National Daily Report - Amended for California

National Preparedness Level 4

(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
This report will be updated daily.

August 30, 2007

Wildland fires continue to burn moderately throughout the West. The fires may become more active due to hotter temperatures and windy conditions.

Weather Discussion: The western states will experience hot weather for the next few days along with gusty winds from the Sierras to Idaho and Montana. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are predicted for the southeastern states.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center

Daily statistics 8/30/07
Number of new large fires	5	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	33	California (5) Florida (1) Kentucky (1) Idaho (8) Michigan (1) Missouri (1) Montana (15) Oregon (1) Tennessee (1) Texas (1) Washington (1) Wyoming (2)
Acres from active fires	1,530,019
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires	4
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres	91,286
Fires contained on 8/29/07	2
Year-to-date large fires contained	724
Year-to-date statistics
2007 (1/1/07 - 8/30/07)	Fires: 65,377	Acres: 6,908,449
2006 (1/1/06 - 8/30/06)	Fires: 78,822	Acres: 7,582,939
2005 (1/1/05 - 8/30/05)	Fires: 45,482	Acres: 7,396,975
2004 (1/1/04 - 8/30/04)	Fires: 54,825	Acres: 7,135,900
2003 (1/1/03 - 8/30/03)	Fires: 44,560	Acres: 2,656,647
2002 (1/1/02 - 8/30/02)	Fires: 62,090	Acres: 6,302,166
2001 (1/1/01 - 8/30/01)	Fires: 57,990	Acres: 2,900,820
2000 (1/1/00 - 8/30/00)	Fires: 73,357	Acres: 6,359,395
5-year average
2003 - 2007	Fires: 57,813	Acres: 6,336,182
10-year average
1997- 2006	Fires: 61,511	Acres: 5,325,002

Current Wildland Fires
California	Fires: 4	Acres: 241,211	New fires: 3	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		WFU Acres: 218	New WFU fires: 0
NEW Wallow (Shasta National Forest): 500 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 53 miles west of Redding. Wind driven fire behavior was reported and structures are threatened. Information:
NEW Grouse (Sequoia National Forest): 350 acres at five percent contained. This fire is 36 miles northeast of Porterville. Active fire behavior was observed. Information:
NEW Auberry (Fresno-Kings Unit, CAL Fire): 154 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is 22 miles northeast of Clovis. Structures are threatened. Information:
Zaca (Los Padres National Forest): 240,207 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles northeast of Bulleton. Structures are threatened. Minimal fire activity was reported. Information: Call (805) 961-5770 .
Babcock (Yosemite National Park): 218 acres. This Wildland Fire Use incident is 21 miles east of El Portal.

Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 240,207 acres - 95%

Zaca Wildland Fire

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INCIDENT UPDATED 0 MIN. AGO

NEWS RELEASE

Forest Service Reduces Zaca Fire Closure
Forest Service Reduces Zaca Fire Closure GOLETA, CA...Some areas within Los Padres National Forest east of Highway 33 that were previously closed to public entry because of the Zaca Fire will be... more

Zaca Fire Closure Area - 08/29/07
Credit: Zaca Fire GIS / FIO Unit

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Summary

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 8:00 PM

Fire Status

Acres Burned: 240,207 acres

Fireline to Build: 1 miles

Date Started: July 4, 2007 at 10:53 am

Percent Contained: 95 percent

Expected Containment: September 4, 2007

Injuries: 44

Structures Threatened: 32

Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding

Cost to date: $110.7 million dollars

Resources

Crews: 38

Engines: 98

Helicopters: 22

Air Tankers: 0

Air Attack: 3

Dozers: 10

Water Tenders: 44

Personnel Assigned: 1,986

Headlines

• Due to successful firefighting efforts on the northeastern edge of the fire, Highway 33 is now open to public travel. Please be aware of the potential for fire engine traffic along this route for the next several days. Travel with caution!
• Some areas within Los Padres National Forest east of Highway 33 previously closed to public entry will be reopened on August 30. The revised emergency closure will encompass all national forest lands between Highway 166 and Highway 33. On the east side of Highway 33, the Pine Mountain Road (AKA Reyes Peak Road and Forest Road 6N06), and all recreation facilities along the road will remain closed, as will the Boulder Canyon Trail (Forest Trail 23W03) between Pine Mountain Road and the Forest Service Station at Ozena.
  
