CA-ANF-Powerhouse - CA-ANF-002297 San Francisquito Canyon Los Angeles Co.
FURTHER UPDATES AT http://calfire.blogspot.com/2013/06/powerhouse-vegetation-fire-19500-acres.html
Evacuations: Continued Evacuations due to the Powerhouse Brush Fire
Update: 6-1-13 Noon: LASD Deputies evacuating 41600 block of Lake Hughes Rd north of Mendenhall Probation Camp. Evacuation orders remain in effect for as many as 300 homes in Green Valley.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department along with the LA County Fire Department are in the process of evacuating Camp Mendenhall Probation Camp and areas north of South Portal Road and West of San Francisquito Canyon and due to the “Powerhouse” brush fire. The fire has burned 1,400 acres and is now moving northbound toward Lake Hughes Road. Approximately 600 Firefighters are on scene fighting the brush fire as well as assisting with evacuations. At this time the brush fire is 15% contained with no reported injuries or lost structures.
A Red Cross evacuation center has been set up at the Marie Kerr Park, located at 39700 30th St. West, in the City of Palmdale. The Evacuation for large animals has been set up at Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (Gate 3), located at 2551 West Avenue H, in the City of Lancaster.
Check with Santa Clarita Sheriffs Dept. for information specifics at (661) 255-1121.
Evacuation center located at Marie Kerr Park, 39700 30th st, Palmdale.
Road Closures: Lake Hughes Road has been closed from Cottonwood campground on the
North to Lake Castaic on the South. San Francisquito Canyon Road remains
under a hard closure. Bouquet Canyon Road is under a soft closure open to residence only. Elisabeth Lake Road is under a soft closure open to residence only.
Smoke: Local health officials warned that air quality in the Santa Clarita Valley and San Gabriel Valley mountains will be unhealthy for sensitive individuals throughout the weekend due to the fire, and they urged residents to take precautions and stay indoors if possible.
"In all areas of visible smoke or where there is an odor of smoke, all individuals are urged to be cautious and to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities," said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of public health for Los Angeles County.
 |
| Powerhouse Fire IR Map 6-2-13 Early Morning |
 |
CA-ANF-Powerhouse Wildfire 1500+ acres, 15%
Location, Perimeter and Hotspot Map |
 |
CA-ANF-Powerhouse Wildfire 1500+ acres, 15%
Location and Perimeter Map |
 |
Santa Clarita #PowerhouseFire from SWA flight to San Jose. Smoke blowing far to east
photo credit Judy Darnell |
 |
| PowerHouse Fire Santa Clarita fire from Southwest LA -SJC flight photo credit Judy Darnell |
 |
| Map Released 6-1-13 ANF Inciweb |
Update 6-2 0900 19,500 acres, 20% contained Fire is threatening 1000+ structures
Powerhouse Vegetation Fire CA-ANF-002297 North West of Green Valley Los Angeles Co. Fire is in unified command (USFS Angeles National Forest, SOCAL T/2 IMT#1 (Walker) and Los Angeles County Fire) SOCAL T/1 IMT#5 (Carlton Joseph) is being mobilized to the fire with an in brief scheduled for 18:00 hrs 06-02-2013
Fire has burned 19,500 acres, 20% contained
Fire is threatening 1000+ structures including homes,
businesses, commercial property and out buildings.
Fire continues to be pushed towards 500kv power transmission lines
and other distribution lines. Communities of Hughes Lakes, Elizabeth Lakes
are being impacted.
Fire North of Elizabeth Lake in the area of Myrick Canyon could jump the Aqueduct.
Critical watershed and T&E species continued to be impacted.
Hikers on the PCT are being rerouted into the desert.
Green Valley, Cottonwood Campground and a youth probation camp
all remain threatened. Long range spotting and high intensity head fire runs
through developed sites caused damage.
Damage assessment teams will begin to assess the communities of Hughes Lake
and Elizabeth lake. SRA lands North of Elizabeth Lake are threatened.
Longer range planning and indirect lines will be implemented today
with the continued use of the VLAT and other aerial assets.
Evacuations will continue and law enforcement will provide road blocks
and security for the fire area.
