Quick Look: California Wildfires Today 9-5-12

 National Fire Activity PL-3
Initial attack activity: Light (116 new fires)
New large fires: 1 (*)
Large fires contained: 3
Uncontained large fires: ** 20
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 C-130 aircraft and support personnel from the 302nd Airlift Wing, Colorado Springs (US Air Force Reserve) are supporting wildland fire suppression operations out of Boise, ID. Two MAFFS from the 146th AirliftWing, Channel Islands (California Air National Guard) are supporting wildland fire suppression operations out of Sacramento, CA.


WEATHER: 
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
500 AM PDT WED SEP 5 2012
WHAT: RED FLAG WARNING  FOR COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
WHERE: MODOC COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE SURPRISE VALLEY-
 AFFECTED AREA: FIRE ZONE 285 WHICH INCLUDES MODOC COUNTY

EXCEPT FOR THE SURPRISE VALLEY

WHEN: RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
9 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FOR FIRE ZONE 285.

•  WIND: SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 25 MPH ARE EXPECTED.
• HUMIDITY: MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL BE 5 TO 10 PERCENT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
• IMPACTS: THESE GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE WIND DRIVEN FIRE GROWTH.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL SHORTLY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL
CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH.

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES TODAY

OSCC - South Ops
Southern California Area (PL 3)
New fires: 17
New large fires: 0
Uncontained large fires: 1
Type 2 IMTs committed: 1

• So Ops hosted a delegation of fire control specialists from Australia and New Zealand, interested in learning more about FIRESCOPE, the MACS process, and the cooperation between agencies that exists in Southern California. The delegation will visit the Williams Fire tomorrow.
• Some thunderstorms today, but activity in the GACC was light overall.

CA-ANF- Williams Fire, 3,806 Acres; 24%. 
 Los Angeles Co., vegetation fire, east of San Gabriel Reservoir
The fire transitioned to Unified Command with the Angeles National Forest and Los Angeles County Sheriff Departments (LACSO). Los Angeles Fire Department will remain involved as a cooperating agency. Tactical and strategic decisions are being made with emphasis being placed on safety, environmental / cultural concerns, and cost benefit. Hwy 39 closure in effect. MAFFS and VLAT deployed.
CA-ANF-004803
Basic Information
Est Contain:
09/13/2012
Location: 15 Miles North of Glendora, CA
GPS: Latitude: 34° 14´ 20" - Longitude: 117° 43´ 20"
Costs to Date: $2,290,000
Structures Threatened: 75 PRIM , 1 COMM
Structures Destroyed: NONE
Total Personnel: 1,142
Significant Events: Good fire line construction progress was made in Div A. In Div Z burnout operations were successful. The IR flight last night provided additional perimeter information and confirmed active areas on the fire and the potential future threat. This IR flight will continue nightly until conditions change. Evacuations of Camp Williams, East Fork Campground, and San Gabriel Canyon are still in effect. Highway 39 remains closed where rolling rocks are a safety problem. The injuries indicated in Box 21 were, one heat related and one ankle injury. A press conference was held today at the ICP and will continue daily at 1600 hrs. as long as needed.
Remarks: The fire continues to be managed under Unified Command with the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire and Los Angeles County Sheriff Departments (LACSO). Tactical and strategic decisions are being made with emphasis being placed on safety, environmental / cultural concerns, cost benefit and the 2012 Risk Decision Framework. This fire is actively burning in a combination of medium to heavy decadent fuel with the majority of fire history in the area occurring in 2002. The terrain offers few natural barriers or anchor points. Sensitive resource and land management issues include watershed and Threatened and Endangered species habitat. A riparian buffer of 600 foot is established for aerial retardant. Cultural resources are prevalent in the area. This is a high visibility fire. Local and national media contacts will be handled through a Joint Information Center located at the Angeles NF Supervisors Office. An IR flight has been ordered for 0200 on 9/5. While the fire has continued to grow in acreage showing an increase of only 34 acres, as indicated in Box 15. This is due to more accurate information, by IR and ground proofing with FOBS. Acres were lost in Div A and Z while Div X and Y show the majority of fire growth. The finance section has begun totaling estimated costs of IA resources and aircraft. This accounts for the sudden jump in cost indicated in Box 19.
Observed Fire Behavior: During the last 48 hours the fire has been in a predominantly downhill backing situation in all divisions. When the fire comes into alignment with topography significant flare-ups continue to occur. A burning operations to strengthen Division Z has accounted for the majority of visible fire activity during the day. The primary spread of the fire continues to the north and east.
Planned Actions: Continue line construction, continue to hold and strengthen existing lines. Scout areas for opportunities to engage. Continue structure protection in the Camp Williams area.
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CA-SQF- Slides Fire,  254 acres, 90%

 20 miles north of Kernville, Tulare County, vegetation fire, Slides Area, McNally Footprint. Fire remains at 254 acres, with 90% contained, very little movement expected.

Fire is adjacent to rock escarpment with line tied in that may not allow fire to achieve 100 % containment.

CA-SQF-02990
Remarks: REDUCTION IN ACRES DUE TO MORE ACCURATE MAPPING
Observed Fire Behavior: minimal
Planned Actions: continue to mopup
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ONCC - North Ops
Northern California Area (PL 3)
New fires: 19 
New large fires: 1 
Uncontained large fires: 5 
Type 1 IMTs committed: 2 
Type 2 IMTs committed: 1 

CA-SHF Bagley Fire. 44,987 acres. 62%.
IMT 1 (McGowan). Four miles west of Big Bend, CA. Timber, logging slash and brush. Backing fire. Structures and high voltage power lines threatened.
Road closures in effect.
 Significant progress has been made by completing all direct and indirect contingency lines. If the weather holds, there is a high probability of meeting management strategies.-----

CA-MNF North Pass Fire. 41,983 acres. 65%.
Mendocino NF. IMT 2 (Walker). Twenty-five miles northeast of Covelo, CA. Timber and logging 
slash. Backing fire with isolated torching. Structures threatened. Area closures in effect.
 Crews and engines continue fire suppression repair in Divisions A, B, & Z. Mop up and patrol continue in Divisions X & Y. 
Actions on Division V include holding, patrol and mop up along Fly Creek. Direct and indirect line construction are under way on Divisions C, D, V & W.
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CA-LNU Sixteen Complex Fire. 1,950 acres. 10%.
 Sonoma-Lake Napa Unit, Cal Fire. Eighteen miles southwest of Williams, CA. Chaparral 
and grass. Active fire behavior. Road closures in effect. 
Advisory Evacuation Warning is in effective for the Cortina Rancheria area.
 The fire now threatens to cross Highway 16 in the Camp Haswell area.
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CA-KNF Fort Complex Fire. 22,857 acres. 30%. 
 (2 fires), Klamath NF. IMT 1 (Pincha-Tulley). Ten miles northwest of Happy Camp, CA. Timber. 
Active fire behavior with group tree torching and spotting. Numerous structures threatened. Road and area 
closures in effect. 
Reduction in acreage due to more accurate mapping.
 No changes overnight as crews continue to build and hold fireline on extreme terrain.
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CFN - California Fire News 2012 

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