Quick Look: California Wildfires and News today

News and Notes: National Preparedness Level 4 

Four MAFFS C-130 aircraft and support personnel from the 146th Airlift Wing, Channel Islands (California Air National Guard), and the 302nd Airlift Wing, Colorado Springs (US Air Force Reserve) are supporting wildland fire suppression operations out of Boise, ID.


CAL FIRE released 2012 - 2017 Strategic Plan: http://www.fire.ca.gov/about/about_StrategicPlan.php


VERY HOT WEATHER STAY HYDRATED, DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS

Weather: FIRE WEATHER - LCES - 10 Standard Fire Orders - 18 Watchout Situations




URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR 348 AM PDT FRI AUG 10 2012
WHAT: THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEDFORD HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FOR BOTH SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND SUNDAY AFTERNOON. 
HOT...DRY AND UNSTABLE THIS WEEKEND OVER ONGOING FIRES IN LAKE...KLAMATH AND MODOC COUNTIES.. .AN UPPER RIDGE WILL BUILD OVER THE REGION THIS WEEKEND. DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS MAY LEAD TO HAINES 6 ACROSS MODOC COUNTY AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF LAKE AND KLAMATH COUNTIES...WHICH MAY PROMOTE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF EXISTING FIRES. WHILE THESE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE ALL WEEKEND...THE POTENTIAL LOOKS GREATEST ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON. 


 TEMPERATURES/HUMIDITY: HIGHS OF 90 TO 100 WITH MINIMUM AFTERNOON HUMIDITIES OF 5 TO 10 PERCENT
WHERE:  MODOC COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE SURPRISE VALLEY - KLAMATH BASIN AND THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST- SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON DESERT INCLUDING THE BLM LAND IN EASTERN LAKE AND WESTERN HARNEY COUNTIES- FIRE ZONES 624. ..625 AND 285
WHEN: FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR HAINES INDEX AT LEAST 5 AND MAY REACH 6 SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND SUNDAY AFTERNOON. *


IMPACTS: HOT DRY WEATHER COMBINED WITH HAINES 6 WILL PROMOTE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF EXISTING FIRES ESPECIALLY THE MDF LAKE COMPLEX AND BARRY POINT FIRES. 


A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS.



EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR GREATER LOS ANGELES  AND VENTURA COUNTY AREA.

 EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING FOR PORTIONS OF THE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS OF SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA...
 A HOT AIR MASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE OVER THE AREA DUE TO HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE REGION. ANOTHER VERY HOT DAY WILL OCCUR TODAY IN MOST AREAS. HEAT INDEX VALUES...WHICH TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE AIR TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY...ARE EXPECTED TO REACH OR EXCEED 105 DEGREES AGAIN IN MANY VALLEY LOCATIONS IN LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES TODAY AND OVER 100 DEGREES IN THE LOWER MOUNTAIN ELEVATIONS...MOSTLY BELOW 4000 FEET.

* HEAT INDEX VALUES...BETWEEN 103 AND 108. THE HIGHEST VALUES WILL OCCUR IN THE WESTERN SAN FERNANDO VALLEY...SAN GABRIEL VALLEY FOOTHILLS...EASTERN SANTA CLARITA VALLEY AND IN THE OJAI VALLEY. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL BE BETWEEN 70 AND 80 DEGREES.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE.

 AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.
 NEVER EVER LEAVE CHILDREN... THE ELDERLY OR PETS IN ENCLOSED AUTOMOBILES...EVEN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. EVEN IF THE WINDOWS ARE PARTIALLY OPEN... TEMPERATURES CAN QUICKLY RISE TO LIFE-THREATENING LEVELS.
 TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS.
 ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY - CALL 911.California Wildfires Today:


