Firefighter Blog

Hot weather over Idaho, Washington and Montana is inviting thunderstorms in the region. Boise weather calls for highs in the 90's with isolated thunderstorms. This GOES water vapor image offers visual confirmation. as fire pop to the north, exhauted resources will be stretched further.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season

Good news from the Basin Fire tonight as the fire appears to have lost steam under milder weather. Fire commander Deitrich offers the following assessment in the even incident summary;

Today's observed fire behavior:
West Zone: "Fire behavior moderated in all areas with backing and creeping."
East Zone: "Active runs above 2000 ft elevation. Smoldering and creeping in drainages and below 2000 ft."

Meanwhile on the Indians Fire the plan seems to be "tidy up" by burning out any green areas left on the north flank of the fire. You can see clearly how they are trying to fill in the blanks by intentionally blackening any green (unburned) areas within the fire perimeter.
You will recall from the earliest ICS-209 reports filed over one month ago the current IC predicted the fire would grow to 80,000 acres.
He'll be right.
Meanwhile it appears they experienced some slopover from the operation. We'll see what becomes of that tomorrow.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Basin Complex, California Firestorm 2008, Indians Fire

I've seen no better satellite image loop with a close up view than this image from RAMSDIS.
The winds shifted mid-day and as you can see by the image and animated loop the smoke columns for the Basin Complex, Indians Fire and the Piute Fire across the Central Valley in Kern County moved approximately 60 degrees in the matter of an hour.

*Blogger being a bit buggy at the moment so I can't upload the image. I'll try later.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Basin Complex, California Firestorm 2008

The fire is very active today as we see from the most recent map from GeoMAC. It appears the fire will merge with the Indians Fire as predicted here last week. Take a look at the spot fires (indicated as red dots) in the map below.
Note too how the Indians Fire has blown containment on the N/E.

This is a beautiful forest and is very sad to witness. I believe both fire managers are doing everything in their power to bring these conflagrations under control. Sadly they don't have the resources to confront it properly. Two thousand firefighters is about 1/4 of the manpower they need to make a dent.
The morning report indicates 40,000 acres with 3% contained for the Basin Complex Fire. The Indians Fire says 61,000 acres with 89% containment. I believe that containment figure will be revised downward.

Labels: 2007 fire season, Basin Complex, California Firestorm 2008

Size 2,560 acres, 4 percent contained burning in Kern County. Yesterday the MAFF's C-130's and Tanker 910 threw everything they had at it.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008, Piute Fire

Biologists are working around the smoke and flames in Big Sur keeping watch on the small California Condor population inhabiting the Ventana Wilderness. The Ventana Wilderness Society, the only non profit organization releasing condors in California, is monitoring the flock that call Big Sur home. The group thinks one female condor has been lost to the fire. I support the group's work on behalf of these remarkable birds.

If you have a moment take a look at these short videos. You can see why these magnificent birds attract such concern.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008

You will have to follow this link to the OES Fire Information site for an expanded view of the map below.



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Click the image to enlarge or visit MODIS Rapidfire for an expanded view of this remarkable enhanced satellite image of the California fires. The fire in the lower right portion of the image is the Piute Fire, a new fire burning in Kern County.

For perspective I added an image of fires burning out of control in Russia. Not such a fuss is made of forest fires in Siberia.

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Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008

Basins Complex Fire commanders got some "fresh" troops yesterday upping their reported total to just over 1,000. The morning report shows 32,000 acres have burned with containment still under 5%. You can see from the map below the fire is spreading east and north. The fire's march south has not halted even though the GeoMAC image shows there is not active burning on the southern head.

Keep in mind 1,000 firefighters on scene means one half are on the lines and the other half are getting sleep. The fire only has 17 hand crews and 11 bulldozers assigned. Of the 1,000 firefighters nearly 20 percent are designated "overhead". These are division and group supervisors, incident command team members, biologists etc..

While they support efforts of the actual firefighters they do not lay shovels to the ground. Fifty or so firefighters comprise the two in-camp kitchen crews and their supervisors. Forty four fire engines are assigned to the Basins Complex and are primarily used for structure protection according the incident report. Structure protection engines and crews prep individual properties and lay in wait for the fire to come to them.

In reality no more than a few hundred firefighters and the eleven dozer operators are on the ground on any one shift. From the sky seven helicopters and seven fixed wing craft pound the flanks and support the hand crews working below. It's a decent air force but they cannot put the fire out without adequate ground support.

