OCFA - Gypsum Fire

OCFA: "Gypsum Fire

Gypsum Fire

Monday, May 7, 2007 5:40 PM

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TIME OF ALARM: 2:10 PM, Monday, May 7, 2007

OCFA INCIDENT#: 07029818

INCIDENT NAME: Gypsum Fire

LOCATION: The fire began around Coal Canyon Road at the 91 Freeway moving west, driven by easterly winds.

CONDITIONS ON ARRIVAL: Vegetation fire

WEATHER CONDITIONS: Red flag warning until 7:00 PM Monday - National Weather Service - Southern California

COMMAND: Orange County Fire Authority

ASSISTING and COOPERATING AGENCIES:

• Anaheim Fire Department
• Corona Fire Department
• California Department of Forestry
• California Highway Patrol
• California Dept. of Transportation
• Huntington Beach Fire Department
• Garden Grove Fire Department
• Fountain Valley Fire Department
• Santa Ana Fire Department
• Fullerton Fire Department
• Costa Mesa Fire Department
• Brea Fire Department
• Newport Beach Fire Department
• Orange Fire Department

FIREFIGHTING ASSETS:

• 3 Air Tankers
• 5 Helicopters
• 47 Fire Engines - Multiple stike teams
• 2 Dozers
• 2 Hand Crews
• 3 Water Tenders

ACRES BURNED: 120 acres. Gypsum Fire Map

STRUCTURES BURNED: None at the time of this report.

REPORTED INJURIES: None at the time of this report.

EVACUATIONS: Evacuations in progress of the RV park

ROAD CLOSURES: Check with Cal Trans for 91 freeway and 241 toll road closures<>

RESIDENTS:

Wildland Fires: Got Clearance

Wildfire Preparedness

Smoke in the Air

Other Safety Bulletins

For additional information, please call the OCFA Media Center at (714) 573-6200.

National Wildland Fire News

Wildland Fire News, 2007

Wildland Fire News, 2007

Updates, news stories, weather, and other information about wildland fire news in the US for 2007

If you would like to be on this pinglist, click here or ping Knitting a Conundrum

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National Preparedness Level 2 (On a scale from 1 to 5) Current hours for the National Fire Information Center are (MST) 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday 208-387-5050

May 4, 2007 Wildland fire activity remains light with 136 new fires reported. One new large fire was reported in North Carolina. Three large fires were contained: one each in California, Kentucky, and Virginia. Weather Discussion: Southern California through Arizona and New Mexico will be dry with windy conditions as a low pressure trough passes through. The Great Lakes will also be dry and windy. A high pressure over the northeastern states will carry over more low humidity.

Weekly Statistics 5/4/07 Number of new large fires 1 States currently reporting large fires: Number of active large fires 11 Arizona (1) Florida (2) Georgia (4) Michigan (1) North Carolina (2) Virginia (1) Acres from active fires 112,374 Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires 0 Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres 0 Fires contained on 5/3/07 3 Year-to-date large fires contained 281 Year-to-date Statistics 2007 (1/1/07 - 5/4/07) Fires: 26,030 Acres: 539,689 2006 (1/1/06 - 5/4/06) Fires: 36,175 Acres: 2,292,081 2005 (1/1/05 - 5/4/05) Fires: 18,819 Acres: 275,497 2004 (1/1/04 - 5/4/04) Fires: 25,414 Acres: 380,758 2003 (1/1/03 - 5/4/03) Fires: 16,985 Acres: 341,173 2002 (1/1/02 - 5/4/02) Fires: 24,719 Acres: 469,269 2001 (1/1/01 - 5/4/01) Fires: 24,906 Acres: 495,806 2000 (1/1/00 - 5/4/00) Fires: 30,644 Acres: 757,591 8-Year Average 2000 - 2007 Fires: 25,162 Acres: 643,765