  

Current Situation

Good progress was made today with line improvements and "mop up" in all areas of the fire. Crews were able to "mop up" remaining hot spots near the fireline in the Hurricane Deck area. Also, contingency line was completed in the Cuyama Peak area of the fire.. Good progress is being made on the south side, regarding Fire Suppression Rehabilitation. Fire Suppression Rehabilitation includes the removal of fire hoses, excess equipment, expended crew supplies, and covering dozer and other currently not needed lines. Crews will continue rehabilitation on the Fremont Fuel Break near East Camino Cielo Road, which is visible from Highway 154.

Temperatures tonight are expected to remain warm, with low relative humidity. Wind will be out of the west-south-west, at 11 mph.

Road closures and evacuations associated with the Live Oak fire suppression activities on the south side of the fire have been lifted. All areas and roads included within the Los Padres National Forest Closure Area remain closed to public entry, including the Snyder Trail, a popular mountain bike trail.

Highways, Forest Roads and Area Closures

• Happy Canyon Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary.
• Figueroa Mountain Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary.
• East Camino Cielo Road is open between Hwy 154 and Gibraltar Road. East Camino Cielo is closed east of Gibraltar Road because it is within the Forest closure.
• The Zaca Fire Area Closure in Los Padres National Forest remains in effect. Detailed information regarding the closure can be found on this web site.
• Recreation facilities along Paradise Road between Highway 154 and First Crossing, including Forest Service Campgrounds and Rancho Oso Campground, are now open. The Santa Ynez River Road, beyond the First Crossing and all associated recreation facilities are closed.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Human Caused
Date of Origin	07/04/2007 at 1053 hrs.
Location	9 miles North of Santa Barbara
Incident Commander	Opliger/ Hawkins

Current Situation

Total Personnel	2,208
Size	240,207 acres
Percent Contained	95%
Estimated Containment Date	09/04/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	Heavy brush containing a high dead component. Some conifers at higher elevations. Live fuel moistures are at 49% which is well below critical levels.
Fire Behavior	Live Oak Zone (south section): The fire in the island within the Santa Cruz drainage continues to creep around. Richardson Zone (north section): Some interior burning within the control lines was observed today.
Significant Events	Live Oak Zone (south section): Progress is being made in suppression rehabilitation. Richardson Zone (north section): Good progress with line improvements and mop up in all divisions. Fire suppression rehab efforts continue in all divisions today.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Live Oak Zone: Patrol by air. Continue fire suppression rehab. Richardson Zone: Monitor and mop up/patrol in all divisions. Contingency planning will continue. Continue rehab efforts.
Projected Movement	Projected incident movement in Richardson Zone: north to Dry Canyon and east to Highway 33.
Growth Potential	Moderate
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Containment Target	Live Oak Zone: the fire management strategy has succeeded. Richardson Zone: There is high potential for success of the fire management strategy by Sept. 4th.
Remarks	Live Oak Zone: Southern California Team 1 (Walker),will assume command today at 0600.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	Not available
Current Temperature	59 degrees
Current Humidity	47 %

Inciweb: Elk Complex Wildland Fire - 17,684 acres - 90%

Elk Complex Wildland Fire

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INCIDENT UPDATED

NEWS RELEASE

Klamath River Access Opened
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: Duane Lyon August 17, 2007Phone: 530 841 4485 Website: www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath Klamath National Forest Announces Changes in ClosuresYreka, CA - The Wingate River... more

Community Oveview 8/4/07
Credit: NorCal 1

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Summary

The Elk Complex is 90% contained. Crews continue to monitor. Check www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/conditions/ or call the Fire Information Center at 530 841 4451 for current information on road, trail, and river access closures.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	07/10/2007 at 2201 hrs.
Location	Happy Camp Ranger District
Incident Commander	Herb Mclane

