Sunday, August 5, 2012

Quick Look California fires Today - Fire Weather

 News: Several Forest in the GACC is experiencing increased activity due to lightning.
Estimate seven to ten new lightning fires. All fires are staffed.

Notes: Fire Girl EBook To Benefit Wildland Firefighter Foundation Foundation: Jan Mendoza started fighting fire in 1978 when she was 18 years old in Northern California for the California Department of Forestry. Jan was 5'2", weighed 95 pounds, and surprised herself as well as her fellow firefighters in her abilities, stamina and determination. Over thirty years later she ...
Read More at http://www.wffoundation.org/News.asp?NewsID=204


Never Forget: 
August 5, 2008 – Buckhorn Fire (Iron 44)
Today marks 4 years since one of the worst wildland firefighting tragedies occurred in our Geographic Area - the "Iron 44" helicopter crash.
On August 5, 2008, a helicopter crash on the Buckhorn Fire, Shasta-Trinity NF claimed the lives of 9 firefighters: Grayback crewmembers Shawn Blazer, Scott Charleson, Matthew Hammer, Edrik Gomez, Bryan Rich, Stephen Renno, and David Steele, pilot Roark Schwanenberg, and USFS pilot inspector Jim Ramage. For more information, visithttp://www.wlfalwaysremember.org/incident-lists/202-iron-44.html

August 5, 1949 – Mann Gulch Fire
On August 5, 1949, a wildfire in Mann Gulch, Helena NF (MT) killed 12 Missoula Smokejumpers and 1 Fire Guard when the fire ran up a SW slope. The tragedy led to the study of fire behavior and the creation of wildland fire research centers in MT and CA. For more information, visit http://www.wlfalwaysremember.org/incident-lists/230-mann-gulch.html 



Weather: URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGERED FLAG WARNING - FIRE WEATHER - THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN NEVADA TODAY

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING
FOR THUNDERSTORMS AND STRONG OUTFLOW WINDS FOR EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY - THE SURPRISE VALLEY AND NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY
.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA - EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY - NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY 654 AM PDT SUN AUG 5 2012
 A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO BRING A THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. STORMS WILL MOVE QUICKLY AND THUS BE CAPABLE OF LIGHTNING WITH ONLY LIMITED RAINFALL.
GUSTY WEST WINDS ALONG THE SIERRA FRONT FROM RENO AND CARSON CITY TO SUSANVLLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE CAPABLE OF PUSHING ANY HOLDOVER FIRES FOR A FEW HOURS.

 AFFECTED AREA: FIRE ZONE 270 SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA - FIRE ZONE 278 EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY AND FIRE ZONE 458 NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY. 
 THUNDERSTORMS: ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS.
 OUTFLOW WINDS: ERRATIC GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH NEAR STORMS.
 IMPACTS: LIGHTNING MAY CREATE NEW FIRE STARTS AND COMBINE WITH STRONG OUTFLOW WINDS TO PRODUCE RAPID FIRE GROWTH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR. CONTINUE TO CHECK 
WWW.WEATHER .GOV/RENO FOR UPDATES.

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 654 AM PDT SUN AUG 5 2012
WESTERN LASSEN - EASTERN PLUMAS - EASTERN SIERRA - EASTERN NEVADA COUNTIES
 THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN NEVADA TODAY.  A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO BRING A THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS TODAY.
 STORMS WILL MOVE QUICKLY AND THUS BE CAPABLE OF LIGHTNING WITH ONLY LIMITED RAINFALL. 
GUSTY WEST WINDS ALONG THE SIERRA FRONT FROM RENO AND CARSON CITY TO SUSANVILLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE CAPABLE OF PUSHING ANY HOLDOVER FIRES FOR A FEW HOURS.

 URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
654 AM PDT SUN AUG 5 2012 
 RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR THUNDERSTORMS AND STRONG OUTFLOW WINDS
WESTERN LASSEN - EASTERN PLUMAS - EASTERN SIERRA AND EASTERN NEVADA COUNTIES.
AFFECTED AREA: FIRE ZONE 271 WESTERN LASSEN - EASTERN PLUMAS - EASTERN SIERRA - EASTERN NEVADA COUNTIES. 
 THUNDERSTORMS: ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON MAINLY NORTH OF SUSANVILLE.
 OUTFLOW WINDS: ERRATIC GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH NEAR STORMS.
 IMPACTS: LIGHTNING MAY CREATE NEW FIRE STARTS AND COMBINE WITH STRONG OUTFLOW WINDS TO PRODUCE RAPID FIRE GROWTH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR. 


