CA-SQF-George Wildfire 1,707 acres, 85% cont. (Predicted Wind Event)

Friday, June 8, 2012

CA-SQF-George Wildfire 1,707 acres, 85% cont. (Predicted Wind Event)

Started: June 1, 2012
Location: Sequoia National Forest in the Freeman Creek Giant Sequoia Grove near the George Bush Tree
Acres Burned: 1,800
Structures Threatened: 25
Containment: 65%
Structures Destroyed: 0
Injuries: 0
Fuels: Timber with a mixed conifer understory. Fire has moved away from the Freeman Creek Giant Sequoia Grove. The fire is now burning into the Golden Trout Wilderness Area.
Cause: Under investigation, To report information regarding the cause of the George Fire please contact the Forest Service hot line number (559)294-4894. Your information will be kept confidential.
Total personnel assigned to the Fire: 710 - Demob continues.
Closures: To ensure safety of visitors, fire officials closed the Freeman Creek Trail (32E20), Lloyd Meadow Road (FS22S82) north of Peppermint Campground, including both Jerkey Meadow and Forks of the Kern Trailheads. These areas will remain closed until fire officials determine they are safe for travel.

Update: 06/09 1900 George Fire, CA-SQF-1834 Tulare County Giant Sequoia National Monument.
Central Sierra (Cooper) Type 2 IMT remains in command
Fire remains at 1,707 acres, and is 85% percent contained.
Change in acreage due to better mapping.
SCSIIMT (IC Cooper) and SQF Type 3 Organization IC (Carothers) signed Transition Plan today. Type 3 Organization set to take over incident at 0600 on 06/10/12. No structures threatened at this point. Fire continued to smolder and rollout near escarpment area making short uphill runs possible. Interior islands continued to flare-up. Rollout material in steep ground still presents a safety concern for firefighters. Fire suppression repair continues.

Update: 06/09 0800 George Fire, CA-SQF-1834 Tulare County

Giant Sequoia National Monument. Fire remains at 1,800 acres, and is 70% percent contained. Central Sierra (Cooper) Type 2 IMT remains in command.
The transition process back to the District will begin today at 10:00 Hrs Fire crews who spent the night on the fire line observed little fire activity. Fire suppression activity will continues to focus on completing fire line in the steep and rugged terrain on the northeast part of the fire. Crews continue fire line suppression repair on parts of the fire where the fire line has been completed.

CA-SQF-George

Summary: Fire suppression activity focused on completing fire line in the steep and rugged terrain on the northeast and southeast parts of the fire. Additional Hotshot crews flown in by helicopter to support the crews that are already on the fire line. Crews will also continue with fire line suppression repair on parts of the fire where the fire line has been completed. Helicopters will continue to support the fire crews on the ground with water drops and logistical support on the fire line.

Wind Event: The National Weather Service is predicting a wind event that may bring high winds over the fire area. Fire managers have developed a plan and are staging resources in anticipation of the wind event. Hotshot fire hand crews have been spending the night on the fire line and ensuring the fire remains within its perimeter. The fire continued to burn actively through the night, debris continues to roll out and make up hill runs on Division X/C. Tentative transition back to the district has been delayed 24 hours due to the anticipated wind event. The additional crews have substantially increased fire line production at the right place and time.

Fire Line Suppression Repair: Firefighters will continue to work on fire line construction today on the northeast and southeast parts of the fire. Progress has been difficult due to crews working steep, rugged and rocky terrain. In some areas crews will utilize natural barriers to secure fire lines.

The objectives of fire line suppression repair are to minimize the potential for use of fire lines as future trails or confusion regarding proper route, and to minimize erosion and sediment movement on the fire line. When conducting rehabilitation efforts, firefighters must remove all signs of human activity. Firefighters ensure all equipment, supplies, trash, flagging, etc. are removed from lines, travel routes, camps and helispots.

More Information: If you would like more information about the George Fire please call the fire information line 951-225-4506.

California Fire News 2012
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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.

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Friday, June 8, 2012