Quick Look: California Fire News Today, RED FLAGS

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Quick Look: California Fire News Today, RED FLAGS

California Fire Weather: RED FLAGS WATCHES AND WARNINGS

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
WILL BE OCCURRING. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY CAN CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL ESPECIALLY
FOR CURRENT WILDFIRES.

GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY COMBINED WITH EXTREMELY DRY FUELS CAN
CAUSE EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR ESPECIALLY FOR CURRENT WILDFIRES.

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE - RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
543 AM PDT SUN SEP 9 2012
WHAT: GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY TODAY .LOW PRESSURE MOVING ACROSS THE AREA TODAY WILL CAUSE LOCALLY STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY IN THE BURNEY BASIN REGION
AND OVER THE MOUNTAINS IN LAKE COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
LOCATION: FIRE WEATHER ZONE 214 AND 264. BURNEY BASIN AND NORTHEAST PLATEAU IN SHASTA COUNTY INCLUDING NORTHWEST LASSEN NF NORTH OF LASSEN NP AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 264 LAKE COUNTY - PORTION OF LAKE-NAPA-SONOMA UNIT.
TIMING: RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM PDT
THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 214 .
* WINDS - WEST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY - AS LOW AS 12 PERCENT.
* FUELS - EXTREMELY DRY.
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URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE - RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
331 AM PDT SUN SEP 9 2012
WHAT: GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY TODAY, LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE NEAR THE OREGON BORDER TODAY...PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY. THIS COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND NORTHWEST NEVADA THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.
LOCATION: FIRE ZONE 270 SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA - FIRE ZONE 271 WESTERN LASSEN-  EASTERN PLUMAS - EASTERN SIERRA - EASTERN NEVADA COUNTIES - FIRE ZONE 278 EASTERN LASSEN -
WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT - NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY. FIRE ZONE 450 WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT AND FIRE ZONE 458 NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY.
TIMING: RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR
NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND NORTHWEST NEVADA AND THE WESTERN NEVADA
SIERRA FRONT..
* WINDS - SOUTHWEST TO WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.
* HUMIDITY - 5 TO 15 PERCENT.
* IMPACTS - THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL
CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
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URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE - RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
255 AM PDT SUN SEP 9 2012
WHAT: RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM PDT
THIS EVENING FOR COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES.
LOCATION: MODOC COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE SURPRISE VALLEY- FIRE ZONE 285
* WIND - SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS T0 25 TO 30 MPH.
* HUMIDITY - MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES OF 8 TO 15 PERCENT SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
* IMPACTS - THESE GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE WIND DRIVEN FIRE GROWTH.
-----
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE - RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
255 AM PDT SUN SEP 9 2012
WHAT: RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM PDT
THIS EVENING FOR COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES
LOCATION: KLAMATH BASIN AND THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST - FOR SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF FIRE ZONE 624
* WIND - SOUTHWEST WINDS 12 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 25 TO 30
MPH.
* HUMIDITY - MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES OF 12 TO 15 PERCENT
SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
* IMPACTS - THESE GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE WIND DRIVEN FIRE GROWTH.
-----
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE - RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
255 AM PDT SUN SEP 9 2012
LOCATION: SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON DESERT INCLUDING THE BLM LAND IN EASTERN LAKE AND WESTERN HARNEY COUNTIES
WHAT: RED FLAG WARNING FOR COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
TIMING: REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING  FOR SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF FIRE ZONE 625. ..
* AFFECTED AREA - SOUTHERN PORTION OF FIRE ZONE 625
* WIND -  SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS 30 TO 35 MPH.
* HUMIDITY -  MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES OF 7 TO 15 PERCENT
SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
* IMPACTS - THESE GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE WIND DRIVEN FIRE GROWTH.
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National Fire Situation

National Preparedness Level 3
National Fire Activity
Initial attack activity: Light (70 new fires)
New large fires: 5 (*)
Large fires contained: 3
Uncontained large fires: ** 25
Area Command Teams committed: 1
NIMOs committed: 1
Type 1 IMTs committed: 7
Type 2 IMTs committed: 12
** Uncontained large fires include only fires being managed under a full suppression
strategy.
Two MAFFS from the 146th Airlift Wing, Channel Islands (California Air National Guard), and the 145th AirliftWing, Charlotte, NC are supporting wildland fire suppression operations out of Sacramento, CA.

