News and Notes: California Fire Situation 09-03-09

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National Fire Activity
Initial attack activity: Light (119 new fires)
New large fires: 1 (*)
Large fires contained: 1
Uncontained large fires : ** 14
Area Command Teams committed: 0
NIMOs committed: 1
Type 1 IMTs committed: 4
Type 2 IMTs committed: 2
Nationally, there are 80 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.
Southern California Area (PL 3)
New fires: 23
New large fires: 0
Uncontained large fires: 5
Type 1 IMTs committed: 3
Type 2 IMTs committed: 1

STATION CA-ANF-3622 144,743 acres 38%. Fire is active during the day and night operational periods. The fire is currently directly threatening Mount Wilson, which is a major communications facility servicing all of Southern California. Mandatory evacuation order issued for Little Tujunga from Bear Divide to the Wildlife Waystation. Unified command continues with Los Angeles County Fire, Los Angeles County Sheriff and Pasadena. Arcadia, Monrovia and Sierra Madre will enter in to unified command today. Total personnel on the incident is 4,735.

Significant Events: Previously issued mandatory evacuations have been lifted.

Remarks: Angeles Crest Highway remains closed and is the primary access route for 18+ Camps/residences , numerous private residences, and the Mount Wilson Communication Facility and Observatory. The Mount Wilson Communications is directly threatened. This facility is a major communications hub for all of Southern California. The spike camp at Central Park in Santa Clarita is operational. Unified command continues with Los Angeles County Fire, Los Angeles County Sheriff, Los Angeles City Fire, Glendale and Pasadena.

Observed Fire Behavior: The fire became more active today. When wind and slope aligned extreme fire behavior was witnessed.

Planned Actions: Triage, prepare, and protect structures when and where necessary. Construct handlines and dozer lines. Protect critical communication sites. Initiate firing operations to contain fire. Improve existing lines, burnout as needed.

OAK GLEN 3 CA-BDU-9598 1,159 acres 90% contained. There was no spread of the fire. Evacuations and road closures have been lifted. Fire suppression repair and damage inspection continue. Community meeting organized for 1800 tonight (9/3). Identifying excess resources for possible demobilization and release. Total personnel assigned is 1,752.

Significant Events: Evacuations for area have been lifted and all roads are open. Increase in acreage due to better mapping, not expansion of fire perimeter.

Remarks: Injuries: 9/1 Day - One firefighter suffered first and second degree burns to the wrist, hand, and buttocks. Another firefighter had a severe reaction to poison oak. 9/1 Night - A firefighter received first degree burns to his feet. The Pendleton Fire is being supported by aircraft from the Oak Glen Fire due to close proximity of both fires and air space safety. Community meeting being organized for 1800 on 9/3. Identifying excess resources for possible demobilization and release. Release and demobilization will be in conjunction with 14 day travel times. Destroyed structure was an abandoned, uninhabited residence.

Observed Fire Behavior: There was no spread of the fire. Concerns continue for rollout, snags and wind. There was increased lightning activity with no resulting fire activity.

Planned Actions: Continued line construction with air operations in support of containment. Fire suppression repair and damage inspection will continue.

PENDLETON CA-BDU-9640 860 acres 100% contained. There was no spread of the fire. Evacuations and road closures have been lifted. Community meeting organized for 1800 tonight (9/3). Identifying excess resources for possible demobilization and release. Total personnel assigned is 503.

Significant Events: Evacuations for area have been lifted and all roads are open.

Remarks: The Pendleton Fire is being supported by aircraft from the Oak Glen Fire due to close proximity of both fires and air space safety. Community meeting being organized for 1800 on 9/3. Identifying excess resources for possible demobilization and release. Release and demobilization will be in conjunction with 14 day travel times.

Observed Fire Behavior: There was no spread of the fire. Concerns continue for rollout, snags and wind. There was increased lightning activity with no resulting fire activity.

Planned Actions: Continue line construction with air operations in support of containment. Fire suppression repair and damage inspection will continue.

BIG MEADOW CA-YNP-3660 7,240 acres 70% contained. An Evacuation order remains in effect for the community of Foresta. Light activity with fire creeping and backing along active divisions. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday.
Progress was made on the spots east and west of Tamarack Creek. Control lines held overnight. Total personnel assigned is 1,280.

Significant Events: All existing lines held today the major accomplishments was burning out the lines in Divisions B and Cs which is the Northwest corner of the fire in the vicinity of Crane Flat.