All considered this is a very small army for a fire this size. Fire command is really doing all they can with what they are given. Save structures, try to guide the fire away from local communities and hope for helping weather. Troops are scarce statewide so it's improbable this one will ever get adequately staffed. If so we'll likely see 170,000 acres burned as noted by Basin Complex command staff yesterday.



GeoMAC fire mapping software is fantastic. If you haven't played around with the fire map viewing options you should have a look.

*Update: Basins Complex continues run to the northwest-----



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Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Basin Complex, California Firestorm 2008

The latest GeoMAC image captured at 1:00pm today shows the fire spotting off the south flank of the Basin Complex Fire. We know from the morning ICS-209 that Incident Commander Dietrich is not keen on putting firefighters inside the perimeter for the most part. There is not much to be gained and very much to be lost by placing his limited resources out in front this beast. As it stands his fire and the Indians Fire are destined to merge. No one needs to get hurt trying to stop it.

Top image from early morning June 28, image below mid day June, 28.

If you look at the path the Basins Complex is taking you can make a case the south flank could run to Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. In this case firefighters could then tie the Basin Complex to the burned areas of the Indians to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

The north flank of the fire should be helped by prevailing N/W winds once they return. The eastern head of the Basin Complex looks like the headache for fire command.

The morning report projected the final size at 170,000 acres. Most of this acreage has to come from acreage gained on its journey east. In order to get to 170,000 acres you have to look out as far as the lower Carmel Valley.

It seems almost inconceivable at the moment to suggest the fire will travel that far but I can't see how else they can get to 170K acres. Residents of lower Carmel Valley will get early clues if they begin seeing bulldozers unloading on the Valley floor to begin constructing or fortifying trails along the first line of ridges running the length of lower Carmel Valley.

These are only my back of the napkin thoughts. For a formal narrative read Sur Coast updates.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Basin Complex, California Firestorm 2008, Indians Fire

Smoke shrouds central and northern California as seen in this image and others from MODIS Rapidfire.





View Larger Map

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008

The Indians Fire and Basin Complex Fire currently burning in the Ventana Wilderness will likely combine to become the the largest fire in modern California state history.

This morning's ICS-209 report for the Basin Complex Fire, now called Basin Complex West includes an estimated final size at 170,000 acres. The Basin Complex West fire will come close to matching the Marble-Cone Fire of 1977 that consumed 178,000 acres on the same ground.

The Indians Fire management team has stated since the start of the fire in May they expect their fire to exceed 80,000 acres. The fire has burned over 60,000 acres so far.

Wikipedia maintains a list of the largest wildfires in California history as;

1 - Santiago Canyon Fire of 1889: 300,000 acres ·
2 - Cedar Fire: 273,246 acres
3 - Zaca Fire: 240,207 acres
4 - Matilija Fire: 220,000 acres
5 - Witch Fire: 197,990
6 - Laguna Fire: 175,425 acres
7 - Marble-Cone Fire: ~178,000 acres
8 - Day Fire: 162,700 acres
9 - McNally Fire: 150,670 acres
10 - Old Fire: 91,281 acres
11 - Harris Fire: 90,440 acres (366 km²)

If the Basin Complex West and Indians Fire meet the stated expectations the combined acreage could challenge the Cedar Fire of 273k acres. Worth noting both current fire managers were in command of the Zaca Fire (#3 all time) at various stages last year.



(Please link back if you use this post)

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Basin Complex, California Firestorm 2008, Indians Fire

The two Coulson Martin Mars Waterbombers are running out of Sacramento along with the National Guard C-130's.

Tanker 910 is also spiked in Sacramento making runs where needed throughout Northern California.
Tanker 910 can deliver a 20,000 gallon payload. Martin Mars can drop 7,200 gallons per load and can reload on a good sized lake.



Tanker 910 in action over the Humboldt Fire.



C-130 test drop.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008

Indians Fire (60,000 acres 71% contained) management (joint, headed by CIIMT2 (Molumby, IC) bucked convention and conducted a firing operation on the north side of the fire. You can see in the image below (indicated in red) where they burned today.
The Indians Fire ICS-209 report filed tonight indicates the firing operation was carried out in the face of 16 mph winds from the east, towards the Basin Fire less than three miles downwind.

I've followed this fire more closely than others burning in the state because it is close to my place and I sensed early on this fire could be a candidate for mismanagement. The $36,000,000 price tag to date and hoarding of personnel, when others begged for resources has not altered my suspicions. Maybe they don't realize how close they are to the Basin Complex? It almost appears as though they were persuading their fire to move east.