California Wildfires Today:
OSCC

CA-SLU- Piute Complex Vegetation Fire, 400 acres 0% contained.

CA-SQF-2476 - Piute Mountain, Lake Isabella, Kern County
Central Sierra (Coopers) Type 2 IMT assigned.
Central Sierra (Coopers) Type 2 IMT In Brief 0900 Kernville Dist. Office
ICP USFS camp 9, North of Kernville proper
Values at risk: Water Shed, recreation, and timber.
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CA-SLU- Caliente Vegetation Fire, 149 acres 100% contained.
CA-SLU-006239 San Luis Obispo County
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CA-SQF - Clear Wildfire 400 acres, no containment is estimated at this time.

 12 Miles South of Lake Isabella the Clear Fire is believed to be a lightning fire. Multiple lightning strikes occurred in the surrounding area late Friday night August 3. The fire was initially reported the following day, Saturday August 4, around 12:30 pm. The fire is burning near the Clear Creek Drainage in the Piute Mountain area of the Sequoia National Forest, south of the town of Lake Isabella.
  •  It was initially sized up to be 2 to 5 acres in brush and grass moving at a moderate to rapid rate of spread. As of 5:30 pm it is estimated to be 300 acres in size.
  • Firefighters are actively fighting the fire, with ground and air resources.
  • No containment is estimated at this time.
  • Structure protection will be in place for the community of Valley View.
Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin Saturday August 04th, 2012 approx. 12:30 PM
Location 12 Miles South of Lake Isabella
Incident Commander Steve Griffin
Current Situation
Size - 400 acres
Fuels Involved - 5 Brush (2 Feet) GRASS, BRUSH AND TIMBER IN THE HIGHER COUNTRY
Fire Behavior - Short Runs with Spotting
Outlook / Planned Actions - Continue direct line construction
Growth Potential - Medium growth potential
Terrain Difficulty - High difficulty of terrain
Remarks - LIGHTNING FIRES STARTED TO OCCURE AT 0700 THIS MORNING FOR A TOTAL OF 8 FIRES. THE LARGEST 2 ARE THE CLEAR FIRE AND THE HEALD FIRE AT, OTHER FIRES RANGE IN SIZE FROM .1 AC TO 15 ACRES.
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SQF- HealdNew Lightning Start
 Central Sierra (Coopers) Type 2 IMT In Brief 0900 Kernville Dist. Office
ICP - USFS camp 9, North of Kernville proper
Values at risk - Water Shed, recreation, and timber.
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FKU- Ridge 10 acres, 0 % Contained SRA
 CA-FKU-009857 Los Gatos x Derrick, San Joaquin Ridge Area B-15, N of Coalinga)
Mod to Rapid Rate of Spread
Values at risk: No Threat to communities, power lines, valued resources
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FKU- Creek  5 acres, 0 % Contained
 CA- FKU-009845
Jacalitos Creek x Dead Man Canyon, South of Coalinga SRA
Slow Rate of Spread
Unable to make access with Engines
Hiking crews in with air support
Values at risk: No threat to communities, power lines or valued resources
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CA-KNF Dillon Fire. 330 acres, 80% contained.

 CA-RRU- Volcano Fire, 355 acres, 95% contained.
CA-RRU-075254, , Riverside County, Tenaja Road and Via Volcano, Northwest of Murrieta
Structures Destroyed: 1
Cause: Equipment use
Cooperating Agencies: CAL FIRE/Riverside, CAL FIRE/San Diego, Los Angeles County Fire Dept, March ARB, Murrieta Fire Protection District,
Total Fire Personnel: 327
Engines: 39
Fire crews: 11
Airtankers: 6
Helicopters: 7
Dozers: 3
Water tenders: 4
Conditions: Day assignment is on scene working toward constructing containment lines and patroling fire area for hot spots.