Current Situation

Total Personnel	114
Size	17,684 acres
Percent Contained	90%
Estimated Containment Date	10/30/2007 at 0700 hrs.
Fuels Involved	10 Timber (litter and understory). Mature heavy timber overstory with brush understory, large quantities of dead fuels and snags.
Fire Behavior	Slow moving surface fire in green pockets within fire prerimeter with isolated torching, creeping and roll-out on steep slopes.
Significant Events	Continued to secure line burned on previous days. Patrol, mop-up, and repair activities. Fire backed down to the Klamath River on the west.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Continue to secure the line burned on previous days. Continue to perform fireline repair.
Projected Movement	12 hours: Interior burning of unburn fuels. 24 hours: Potential for re-burn in areas wetted by previous rain event as drying continues. 48 hours: Potential for re-burn in areas wetted by previous rain event as drying continues. 72 hours: Potential for re-burn in areas wetted by previous rain event as drying continues.
Growth Potential	Low
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Containment Target	Likely to meet objectives based on current weather projections.
Remarks	Fire finished backing into the Klamath River. Portions of the Elk fire, Humming Bird fire and King Creek to / Titus / Wingate fires are in confinement status which accounts for the 90% continement. Plan to transition to a type 3 team on 08/05/07.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	1 mph NW
Current Temperature	52 degrees
Current Humidity	75 %

Inciweb: Road Closures in Little Grider Fire Area

Road Closures in Little Grider Fire Area

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Incident: Elk Complex

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Duane Lyon

(530) 841 4485

Road Closures in Little Grider Fire Area

Yreka, CA (August 29, 2007)-Forest Roads 17N11 and 17N62 in the northern portion of the Little Grider Fire, near Happy Camp, CA, have been reopened for public use. Based on concern for public safety the balance of road closures within the Little Grider Fire have been amended as described below. Maps and copies of the legal closure order are available at local Forest Service offices as well as the following web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath

Closed until further notice are:

1. Forest Road No.16N30 from its intersection with County Road No. 7C033 to its intersection with Forest Road No. 17N16.
2. Forest Road No. 17N16 from its intersection with Forest Road No. 17N11 to its intersection with Forest Road No. 16N33.
3. Forest Road No 17N39 from its intersection with Forest Road No. 17N11 to its intersection with Forest Road No. 17N16.
4. Forest Road 17N20 from its intersection with Forest Road No. 17N11 to its intersection with Forest Road No. 17N16.

Inciweb: Wallow Wildland Fire - 500 acres - 0% Unknown

Wallow Wildland Fire

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• Maps

INCIDENT UPDATED

Approximate location of Wallow Fire 8/29/2007

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Summary

The Wallow Fire began August 30, 2007 at 2 p.m. on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. It is currently 500 acres. The forest has ordered a Type two Incident Management Team to arrive August 30, 2007.The Wallow fire is approximatley 11 miles east of Mad River, 7 miles southwest of Hayfork, and 11 miles north of Ruth Lake, located in Trinity County.The fire is moving in a northeasterly direction at a rapid rate of spread.There are no evacuations at this time. Hunters are being advised to listen to local radio stations or check with the nearest ranger station before entering the area for possible evacuations or area closures.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Under Investigation
Date of Origin	08/29/2007 at 1400 hrs.
Location	7 miles southwest of Hayfork, CA.
Incident Commander	Armstrong

Current Situation

Total Personnel	195
Size	500 acres
Fuels Involved	Primary fuels are timber; fire has burned into brush areas related to 1987 fires.
Fire Behavior	Rapid rates of spread; long range spotting.
Significant Events	Rapid fire spread due to dry fuels and thunderstorm generated winds.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Continue flanking actions and burnout operations from established roads.
Projected Movement	12 hours: fire spread to northeast towards Indian Valley facilities and isolated residences. 24 hours: Fire spread predicted to be erratic with predicted thunderstorm activity 48 hours: Fire spread to east with dirunal winds. 72 hours: Fire spread to east.
Growth Potential	High
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Containment Target	Unknown; dependent on thunderstorm activity predicted for 8/30.
Remarks	Fire behavior included rapid rates of spread and long range spotting. Fire is burning on private and USFS lands. Fire has burned into Plummer Creek and has high potential to become established in the South Fork Trinity River. Fire is also established into heavy brush from 1987 fires.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	3 mph N
Current Temperature	95 degrees
Current Humidity Contact Information Information (530) 226-2500	20 %

News - Fast wildfire blazing in Trinity County

sacbee.com:

HAYFORK -- Firefighters were battling a fast-moving blaze that started at 2 p.m. Wednesday about 18 miles west of Hayfork and 11 miles east of Mad River, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service said.
The Wallow fire in Trinity County had grown to 150 acres by late afternoon and was moving rapidly in a northerly direction, Forest Service spokesman Mike Odle said.
Forest Service fire crews from the Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers national forests were being aided by helicopters and air tankers, Odle said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Highway 36 remains open, Odle added.