Update 6-2 0001 POWER HOUSE FIRE - CA-ANF-002297 - 15,000 to 20,000 acres, jumped California Aqueduct well-established north of Lake Elizabeth Rd, LA County Fire Copters 14, 16, and 19 and LA City Fire 1 are night-flying on this fire right now. Air Attack stayed over the fire until 2330 hrs.
Update 6-1 2130 Rough assessment of 8 structures lost 50 still imeadiate threat.
Update 6-1 2030 Fire spotted and became well developed north of Lake Hughes Road. Some areas extreme fire behaviour LAC reporting Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes Elem School and FS78 threatened. Requesting immediate need ST for protection.Josephs team IMT Type 1 team ordered pending ROSS. Rough assessment of 8 structures lost
The patch of brush currently burning last had fire in 1924 according to the CAL FIRE FRAP data.
Update 6-1 1930 Fire has charred more than 5,500 acres and is 20% contained; about 1,200 structures threatened, 2,000 people evacuated
OSCC Update 6-1 1640:
Powerhouse Fire, CA-ANF-002297 San Francisquito Canyon Los Angeles Co. San Francisquito Canyon South of Lake Elizabeth road near powerhouse #1
SOCAL T/2 IMT#1 (Walker) in command
Fire has burned 3700 acres, 15% contained
Fire is very active with evacuations for the community of Lake Elizabeth
Approximately 1200 structures affected. Additional evacuations along Lake Hughes Road were put in place including two youth probation camps and Cottonwood campground.
Lake Hughes Road has been closed from Cottonwood campground on the
North to Lake Castaic on the South. San Francisquito Canyon Road remains
under a hard closure. Bouquet Canyon Road is under a soft closure open to residence only. Elisabeth Lake Road is under a soft closure open to residence only. Evacuation center located at Marie Kerr Park, 39700 30th st, Palmdale
Update 6-1 1640: Moving rapidly up a canyon towards Lake Hughes, Header/Plume has icecapped EXPECT EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS
Update 6-1 1635: Report from scanner listeners:
Air Attack just clearly blamed loss of Castaic dip for the loss of Lake Hughes Rd and the fire getting away from them. Said, "We lost Castaic, had to redirect to Bouquet which created a traffic problem, and everything boiled up after that."Anyone else listening to the radio traffic. Air attack complained about rubberneckers in boats interfering with the helicopters picking up in Lake Hughes. Asked for a patrol boat to help shoo them away.What happened instead? Whoever is in charge of Lake Hughes forbade them from picking up water in the lake and they had to redirect all helicopters to Bouquet Reservoir. Splitting between the two bodies of water had allowed them to establish an orderly traffic pattern. Using only one reservoir creates a logistics nightmare. Bureaucracy run amok!!Update 6-1 1415: RRU ST 9310C responding.
Update 6-1 1230: LAC just dispatched Dozer Teams 2, 3, & 4, AA wants the helitanker to start using foam instead of strictly water, sounds lnot effective in criticaly dry fuels
Update 6-1 1100: Fire Pushing Hard, Per AA fire well established & burning to the southwest, running real hard no access for ground units, Air Tankers Dropping To The West Of Lake Huges Rd.. 2 firefighters have been injured - one was struck by a rock and another was treated for heat exhaustion
Update 6-1 0700: Fire has burned 3662 acres, 15% contained.*Estimated Containment is June 5, 2013. Hot, dry weather & 500kv power lines pose concerns.
Update 5-31 2100: Per South Ops:
Fire made a major run to the west and north under moderate winds and very dry temperatures. Additional evacuations along Lake Hughes Road including two youth probation camps and Cottonwood campground.
Remarks: Areas along Lake Hughes Road were evacuated including Cottonwood Campground and two youth detention camps. Edison is very concerned about a 500kv transmission line that could be threatened by the fire. Due to heavy smoke unable to gather accurate fire perimeter estimated fire size could be 2000-2700 acres, fire will be flown by IR tonight and a more accurate perimeter will be available in the morning.
Observed Fire Behavior: Rapid rates of spread with a high resistance to control efforts. Fire exhibited moderate to long range spotting in receptive fuels and winds from the NE.
Update 5-31 1930: 1804 acres, 15% contained.
