Stanza Fire Engine Rollover - California – July 28th 2002

Incident Summary: July 22nd 2002 a lightning strike starts a fire in Stanza Creek on the Klamath National Forest. The area is steep, rugged and has limited access. Slopes range from 40 to 90%, with rock outcroppings and talus slopes.Roads are narrow and winding, often with precipitous drop-offs.The lack of access precludes efficient use of heavy equipment such as bulldozers.
Take a moment today to remember these 3 firefighters from the Lassen N.F.

CALFIRETV - July Fires update

CAL FIRE YouTube Update - Nor Cal Lightning Series Response
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Late July Lightning Fires information

Name: Late July Lightning Fires
Location: Across northeast California
Status/Notes: 188 confirmed fires - 900 acres
Date Started: July 24, 2010 7:00 pm
Acres Burned: 900 acres
Containment: 188 confirmed fires - 900 acres
Conditions: Since Saturday July 24, there have 5,000 lightning strikes across northeast California. As a result 188 confirmed fires have sparked in CAL FIRE's jurisdiction and on federal lands.
Over the past 24 hours there have been around 1,500 new lightning strikes. From those strikes there have been 73 new fires, 14 in CAL FIRE’s jurisdiction and 59 on federal lands.
Current CAL FIRE Lightning Fires: Lassen County - 22 Fires, The largest fire is the

Yosemite NP - Current Wildland Fire activity

Yosemite National Park Current Fire Activity - Suppression and Prescribed

current fire activity includes:

Big Meadow Fire FAQs Yosemite Fire Update #2 July 20 Fire Management Update:  Two lightning caused fires were discovered July 19 on the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River. Smoke was reported visible from the east near the Waterwheel Fall area. Yosemite received lightning the previous week along the Sierra crest. It is not unusual to find these fires a few days after thunderstorms. These remote fires are approximately at the 8000-foot elevation and within two miles of each other. They are in designated wilderness, and located in Tuolumne County. Firefighters were flown into the fire area July 20 to monitor the fires. They will gather data to assess the fire spread potential and observe fire behavior. Additionally, they will collect adjacent fuels and other vegetation information, determine fuel moistures, locate natural fire barriers, and place trail warning signs as needed. Based on the data collection the fires will be considered to be managed for multiple objectives. There are three historical fires in this area: 1948, 1985 and last year’s 2009 Wildcat fire. Tuolumne Fire: It is 1/10 of an acre and west of the Wildcat 2 fire and Rodgers Creek. It has a slight to moderate potential to spread. Light smoke was visible. It is burning in short needle conifer vegetation and brush, on a south aspect. Wildcat 2 Fire: It is 2.8 acres and has moderate potential to spread with light smoke visible. It is on the south side of Register Creek and north of last summer’s Wildcat fire. It is also burning in short needle conifer and brush, on a south aspect. Seventy-five percent of the perimeter is active and mostly burning the brush. Other Current Incidents: Footbridge Fire (Suppression): This .10 acre fire was discovered July 20 and is in Mariposa County. It is burning in heavy fuels, many of which are snags, (standing dead trees.) Light smoke was visible from Glacier point, and was dispersing to the northwest. The fire is near the Snow Creek footbridge and is northwest of Basket Dome. It is within the suppression zone, and is being put out by Helicopter 551 and helitack hand-crews. The cause is unknown. Past 2010 Incidents: The 200-acre Crane Flat Prescribed Fire (also called PW-05 Segment D) began June 29 and was completed on July 1 as 70 firefighters brought the drip torches down the fire lines to Highway 120. Firefighters used ground features and natural barriers, such as rock outcroppings, trails, and past fires to establish the project perimeter line, there-by minimizing more impacts to the land by scrapping, cutting and digging additional paths through the area. This operation is often called Minimum Impact Management Tactics (MIMT). The goal of this prescribed burn was to reduce fire fuels near the park boundary, the Rockefeller Grove of sugar pine trees, and structures located in the Crane Flat area. Contacts: Yosemite's Fire Information and Education Office at 209/372-0480 or 375-9574 and the Prescribed Fire and Fuels Office at 209/375-9576.

Fire Information - National Fire News - NIFC Morning report

July 27, 2010 

National Preparedness Level 2

(On a scale from 1 to 5)

Wildland fire activity picked up yesterday as 337 new initial attack fires were reported across the country. New large fires were reported in California (3), Florida (1) and Nevada (1). Firefighters contained 13 large fires yesterday, ten in Alaska and one each in California, Idaho and Nevada. Fire managers and initial attack resources are prepared for new starts as lightning is predicted throughout the West again today.