If this is their long range plan then it means they intend for the two fires to merge. The Basin Fire (26,000 acres 3% contained) hints so in their June 27 pm ICS-209.

Remarks:
"Plans are being implemented to zone the Basin Complex with Indians Fire command team. Damage assessment continues. Containment value remains static due to defensive actions. The Basin Complex is in unified command with USFS, Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade and Monterey County Sheriff's Office. "

If the fires meet in the middle on their own I have no problem. If the fires are being directed to meet I suggest the forest is a victim of mismanagement.

The Molumby crew has been consistent from the beginning his fire would be an 80,000 plus acre event. He'll be dead on if he pushes his fire into the Basin Fire. Dead on for his Indians Fire contribution. A combined Basin/Indians perimeter could easily combine to take out 125,000 acres.
The Ventana Wilderness deserves better than this.
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Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Basin Complex, California Firestorm 2008, Indains Fire

The Record Searchlight Online is providing first rate information on the fires affecting the forests and communities in the north state. Redding is a hub where arriving firefighters from all points enter before branching out to their assignments.

A partial list of major fires and clusters, (complex) surrounding Redding include The Lime Complex, Iron Complex, Hell's Half Complex and the Whiskeytown Complex burn west of Redding. The SHU Lightning Complex burns north of the city, while the Cub Complex, Antelope and Mill Fires burn the the east.


The editorial staff of the Record Searchlight has been kind enough to recognize firefighters with a firefighter thank you page. If you have a moment click over and leave a message.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008

Military sends four National Guard MAFFS C-130's!

"The aircraft are a part of the North Carolina Air National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing based at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

The aircraft with nearly 50 North Carolina guardmembers are conducting airborne firefighting missions from a staging area near Sacramento, Calif. Two C-130s carry modular airborne fire fighting systems (MAFFS).

Since 1974, MAFFS has saved land, lives and property from wild land fires in the United States and abroad. MAFFS is only activated when all other air tanker resources are committed.

The MAFFS mission equips C-130s with a firefighting apparatus that is loaded into the aircraft’s cargo area. The MAFFS unit itself is a series of pressurized tanks that hold 3,000 gallons of flame-retardant liquid.

Directed by ground crews, and led to the fire site by a U.S. Forest service lead plane, MAFFS aircraft drop retardant along the leading edge of a fire to block the spread of flames.

The North Carolina contingent is operating two C-130s equipped with MAFFS modules. Two other C-130s are transporting equipment and personnel."

Photo credit Wyoming Air National Guard.

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Labels: California Firestorm 2008

Yesterday I posted a satellite image showing smoke covering half the state.
The inversion is about to lift. The satellite image below shows smoke from the north state blowing west, out to sea. This S/W wind is will lift the inversion and give fires new breath.

NOAA animated loop

If you look at the predicted weather today for the Walker Fire near Clear Lake you see winds from the ESE at 11:00am turning to WSW by 3:00pm.

This is where firefighters will find the most danger, (reference Firefighters Watchout Situations #15 below) once the front moves in. Later in the evening lightning is forecast. Expect little relief from any precipitation, expect new fires will result from dry lightning.

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Standard Firefighting Orders
1. Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts.
2. Know what your fire is doing at all times.
3. Base all actions on current and expected behavior of the fire.
4. Identify escape routes and safety zones and make them known.
5. Post lookouts when there is possible danger.
6. Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act decisively.
7. Maintain prompt communications with your forces,supervisor,and adjoining forces.
8. Give clear instructions and insure they are understood.
9. Maintain control of your forces at all times.
10. Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first.

18 Watchouts Situations

1. Fire not scouted and sized up.
2. In country not seen in daylight.
3. Safety zones and escape routes not identified.
4. Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior.
5. Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards.
6. Instructions and assignments not clear.
7. No communication link with crewmembers/supervisors.
8. Constructing line without safe anchor point.
9. Building fireline downhill with fire below.
10. Attempting frontal assault on fire.
11. Unburned fuel between you and the fire.
12. Cannot see main fire, not in contact with anyone who can.
13. On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below.
14. Weather is getting hotter and drier.
15. Wind increases and/or changes direction.
16. Getting frequent spot fires across line.
17. Terrain and fuels make escape to safety zones difficult.
18. Taking a nap near the fire line.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008, Standing firefighting orders

Big Sur locals including Big Sur Fire Brigade Chief Frank Penny and Los Padres National Forest "fuel chief" Steve Davis expressed prophetic concerns in an interview with a local reporter in October 2006;
Chief Penny saw this coming;

"“The area is screaming for more proactive prevention,” he says. “It’s very easy to do it, it’s just the will. There is a need for supplemental funding because of sudden oak {death}.
“It’s a crisis now. It just hasn’t become a political crisis because nobody’s been killed, nobody’s house has burned up, no roads have washed out.”