Tehama County firefighters earn state honors

Assistant Fire Chief Herb Love, left, Capt. Robert Waelty and Fire Chief Gary Durden, right, all of the CalFire Tehama-Glenn Unit are pictured at the Governors Employee Safety Awards on Friday, Aug. 24. Waelty accepted the award on behalf of himself and Firefighter Paul Purdy, who was unable to attend the ceremony as he has been fighting a fire in Idaho for more than a week.
Credit: Courtesy photo

Red Bluff Daily News - County firefighters earn state honors:

SACRAMENTO - Two Tehama County firefighters were honored Friday at the 27th annual Governor's Employee Safety Awards at California State University after they researched a brand-name tea candle and its potential to cause fires.

Fire Capt. Robert Waelty and Firefighter Paul Purdy of CalFire's Tehama-Glenn Unit received the prestigious California Employee Safety Condemnation Award as a result of their follow-up and research regarding a concerned citizen's phone call.

While on duty at the Bowman Fire Station, the men received a call from a woman who was concerned after she noticed smoke in her home and realized her entertainment center was burning.

Waelty and Purdy investigated the incident and conducted experiments on their own. Waelty said it was mostly curiosity that caused them to investigate.

"We were intrigued by the incident," Waelty said. "After we began investigating the small house fire, I took some evidence, including the candle, and we started doing experiments."

The men said they found that when the candle wax began to liquefy in the small plastic container it rested in, the plastic quickly ignited.

Inevitably, the plastic container in the experiment would fail to contain the fire, allowing the candle wax and small flame to spill onto whatever surface the candle was set on.

When the flame contacted the melted wax, the candle would ignite. The men said they quickly determined the hazardous effects the candles could have.

Waelty said their hypothesis of the small house fire was that the tea candle was the cause. The flame of the candle had been burning on an angle because of a fan in the room, Waelty said. He said the flame pushed the candle over, and when the flame contacted the liquefied wax, the whole candle ignited. "It was a good thing she was home when it happened," Waelty said. "Or it would have done a lot of damage."

The local retailer and candle manufacturer were immediately notified of the danger and the product was removed from store shelves nationwide, Waelty said.

Though Purdy was unavailable for comment as he was in Idaho fighting one of the state's many large wildfires, Chief Gary Durden said both men were honored.

Durden said the men were nominated by the Tehama-Glenn Unit and were more than deserving of the safety award.

At the time of the investigation, Waelty was a fire apparatus engineer. He has since been promoted to fire captain.

Fire crews make most of equipment

Fire crews make most of equipment

By PERRY BACKUS of the Missoulian

Paula Chait sorts through backpack pumps to be refurbished at the Northern Rockies Fire Cache warehouse on Enterprise Way in Missoula. Wally Page, left, cleans and tests the pumps and makes sure they are still operational. The warehouse processes all the supplies from the Northern Rockies Fire Cache as they're returned from large wildfires burning in the Northern Region. Photo by MICHAEL GALLACHER/Missoulian

Scattered out among fire camps from north Idaho to North Dakota, Pat Nooney has upward of $24 million in fire gear that he's looking to get back soon.

This year, the supply management officer at the U.S. Forest Service's Northern Rockies Interagency Support Cache in Missoula may just have to wait.

“We're not seeing the influx of equipment right now like we've seen in previous years,” Nooney said. “This year's been very slow getting those returns back.”

The Forest Service's new strategy that allows some fires to burn longer is requiring firefighters to keep their Pulaskis, water pumps and miles of fire hose at the ready.

“They are tending to hang on much longer to that equipment just in case they might need it,” Nooney said. “They're letting some of these fires burn until weather puts them out or the snow flies.”

The agency's new policy of “appropriate management response” is being tested this year in the Northern Rockies region. Some fires are being allowed to burn longer in an effort to reduce fuels and reintroduce fire back on the landscape.

Where fires threaten homes, firefighters resort to “old school” strategies of fire suppression that often include getting a line around the fire and putting it out.

“There's not like a universal strategy for every fire,” Nooney said. “Every single fire has its own distinctive strategy. ... It all depends on location.”

For Nooney and the others who gather up thousands of pieces of fire gear every year, the new strategy has pushed back the annual chore.

“It's showing up at a much slower pace this year,” Nooney said. “For us, it's kind of nice. We're not nearly as stretched thin.”

Nooney and crew sort through piles of equipment to decide what's reusable and what's not.