Fifty large fires are being managed to achieve multiple objectives throughout the states. Uncontained large fires include only fires being managed under a full suppression strategy.

The Department of the Interior personnel are assigned to several locations in the Gulf of Mexico to assess and mitigate impacts resulting form the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. For more information regarding the response effort visit the following website, http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/index.cfm
The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and its Aftermath: http://krilloil.com/environment/the-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-and-its-aftermath/
Oil Spill Gulf of Mexico | Smithsonian Ocean Portal: http://ocean.si.edu/gulf-oil-spill

Weather: Significant fire potential is forecast for portions of the Northwest and Northern Rockies today for lightning. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected today in Northern California, the Northwest, Great Basin and Northern Rockies. Some initially dry thunderstorms are possible in eastern Washington and Wyoming. Wet thunderstorms will continue of the Four Corners states.

Weekly statistics 7/27/10
Number of new large fires	5	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	15	Alaska (1) California (5) Colorado (1) Florida (1) Montana (2) Nevada (2) Utah (1) Washington (1) Wyoming (1)
Acres from active fires	55,962
Fires contained since 7/26/10	13
Year-to-date large fires contained	339
Year-to-date statistics
2010 (1/1/10 - 7/27/10)	Fires: 36,184	Acres: 1,946,470
2009 (1/1/09 - 7/27/09)	Fires: 54,656	Acres: 3,257,928
2008 (1/1/08 - 7/27/08)	Fires: 54,008	Acres: 3,476,863
2007 (1/1/07 - 7/27/07)	Fires: 56,536	Acres: 4,623,092
2006 (1/1/06 - 7/27/06)	Fires: 69,656	Acres: 5,164,996
2005 (1/1/05 - 7/27/05)	Fires: 37,206	Acres: 4,318,557
2004 (1/1/04 - 7/27/04)	Fires: 45,250	Acres: 5,112,904
2003 (1/1/03 - 7/27/03)	Fires: 34,415	Acres: 1,737,345
2002 (1/1/02 - 7/27/02)	Fires: 52,107	Acres: 3,916,219
2001 (1/1/01 - 7/27/01)	Fires: 49,091	Acres: 1,482,014
10-year average
2001-2010	Fires: 48,926	Acres: 3,504360

