CA-STF- Backbone - Wildland Fire (Heavy Dead Timber) - 3,300 acres 15%

Backbone Wildland Fire Incident Overview

The Backbone fire was started by lightning on Wednesday, July 1st.

Formerly called the LT-17, the Backbone has now grown to encompass the Trinity Fire, a separate incident that was ignited on the Shasta Trinity National Forest.

Firefighters from the Lower Trinity Ranger District of the Six Rivers National Forest and other nearby forces were able to extinguish 13 of the 14 lightning fires that were ignited that evening. Due to the remote location of this fire, in the Trinity Alps Wilderness, and the amount of heavy dead and down fuels and standing dead snags from the Megram Fire the suppression of this particular fire was more difficult.

Spot fires that occurred yesterday, when the fire made an upslope run, continued to burn together today. Firefighters who had been working on the Trinity Fire have been reassigned to the Backbone Incident. The Backbone fire has grown to a size of approximately 3,300 acres.

Area closures: Roads and trails in the Trinity Alps fire area will be closed for public safety as well as Big Rock Day Use Area.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	Wednesday July 01st, 2009 aprox 12:00 AM
Location	Trinity Alps Wilderness
Incident Commander	Fred Hays

Current Situation

Total Personnel	290
Size	3,300 acres
Percent Contained	15%
Fuels Involved	The fire is burning in timber (litter and understory), a heavy accumulation of dead and down fuels, as well as standing dead snags. The Backbone Fire is located in an area that was severely burned in the Megram Fire.
Fire Behavior	Spot fires that occurred yesterday during an upslope run, have been burning together in high intensity surface fires through heavy dead and down fuel. Today the Backbone fire merged with the Trinity Fire. Spotting over a mile in distance has been observed. The primary mechanism of fire spread remains log to log and spotting in dead standing and surface fuels.
Significant Events	An area closure in the Trinity Alps was put into effect. Aviation, Handcrew and Overhead resources from the former Trinity Fire were transferred to the Backbone fire this morning. Significant progress was made on the South and West flanks of the fire.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Fireline construction North of Trinity Summit with the intent to prevent fire spread to the North into the head of Red Cap Creek will continue. Firefighters were tasked with the protection of a cabin at Trinity Summit. The Big Rock River Access in Willow Creek will be closed for public safety, due to Helibase operations there. Tommorrow fire officials will consult with the Hoopa Tribal Council.

Current Weather

Wind Conditions	8-13 mph SW
Temperature	78 degrees
Humidity	44%