Quick Look: California Wildfires Today (Map, Video) 8-21-12

 National Fire Activity
Initial attack activity: Light (105 new fires)
New large fires: 4 (*)
Large fires contained: 2
Uncontained large fires: ** 34
Area Command Teams committed: 1
NIMOs committed: 2
Type 1 IMTs committed: 10
Type 2 IMTs committed: 9
 ** Uncontained large fires include only fires being managed under a full suppression strategy.

Four MAFFS C-130 aircraft and support personnel from the 302nd Airlift Wing, Colorado Springs (US Air Force Reserve), and the 153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne (Wyoming Air National Guard) are supporting wildland fire suppression operations out of Boise, ID.
 One MAFFS from the 145th Airlift Wing, Charlotte (North Carolina AirNational Guard), along with one MAFFS from the 146th Airlift Wing, Channel Islands (California Air National Guard) are supporting wildland fire suppression operations out of Sacramento, CA.

 Fire Weather: URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
525 AM PDT TUE AUG 21 2012

WHAT: RED FLAG WARNING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY THIS AFTERNOOON 

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR.

WHY: AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST WILL MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS OREGON TODAY. AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL IMPACT NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND NORTHWEST NEVADA. 
GUSTY WINDS COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY WILL CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. 

 WHERE: EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY - NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY - FIRE ZONE 278 EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY AND FIRE ZONE 458 NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY.

WHEN: RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY AND NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY.

 * WINDS WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS 30 TO 35 MPH. 

 * MINIMUM HUMIDITY 3 TO 9 PERCENT. 

 * IMPACTS THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. 

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 - California Wildfires Today -

OSCC
Southern California Area (PL 3)
New fires: 39
New large fires: 0
Uncontained large fires: 2
Type 2 IMTs committed: 2
News and Notes: 

SoCal ICMT #3 (Wakoski) will assume command of the

North Pass Fire at 1800 today.

 IMT SoCAL #3 (Wakoski) Team is being mobilized to the North Ops and will be assigned to the North Pass fire in Mendocino.

 Central Sierra ICMT Cooper has been released from the Ramsey fire.

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CA-RRU-Vista Fire; 500 acres 100% contained.

CA-RRU-082309

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CA-STF-Ramsey Fire; 1,137 acres, 95%.

Reduction in acreage due to more accurate mapping.  
Basic Information

CA-STF-002954
Type: WF
Start: 08/11/2012 1444
Cause: H
Overhead Team Name: Lucas / Type 3 IC
Est Contain: 08/21/2012
Location: 8 miles east of Dorrington, Stanislaus NF.

GPS: Latitude: 38° 22´ 37" Longitude: 120° 9´ 59"
Costs to Date: $4,000,000
Structures Threatened: NONE
Structures Destroyed: NONE
Resources Committed:
Total Personnel: 127
Significant Events: Continued mop up 200ft. Continued chipping along the highway. Demobilization of the Type 2 team. Central Sierra ICMT Cooper has been released from the Ramsey fire. The forest is managing the fire as a Type 3 incident. Continued demobilization of excess resources.

Observed Fire Behavior: Creeping and smoldering with interior islands burning out.
Planned Actions: Continued mob up and isolating of interior islands.
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CA-CDD- Jawbone Complex; 12,0128 acres, 98%.

SoCal ICMT #2 Truett has been released from the, Jawbone Complex. SoCal #2 should be available on 8/22. 
Basic InformationCA-CDD-11542
Type: WF
Start: 08/10/2012 1301
Cause: L
Overhead Team Name: SHAWN COMPTON
Organization: Type 3 IC   California Desert District, BLM. Transfer of command from IMT 2 (Truett) back to the local unit occurred yesterday.
Est Contain:
08/22/2012
Location: JAWBONE RECREATION AREA - 18 miles northeast of Tehachapi, CA.
GPS: Latitude: 35° 20´ 31" - Longitude: 118° 14´ 18"
Costs to Date: $8,080,644
Structures Threatened: 0 OUTB , 0 PRIM , 0 COMM
Structures Destroyed: 19 COMM
Resources Committed:
Total Personnel: 87 Aug 20, 2012 1530

Fuels:  Hardwood slash and brush.
Significant Events: FIRE WAS TRANSITIONED FROM TRUETT TYPE 2 TEAM TO ICT3 SHAWN COMPTON
Remarks: Transition to Type 3 incident this morning. 