Remarks: There are significant patches of brush along roadsides including Tioga Rd. and in Tamarack Creek area that have a high probability of ignition. This was the cause of the increase in acreage yesterday.

Observed Fire Behavior: Fire behavior was moderated due to moisture created by Hurricane Ignacio

Planned Actions: Continue mop-up in Divisions A, Z, and Y. In Divisions B and C increase the depth of the burnout operations and develop a plan for the containment of division F.

MORRIS, Angeles NF. 2,168 acres, 95% Five miles north of Azusa, CA. Chaparral. Creeping and smoldering. No new information. Last report unless new information is received.

Northern California Area (PL 3)
New fires: 11
New large fires: 0
Uncontained large fires: 2

Kaunakakai, 7,800 acres, 50%. Maui FD. One mile north of Kaunakakai, HI. Timber, brush and grass. Moderate fire activity. Residences threatened.

Red Rock, 1,382 acres 90%. Klamath NF. Fifteen miles west of Fort Jones, CA. Timber with heavy dead and down fuels. Minimal
fire activity.

CALIFORNIA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
950 AM PDT THU SEP 03 2009

ANOTHER VERY WARM/HOT DAY IS EXPECTED OVER INTERIOR NORCAL TODAY AS
THE KOAK AND KREV MORNING RAOBS INDICATE SLIGHT WARMING FROM
YESTERDAY. THERE IS ONLY A HINT OF A DELTA BREEZE...BUT THAT WON`T
HELP THE INTERIOR VLY AS THE MARINE LAYER HAS BEEN SQUASHED TO ABOUT
500-600 FT. THE SHORT WAVE TROF THAT MOVED ACROSS ORE AND IS NOW
LIFTING NEWD INTO SRN B.C. BROUGHT ABOUT 5 DEG OF COOLING TO THE
KMFR RAOB. THUS...OVER OUR FAR NRN MTNS SLIGHT COOLING IS EXPECTED
TODAY.

A BIG-TIME COOLING TREND IS FORECAST THROUGH THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND AS
LOW PRESSURE FROM THE GOA AND NERN PAC PROGRESSES EWD. MAX TEMPS ARE
FORECAST TO LOWER TO ABOUT 5 TO 10 DEG BELOW NORMAL FOR SAT/SUN WITH
A SLIGHT MODIFICATION IN TEMPS FOR THE HOLIDAY ON MON. WATER VAPOR
IMAGERY INDICATES THE INITIAL SHORT WAVE VCNTY OF 45N/140W WILL BE
NEARING THE COAST THRU FRI PROVIDING THE INITIAL COOLING OF
GENERALLY 3-6 DEG. THEN THE GOA LOW ITSELF IS FORECAST TO MOVE
TOWARDS VCRISL THRU SUN PROVIDING ANOTHER 3 TO 8 DEG OF COOLING ON
SAT...WITH ADDITIONAL COOLING ON SUN. THE 03/00Z GUIDANCE INDICATED
SLIGHT MODIFICATION OF TEMPS ON SUN...BUT WE EXPECT THE 03/12Z
GUIDANCE TO COME IN A LITTLE COOLER. LOOKING AT ETA BUFKIT
DATA...THE MARINE LAYER IS FORECAST TO DEEPEN A LITTLE MORE
SIGNIFICANTLY TO ALMOST 2 KFT...SO WE EXPECT MORE OF THE MARINE
INFLUENCE TO PERSIST OVER THE INTERIOR OF NORCAL ON SUN THAN
PREVIOUSLY FORECAST.

RELATIVELY SHALLOW LAYER OF MOISTURE OVER THE SIERNEV EXPECTED TO
RESULT IN CUMULUS OVER THE MTNS THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...OTHERWISE
WE EXPECT MOISTURE TO INCREASE SAT AFTN INTO SUN OVER NORCAL WITH
THE APPROACHING UPPER TROF. GFS CROSS SECTION FORECASTS MOISTURE IN
THE 850-700 MBS LAYER TO INCREASE OVER OUR NRN MTNS SAT NITE INTO
SUN MORNING WHICH MAY RESULT IN LIGHT SHOWERS.

AFTER TUE...HIGH PRESSURE FROM THE DESERT SW AND ERN PAC IS FORECAST
TO BUILD OVER THE REGION WARMING TEMPS TO NEAR OR ABOVE NORMAL.