Current Wildfires
Alaska	Fires: 1	Acres: 19,377	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 10
Click here for a map of statewide fires.
Pat Creek (Upper Yukon Zone, Bureau of Land Management): 19,337 acres at 45 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles north of Stevens Village. Information: Visit the AICC website.
Kaluktavik River (Galena Zone, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 23,269 acres.
Rok North (Galena Zone, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 13,106 acres.
Lake Tutusirok (Galena Zone, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 7,392 acres.
Nanielik Creek (Galena Zone, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 6,538 acres.
Evaingiknuk (Galena Zone, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 2,739 acres.
Avan River (Galena Zone, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 656 acres.
Squirrel River South (Galena Zone, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 332 acres.
Timber Creek (Galena Zone, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 300 acres.
Kobuk (Galena Zone, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 300 acres.
Derby Creek (Galena Zone, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 23,577 acres.
California	Fires: 5	Acres: 4,038	New fires: 3	Fires contained: 1
NEW Modoc Lightning Complex (Modoc National Forest): 102 acres at five percent contained. This complex of fires is 20 miles southwest of Alturas. Numerous structures are threatened.
NEW Bull (Sequoia National Forest): 2,500 acres at one percent contained. This fire is 3ight miles north of Kernville. Numerous residences are threatened. The communities of Camp Owen and River Kern have been evacuated. Roads in the area are closed. Information: Call 760 376-3781 ext. 625 or visit the incident website.
NEW Mono (Inyo National Forest): 500 acres at five percent contained. This fire is five miles southeast of Lee Vining. Road closures are in effect. Information: Call 760-873-2427 or visit the incident website.
Russel (3-9) (Lassen-Modoc Unit, Cal Fire): 250 acres at 30 percent contained. This fire is nine miles southeast of Little Valley. Information: Call 530-257-9553 or visit the incident website.
Potato (Owens Valley District, Bureau of Land Management): 686 acres at 70 percent contained. This fire is seven miles southeast of Bridgeport.
Indian (California Desert District, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 1,822 acres.
Colorado	Fires: 1	Acres: 1,452	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Meadow Creek (White River National Forest): 1,452 acres. This incident is 13 miles northeast of Rifle. Information: Visit the Rocky Mountain Coordination Center site.
Florida	Fires: 1	Acres: 1,200	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
NEW Coyote (Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge): 1,200 acres at 70 percent contained. This fire is 10 miles north of Merritt Island. Commercial property is threatened.
Idaho	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
South Trail (Boise District, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 3,889 acres.
Montana	Fires: 2	Acres: 2,097	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Dominic Point (Bitterroot National Forest): 897 acres. This fire is 12 miles northeast of Hamilton. The fire burned actively yesterday. Area closures remain in effect.
Cardinal Creek (Flahead National Forest): 1,200 acres. This fire is f19 miles southeast of Condon. Information: Call 406-758-5376 or visit the incident website.
Nevada	Fires: 2	Acres: 7,700	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 1
Constantia (Carson City Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 1,700 acres at 30 percent contained. This fire is five miles south of Doyle. Structures are threatened and roads in the area are closed.
Rock Creek (Winnemucca Field Office): 6,000 acres at 10 percent contained. This fire is 18 miles north of Gerlach. Residences are threatened.
NEW Seven Troughs (Winnemucca Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): This fire was contained at 3,852 acres.
Utah	Fires: 1	Acres: 327	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Hot Springs (Cedar City Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 327 acres at 50 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles southwest of Minersville. Information: Call 435-590-5388 or visit the incident website.
Washington	Fires: 1	Acres: 19,291	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Swakane (Washington Department of Forestry): 19,291 acres at 85 percent contained. This fire is six miles north of Wenatchee. Information: Call 509-548 1511 ext. 524 or visit the incident website.
Wyoming	Fires: 1	Acres: 520	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Beach (Yellowstone National Park): 520 acres at 72 percent contained. This fire is 28 miles southeast of West Yellowstone. Information: Visit the incident web site or call 307-344-2010.

Source page: NIFC - http://www.nifc.gov/fire_info/nfn.htm

CA-INF-Mono Fire - 500 acres with 5% containment

Updates: The Mono Fire(CA-INF -934) is now 500 acres with 5% percent contained.

The Mono Fire is burning in the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area of the Inyo National Forest. It is burning in between US 395 and the Mono Craters, south of Highway 120 East. Highway 120 east is now closed as are the day use areas at South Tufa and Navy Beach on the shores of Mono Lake. The fire is currently 500 acres. A burn-out operation is being performed this morning from Highway 120 East to control the northern flank of the fire. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Basic Information
Incident Type: Wildfire Under Investigation
Date of Origin: Monday July 26th, 2010 approx. 02:00 PM
Location: Mono Basin, Inyo National Forest
Incident Commander: Todd Mcdivitt
Current Situation
Total Personnel: 113
Size: 500 acres
Percent Contained: 5%
Estimated Containment Date: Friday July 30th, 2010 approx. 06:00 PM
Fuels Involved: Primarily sagebrush with some scattered Jeffrey Pine.
Significant Events/Closures: Highway 120 East is closed. South Tufa and Navy Beach day use areas on the shores of Mono Lake are closed.
Outlook
Growth Potential: Potential for growth to 600 acres.
Terrain Difficulty: Mostly flat terrain extending into Mono Craters.

CA-SQF-Bull Fire -Wildland Fire - 4,200 acres

Bull Fire(CA-SQF-2701) Update 0800 7-27: now 4,500 acres with 5% percent containment.
 Opliger’s Type I Incident Management Team will assume command of the incident at 1800 tonight.Rapid rates of spread were observed during the evening.
Evacuations and road closures are now in effect. There are 5 residences that were damaged.

Incident Overview

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At approximately 1350 yesterday, Firefighters from the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land management and Kern County Fire Department responded to a report of a wildland fire in the Bull Run Creek area, off Burlando Road, in Kernville. The fire was burning on National Forest lands in grass, brush and scattered pines. First on scene reported the fire to be between 3-5 acres. At approximately 3:00 pm the fire began to burn downslope towards the north and east and 100-125 acres were reported. By 3:15 pm the fire began to spot, to the north, as much as 1/8 of a mile out from the front of the fire. Evacuations were put into place for the Burlando Road/Burma Road area on the west side of the Kern River, just south of the point of origin. At the same time evacuations of the community of Riverkern, on the east side of the Kern River, were put into place. The fire crossed the Kern River and established itself in the community of Riverkern, adjacent to the many residences. At this time the fire was reported to be 500 acres and fire was burning actively on both sides of the Kern River.