Jawbone fire is 1987 ares at 100% containment.

 Rim fire is 10031 acres at 98% containment.

 Land ownership is approximately 75% private or 9053 acres, 24% BLM or 2916 acres, and less than 1% SRA or 49 acres.
Observed Fire Behavior: SMOLDERING
Planned Actions: Patrol, mop up and suppression repair continue on the both fires.

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CA-ANF- Copco Fire; 145 acres, 100%.
Basic Information

CA-ANF-004462
Type: WF
Start: 08/18/2012 1150
Cause: U
Overhead Team Name: RON HEINING
Organization: Unified Command
Location: 6 miles south of Gorman, CA  

GPS: Latitude: 34° 45´ 8" - Longitude: 118° 46´ 16"
Costs to Date: $500,000
Structures Threatened: NONE
Structures Destroyed: NONE
Resources Committed:
Total Personnel: 410 on Aug 19, 2012 1800
Significant Events: Reached 100 Percent Containment
Observed Fire Behavior: Smoldering
Planned Actions: Mop up
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CA-MVU- Vallecito Lightning Complex; 22,828 acres, 100%.

Basic Information
CA-MVU-8747
Type: WF
Start: 08/13/2012 0930
Cause: L
Overhead Team Name: Michael
Organization: Type 1 Team
Est Contain:
08/19/2012
Location: Eastern San Diego County
GPS: Latitude: 33° 22´ 18" - Longitude: 116° 44´ 50"
Costs to Date: $8,150,000
Structures Threatened: 0 PRIM
Structures Destroyed: NONE
Total Personnel: 239
Significant Events: CAL FIRE IMT #10 to transition back to MVU today at 1000 Hrs.
Observed Fire Behavior: None.
Planned Actions: Demob and transition back to MVU
-----ONCC 

Wildfire Locations, Perimeters and Hot Spots

North Ops Initial Attack Activity Light (153 new fires)

Northern California Area (PL 5)

MACS Mode 4
New fires: 37 

New large fires: 0 

Uncontained large fires: 13 

NIMOs committed: 1 

Type 1 IMTs committed: 5 

Type 2 IMTs committed: 3 

News and Notes: North OPS has moved to PL 5 effective 1730 on 8/20.

 IMT SoCAL #3 (Wakoski) Team is being mobilized to the North Ops and will be assigned to the North Pass fire in Mendocino.

 The August 20 Smoke Impact Summary for Northern California Fires has been posted to the ONC Website.

Current North Ops Team Commitments

NOD Rush IMT1 (Northern Rockies -

Turman) 

PNF Chips IMT1 (CA 4 - Opliger)

LNP Reading IMT1 (CA 3 - Pincha-Tulley)

BTU Mill CAL FIRE ICT 5 (Estes)

KNF Fort Complex IMT2 (So Cal 1 - Walker)

SHF Bagley Complex IMT2 (Nor Cal 1 –

Whitcome) 

MEU  Pass IMT2 (So Cal Team 3 –

Wakoski) 

TGU Ponderosa IMT1 (CalFire – Kaslin) 

ONCC Weather Synopsis

*** Increasing SW Winds Next Few Days *** 

Dry westerly flow will be over the region this week. Smokey conditions will prevail over areas downwind of the ongoing large fires. The biggest weather concern will be for areas along and east of the Cascade/Sierra crest today and Thursday when there will be slightly above average westerly afternoon winds with very low RH. 

 Wind speeds in these events will be on the order of 10-20 mph with gusts 25-35 mph in favored locations. 

 Poor to moderate overnight RH recovery will continue to be quite common across North Ops (away from the marine layer). Temperatures will be near seasonal normal's for the most part with warmest inland areas in the 90s. The marine layer along the coast will average moderate depths with morning low clouds or fog and quite a bit of afternoon clearing.  

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*Hawaii - HI-Kauai County Poki'i Ridge Fire. 1,200 acres. 50%.

 Mopping up continues. Eight power poles were destroyed and electricity was out in Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Parks.
Location: One mile north of Kekaha, HI. Poki’i Ridge, Kauai County.
Fuels: Brush and grass.
Fire Behavior: Warm temperatures and breezy conditions are control problems.
Concerns: Road closures in effect.
Note: Was formerly the Kekaha Fire 12.
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CA-TGU Ponderosa Fire. 19,627 acres. 35%.