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center Current Wildland Fires Arizona Number of fires: 1 Acres: 455 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 0 Gila River (Yuma Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 455 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is located 30 miles east of Yuma. Minimal fire activity was reported. Native historic and cultural features threatened. Information: Visit the Southwest Area Coordination Center site. California Number of fires: 0 Acres: 0 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 1 James (Bakersfield District, Bureau of Land Management): The fire was contained at 1,350 acres. Information: Visit the Inciweb site. Florida Number of fires: 2 Acres: 2,575 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 0 Airport Road (Florida Division of Forestry): 1,700 acres at 50 percent contained. The fire is burning three miles southwest of Ormond Beach. Residences are threatened and evacuations are in effect. Information: Visit the Florida Division of Forestry website. Red Oak (Florida Division of Forestry): 875 acres at 65 percent contained. The fire is two miles west of Pine Lakes. Fire activity included long range spotting and crown fire. Information: Visit the Florida Division of Forestry website. Georgia Number of fires: 4 Acres: 105,577 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 0 Big Turnaround Complex (Okefenokee National Wildlife Reserve): 44,557 acres at 40 percent contained. This fire is 10 miles southeast of Waycross. It is burning in southern rough, timber and gallberry. Private timber plantations are threatened. Moderate fire activity continued. Information: Visit the Inciweb site or call (912) 287-2452. Roundabout (Georgia Forestry Commission): 5,800 acres at 40 percent contained. This fire started on private land four miles west of Pearson. It is burning actively in southern rough and timber. Residences continue to be threatened by active fire behavior. Information: Visit the Georgia Forestry Commission web site. Sweat Farm Road (Georgia Forestry Commission): 53,899 acres at 75 percent contained. This fire started on private land 10 miles southeast of Wyacross. Voluntary evacuations remain in effect and US Highway 1 is closed. Moderate rates of spread were reported. Information: Visit the Inciweb or Georgia Forestry Commission web sites or call (912) 287-2452. Knee Knocker Swamp (Georgia Forestry Commission): 1,321 acres at 80 percent contained. This fire is located two miles northwest of Nahunta. Moderate fire activity continued and structures remain threatened. Information: Visit the Georgia Forestry Commission web site. Kentucky Number of fires: 0 Acres: 0 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 1 Bad Creek (Daniel Boone National Forest): The fire was contained at 299 acres. Information: Visit the Southern Area Coordination Center morning report. Michigan Number of fires: 1 Acres: 1,122 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 0 Baraga Bump (Ottawa National Forest): 1,122 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire burning in timber seven miles northeast of Sidnaw. Backing fire behavior was reported. Information: Visit the Ottawa National Forest site. North Carolina Number of fires: 2 Acres: 2,395 New fires: 1 Fires contained: 0 Pinnacle (National Forests in North Carolina): 2,265 acres at 30 percent contained. This fire burning in hardwood litter and timber 15 miles east of North Cove. Smoldering fire behavior was reported. NEW Smith (Eastern Cherokee Agency, BIA): 130 acres at zero percent contained. The fire is 12 miles northeast of Bryson City. Residences and Blue Ridge Parkway are threatened. Extreme fire activity was reported. Virginia Number of fires: 1 Acres: 250 New fires: 0 Fires contained: 1 Chestnut Ridge (George Washington and Jefferson National Forest): The fire was contained at 185 acres. Lewis Peak (Shenandoah National Park): 250 acres at zero percent contained. The fire is five miles northeast of Grottoes. Minimal fire activity was reported. Information: Visit the National Park Service fire news site.

Trouble ahead: Worst fire conditions in 100 years

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Metro -- Trouble ahead: Worst fire conditions in 100 years:

By Karen Kucher and Debbi Farr Baker

UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM

9:53 a.m. May 3, 2007

SAN DIEGO – California is facing the worst fire conditions in almost a century, and worried fire officials are sounding the alarm.

Lack of rain and dry fuel conditions prompted state fire authorities to declare the start of fire season earlier than normal in three Southern California counties, including San Diego.

Several indicators, especially fuel moisture levels, add up to tremendous fire potential, said San Diego fire Deputy Chief of Operations Jeff Carle.

“The things we look at are telling us we are in trouble,” Carle said.

The state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has hired its seasonal firefighters and says facilities will be staffed on a 24-hour basis because of fire danger.

Historically, the state has declared fire season between May and June. The start dates vary according to jurisdiction's individual weather conditions. CDF declared fire season started Monday in San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties.

“We are prepared and ready for the upcoming wildfire season,” Cal Fire Director Ruben Grijalva said in a prepared statement. “The lack of precipitation with the increase in temperatures has dried out Southern California significantly. . . . We will take the battle to California's wildfires.”

So far this year, San Diego's Lindbergh Field, the region's main measuring spot, has received about one-third the normal rainfall it receives for the season. As of July 1, the season total at the airport was 3.85 inches of rain. Normal annual rainfall is 10.77 inches.

March 2007 was San Diego's 12th-driest March since record keeping began in 1850. And rainfall in May and June tends to be minuscule.

If Lindbergh Field receives normal rainfall from now until the season ends on June 30, the city would finish the year with 4.19 inches, which would make the year the sixth driest in history. State fire officials are reminding residents to protect their homes by clearing brush and creating defensible spaces around their homes, particularly near wild-land areas.