California Fire News Today:

California Wildfire Locations, Perimeters and Hot-Spots

OSCC - South Ops
Southern California Area (PL 3)
New fires: 8
New large fires: 0
Uncontained large fires: 1
Type 2 IMTs committed: 1

CA-ANF- Williams Fire, 4,192 acres, 83%
Last operational period there was only smoldering with no visible flame.
Location: 15 Miles North of Glendora, CA
IC: Jim Smith CA-ANF-004803
Evacuations of the San Gabriel Canyon are still in effect.
Highway 39 remains closed
Significant Events: Crews have been very successful in line construction on Div C given the extreme terrain. Limited threat is expected but crews remain vigilant. The IR flight that took place last night, indicate several areas of heat remaining. A helicopter platform IR camera was utilized during the day to pinpoint remaining areas of heat. Evacuations of the San Gabriel Canyon are still in effect. Highway 39 remains closed but campers were allowed to return with sheriff escort to retrieve their property left behind when they were evacuated.

Remarks: Hold, improve and, mop up of fire line continues to be difficult but the main focus is on the north end of the fire. Given the difficulty of the terrain we are optimistic that management strategies will be successful. Tactical and strategic decisions are being made with emphasis being placed on safety, environmental, cultural concerns, cost benefit and the 2012 Risk Decision Framework. The demob of excess resources has been ongoing since 9-5-12 but the retention of current resources remains vital to full containment. The injuries reported in Box 21 were one knee and one heat related illness. 12 acres were adjusted to reflect ground proofing Div C and W. The fire did not move outside containment lines.

Observed Fire Behavior: Several isolated areas of heat remain with smoldering and small flare ups. Role-out and snags continues to be a concern.

Planned Actions: Div C will remain the concentration point for line construction and improvement. All other divisions are in patrol, mop-up and rehab status where necessary. Crews in Div B, C, W and X all report plenty of mop-up is still required.

Notes: Firefighters continue to improve and mop-up.Campers were allowed to return yesterday, with sheriff escort, to retrieve their property left behind when they were evacuated.
Cooler temps and wind are expected today.
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ONCC - North Ops
Northern California Area (PL 3)
New fires: 22
New large fires: 1
Uncontained large fires: 9
Type 1 IMTs committed: 4
Type 2 IMTs committed: 3

CA-SHF Happy Fire.
No movement is expected although spotting potential outside containment lines remains high. Saw crews continue mitigating snag hazard to firefighters and containment lines.
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CA-SHF Stafford Fire. 3,491 acres. 15%.
Mandatory evacuations on the eastern edge of Hayfork in the Morgan Hill, Wildwood, Wild Thing, Forest Avenue, Barker Valley and the Summit and Nelson road areas are in effect.
Fire Behavior: Isolated torching, the rollout of burning material and short uphill runs were observed fire behavior on 9/8.
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CA-NOD Likely Fire. 9,800 acres. 35%.
Crews built direct line in areas that have large stands of unburned fuel between the indirect line and fire edge. Mop up and holding is on-going. So Cal IMT2 (Truett) has taken over command of this incident as of 06:00 There is a Red Flag Warning for winds today in the fire area.
-----

CA-SHF Bagley Fire. 46,011 acres. 82%.
Crews continue to patrol and mop up along the McCloud River, back haul equipment and trash and continue suppression repair.
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CA-MNF North Pass Fire. 41,983 acres. 89%.
Smoldering fire behavior observed on 9/8 as mop up continues and excess resources are demobed.
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CA-MEU Scotts Fire. 3,200 acres. 10%.
The fire burned intensely with rapid rates of spread on Saturday in steep and innaccesible terrain. There is a Red Flag Warning in effect for the fire area for gusty winds and low humidity.
-----

CA-KNF Fort Complex Fire. 23,476 acres. 88%.
Minimal fire growth on 9/8. The fire continued to burn slowly in the large pocket of fuel to the east of Upper Devil's Peak.
-----

CA-LNU Sixteen Complex Fire. 17,968 acres. 80%.
No fire perimeter growth is expected. Interior islands continue to burnout. Highways 16 and 20 are open with a smoke advisory. Expect full containment on 9/10/2012.

LCES - 10 Standard Fire Orders - 18 Watchout Situations

CFN - California Fire News 2012

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Sunday, September 9, 2012