California Fire Situation and Regional Outlook

Thursday, September 3, 2009

California Fire Situation and Regional Outlook

Outlook:

The hot and dry conditions in Southern California are beginning to recede. By Saturday significantly cooler temperatures and increased humidity will build into the area including a deep marine layer in coastal areas and canyons. By Monday the area will begin warming again, although at this time it is not expected to get as hot as it has been during the past two weeks. In Northern California light rain is possible in some areas during the coming weekend before a dry and windy pattern sets up early in the week. At this time “high risk” days have been identified for the Sacramento valley and in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties early next week due to forecasted winds.

Forest Service Initial Attack Resources:

Availability of Forest Service initial attack resources fluctuates on a daily basis due to staffing schedules, vehicle maintenance, and firefighter commitment to ongoing incidents. The numbers reported below reflect a “snapshot” of Forest Service resource availability in California as of 10:00 am on the day this report is disseminated.

Engines: 158
Hotshot Crews: 4
Type 2 Initial Attack hand crews: 8
Type 2 hand crews: 7
Helicopters: 16

Out of Region Support:

During the past week, Region 5 has dispatched approximately 6 overhead/management firefighters to assist with wildfire management operations in Alaska, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada. The majority of Region 5 fire management resources have remained in California to assist with ongoing large fires.

Current Significant Incidents:

Station Fire, Angeles National Forest

The Station Fire began late in the afternoon on August 26, 2009 in a rugged and inaccessible location north of La Cañada-Flintridge , California . By the following weekend the fire grew significantly forcing multiple evacuations. Currently firefighters are making good progress toward containment and evacuations have been lifted in the areas of Acton , La Crescenta and La Cañada-Flintridge . The fire is currently 144,743 acres and is 38% contained. Sixty-four homes and three commercial residences have been destroyed.

Resources Currently Assigned:

73 Type 1 Hand Crews
34 Type 2 Hand Crews
13 Helicopters
433 Engines
60 Dozers
57 Water Tenders
4,735 Total Personnel

YTD fires and acres:

National Forest System lands:

Fires: 1,262
Acres: 271,449

All Jurisdictions:

Fires: 6,510
Acres: 343,005

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Thursday, September 3, 2009