Road Closures: The California Highway Patrol has a closure in place on Mountain Highway 99 from Kernville to Fairview (16 miles up river). There is also a closure on Burlando Road - open to residents only. 

Personnel: Between 500-550 personnel are on the fire at this time and additional firefighting forces are enroute. Rocky Opligers Type-1 Incident Management Team (Team 4) will be assigned to the fire tomorrow (7/27/2010).

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Human
Date of Origin	Monday July 26th, 2010 approx. 01:46 AM
Location	Kernville,Ca.
Incident Commander	Mike Ryan

Current Situation

Total Personnel	550
Size	4,200 acres
Fuels Involved	Grass and brush.
Fire Behavior	Active burning on all divisions today and most likely tomorrow. Projected movement: North and east.
Significant Events	Evacuations on Burma Road in Kernville (off Burlando Road) and evacuations of the community of Riverkern. Roads Closures: Mt. 99 closed from Kernville, to Fairview (Approximately 16 miles). Also, Sherman Pass Road is closed at the Blackrock intersection on the Kern Plateau.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Firefighters are: Continuing structure protection, Holding existing firelines and continuing construction of new handlines
Growth Potential	High
Terrain Difficulty	High
Remarks	Major problems are the urban interface and terrain. 1,200 structures are threatened and 5 are damaged. Values at risk are life and property. Lake Isabella Senior Center has been set up for evacuees.

# Bull Fire resource notes: TUU sending st 9140c 4112, 4152, 4183, 4162, 4164, 4163 / BDF sending E3630 E336 E14 E50 E52 about 14 hours ago via web

LP HOTSHOTS, H-528, H-530, and HT-669 more rotary on order, 6 AT working fire

More info: Inciweb - Link

NV-BLM-Potato Fire 525 acres with 20% (Fire is in California)

The Potato Fire (NV-HTF-701) Fire is now 525 acres with 20% percent contained. This fire is BLM jurisdiction with the Unified ordering point being the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center. A road closure being put in place to southbound access to Geiger Grade Rd. intersection to Bodie Mountain. Ground resources continue to build and improve hand line construction while patrolling the fire. Priority is to strengthen the eastern flank of the fire perimeter. There is the potential for further unstable weather to pass through area today.

Former fire marshal files suit against department in Calif.

She said she was passed up for promotion because of her gender and targeted when she was the only person from the department to be laid off
 

By Linh Tat
The Oakland Tribune via The Contra Costa Times


UNION CITY, Calif. — The city has been slapped with a $500,000 lawsuit by a former employee claiming gender discrimination, unlawful retaliation and wrongful termination.
Laura Mapes, who worked for the fire department for nine years, filed a suit this month in which she stated she was passed up for a promotion because of her gender and, subsequently, was targeted when she became the only person from the fire department to be laid off because of budget cuts.
The complaint accuses former Fire Chief Carlos Rodriguez who will retire from the department on Aug. 13 of discrimination and retaliation. The suit also identified Rich Digre, administrative services director, and Tony Acosta, the deputy city manager, of failing to investigate complaints that Mapes had lodged against the fire chief, among other claims.
Rodriguez, Acosta and City Manager Larry Cheeves would not comment on the suit, citing ongoing litigation. A message to Digre was not returned.
In April 2007, Rodriguez asked Mapes, who was then the fire marshal responsible for signing off on building safety inspections, to verbally confirm that the new modular building at Fire Station No. 1 was safe, despite improper installation of fire protection equipment, according to the suit.
Mapes e-mailed the chief, as well as Digre and Acosta, with her concerns that Rodriguez wanted her to "falsify information," but no investigation followed, the suit stated.
Later that year, Mapes applied for a position as assistant fire chief. The job description stated that the applicant should hold a bachelor's degree and have substantial municipal fire service experience, including at least four years as a battalion chief or higher rank.
Mapes had a bachelor's degree and had been fire marshal for seven years, but the job went to a man a few months away from earning his bachelor's degree in fire administration.
Although the fire chief did not announce his selection until after interviewing Mapes, when the memo went out to the staff, it was dated one day before Mapes' interview, according to the lawsuit, which stated that "Rodriguez's memo proves that he never intended to give (Mapes) a fair chance."
Mapes filed a complaint of gender discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in January 2008. In April 2009, she was told that she would be laid off the following fiscal year due to financial constraints.
During that period, Mapes learned that money from the Certified Unified Program Agency program, or CUPA, was being funneled into the general fund and notified Rodriguez that state law required the money be used only for CUPA activities, such as overseeing hazardous waste programs.
In Union City's case, the funds were allocated toward paying for two male hazardous materials inspectors and a vacant administrative assistant position, and leftover CUPA dollars which could have paid for part of Mapes' salary since she managed the program were rolled into the general fund instead.
Even after questions were brought to his attention, the fire chief did not look into whether the dollars were being spent properly or if money from that account could be used to save Mapes' position, the suit said.
Mapes believes she lost her job as a direct result of having filed discrimination complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and for complaining about misappropriation of CUPA funds, according to the suit.
The former employee is seeking $500,000 in damages, plus attorney fees.

