California, Northwest and Western Great Basin Situation Report

National Interagency Coordination Center - Incident Management Situation Report

Sunday, July 19, 2009 – 0530 MDT

National Preparedness Level 2
National Fire Activity
Initial attack activity: Light (131 new fires)
New large fires: 7 (*)
Large fires contained: 3
Uncontained large fires**: 18
Area Command Teams committed: 0
NIMOs committed: 2
Type 1 IMTs committed: 0
Type 2 IMTs committed: 4
Nationally, there are 41 large fires being managed with minimal or no resource
commitment that are not shown on today’s report.

** Uncontained large fires do not include confine/contain and
resource benefit incidents. **

Link to Geographic Area daily reports. GACC
Northern California Area (PL 2)
New fires: 19
New large fires: 0
Uncontained large fires: 1
NIMOs committed: 1
Type 2 IMTs committed: 1
Backbone, Six Rivers NF. NIMO (Custer) and IMT2 (Swartzlander). Twelve miles northeast of Willow Creek, CA.
Timber and heavy dead and down fuels. Residual interior burning.

Southern California Area (PL 2)
New fires: 33
New large fires: 1
Uncontained large fires: 1
*Forks, Inyo NF. Eighteen miles northwest of Big Pine, CA. Aspen and juniper. Active fire behavior. Structures
threatened.

Western Great Basin Area (PL 2)
New fires: 18
New large fires: 0
Uncontained large fires: 2
Type 2 IMTs committed: 1

Redrock, Carson City Field Office, BLM. IMT2 (Whalen). IMT is also managing the Trailer 1 fire. Twenty-five
miles northwest of Reno, NV. Pinyon pine, juniper, grass and brush. Moderate fire activity with isolated torching.
Numerous residences threatened.
Trailer 1, Carson City Field Office, BLM. Twenty-five miles north of Reno, NV. Pinyon pine, juniper, brush and
slash. Interior creeping and smoldering.

Northwest Area (PL 2)
New large fires: 1
Uncontained large fires: 1
Type 2 IMTs committed: 1
*Whitney, Crater Lake National Park, NPS. IMT2 (Paul). Ten miles north of Crater Lake, OR. Mixed conifer.
Moderate fire activity.

Current National Situation: Initial attack was light with 131 new fires reported. Seven new large fires reported and three large fires contained.

Nationally, there are 41 large fires being managed with minimal or no resource commitment that are not shown on today's report.

Fire Activity	Yesterday	Year to date	2008 Fire Season	10-Year Average
Number of Fires	131	52,678	48,671	48,513
Acres Burned	10,318	2,707,653	3,236,690	3,091,671