CURRENT SITUATION
Update 8/5/2012 8:45 a.m. : Fire remains 95% contained and 355 acres. 2 engines and 1 fire crew assigned today. 
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ONCC

CA-PNF- CHIPS Wildfire, 9,231 acres, 0% contained 
Firefighters made good progress today on the indirect line construction on the Chips fire. Due to the safety considerations related to the extremely steep, rocky, and inaccessible terrain, fire crews are not able to safely construct direct fire line.
Ten miles of indirect hand line and seven miles of indirect dozer line have been completed.
 The objective is to suppress the fire.
 Crews are doing everything they can to safely suppress the fire as quickly and efficiently as possible. 
 Crews are available to assist the Plumas and Lassen National Forests with initial attack for any new fire starts around the fire area. 
 Tonight, firefighters will continue to patrol along Highway 70 and Caribou Road and provide structure protection for residences and businesses around and near Belden. 
 Yesterday, the fire moved steadily to the northeast underneath the smoke layer and continued backing down into the Indian and Yellow Creek drainages.
 Threatened critical infrastructure including the Red Hill Communications site which services critical communications for various emergency services and related agencies continues to be threatened; fuels treatment around this key comm site is limited 
 critical resources identified in block 28 are necessary to complete planned containment lines as well as prepping and protecting the infrastructure.
 Private timber plantations and stands of timber are currently or soon will be impacted. 
 Problems/concerns: concerns continue to include the snag loading (50-100 per acre) in and near the fire perimeter; the large dead and down logs and debris, combined with very difficult access (road and foot travel) for resources reduces the ability of taking direct action on flanks.
hips 
  Chips Fire Information Phones: (530)283-7882/-7883/-7884

CA-STF- SALT Wildfire, 980 acres, 100%
The fire is located on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest (Shasta Lake Ranger District) approximately 20 miles north of Redding along Interstate 5.

NorCal Team 2 (Joe Molhoek, Incident Commander) continues to manage the Salt Creek Fire. Fire line has been established completely around the Salt Creek Fire, meaning it is 100% "contained". The public will continue to see smoke from the fire. Isolated pockets of unburned vegetation may ignite, producing columns of smoke visible from surrounding areas. Firefighters and equipment will remain on the fire to mop up and strengthen and secure fire lines. When there is no longer a foreseeable threat of the fire escaping the containment lines, the fire will be called "controlled".

Fire suppression repair has been initiated and additional needs continue to be identified with the local Forest Resource Advisors. A significant lightning and thunderstorm event is predicted through Sunday afternoon which may bring strong down drafts and erratic winds. Firefighters are prepared for potential increased initial attack due to the predicted lightning activity. For additional fire information, visit http://www.inciweb.org/.

Fire Investigators are interested in your help. If you have any information about the cause of the fire, please call the tip line at 530-226-2766.

Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin Wednesday August 01st, 2012 approx. 01:38 PM
Location Along I-5 in the Salt Creek & Gilman Road area
Incident Commander Joe Molhoek
Salt Creek Incident Command Post
Phone: 530 242 5546
Hours: 8 am to 8 pm

Current Situation
Total Personnel 526
Size 980 acres
Percent Contained 100%
Estimated Containment Date Saturday August 04th, 2012 approx. 06:00 PM
Fuels Involved - Hardwood litter with mixed conifer and chapparal.
Fire Behavior - Fire behavior is creeping and smoldering.
Significant Events - In all divisions, fire crews continue to patrol. Suppression resources remain available to assist the Shasta Trinity National Forest with initial attack of any new fires.
Outlook / Planned Actions - Actions planned include continued mop-up 300 feet and patrol in all Divisions. Resources will be available to the Shasta Trinity National Forest to assist and respond for initial attack of any new fires.
 Demobilization of excess firefighters and support personnel continues.
 Suppression repair will begin.
Growth Potential - Low
Terrain Difficulty - High
Remarks - The Shasta Trinity National Forest Type 3 organization will shadow today. There will be a transition meeting with NorCal Team 2 and the Type 3 organization at 2 p.m. today.
Current Weather
Wind Conditions 20 mph SE
Temperature 70 degrees
Humidity 52%
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CA-CZU- Las Cumbres Fire, 7 acres - 100% contained
County: Santa Cruz County
Location: Off Deer Creek Rd in Las Cumbres, west of Los Gatos
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit
Date Started: August 4, 2012 7:17 am
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 LCES - 10 Standard Fire Orders - 18 Watchout Situations 
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****REMINDER**** Every fire has the ability to be catastrophic. The wildland fire management environment has profoundly changed. Growing numbers of communities, across the nation, are experiencing longer fire seasons; more frequent, bigger, and more severe, fires are a real threat. Be careful with all campfires and equipment.

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer." --Abraham Lincoln

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