NV-CCD-Constantia 1700 acres with 10% containment. (California Wildfire)

NV-CCD-Constantia  

Note: This very active wildland fire has a Nevada incident designator assigned by the Western Great Basin GACC but is actually completely located in California near the Nevada border. 3 structures have been damaged or destroyed, but none of them were residences.
Update: 2000 hrs Constantia Complex is 1700 acres with 10% containment, Extreme fire behavior. Spot fires in front of the main fire causing rapid rates of spread.
Fire Name: CONSTANTIA

Location: Community of Constantia Highway 395/Bert Road, Just south of Doyle in the foothills with Timber and heavy brush.
Start Date: 7/24/2010
Start Time: 7:15 p.m.
Fuel Type: Brush & Grass
Jurisdiction: BLM
Assisting Agencies: USFS, Nv. Div. of Forestry, Lassen County,
Public Safety notes: [Structures, Closures, etc.]
Constantia Residential Area Threatened
County on scene for Structure Protection
2 Residences lost
Resource notes: # Personnel 150, 5 command staff,
Resources Assigned:
Air Tankers
Helicopters
Water Tenders 2
Dozers
Hand Crews 5 - Arrowhead IHC, Bonneville IHC, and Bear Divide IHC committed to the Constantia Fire.
Engines 10
Containment/Control: No estimate of containment or control
Remarks: Extreme fire behavior. Spot fires in front of the main fire causing rapid rates of spread.
Air Operations are currently hampered by weather events between Stead and Doyle.

CA-LMU-3-9 (Russel) Fire 200 - 300 acres - 0%

Update 0730hrs 7-26- The fire is 1 of 15 lightning sparked fires in the Bieber area of Lassen County. A Red Flag Warning for dry thunderstorms continues for the area thru this morning.
Update 1730hrs 200-300 acres timber, Temps 90, R 15%
Threats to commercial/private timber Cal Fire ICT 2 activated and should be setting up resources as of 8 a.m. on Monday, July 26
Update Per North Ops: The largest fire in our GACC is the Russel Fire on LMU at approximately 200 acres.Lightning is continuing this evening. Numerous lightning strikes have ignited over 100 fires in the Northern California area. 3-9 (Russel) Fire has now burned 200 acres. There are 14 other smaller lightning sparked fires burning in the Bieber area.
Name: 3-9 (Russell) Fire
Location: located east of Straylor Lake (Lassen County) in the Jacks Lake area, rough legal of T 34N, R 08E, sec 11. LMU DPA on LNF
County: Lassen County
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Lassen-Modoc Unit
Date Started: July 25, 2010 Started 1325
Cause: Lightning 
Fire Information: Phone Numbers (530) 257-9553 (3-9 (Russell) Fire Information)
Resource Notes: 1900hrs- ST 9160C just got upgraded code 3 immediate need to this fire.
Cooperating Agencies: US Forest Service, BLM, CDCR  
Total Fire Personnel: 199 Firefighters  
Engines: 13 Fire Engines  
Fire crews: 8 Hand Crews  
Helicopters: 1 Helicopter  
Dozers: 6 Bulldozers  
Water tenders: 7 Watertenders  
Major Incident Command Team: CAL FIRE Incident Command Team 2  
Phone Numbers  (530) 257-9553 (Fire Information)