Dead vegetation should be cleared about 100 feet from homes and branches should be trimmed 10 feet from the ground. To lessen the risk of sparking fires with equipment, the state suggests all yard work be done during morning hours.

Trying to get the word out about the heightened fire danger, San Diego firefighters on Thursday warned of dangerous fire conditions within city limits.

Fire Chief Tracy Jarman is planning to hold a news conference at Marian Bear Memorial Park Thursday to discuss the fire conditions, warning that this is the driest year in San Diego in 90 years.

Fire officials say a cold winter lowered the moisture in local vegetation, drying it out even more than normal and making it more combustible.

Old N.C. 105 USFS - Effort to control fire starts new one

Charlotte Observer | 05/03/2007 | Effort to control fire starts new one:

OUTSIDE LINVILLE GORGE WILDERNESS

Effort to control fire starts new one

Blaze spreads across Old N.C. 105 closing roads and hiking trails

HANNAH MITCHELL

hmitchell@charlotteobserver.com

Firefighters battling a week-old forest fire in Burke County had to fight a new fire Wednesday that was part of a backburn they set to keep the larger forest fire from spreading.

The new fire spread across Old N.C. 105 after winds caused it to jump the road Tuesday night, a National Forest Service spokesperson said.

Officials said they couldn't estimate how large of an area was affected by the new fire.

Old N.C. 105 along the western edge of the Linville Gorge, the Spence Ridge Bridge and all hiking trails in the gorge are closed, said Maj. Ken Anthony of Burke County Emergency Services.

Wind overnight pushed the fire north of the Pinch In trail, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Dyan Bone.

Flames are confined to the federal wilderness area and still more than a mile away from private homes in the North Cove community, but Forest Service officials met with homeowners Wednesday morning to inform them of firefighting efforts, officials said.

The fire, which started April 25 just outside the Linville Gorge Wilderness, was about 30 percent contained Wednesday. About 220 firefighters are battling the blaze.

It has burned an estimated 700 acres.

Daily information about the fire is being posted at www.burkealert.org

CA-BBD/KRN- James

CA-BBD/KRN-James - :


CA-BBD/KRN-James 209
From this evening's 209:

1300 acres
100% contained
Scattered interior hot spots
No night shift is planned
4 FS Type 2 crews are mopping up.

Remarks:

Responsibility for the incident will be transitioned back to the District on 5-4-07 at 0700 hrs., and managed as a small type 3 organization. This will be the last update by SCIIMT#3. Reduction in the reported size of the incident is the result of ground based GPS survey of the fire perimeter completed yesterday. Extremely steep terrain necessitated the use of ground based GPS surveys in order to accurately plot the perimeter. Excellent interagency cooperation with CALFIRE and Kern County Fire during the entire course of the incident was greatly appreciated."

Car Fire Sparks 5,000 Acre Brush Fire in California - Firehouse.com Personal Protective Equipment

Car Fire Sparks 5,000 Acre Brush Fire in California - Firehouse.com Personal Protective Equipment:

Kern County fire crews said a car fire near Lower Water Hole in the Grapevine has sparked a brush fire that has now spread to almost 5,000 acres.

The fire is now 50-percent contained and Kern County fire says they hope to have it fully contained by 6pm Saturday.

375 firefighters from Kern County, LA County, California Department of Forestry and the National Forest Service are on the fire lines, and they expect 700 firefighters to be working the fire by Saturday morning.

The fire is burning on Tejon Ranch property west of Interstate-5.

One problem crews encountered Friday was high-voltage power lines near the Tecuya Canyon, where thick smoke caused the lines to ground, putting firefighters in potential danger.

No one has been injured, no evacuations have been ordered and no homes or structures have been threatened.

Police Probe Hot Shots in California Station - Firehouse.com News

Police Probe Hot Shots in California Station - Firehouse.com News:

Ventura, Calif. --

Ventura police are investigating how an adult entertainment company was able to take risque�� photographs of scantily clad women inside a city fire station, according to a report in the Ventura County Star.

Firefighters on duty at the time told investigators that they agreed to the women's request to have their pictures taken at the station, but immediately told them to stop and leave once the women were seen wearing little clothing, acting Fire Chief Kevin Rennie said Monday in the published report.

"As soon as the on-duty personnel realized the women had moved into these positions, they immediately asked them to stop and to leave," Rennie said in the published article. "Our personnel would not allow a photo shoot like this."

The models allegedly posed there for a variety of risque shots, NBC4 reported.

The city's acting fire chief said the models stopped by the station and without authorization, suddenly disrobed for an impromptu photo shoot, which was quickly shut down, according to NBC4.

