“Motor Fire” Yosemite National Park Final Update 5,231 acres 60%

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

“Motor Fire” Yosemite National Park Final Update 5,231 acres 60%

“Motor Fire” – Sierra & Stanislaus National Forests

Fire Update #7 – August 30, 2011

Yosemite National Park is providing this information in cooperation with and support to the South Central Sierra Type II Team and the Sierra and Stanislaus National Forests.

Motor Fire (37.6625 x 119.8714; Sierra National Forest, Mariposa County): The Motor Fire began approximately 12:30 PM, August 25. It was started by a vehicle fire (recreational vehicle) on Hwy 140, along the Merced River and near Cedar Lodge. The fire quickly spread to Sierra and Stanislaus National Forest’s lands.

As of 12:30PM, August 30: This will be the last Motor Fire Update released from Yosemite National Park. The Incident Management Team will continue to provide Motor fire information updates.

Evacuation orders of Rancheria Flat, Incline RD, Cedar Lodge and local campgrounds were lifted at of 9:00pm 8/29/11. Highway 140 was reopened to all traffic at 6:00 am 8/30/11

Although residents are allowed back into their homes, the fire is an active incident. Residents and visitors to the area should remain alert to changing fire conditions.

Highway 140 is open, use caution when travelling in the area due to continuing fire suppression operations and the potential for debris (rocks, logs, etc.) on the roadway.

Fire Status:

The most active portion of the fire is on the north side of the Merced River in Moss Canyon
The fire has burned 5,231 acres and is 60% contained
Approximately 1,200 firefighters are on scene; however resources are being released.
Air operations may continue to work the fire.
Steep terrain and hot temperatures continue to make firefighting conditions difficult.

Although the fire is not located in Yosemite National Park, we have been happy to support the fire suppression efforts of the South Central Sierra Interagency IMT, Mariposa County, Sierra and Stanislaus National Forests, and California Highway Patrol. The park is thankful for their work and to the firefighters who continue to make this operation successful.

The fire information call center will shut down at 6:00pm 8/30/11. All further calls concerning the fire should be directed to the Team PIO (951) 225-4516.

More information can be found at: http://inciweb.org/incident/2520/

Turtleback web cam: http://ssgic.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/camHist11.pl?camera=turtleback_2&lastFrame=true

For Air Quality Information: http://www.mariposacounty.org/index.aspx?nid=89

California Fire News 2011

No comments:

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

Tuesday, August 30, 2011