Incident Name	State	Lead Agency	Size (acres)	Percent Contained	Estimate of Containment	Personnel	Structures Lost
Forks	CA	INF	300	0	unknown	50	0
As of 8:00 PM on Saturday July 18th a total of 21 wildland fires have been sparked within the Inyo National Forest in the Eastern Sierra region of Inyo and Mono Counties. Most fires have remained small but one incident 12 miles west of Bishop has grown to 300 acres and has forced the evacuation of several popular campgrounds in the Bishop Creek drainage. The Forks Fire was started by a lightning strike at about 2:30 PM near Intake II, a small lake alongside State Route 168, 12 miles west of Bishop. As of 8:00 PM the fire had burned about 300 acres with no containment at this time. A total of 9 air tankers has been ordered to help suppress the Forks Fire, in addition to numerous other local, county, state and federal fire fighting resources. The evacuation of nearly 100 campers went smoothly, according to Inyo County Sheriff Bill Lutze, in part due to an early voluntary evacuation request shortly after the fire began. At about 5:30 PM a mandatory evacuation order was issued for four Forest Service campgrounds in the vicinity of the fire. Those campgrounds are the Forks, Big Trees, Intake and the Bishop Park Campground. Also at about 5:30 PM the fire crossed the state highway closing the road to traffic. Law enforcement units escorted evacuees out of the area as the fire started to move north. Voluntary evacuation orders are still in place at numerous other Forest Service campgrounds in the area around Lake Sabrina, South Lake and North Lake. Local law enforcement officers remain in the communities of Aspendell, South Lake and Starlite to monitor the fire, however none of the residents of these communities are being considered for evacuation at this time. As fire conditions permit, evacuees may be able to return to their campsites to retrieve their camping equipment. Evacuees may check at the highway road closure on State Route 168 for information on road opening possibilities.
Red Rock	CA	BLM	10,549	60	07/20	514	0
East of U.S. Highway 395, south of Hallelujah Junction Watch for fire traffic on US395. Riders of off-highway vehicles who have been in the vicinity of the fire to watch suppression operations are asked to please stay clear of the burn area for safety reasons! Primary activity for today will center on completing and securing fireline, mopping up hotspots and focusing on rehabilitation effort. the fire operation will start downsizing as fire activity continues to decrease. Crew are being scheduled for release and made available to respond to other incidents as needed. Temperatures in the low 90's are forecasted for the area with relative humidity at 15%. There is a chance for thunderstorms in the area with west winds returning in the afternoon. Although these conditions don't pose an immediate threat to the firefighting effort, crews are cautioned to be aware of changes in their surroundings. There are no road closures currently in effect. In the vicinity of the fire area, we are asking the public to limit unnecessary travel and to be aware of heavy fire traffic and equipment. No injuries have been reported to incident personnel
Trailer 1	CA	BLM	1,349	80	07/18	350	0
Trailer 1 East of U.S. Highway 395, 1/2 miles NE of Hallelujah Junction Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, and Reno Fire Dept. are on scene. Full containment is expected today by the end of the day shift. Whalen's Type II Incident Management Team is managing the fire with an Incident Command Post at Cold Springs Middle School. Primary activity for today will center on completing and securing fireline, mopping up hotspots and focusing on rehabilitation effort. the fire operation will start downsizing as fire activity continues to decrease. Crew are being scheduled for release and made available to respond to other incidents as needed. Temperatures in the low 90's are forecasted for the area with relative humidity at 15%. There is a chance for thunderstorms in the area with west winds returning in the afternoon. Although these conditions don't pose an immediate threat to the firefighting effort, crews are cautioned to be aware of changes in their surroundings. There are no road closures currently in effect. In the vicinity of the fire area, we are asking the public to limit unnecessary travel and to be aware of heavy fire traffic and equipment. Fire Danger for the area remains very high.
Backbone	CA	SRF	6,324	60	07/24	828	0
Backbone, Six Rivers NF. IMT2 (Swartzlander). NIMO (Custer). The Backbone Fire is burning on the Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests approximately 36 miles northeast of Willow Creek in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. A helicopter working on the Backbone Fire was involved in an accident Friday afternoon. Two people were on board, both walked away from the accident. The pilot refused treatment and appeared to be fine, and the copilot was evaluated at an area hospital, treated and released with very minor injuries. The helicopter had just conducted a water reload from a heliwell located on Forest Service Road 10N04 north of the fires edge. The crash site and road are both closed to secure the area for investigation teams arriving today. The aircraft was flipped on its side and a small fuel spill resulted. Clean-up of the fuel is being conducted. The crash occurred outside the wilderness and not close to any water source. The helicopter, a Sikorsky-61, is owned by Croman Corporation based in White City, OR. The Trinity Alps Wilderness home of the Backbone Fire, which began on July 1st when lightning came through the area, has given the Shasta-Trinity, Six Rivers and Klamath National Forests an opportunity to collaborate on the management of wildfires differently than they have in the past. After the relentless fire season of 2008, in which all three forests had multiple fires at any given time, they recognized that they needed to have a much more collaborative process when dealing with the surrounding communities and their concerns. Prior to this fire season, all three forests participated in forest stakeholder meetings to discuss what methods would improve collaboration and planning during future large fire situations. Each forest also discussed solutions and approaches during simulations conducted, which prepared fire officials for dealing with the complexity of a large fire over multiple forests such as the Backbone Fire. The National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) team