“We reuse everything as often as possible,” Nooney said. “We do our best to get the maximum life out of every product ... instead of using a tool once and throwing it away, we'll try to use it 100 times or more if that's possible.”

One of Nooney's favorite examples is the 1967 water pump that's been refurbished over and over again.

“Not all of our equipment is that old, of course,” he said. “That's really pushing the life of that piece of machinery. We do definitely give the taxpayer the biggest bang for their buck.”

Every piece of equipment - from the tiniest water nozzle to the largest water pump - is logged both in and out of the 40,000-square-foot warehouse at the Forest Service's Aerial Fire Depot.

Nooney is proud that nearly all of it finds its way back.

“This cache is more of a stickler about keeping track of where our property is,” he said. “Nationally, there's a 16 percent loss. Our loss is somewhere between 6 (percent) and 8 percent.”

When the equipment is returned, crews decide whether it can be put back on the shelf or if it needs to be refurbished first. Some, of course, ends up in the trash.

“We shoot to have all that completed by Dec. 15,” Nooney said.

That deadline might be harder to meet considering the fact equipment isn't being returned on the same schedule - especially when some of the equipment has to be washed down outdoors.

The crews refurbish close to 300 miles of fire hose. All of which needs to be sprayed and pressure tested.

“Our warm temperatures are pretty much over at the end of October,” Nooney said. “It's going to be a challenge getting that kind of work completed on time.

[EDIS] Red flag warning - Modoc, Siskiyou

[EDIS] Red flag warning remains in effect from 2 pm this afternoon to 11 pm pdt this evening
Modoc, Siskiyou

THIS RED FLAG WARNING IS FOR THE FOLLOWING FIRE WEATHER ZONES: 280...281...282...284...285..

.621...623...624...AND 625. THE RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH INSUFFICIENT MOISTURE ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN OREGON. VERY DRY FUEL CONDITIONS AND FAST MOVEMENT OF STORMS WILL LEAD TO A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR LIGHTNING STARTED FIRES. ADDITIONALLY...THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.

Instruction:
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS... LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

Area: WESTERN KLAMATH NATIONAL FOREST-CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY INCLUDING SHASTA VALLEY-SHASTA-TRINITY NATIONAL FOREST IN SISKIYOU COUNTY-SISKIYOU COUNTY FROM THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS EAST AND SOUTH TO MTSHASTA-MODOC COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE SURPRISE VALLEY-SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS-SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES-KLAMATH BASIN AND THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST-SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON DESERT INCLUDING THE BLM LAND IN EASTERNLAKE AND WESTERN HARNEY COUNTIES-

Affected Counties or parts of: Modoc, Siskiyou,

Sent: 2007-08-30T06:50:36-07:00

From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR

FIRE WEATHER WATCH - SONOMA AND MARIN COUNTIES-SAN FRANCISCO-THE EAST BAY HILLS-SANTA CLARA COUNTY-NAPA COUNTY-SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS-SAN MATEO HILLS

[EDIS] fire weather watch remains in effect through this afternoon

SONOMA AND MARIN COUNTIES-SAN FRANCISCO-THE EAST BAY HILLS-SANTA CLARA COUNTY-NAPA COUNTY-SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS-SAN MATEO HILLS

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE THREAT OF DRY THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. THE THREAT FOR SCATTERED DRY THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE THIS MORNING ACROSS THE SOUTH BAY AND INTO THE EAST AND NORTH BAY BY AFTERNOON. ANY STORMS WILL PRODUCE LITTLE TO NO RAINFALL ACCUMULATION AND POSSIBLE ERRATIC WIND GUSTS.

Instruction:
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS.

Area: SONOMA AND MARIN COUNTIES-SAN FRANCISCO-THE EAST BAY HILLS-SANTA CLARA COUNTY-NAPA COUNTY-SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS-SAN MATEO HILLS-

Affected Counties or parts of: San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Marin, Monterey, Contra Costa, Napa, San Benito, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Alameda,Kensington, Port Costa, Byron, Pacheco, Crockett, Bethel Island, Lafayette, Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, San Ramon, Richmond, Discovery Bay, Blackhawk, Rodeo, Orinda, Concord, Martinez, Antioch, Danville, Walnut Creek, El Cerrito, Moraga, Pinole, Clayton, Oakley, San Pablo, Vine Hill, Diablo, Brentwood, El Sobrante, Hercules, Bay Point, Knightsen, Clyde, Alamo