The photos later showed up on a Web site, but were taken down.

A spokeswoman who only identified herself as "Rhonda" told NBC4 that the company "Simply Seductive" did not break any laws and their models did not raise their blouses or skirts.

Police Lt. John Garner, who is conducting the investigation, said he spoke with a woman he described as the owner of Simply Seductive, according to the Ventura County Star. "She said, 'We pulled a hit-and-run on the fire station,' and that they were there about 90 seconds," Garner said in the published report.

CA-BBD/KRN - James - 209 UPDATE

CA-BBD/KRN-James

CA-BBD/KRN-James
from the 209 on 5/2/07, 0600

Fiorella's So Cal Type 2 Team
near Kernville, Kern Co CA

CURRENT SITUATION

1,650 acres
75% contained
threatened: 70 residences, 2 commercial properties & 1 outbuilding

Communities/Critical Infrastructure Threatened:
24 hours: Riverkern & Faye Canyon

Critical Resource Needs (kind & amount, in priority order):
none

Major problems and concerns:
Steep rocky terrain

Resources threatened:
USFS land

Current Weather Conditions
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Temperature: 48
Wind Direction: NW
Relative Humidity: 40

Fuels/Materials Involved:
Grass and light brush

Today's observed fire behavior:
Smoldering and creeping.

Significant events today:
Crews made good use of the weather over night extending control lines in all divisions.

OUTLOOK

Tomorrow's Forecasted Weather
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Temperature: 69
Wind Direction: SW
Relative Humidity: 25

Actions planned for next operational period:
Continue direct line construction, mop-up and patrol to prevent spread toward communities and or Kern Plateau.

Projected incident movement/spread during next operational period:
Minimal spread predicted.

Resistance to control:
1. Growth Potential - Low
2. Difficulty of Terrain - High

How likely is it that containment/control targets will be met, given the current resources and suppression/control strategy?
Likely.

Remarks:
Dave Fiorella's type II team transitions today and assumes command of the fire at 1800.

Projected demobilization start date:
05/02/2007 0800

COMMITTED RESOURCES

Handcrews
T1: 1SR 13ST
T2: 4SR
helicopters
T1: 0
T2: 4
T3: 0
Engines
3SR & 2ST
Dozers: 0
Water tenders: 3
65 overhead

779 personnel total (439 state, 4 private, 118 county, 210 FS, 8 BLM)

Cooperating and Assisting Agencies Not Listed Above:
SCE

CA-BBD/KRN- James

CA-BBD/KRN-James - Wildlandfire.com Hotlist Forum:

CA-BBD/KRN-James

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from today's 209 @ 0600 05-01-2007

The James Fire is burning near Kernville, Kern Co, CA

CURRENT SITUATION

2,200 acres = size
50% contained
70 residences, 2 commercial properties & 1 outbuilding threatened

Communities/Critical Infrastructure Threatened:
12 hours: Riverkern
24 hours: Faye Canyon

Critical Resource Needs (kind & amount, in priority order):
1. Helicopters

Major problems and concerns:
Steep rocky terrain

Resources threatened:
USFS lands

Current Weather Conditions
Wind Speed: 0 mph
Temperature: 57
Wind Direction: N
Relative Humidity: 35

Fuels/Materials Involved:
Grass and light brush

Today's observed fire behavior:
Smoldering and creeping.

Significant events today:
Crews made good use of the weather over night extending control lines in all divisions.

OUTLOOK

Tomorrow's Forecasted Weather
Wind Speed: 5-10 mph
Temperature: 73
Wind Direction: SW
Relative Humidity: 28

Actions planned for next operational period:
Continue line construction, mop-up and patrol.

Projected incident movement/spread during next operational period:
Minimal spread predicted.

Resistance to control:
1. Growth Potential - Low
2. Difficulty of Terrain - High

How likely is it that containment/control targets will be met, given the current resources and suppression/control strategy?
Likely.

Remarks:
Dave Fiorella's type II team transitions today and assumes command of the fire at 1800.

COMMITTED RESOURCES

Handcrews
T1: 1SR 8ST
T2: 3SR
helicopters
T1: 0
T2: 3
T3: 0
Engines
3SR & 2 ST
Dozers: 1
Water tenders: 3
28 overhead

480 personnel total (218 state, 2 private, 82 county, 1 other, 176 FS, 2 BLM)

Cooperating and Assisting Agencies Not Listed Above:
SCE

Water Trucks and Water Tenders: Oh Shit!

The true story of the infamous "Oh Shit incident"

Picture from water tender at Canyon Fire (Del Puerto Canyon)

This was taken out of the window of water tender turning around on a goat trail near the VOA antenna farm during the Del Puerto Canyon fire summer 0f 2006.