that facilitated the pre-season work was requested to manage the fire with the NOR-CAL 1 Incident Management Team. NIMO Incident Commander George Custer said, "Coming back to the area and working with the three forests and all of the stakeholders from the local areas and communities that we met and worked with before the fire has been a truly rewarding experience. The one hope I have is that the forests, stakeholders and communities have found it just as rewarding." During the Fire, forest staff from all three forests has been working together to engage stakeholders in dialogue about their suggestions and concerns and providing transparent and timely information to the surrounding communities. The approach of having all three forests agreeing upon a single fire strategy and two highly qualified Incident Management Teams combine as one to cover such a large and complex area is ground breaking territory. Roads and trails in the fire area are now closed to the public. The Horse Ridge National Recreation Trail, Salmon Summit National Scenic Trail, and Mill Creek, Tish Tang, and Red Cap trails are now closed, as well as Bear Hole, Grizzly Camp and the Willow Creek Big Rock Day Use Area and river access.
Mammoth	CA	NEU	643	100	Contained	358	0
Auburn, CA area. American River Canyon at Mammoth Bar OHV Recreation Area, close to the confluence of the North and Middle Fork. Numerous ground resources assigned. Difficult access. Local, state and federal resources on site. Very steep terrain. Picture taken by Larry Rief from the quarry on Highway 49 between Cool and the American River. Crews continue to put out hot spots and reinforce containment lines. No current community threats or known evacuations. Foresthill Road has been reopened. Contained Air Quality Advisory has been issued.
Whitney	OR	CLP	100	0	unknown	72	0
Whitney, Crater Lake National Park, NPS. IMT2 (Paul). Ten miles north of Crater Lake, OR. Mixed conifer. Moderate fire activity.
Rock Slough	AK	UYD	16,900	0	unknown	103	0
Rock Slough, Upper Yukon Zone, BLM. Started on FWS land, forty-seven miles northeast of Fort Yukon, AK. Black spruce, brush and tundra. Creeping and smoldering with isolated torching. Numerous structures threatened.
Railbelt Complex	AK	FAS	190,284	3	unknown	303	0
Favorable wind conditions allowed Fire Managers to accomplish a burnout operation on the Northeast corner of the Minto Flats South Fire. The burnout successfully connected this fire with the Lunch Lake Fire. The aerial ignition occurred late this afternoon. This tactic was prescribed by the Incident Commander as part of an effort to direct fire progression west of the riparian zone of the Tanana River. This is expected keep the fire from spreading towards Native Allotments, State and Toghotthele Timber sales. Crews continued working to mop-up and reinforce line on the southeast corner of the Lunch Lake Fire. They are securing the line as they move toward the burnout operation. Wildland Firefighters along the Tanana and Teklanika rivers continued evaluating structures and allotments and prepare for burnout operations on the Southeast corner of the Minto Flats South Fire. Tomorrows predicted easterly winds are expected to assist conduct a successful operation. The intent is to reduce the fuels between the fires edge and the Teklanika cabin corridor. The June Creek Fire reduced in size due to more accurate mapping. Crews continued working toward 100% mop-up of the fire. Tomorrow two Hotshot crews will be relocated to the Minto Flats South Fire. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in effect closing air space over the June Creek Fire under 6,000 ft and within a 5 mile radius of the fire.
Shanta Creek	AK	KKS	13,151	0	10/10	406	0
The Shanta Creek fire continues to be managed near Shantatalik Creek and Funny River on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge north of Tustumena Lake. The fire was ignited by lightning on June 29, 2009 and is burning in White and Black spruce and mixed hardwood forest. The fire is burning in a "limited" fire suppression area, and is being managed by the Refuge to reduce hazardous accumulations of beetle-killed and other forest debris in the area leading up to the Tustumena Bench. From an original starting point northeast of Fox Lake, the fire has moved slowly east, and may reach the benchlands within the next few days, if westerly winds persist. This area has not had a fire in approximately 100 years. The Kenai Refuge has engaged a Type 1 Incident Command Team from the National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) to manage fire operations.
Deer	AZ	CRA	412	95	unknown	28	0
Deer, Colorado River Agency, BIA. Ten miles west of Parker, AZ. Chaparral. No new information. Last report unless new information is received.
Sawmill 2	AZ	NAA	100	50	07/19	50	0
Sawmill 2, Navajo Regional Office, BIA. Confine / contain management strategy. Five miles south of Sawmill, AZ. Timber and grass. Minimal fire activity. Last report unless significant activity occurs.
San Juan	AZ	PPA	7,600	55	07/20	109	0
San Juan, Papago Agency, BIA. Fourteen miles east of Sells, AZ. Moderate fire activity. Structures threatened.
Bear Canyon	AZ	SCA	360	50	07/31	53	0
Bear Canyon, San Carlos Agency, BIA. Twenty-three miles north of San Carlos, AZ. Chaparral and grass. No new information.
Grammar	CO	UPD	801	70	-	152	0
Grammar, Uncompahgre Field Office, BLM. Five miles northwest of Norwood, CO. Contained.
Blind Canyon	UT	VLD	1,100	0	unknown	33	0
Blind Canyon, Vernal Field Office, BLM. Previously reported confine / contain management strategy. Sixty miles south of Vernal, UT. Timber, juniper and brush. Active fire behavior. Last report unless significant activity occurs.
Sttep Creek	UT	FIF	230	0	07/25	25	0
Steep Creek, Fishlake NF. Eleven miles northeast of Boulder, UT. Timber. Active fire behavior with group-tree torching.
Bridge	UT	DIF	3,488	10	07/25	249	0
Bridge, Dixie NF. Eight miles southwest of Bryce Canyon, UT. Timber. Group tree torching, spotting and backing fire. Road closures in effect.
Dog House	LA	SBR	800	0	07/23	8	0
Dog House, Sabine NWR. Fifteen miles south of Hackberry, LA. Grass. No further information received.
Scott's Crossing	TX	TXS	3,000	50	07/21	12	0
Scott’s Crossing, Texas Forest Service. Started on private land ten miles northeast of Stamford, TX. Mixed hardwoods and brush. Active fire behavior. Structures threatened.
Rockdale	TX	TXS	1,000	90	07/19	11	0
Rockdale, Texas Forest Service. Started on private land thirteen miles east of Stamford, TX. Oak, mesquite and cedar brush. Creeping and smoldering.