 Basic Information

Overhead Team Name: Tehama-Glenn Unit, Cal Fire. Cal Fire IMT 1 (Kaslin).
Location: Two miles east of Manton, CA.
Fuels: Timber.
Concerns: Communities, natural gas lines and power lines threatened. Evacuations and road closures in effect.
Fire Behavior:  Extreme fire behavior with torching and spotting. Increased fire activity in the late afternoon hours where the drainage's and wind align. Excessive rates of spread, spotting and dry fuels are control issues.

 The topography in the Battle Creek drainage continues to be a major influence on the direction and rate of spread of the fire.
Video: Tanker 910,  Working The Ponderosa Fire
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This DC-10, Tanker 910, Shot from Hwy 36 east of Red Bluff. Ponderosa Fire, near Shingletown, California.---

CA-SHU SHU August Lightning Fire. 204 acres. 90%. 

Shasta-Trinity Unit, Cal Fire. 

Fires remained within control lines overnight as crews continued to mop up.

Basic Information

Location: Twenty-five miles east of Redding, CA.
Fuels: Timber.
Fire Behavior: Dry fuels and spotting are control problems.
Note: Reduction in acreage due to more accurate mapping. No further information received.
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CA-SHF- Bagley Complex Fire. 3,770 acres. 0%

 No containment. Moderate fire behavior with isolated single tree torching was observed overnight .
Shasta-Trinity NF. IMT 2 (Whitcome).
Location: Seven miles west of Big Bend, CA.
Fuels: Timber.
Fire Behavior: Active fire behavior with spotting and short crown runs. Active surface fire, facilitated mainly by roll out of burning materials on steep slopes.
Note: Was formerly the Fork Bagley Fire.
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CA-PNF Chips Fire. 50,860 acres. 37%. 

Plumas NF. IMT 1 (Opliger). 

Firing operations were continued overnight and all lines held.
The fire behavior moderated throughout the evening.

Due to current weather conditions and fire behavior the following Road Closures, Evacuation Orders and Sheriff's Advisement are in effect.
New Evacuations and road closures in effect. 

• Mandatory Evacuation of Prattville is now in effect. 
• Mandatory Evacuation still in effect for Canyon Dam and Big Meadows area. 
• Voluntary Evacuation is in place for Almanor. 
• An Advisory is in effect to all West Almanor and East Shore residents (Hwy. 147) advising of the potential threat of the fire to the areas. 

Evacuation Center is located at the Chester Memorial Hall on Gay Street. Stay tuned to media advisements and monitor the Plumas County website for updated information.
For Evacuation Center information call (530) 283-3593.

Existing Evacuation Orders

• Mandatory Evacuation - Caribou Road from Hwy 70 to the Butt Lake Dam
• Mandatory Evacuation - Butt Lake Area, Ohio Valley, Humbug and Humboldt Area, and Yellow Creek Area.
• Mandatory Evacuations - Seneca.
• Mandatory Evacuation - Canyon Dam and Big Meadows.
• Mandatory Evacuation - Prattville.
• Sheriff's Voluntary Evacuation - Almanor
• Rush Creek Road evacuation has been lifted to Voluntary status.
• Sheriff's Advisement - Hwy 70 from Tobin to Twain.
• Almanor West

Highway Closures 

Hard Closures

• Caribou Road to Butt Lake Dam from Highway 70
• Seneca Road from Highway 89 - "Hard Closure"
• Butt Lake Dam, Ohio Valley Road, Butt Lake Road, Humbug/Humboldt Road and all additional secondary roads West of Highway 89 between Canyon Dam and the Humbug/Humboldt Road from Highway 89
• Hwy 89 between Butt Lake Road and Hwy 147
• Lake Almanor Drive West between Butt Lake/Prattville Road and Hwy. 89

Soft Closures

• Rush Creek Road from Highway 70 - Open to residents only.
• All additional secondary roads North of Highway 70 between Rock Creek Dam and Twain from Highway 70

Basic Information
Location: Twenty miles northwest of Quincy, CA.
Fuels: Timber and brush.
Fire Behavior: Moderate fire activity with spotting.
Concerns: Communities and power lines threatened.
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CA-NOD Nelson (W-1) Fire. 3,661 acres. 95%. 