We affectionately refer to the subsequent change of plans as the "Oh Shit incident"
My water tender was part of a water tender strike team with four local government water tenders and a Cal Fire supervisor, we had dozer's somewhere further ahead of us and we had passed some dozer's on the trail/road earlier.

A CDF supervisor, a local government water tender and myself got a bit ahead of the other water tenders going up the steep roads and after a hour or so of driving to the fire the fire meet us apparently with the help of a late morning wind change the fire decided to meet us head on,

just as a real nice local government water tender, a CDF leader, and my water tender reached the top of a saddle at a fire road intersection and temporarily parked to sort out and decide proper staging for the trucks I soon realized the fire was coming up a chimney like draw right at us towards the saddle we were parked on.
I pointed this out to the super and we agreed Oh Shit it may be time to go somewhere else.

This left very few choices that seemed good!

1.) Up to the VOA site on the top of the fire but a supposedly safe area? but would require driving up a very steep washed out grade which once any water spilled would not only be impassable but life threatening dangerous with the approaching fire and chance of roll over.

Probably was not doable even if half the load of water had been dumped first. Maybe with half load of water and rear lockers or full six wheel drive.

2.) Deploy the trucks in a safe zone right there was the first plan but was soon determined to be too small and unsafe and became a back up plan.

Emergency shelter deployment area in my mind. Which at this point I was holding in my hand and I had put on every piece of PPE, Nomex, gloves, helmet, goggles everything which we are required to have and more.

3.) Continue along road to large safe area further up which had only one problem associated with it, That was towards the flare up and ran along the crest of the hill above the fire flaming up that side of the hill.

At this point my side spray was pointed directly at the flames coming up the chimney but the Cal Fire Boss wanted to save the water we had just spent hours getting to this area of the fire which was about 30,000 acres at this point. And if you think about it he was escorting over twenty thousand gallons of water to the seat of the fire where it was sorely needed.

Ok it's your water? Whats the plan boss?
















In hindsight: We would of probably made it but it would of been foolish.


4.) Turn around and go back down the road we just came up and get off the top of the hill to the leeward side of the firestorm.

Sounds good! Lets go! With the Cal Fire Boss leading and then my 2400 gallon truck followed up by a big 5000 gallon Hughson? Fire department water tender which is a local central San Joaquin Valley fire department rig we get turned around and head back down the road off the top and right into these water tenders coming up.

So we get turned around headed down hill and right then the other rigs coming up arrive!
Oh Oh Shit! the other Local Gov water tenders caught up to us!
coming up all on a fire trail with a spotting firestorm on three sides of us..
and behind them a bunch of CDF wild land rigs are coming up.

So the driver of the rig I am now pointed at nose to nose on this narrow road has the biggest "Oh Shit" look in his eyes and a funny look comes over him as he has just realized he needs to back his rig down this goat path he just drove up while letting the CDF rigs pass by to fight the rapidly approaching fire front which is in the background.

Cal Hydro water tender at Canyon Fire

Cal Hydro water tender preforming a strategic repositioning maneuver!

At this point backing downhill in front of me are is the rest of the strike team of 3 Local Gov water tenders, a strike team of local government structure protection engines. And the whole time we are trying to find small road side cut outs to let the CDF rigs pass to attack the fire behind us.










Oh Shit!

once the bunch of CDF/Cal Fire wildland engines passed us, the crews jumped out and knocked the heat out of the main fire below the

Picture of VOA Antenna during Canyon Fire

VOA antenna's, residential house and outbuildings at the top. CDF/CalFire made a great stop on a very steep and dry mixed grass, oaks, Chemise and brush terrain and an almost vertical fire line.

View out of water tender, drivers window of spot fire across a small canyon

The fire was spotting badly and rapidly jumping from canyon top to canyon top across the ridge lines...

This fire was a small spot fire across a draw only minutes before

After the fire passed our original stopping point and CDF crews had moved further on we got turned around and came right back to the area we had just left,
for now we had returned to ground zero of an fire line event that will always be called the "Oh Shit incident"At this time on my own initiative I began to aggressively fight the small fires still burning in the base of a fence post! unable to successfully extinguish the flames alone due to dehydration I was soon joined in this en devour with the LG tender crews.

We sized up the situation and reckoned the need to conserve the precious water in the trucks and so we used our own personal God given fire hose and using a relay system of "hands on" and directed attacks on the base of the fire successfully saved an old wooden fence post in a timely and very efficient manner.

Original story at Water Trucks and Water Tenders: Oh Shit