 outbuildings
Damaged structures: 15 homes and 1 commercial property
Media is reporting the mobile home park is being sealed off as a possible crime scene
The modular home park overrun by the Sayre, with 500 homes destroyed. The park has been 35% evaluated, and plans have been made to bring the residents by bus to view the park Monday, November 17, 2008.
There are currently 7,500 residences and 200 outbuildings threatened
Units demobilizing from the Tea Incident are immediately being sent to the Sayre fire.
Two General Aviation airports are affected:
Van Nuys is restricting some takeoffs and landings.
Whitman Airport is restricted to IFR only.

Infrastructure:
Less than 900 residences are currently without power per CUEA. CEAU has returned to the duty officer staffing level.

Evacuations/Shelters:
Mandatory evacuations for 40 residences
4 shelters with unknown occupants
5 animal shelters have been established.

Resources:
1,410 fire fighting personnel
37 crews, 12 helicopters, 211 engines, 15 dozers, 10 water tenders and 142 overhead assigned
Los Angeles County has requested Mutual Aid resources from the State
OES prepositioned a 48 ft tractor trailer at the National Guard Armory in Sylmar, CA, containing 624 general population cots, 120 ADA cots, 1,440 blankets, 744 pillows and 1,000 hygiene kits

Priority 3
Tea Fire (Santa Barbara County):
The fire is currently listed at 1,940 acres and 80% contained
Units are being demobilized and immediately sent to the Sayre fire
210 residences destroyed
9 residences damaged
Fire resources being released to other fires

Infrastructure:
Power has been restored to all but damaged/destroyed homes

Evacuations/Shelters:
Approximately 600 residents remain evacuated
2shelter with 72 occupants
Santa Barbara County has requested Mutual Aid resources from Region 1 and the State

Medical:
No hospitals evacuated at this time. USPHS reports that there has been no increase in hospital ER visits due to unhealthy air quality

Transportation:
Numerous sections of interstate and state highways are closed due to multiple fires. Road conditions can change rapidly with the shifting winds
Several commuter rail lines have been impacted
Currently there are three Traffic Flight Restrictions (TFR) in affect in the fire areas
There is no current impact on commercial aviation

Resources:
1,957 fire fighting personnel assigned
53 crews, 184 engines, 9 dozers, 14 water tenders, 131 overhead assigned (FEMA Region IX, CalFire Report, Santa Barbara County CA. Los Angeles City Fire Department, Orange County Fire Authority)