Interior smoldering was observed as mop up continues.

Basic Information
Location:Two miles northeast of Likely, CA.  Northern California District, BLM.
Fuels: Juniper and brush.
Fire Behavior: Smoldering. Interior smoldering was observed fire behavior.
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CA-NOD Rush Fire. 297,816 acres. 50%.

 The northeast flank of the fire in Division A experienced significant fire behavior with wind driven runs and short range spotting in the heavy grass and brush.
Northern California District, BLM. Transfer of command from IMT 2 (Molhoek) to IMT 1 (Turman) will occur today.
Basic Information
Location: Fifteen miles southeast of Ravendale, CA.
Fuels: Juniper and brush.
Fire Behavior: Extreme fire behavior. Observed fire behavior overnight was primarily creeping and smoldering.
Concerns: Structures, power plant and Sierra Army Depot threatened.
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CA-MEU Pass Complex Fires. 6,415 acres. 10%. 

Fire behavior was extreme and again became critical with sustained crown runs and long range spotting.

Breakdown: 

• Pass 1 Fire - 6,400 acres - 10% contained. Fire has burned into the Mendocino National Forest.
• Pass 2 Fire - 15 acres - 50% contained. Fire jumped the fire line and is burning east toward the Pass 1 Fire.

 Road closures: Traveler's Home Trail is closed to the public. Hams Pass/Blands Cove Rd is closed to through traffic above Traveler's Home Trailhead. 

Basic Information 

CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit, is in unified command with USFS. SoCal ICMT #3 (Wakoski) 

Location: Twenty-five miles northeast of Covelo, CA.
Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding
Threatened: 45 residences
Injuries: 3
Cause: Lightning
Cooperating Agencies: CAL FIRE, USFS Mendocino, BIA, Covelo Fire, CDCR, California National Guard, Mendocino Co. Sheriff's Dept.
Total Fire Personnel: 732 (658 CAL FIRE)
Engines: 65 (58 CAL FIRE)
Fire crews: 21 CAL FIRE
Airtankers: 3 CAL FIRE
Helicopters: 3 CAL FIRE
Dozers: 14 (3 CAL FIRE)
Water tenders: 9 water tenders
Fuels: Logging slash.

Fire Behavior: Extreme fire behavior. The fire laid down over night under an inversion.
Concerns: Residences threatened. 

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CA-LNP Reading Fire. 27,877 acres. 79%.

 Crews patrolled, held, and mopped up containment lines on all divisions during near-critical fire weather conditions.

Basic Information
IMT 1 (Pincha-Tulley).
Location: Fourteen miles south of Old Station, CA. Lassen Volcanic NP.
Fuels: Timber.
Fire Behavior: Moderate fire activity with short-range spotting. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering was observed last night. A Red Flag Warning is in effect due to high winds and low relative humidities.
Concerns: Structures threatened.
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CA-KNF Fort Complex Fire. 5,983 acres. 37%.

 The Goff Fire made a significant run and reached the Pacific Crest Trail.

Transfer of command from IMT 2 (Walker) to NIMO (Kleinman) will occur tomorrow.
Road and area closures in effect.
Basic Information
Location: Ten miles northwest of Happy Camp, CA.  Klamath NF. (3 fires)
Fuels: Timber.
Fire Behavior: Moderate fire activity with torching. The Goff Fire exhibited lateral spread, active backing and single tree torching.
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CA-BTU Mill Fire. 1,660 acres. 65%. 

Fire behavior is being influenced by up canyon winds and preheating fuels. Spotting problems up to a quarter mile continues to be a control problem.
Road closures in effect.
Basic Information  

Butte Unit, Cal Fire. Cal Fire IMT 1 (Flores).
Location: Ten miles northwest of Butte Meadows, CA.
Fuels: Timber.
Fire Behavior: Minimal fire activity.
Concerns: Crews were successful in placing lines around spot fires in Division C, however spotting remains a significant concern.
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CA-RRU- Vista Fire; 500 acres 100%. 

(Final) CA-RRU-082309  

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10 Standard Fire Orders • 18 Watch-outs • LCES •  

CFN - California Fire News 2012 

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