Quick Look California Wildfires Today

 Major Injury Accident: A CAL FIRE firefighter sustained a major injury at the Penn Wildfire while engaged in firefighting operations off Skunk Ranch Road in the early hours of the fire. 
 The firefighter and a CAL FIRE engine were struck by a civilian motorist on Skunk Ranch Road. The CAL FIRE firefighter was transported by helicopter to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto for treatment. He is currently undergoing surgery for his injuries.
 The civilian motorist declined treatment at the scene. 
 The CAL FIRE engine sustained moderate damage. 
 An investigation into the accident and subsequent injury is being conducted by the California Highway Patrol. 
 CAL FIRE has activated a serious accident review team as part of standard departmental procedures for injuries and vehicle damage of this nature.


Fire Weather: No Current Fire Weather Watches Or Warnings In California NWS Current Fire Weather Watches / Warnings

   Per the National Interagency Coordination Center effective immediately the National Preparedness Level is being reduced to 2 (PL2). 
 Demobilization of all resource types is occurring in most geographical areas. Initial attack capability is high in most areas and competition for resources between geographical areas is non-existent.
 Although areas are experiencing hot and dry conditions, NICC is not seeing a high risk for significant fires in the short term. Large fire activity has been decreasing daily and containment dates of existing large fires are in the near future.   The Southern Geographic Area issued a Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory for the "Potential for Extreme Fire Behavior, Potential for Long Term Burning and resistance to control" for areas of Oklahoma and Arkansas. http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/fuels_fire-danger/SAFuelsFire_behavior_advisory_7_25_2012.pdf There are currently Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisories isssued for the Northwest, Western Great Basin, Eastern Great Basin,Northern Rockies, Southern, and Eastern (1 for IL, WI, IN, and MI, 1 for MO, IN & IL) Geographic Areas.
 The NIFC Predictive Services' Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisories webpage is http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/fuels_fire-danger/fuels_advisories.htm  Cal Fire firefighter who was seriously injured while on scene of a fire in the Sierra foothills Wednesday afternoon is recovering after surgery.  Cal Fire said that five-year veteran Nathan Fyock was hit by a car off of Skunk Ranch road while at the fire in Murphys. Fyock, 39, continues to receive treatment at Memorial Medical Center in Modesto. Officials said that the firefighter was taken by air ambulance to the hospital where he underwent surgery.  The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. Cal Fire said a driver also hit a fire engine.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES TODAY: Eureka (Wildfire) Location: Plumas National Forest - Eureka Ridge Area 
GPS: 39.84 latitude, -120.744 longitude
Situation: Incident Commander reports very good progress; fire is holding at 5 acres at 7:00pm.  Burning in timber/timber litter. 
Smoke visible from CA State Highway 70. Additional resources cancelled. Smoke will continue as interior of fire area burns.
Resources: Air tankers and helicopters on scene in addition to 5 engines, 20 person handcrew, dozer, and numerous single resources. Another hot shot crew will be on scene soon. 
Cascade (Wildfire) CA-YNP-1473 Location:  Yosemite National Park
 This is a lightning caused fire, in Yosemite’s high elevation Wilderness.  Fire is burning between two upper forks of the Cascade Creek, The fire has grown to 109 acres.
Situation: It is burning in a short needle red fir forest. The southern perimeter edge is the most active with occasional 6 to 12 inch flame lengths during the hottest part of the day. Currently, the fire poses no threat to trails, park service buildings, infrastructure or roads, cultural or natural resources.Resources:  Firefighters continue to monitor and scout the fire to determine the potential in growth and spread direction.

Graham  (Wildfire) CA-TCU-6808 CAL FIRE ICT 8 (Veneris) has been activated for the CA-TCU Penn/Graham fires
Location: Clements Road / Community of Groveland.Situation: Fire has burned 100 acres, and is 20% Containment.Fire is burning deep in the Tuolumne River Canyon, was 20 percent contained as of Thursday evening.  A Cal Fire incident update overnight said about 20 homes were threatened and that residents were urged to voluntarily leave their homes. Evacuation warning was issued for homes on Clements Road, from Cliffton Way to the end of Clements Road, by the Pine Mountain Lake Airport.

Penn (Wildfire) CA-TCU-8609 CAL FIRE ICT 8 (Veneris) has been activated for the CA-TCU Penn/Graham fires.Location:  Pennsylvania Gulch / Community of Murphy’sSituation: Fire has burned 134 acres, and is 60% containment.

Adobe (Wildfire) CA-INF-846 Location:  NE/O Mono Lake
Situation: Fire is 8-10 acres, 0% containment. The forward rate of spread has been slowed, however there are some areas of isolated torching. Fire is burning in Pinyon & Juniper on right flank and sage on left flank. 
Resources: Firefighters are being shuttled in to fire by helicopter. Access problems are hampering suppression efforts. Jumper 52 with eight smoke jumpers has jumped this fire. Values at risk are watershed and wilderness.
California Fire News 2012 

Tweet - Follow @CalFireNews