Saturday, August 11, 2012

Quick Look: California Wildfires Today

    News and Notes:
  • National Preparedness Level 4 (PL-4)
  • CA IMT1 Team 3 (Pincha-Tulley) has been ordered for the CA-LNP Reading Fire. They will be replacing NorCal Team 1 (Whitcome), who will have been out on various assignments for 14 days. Target in-brief is tomorrow 8/12/12 at 1100 PDT. Target transfer of command is Monday 8/13/12.


Remember the Fallen on this date: 
On August 13, 1994, an air tanker crashed enroute to a wildfire in Kern County, California. Robert Buc, Joe Johnson, and Shawn Zaremba, the flight crew from the Hemet Valley Flying Service, were killed in the crash.  


Robert L. Buc -  Hemet Valley Flying Service
Cause of Death: Vehicle Collision - Includes Aircraft
Rank: Pilot
Nature of Death: Trauma
Classification: Wildland Contract
Emergency Duty: Yes
Incident Date: 08/13/1994
Duty Type: Responding
Activity Type: Driving/Operating Vehicle/Apparatus
Death Date: 08/13/1994
Fire Dept. Info: Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base
Hemet , California 92543
Final Summary: On August 13, 1994, an air tanker crashed enroute to a wildfire in Kern County, California. Robert Buc, Joe Johnson, and Shawn Zaremba, the flight crew from the Hemet Valley Flying Service, were killed in the crash. 
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Joe Johnson  Hemet Valley Flying Service 
Cause of Death: Vehicle Collision - Includes Aircraft
Rank: Pilot
Nature of Death: Trauma
Classification: Wildland Contract
Emergency Duty: Yes
Incident Date: 08/13/1994
Duty Type: Responding
Incident Time:
Activity Type: Driving/Operating Vehicle/Apparatus
Death Date: 08/13/1994
Fixed Prop. Use: Outdoor Property
Fire Dept. Info: Hemet Valley Flying Service
Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base
Hemet , California 92543
Final Summary: On August 13, 1994, an air tanker crashed enroute to a wildfire in Kern County, California. Robert Buc, Joe Johnson, and Shawn Zaremba, the flight crew from the Hemet Valley Flying Service, were killed in the crash.
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Shawn Zaremba -  Hemet Valley Flying Service
Cause of Death: Vehicle Collision - Includes Aircraft
Rank: Pilot
Nature of Death: Trauma
Classification: Wildland Contract
Emergency Duty: Yes
Incident Date: 08/13/1994
Duty Type: Responding
Incident Time:
Activity Type: Driving/Operating Vehicle/Apparatus
Death Date: 08/13/1994
Fixed Prop. Use: Outdoor Property
Fire Dept. Info:
Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base
Hemet , California 92543
Final Summary: On August 13, 1994, an air tanker crashed enroute to a wildfire in Kern County, California. Robert Buc, Joe Johnson, and Shawn Zaremba, the flight crew from the Hemet Valley Flying Service, were killed in the crash. 
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Curtis Ray Hillman, Sr. - United States Forest Service - Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Age: 77
Cause of Death: Fall
Rank: Equipment Operator - Firefighter
Nature of Death: Trauma
Classification: Wildland Contract
Emergency Duty: No
Incident Date: 08/25/2008
Duty Type: Other On-Duty
Incident Time:
Activity Type: Driving/Operating Vehicle/Apparatus
Death Date: 09/11/2008
Final Summary: Hillman, a member of the Karuk tribe, was operating a grader to improve road conditions and access for firefighters. They were working the Siskiyou and Blue 2 Complex of fires when Hillman was injured on August 25, 2008. Heavy Equipment Operator Hillman was working on forest roads 14 and 21, about half a mile from Highway 96 just south of Dillon Creek Campground. The area is halfway between Happy Camp and Orleans. When his grader failed to start, Hillman and another worker tried to fix the problem. The grader then started, but its brake failed and it began to roll backward. Both men fell or jumped off the machine, and Hillman hit his head. He was flown to Mercy Medical Center in Redding, where he died from his injuries on September 11, 2008.
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Stephen Joseph Masto - Santa Barbara City Fire Department
Age: 28
Cause of Death: Stress/Overexertion
Rank: Firefighter
Nature of Death: Cerebrovascular Accident
Classification: Career
Emergency Duty: Yes
Incident Date: 08/26/1999
Duty Type: On-Scene Fire
Incident Time:
Activity Type: Advance Hose Lines/Fire Attack (includes Wildland)
 Firefighter Masto was working as an EMT at a wildland fire roaming among other firefighters and providing first aid to anyone who became injured. He worked a 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. shift, he was equipped with a portable radio, and he carried a canteen. He did not return to camp at the end of his shift and a search was initiated. Firefighter Masto was discovered dead about twelve hours later in steep terrain. The cause of death was found to be heat stroke, there was no evidence of trauma or other medical conditions that contributed to his death. Firefighter Masto?s shift as an EMT was on August 27, 1999 and he was found on August 28, 1999. 
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Weather: URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGES NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE 


RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL SHORTLY. 



NWS Current Fire Weather Watches / Warnings

HOT DAYTIME TEMPERATURES ACROSS INLAND PORTIONS OF SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA THROUGH SUNDAYActual/Future/Unknown/Possible
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CENTRAL COAST-SANTA BARBARA COUNTY CENTRAL COAST-SANTA YNEZ VALLEY-SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-CUYAMA VALLEY-SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SOUTH COAST-VENTURA COUNTY COAST-LOS ANGELES COUNTY COAST INCLUDING DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES-VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS-SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA-SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS-VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS-LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE-ANTELOPE VALLEY-CATALINA ISLAND-SANTA CLARITA VALLEY-LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN FERNANDO VALLEY-LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN GABRIEL VALLEY-
Alert sent at 06:26 PDT on 2012-08-11
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST /8 PM PDT/ MONDAYActual/Immediate/Severe/Observed
LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY AZ-WEST CENTRAL DESERTS-NORTHWEST MARICOPA COUNTY-GREATER PHOENIX AREA-YUMA/MARTINEZ LAKE AND VICINITY-SOUTHWEST DESERTS-SOUTHWEST MARICOPA COUNTY-NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY CA-RIVERSIDE COUNTY/EASTERN DESERTS-IMPERIAL COUNTY-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF... EHRENBERG... PARKER... QUARTZSITE... SALOME... BUCKEYE... NEW RIVER... WICKENBURG... MESA... PHOENIX... FORTUNA FOOTHILLS... YUMA... TACNA... WELLTON... GILA BEND... APACHE JUNCTION... CASA GRANDE... FLORENCE... BLYTHE... CHIRIACO SUMMIT... DESERT CENTER... BRAWLEY... CALEXICO... EL CENTRO
Update sent at 04:20 PDT on 2012-08-11
HOT WEATHER FOR INLAND AREAS THROUGH THE WEEKENDActual/Immediate/Severe/Likely
COACHELLA VALLEY-SAN DIEGO COUNTY DESERTS-
Update sent at 03:50 PDT on 2012-08-11
RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR HAINES INDEX FOR FIRE ZONES 285... 624 AND 625... ... FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR HAINES INDEX FOR FIRE ZONES 285... 624 AND 625Actual/Future/Severe/Possible
MODOC COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE SURPRISE VALLEY-KLAMATH BASIN AND THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST-SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON DESERT INCLUDING THE BLM LAND IN EASTERNLAKE AND WESTERN HARNEY COUNTIES-
Update sent at 03:30 PDT on 2012-08-11


California Wildland Fires Today:

OSCC

CA-DVP- South Fire; New wildfire, unknown acreage
CA-DVP-11569, Hwy 190 and Saline Valley Rd.
.
CA-MVU- Chihuahua 2 Fire; 1,650 acres, 40% contained
 CA-MVU-8547, Chihuahua Valley Rd. near Sunshine Summit, Evacuations and road closures remain in effect for Chihuahua Valley Rd. 250 residences and 100 outbuildings threatened, the increase in RH last night helped stop the forward spread of the fire but it is not completely lined.