Current Large Fires

Fire locations are based on data provided by the National Interagency Fire Center and are subject to change.

Large Incident - A wildfire of 100 acres or more occuring in timber, or a wildfire of 500 acres or more occuring in grass/sage.
Wildland Fire - Any nonstructure fire, other than prescribed fire, that occurs in the wildland.
Wildland Fire Use (WFU) Fire - A naturally ignited wildland fire that is managed to accomplish specific prestated resource management objectives in predefined geographic areas outlined in Fire Management Plans.
Map information provided courtesy of the UDSA Remote Sensing Application Center using data provided by the National Interagency Fire Center. The data is subject to change.

Weather Outlook:

Cooler conditions will move into the northwest quarter of the country today. Winds will increase across Washington and the Northern Rockies. Initially dry thunderstorms are possible from eastern Oregon and the Sierras of California to the Continental Divide, with wetter storms east of the Divide. Alaska will continue to see cool, wet conditions in the southwest with warm temperatures and the threat for thunderstorms across the interior.

Special Northern California Forecast (if warranted):

A strong upper high that remains centered over the southwestern U.S. will continue to gradually put more moisture and instability into the northern CA airmass over the next 24 hours. This will increase the chances of isolated high-based thunderstorms, with the greatest coverage forecast from the northern Sierra and northeastward. There will also be a chance of isolated thunderstorms developing up the westside by late today, with the greatest chances from the Yolla Bollas northward. The activity does have a chance of extending into the nighttime hours, and some in northeastern CA might could even linger into early Sunday. For all areas, the amount of precipitation reaching the ground could be pretty limited in the first 2-6 hours of activity, so at least a small amount of dry lightning looks possible As time goes on Sunday, any thunderstorms that might still be occurring should have increased/ moderate rainshowers under/ near their cores. No significant gradient winds are expected inland over the next 3-4 days, but there is the threat of strong localized downdrafts under convective cells.