California Wildfires Today - Map

OSCC

CA-MVU Chihuahua Complex Wildfire: 900 acres - 5% contained  
Operational notes: 6 tankers and 6 copters for day shift today. 4 HC S/T, 6 Type 3 Eng S/T, 5 Doz S/T (any type), 4 Doz Type 2, misc OH pending
Date/Time Started: August 9, 2012 1:13 pm
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE San Diego Unit
County: San Diego County
Location: Chihuahua Valley Road, Northwest of Warner Springs
Acres Burned: 900 acres
Containment 900 acres - 5% contained
Evacuations: Mandatory evacuations for the Chihuahua Valley Road area
Total Fire Personnel: 230 (150 CAL FIRE)
Engines: 15 (7 CAL FIRE)
Fire crews: 12 (12 CAL FIRE)
Airtankers: 3
Helicopters: 6 (2 CAL FIRE)
Dozers: 3 (3 CAL FIRE)
Water tenders: 4
Conditions: The Chihuahua Fire is still 900 acres and now 5% contained. There are mandatory evacuations for residents on Chihuahua Valley Road. An evacuation center is set up at the Warner Springs School off of Hwy 79. 
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CA-OVD Indian Fire 16,000 acres, 15% contained.
VS-OVD-00942, The fire is burning in Sage Grouse habitat, and the Granite Mountain Wilderness
Control issues are; drought, inaccessible terrain, and thunderstorms,
Location: Southeast of Mono Lake Highway 120 and Baxter Spring, Southeast of Mono Lake FRA-BLM-Owens Valley Desert District (OVD)
Start Date: 08/08/12 @ 1420 hours
ROS: Rapid
ROC: sage potential for 7,000 acres,
* Threat to the Granite Mountain Wilderness, Sage Grouse habitat,
cultural areas, Recreational areas, and watershed.
Online Scanner: http://www.radioreference.com/apps/a...=wp&feedId=791
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CA-STF- Wheats Fire; 260 acres 80% contained.
CA-STF-02863, southeast of Spicer Reservoir, Tuolumne County
260 acres, 80% contained. Fire was active with some spot fires and isolated torching.
A trail closure is in effect for those trails adjacent to the fire.
IC Jerry Snyder Phone: 209-532-3671 ext. 244
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CA-SQF- Piute Complex; 1,799 acres 90% contained.
 CA-SQF-2476, 12 miles south of Lake Isabella.
Significant Events: Saddle Springs Road, Piute Mountain Road, and Long Valley Trail continue to have closure restrictions.
Remarks:
 Clear Incident: Infrared shows fire activity mostly in Div. L. A hose lay has been established along the fires edge to the southwest with a retardant line coming from Division M. with crew support. Forward movement was stopped due to air support. Crews will continue to spike out on the Clear incident to reduce long travel time from the ICP. A demobilization glide path has been established and is being implemented.
Heald Incident: Continuing to hold in place. Demobilization of Type 1 crews, aircraft and engines will continue tomorrow. Transition back to the Forest tentatively scheduled for 0600, Saturday, 8/11/12.
Observed Fire Behavior: Clear Incident: Smoldering and areas of isolated heat. Heald Incident: Minimal activity, some isolated interior heat and hot spots.
Planned Actions: Clear Incident: Crews will continue to secure, mopup, repair fireline and retrieve hose along all Divisions. Heald Incident: Will be in patrol status. ICP: Prepare for Saturday transition.
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CA-SNF- Bear Fire; 700 acres 50% contained.
CA-SNF-1940, Fresno County, south of Edison Lake.
 Fire is burning in bear clover, heavy timber, and brush. Minimal spread today with some single tree smoldering.
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CA-RRU- Taffle Wildfire:   6 acres, 100% contained.
Incident Location: Red Mountain Rd X Taffle Ranch Rd, Hemet
One residential mobile home, one outbuilding and one vehicle was damaged.
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  CA-RRU- Wesley Wildfire:   14 acres and 100% contained 
Name: Wesley Fire
County: Riverside County
Location: Wesley Street at Grand Ave
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Riverside Unit
Status/Notes: 14 acres and 100% contained
Date Started: August 9, 2012 12:54 pm
Last update: August 9, 2012 3:45 pm
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August Lightning Fires / Wildfires:  
 Lightning storms passing through southern California mountains started at least 10 small lightning related fires in the San Bernardino National Forest.
Fire Name:
Hog - 12:01 pm - near Hog Lake Road Forest Road 6S18 Thomas Mountain Area - 5'x5' spot - fire knocked down.
Peak - 12:41 pm - 1 mile north of Morton Peak Lookout on Forest Road 1N12 - 1/10 acre
Oaks - 1:11 pm - near mile marker 22 near Glass Road east of Angelus Oaks - 10'x10' spot - one lane of Hwy 38 closed.
Slide - 1:48 pm - near Slide Peak Flats - 2:29 pm - near Barton Flats 
Tahquitz - 2:33 pm - Near Camp Tahquitz near Barton Flats
Filaree - 2:49 pm - Forest Road 1N09 approx 1 mile north of Angelus Oaks - false alarm
Cedar - 2:58 pm - Camp Cedar Falls Area east of Angelus Oaks
Hunting - 3:18 pm - North side of Thomas Hunting Grounds off Forest Road 1N12 West of Angelus Oaks
Keller - 3:58 pm - east side of Bear Creek Drainage Bear - 4:02 pm - west side of Bear...
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ONCC