Update 5-31 1630: 2500+ acres, 15% contained.
Current weather 1530 5-31: Temperature: 88.0 °F Humidity: 9% winds: 6 mph NNE Gusts: 16
DISCUSSION...A BUILDING UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE
AREA WILL CONTINUE TO BRING WARMING AND DRYING TO THE REGION ON FRIDAY. THE TYPICAL UP CANYON WINDS THIS EVENING ARE EXPECTED TO SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST AND INCREASE BETWEEN 10 PM AND 4 AM. THE SURGE OF NORTHWEST WINDS IS EXPECTED TO KEEP CONDITIONS DRY ACROSS THE BURN AREA TONIGHT WITH POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERY EXPECTED. THE LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL WEAKEN AND TURN AROUND TO THE NORTH DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS...BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE NORTHEAST BY MID MORNING FRIDAY. THIS NORTHEAST FLOW WILL BRING RAPID WARMING AND SEVERAL HOURS OF SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES ON FRIDAY.
Update 5-31 0900: 1500+ acres, 15% Approximately 600 Firefighters are on scene
Update 2200: A Type 2 Fire Incident Management Team has been ordered to manage the fire. The Fire will be turned over to team est. 6:00 a.m.
Update 2100: Releasing 5 Alpha Strike teams and more at 2130 & 2200
Multiple resource orders throughout the region. SQF filled one T3 ST now en route.Update 2000: Hiker is one mile from his car, refusing ride out, far from fire fit adult in 20 yrs old, Copter 11 Bingo fuel
Update 1945: LAC Copter 11 located 1 hiker 3 mi west of Green Valley ranger station, moving WB fast out of canyon safe now. LASD Air 24 advising searching for 8 more hikers in area
Update 1845: 1000 acres evacuating community of Green Valley, fire moderating now backing 1/4 mi from South Portal Rd.Walkers type II team activated. LAC C-11 Searching for 4 hikers 7 mi east & 1 hiker 1 hr west of Green Valley area unsuccessful so far Total of 14 hikers in the area. Five rescued, one not in distress. Search for eight more underway.
Note: Per USFS PIO "They are having the sheriff's department lift the evacuation order for the residents of Green Valley however all evacuation centers will remain open for the night"
Los Angeles County Sheriff Department in Palmdale confirmed that a limited 5:30 a.m. evacuation was ordered for a number of homes on San Francisquito Canyon Road in Green Valley and on Thursday, evacuations were lifted at 10 p.m. for about 200 homes in the area.
Update 1745: BC on radio said area has not burned in 30 years, ICP relocating to Camp 14,
LAC Emergency Code 3 move ups, Large header visible in area.
Update 1730: Unified Command now with ANF and LAC, ROSS shows 10 type 1 STEN's on order and Type 2 team requested
Update 1700: Fire jumped San Francisquito canyon again, now burning back on the east side. Spotting 1/4 mile out in front with large spots forming, BDF 6606C Immediate need. B31, E333, E32, E314, E31, E3637
Two type 1 strike teams to Green Valley structure protection group
Update 1645: 400 acres. Evacuations in Green Valley.
Location: San Francisquito Road near Powerhouse 1 San Francisquito Canyon Rd, northeast of Santa Clarita (LA County). [Angeles National Forest]
GPS: 34 37.213N 118 27.918W
Reported Date/time: Thursday May 30th, 2013 approx. 03:30 PM
IA: The blaze broke out at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday just north of Powerhouse No. 1, a hydroelectric plant near the LA aqueduct that has been operating for nearly a century.
ROS: Rapid extreme fire behavior with long range spotting.
ROC: Powerlines down, spotted across San Francisquito Road.
Fuels: heavy brush and chaparral
Structure Threats: Yes
Concerns: Threat to High Tension Power lines
Resources:
Air Attack: AA-410 committed
Air Tankers: 41, 76, 72
Cooperating Agencies: *
Weather Info: *
Special Conditions: *
Other Comments: *
Radio Frequencies: Structure Protection Interoperability on VTAC11 now changed LAC VTAC-9 direct, Now longer using LAC Tac 2
Maps: *
Agency Website: *
Web Cams: *
---------------------------------------------