CA-OVD- Indian Fire; 13,500 acres, 15% contained
 CA-OVD-0942, southeast of Mono Lake, The fire continued to move to the north and east, the increased humidity resulted in minimal Fire activity last night.

CA-SQF- Piute Complex; 1,783 acres, 95% contained.
CA-SQF-2476, 12 miles south of Lake Isabella
Isolated hot spots on both fires, fire spread stopped last night.

CA-STF- Wheats Fire; 260 acres 100% contained.
CA-STF-2863, south east of Spicer Reservoir

ONCC

No new large fires reported in the Geographic Area overnight (1800-0600).
 0800 CA IMT1 Team 3 (Pincha-Tulley) has been ordered for the CA-LNP Reading Fire. They will be replacing NorCal Team 1 (Whitcome), who will have been out on various assignments for 14 days. Target in-brief is tomorrow 8/12/12 at 1100 PDT. Target transfer of command is Monday 8/13/12.

CA-YNP-Cascade, Yosemite WUI Fire 518 acres, 50% active.

CA-NOD Lost Fire. 61,273 acres, 80% contained. 
Observed fire behavior was creeping and smoldering within control lines.The current strategy of cold trailing within the wilderness has been successful. Continuing to mop up and patrol and initiating suppression repair in all secure divisions.

CA-KNF Fort Complex. 716 acres, 5% contained.

 Observed fire behavior has been creeping fire with rollout and occasional head runs with minimum torching. Access has been difficult due to extremely steep terrain with snags and geographical distances between the incidents.
Goff Fire - 246 acres, 0 acres MMA (Maximum Manageable Area);
Hello Fire - 295 acres, 5 acres MMA;
Lick Fire - 174 acres, 5 acres MMA; Fruit Fire - 1 acre, 0 acres MMA.

CA-PNF Chips Fire. 30,000 acres, 8% contained.

 Extreme fire behavior is expected again today due to critical fire weather conditions. Red Flag Warning 1- 7pm.
 Chips Fire Info - #ChipsFire The Info Center can be reached @ (530)283-3593 & (530)283-3288. Potential power outages may cause disruptions.
 Please contact PG&E at 1-800-743-5002 for updates on power outages.

 Fire fighting efforts are limited due to: high temperatures and extremely low humidity, steep terrain, long range spotting (POI of 100%) and rapid rates of spread on multiple divisions of the fire. Steep terrain with a potential of rollout of debris along the Highway 70 corridor and Caribou Road remains a safety concern for fire resources and the public.
 Threatened critical infrastructure including the Red Hill communications site which services critical communications for various emergency services and related agencies is currently being threatened and resources are needed to prepare and defend communications site.
 PG&E power line insulators are beginning to have smoke impact which could result in power failures to serviced areas.
 Private timber lands and associated plantations are currently being impacted. Other concerns continue to include the snag loading (50-100 per acre) in and near the fire perimeter.
 The large dead and down material, combined with very difficult access (road and foot travel) for resources reduces the ability of taking direct action on fire flanks.

CA-LNP Reading Fire. 12,540 acres, 7% contained.

 Nighttime fire behavior showed actively burning heavy timber and brush fuels with low rates of spread and isolated single tree torching. Yesterday, several additional trails were closed in the northeastern part of the park including Painted Dunes, Cinder Cone, Twin Lakes, western side of Snag Lake. The main park highway continues to be closed for six miles from Chaos Crags to Summit Lake. Several USFS roads and trails south of Highway 44 and east of Highway 89 in the vicinity of Old Station have been closed. Summit Lake, Lost Creek, Crags campgrounds remain closed. Portions of the Pacific Crest, Paradise Meadows, and Terrace Lakes trails remain closed.
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California Statewide Fire Map

View California Fire Map in a larger map



LCES - 10 Standard Fire Orders - 18 Watchout Situations

California Fire News 2012 
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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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