CA-TCU- Armario Wildfire: 30 acres and 65% contained 
Date/Time Started: August 7, 2012 6:30 pm
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit
County: Tuolumne County
Location: north of Tuolumne Rd in Soulsbyville
Acres Burned: 30 acres
Containment 30 acres and 65% contained
Full containment expected at 7 pm tonight.
Structures Destroyed: Two residential structures, five outbuildings, and multiple vehicles.
Total Fire Personnel: 232 (52 CAL FIRE)
Engines: 21 (5 CAL FIRE)
Fire crews: 7 (2 CAL FIRE)
Airtankers: 0
Helicopters: 2
Dozers: 2
Water tenders: 3
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CA-KNF- Fort Complex Wildfires:  
 The Goff Fire, burning on the Happy Camp Oak Knoll Ranger District of the Klamath Natioanl Forest has been complexed with two other nearby fires. The Hello Fire in the Red Buttes Wilderness and the Lick Fire burning 10 miles east of the Red Buttes Wilderness in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest together with the Goff Fire are now called the Fort Complex.These fires are burning in extremely steep and inacessible terrain north and northeast of Seiad Valley, California in California. A type 2 incident management team arrived in Yreka, California yesterday to assess these fires and develop a suppression
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MDF Lake Complex Wildfires: 1,666 acres, 80 % 
 This fire is 30 miles northwest of Alturas.(Modoc National Forest)
Structures are threatened. 
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CA-SNF- Bear Fire  Lightning fires / Wildfires: 700 acres, 50% 
Seven lightning fires occurred Saturday on the Sierra National Forest, two of which combined to create a 700 acre fire - dubbed the "Bear Fire." 
 The fire is located in the John Muir Wilderness between Edison and Florence Lake, just south of Bear Diversion Dam near Bear Dome, ranging from 7500 to 9000 ft. elevation. 
 Potential direction of spread is south, southeast. The fire is approximately .25 miles from Poison Meadow and .5 miles from the San Juaquin River.
Fire behavior today is a slow rate of spread and holding at current lines. Fire crews are making progress with direct line construction and aircraft support.
The fire is currently at fifty percent containment, zero structures threatened, one injury and has approximately 100+ resources.
 Estimated containment date is 12 Aug.-Ten smoke jumpers, four Type-2 crews from Fresno and Porterville, four rotary and four fixed-wing aircraft are working to contain the fires growth.
Note: Type-2 crews consist of: 18 to 20 firefighters. 

CA-LNF- Reading Wildfire:  9,063 acres and 5% contained.  
 Late yesterday, a spot fire got established at the base of West Prospect Peak. Due to very dry fuel conditions, firefighters have contended with the fire spotting across the lines. This fire is very actively burning and will continue to produce smoke that may affect areas within the Park and communities outside the Park including, Shingletown, Burney, Old Station to Hat Creek, Mineral, Chester and possibly over into the Susanville area.
Closures: In the interest of public safety Summit Lake Campground has been closed due to increased fire suppression activities in the area. The main park highway (Hwy 89) continues to be closed for from Chaos Crags to Kings Creek. Lost Creek, Crags, Summit Lake campgrounds are closed.
Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin Monday July 23rd, 2012 approx. 05:09 PM
Location 14 miles south of Old Station
Incident Commander Paul Whitcome
Current Situation
Total Personnel 763
Size 9,063 acres
Percent Contained 5%
Estimated Containment Date Saturday August 11th, 2012 approx. 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved - The fire is burning in mixed conifer and red fir overstory with pine mat manzanita and a variable understory fuel loading of dead and down materials.
Fire Behavior - Nighttime fire behavior showed actively burning heavy timber and brush fuels with low rates of spread and isolated tree torching.
Significant Events - Late yesterday, a spot fire got established at the base of West Prospect Peak. The main park highway continues to be closed for six miles from Chaos Crags to Kings Creek. Several USFS roads and trails south of Highway 44 and east of highway 89 in the vicinity of Old Station have been closed. Lost Creek, Crags and Summit Lake campgrounds remain closed. Portions of the Pacific Crest, Paradise Meadows, and Terrace Lakes trails remain closed.
Outlook / Planned Actions - Secure line and mop up in Divisions A & B. Continue indirect line in Divisions C & X/Y. Scout for additional secondary control lines. Evaluate and prepare for structure protection.
Growth Potential - High
Terrain Difficulty - Medium
Remarks - NPS Acres = 7,777 USFS acres = 1,284 Note: NPS and BLM type 2 crews listed in Block 43 are 10-person wildland fire modules
Current Weather
Wind Conditions 5 mph NE
Temperature 55 degrees
Humidity 30%
Lassen Fire Closure Order 06-12-04 Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/lassen/notices/?cid=STELPRDB5385368 -----

LCES - 10 Standard Fire Orders - 18 Watchout Situations

California Fire News 2012 

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