In 1977 90% of the Ventana Wilderness was scorched by the 178,000 acre Marble-Cone Fire.

Marble Cone was fed by dead limbs from unusual snow fall seasons before. The Basin Complex Fire is fed by "sudden oak death", a plague decimating tan oaks in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. An example of sudden oak death can be seen in a webcam photo capture from the Big Sur webcam at Nepenthe Restaurant. Notice the dead tree in the center of the image.

The Marble-Cone Fire may have been fueled by dead limbs but the fire was actually surrounded by responding state and federal crews in the initial stages. My cousin was one of those firefighters who had the fire in check when they were ordered to put down their chain saws. An approaching bulldozer was stopped in its tracks. The fire was in a "Wilderness" and no mechanical equipment is allowed in a designated wilderness.

I'll never forget my cousin shaking his head when he first told me this story. They had it stopped at 100 acres.

I'm not sure if an exemption was asked for or granted for this incident but you have to hope it was. As it stands tonight the fire is at 26,000 acres, 97% of which is uncontained fire line with multiple heads. The Ventana Wilderness is a precious resource.

The prophetic words of Chief Penny are coming back to haunt. The Angora Fire at Lake Tahoe last summer was fed by downed and dead trees. A debate continues who was at fault for not allowing clearing the deadwood. Two hundred fifty homes were lost there. Sixteen homes have been lost so far in Big Sur. One resident was told by a fire official the "big box" estimate for the Basin Complex is 250,000 acres.



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Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Basin Complex, Big Sur, California Firestorm 2008, Marble Cone

California Fires: 34
Acres: 230,497
New fires: 3 Fires contained: 1
Northern California Joint Information Center - Call 530-226-2749.

Full NIFC report here.
More detail on each fire can be read here.

American River Complex (Tahoe National Forest): 1,750 acres at five percent contained. This complex of three fires is 11 miles northeast of Foresthill. Power lines and cultural resources are threatened. Information: Call (530) 478-6101.

Antelope (Lassen National Forest): 600 acres at an unknown percent contained. This fire is seven miles southeast of Paynes Creek.Information: Call (530) 257-9553.

Basin Complex (Los Padres National Forest): 20,600 acres at three percent contained. This complex of two fires is five miles southeast of Big Sur. Several residences are threatened and evacuations are in effect. Highway 1 is closed. Information: Call (805) 961-5770 or visit the web site (click on Current Conditions).

Blue (Six Rivers National Forest): 225 acres at five percent contained. This fire is 12 miles northeast of Klamath. Information: Call (530) 478-6101 or visit the web site.

BTU Lightning Complex (Butte Unit, Cal Fire): 7,000 acres at five percent contained. This complex of 27 fires is in Butte county. The communities of Jonesville, Butte Meadows and Concow are threatened and evacuations are in effect. Highway 70 is closed.Information: Call (530) 538-7826 or visit the web site.

Canyon Complex (Plumas National Forest): 5,291 acres at five percent contained. This complex of 34 fires is 16 miles northeast of Paradise. Residences and archeological sites are threatened and road closures are in effect. Information: Call (530) 283-7883.

Clover (Sequoia National Forest): 13,400 acres at 15 percent contained. Residences are threatened.Information: Call (760) 376-3781 ext. 625.

Corral (Lassen-Modoc Unit, Cal Fire): 1,740 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 23 miles west of Termo.Information: Call (530) 257-9553 or visit the web site.

Cub Complex (Lassen National Forest): 1,600 acres at five percent contained. This complex of four fires is 16 miles southwest of Chester. Smoke is impacting communities in the area.Information: Call (530) 257-9553.

NEW Gould (Klamath National Forest): 350 acres at 20 percent contained. This fire is near Etna. It burned actively yesterday.Information: Call (530) 493-1518.

Hell's Half (Six Rivers National Forest): 1,142 acres at six percent contained. This complex of two fires is eight miles southwest of Burnt Ranch. Structures are threatened. Information: Call (707) 441-3623 or visit the web site.

Humboldt Complex (Humboldt-Del Norte Unit, Cal Fire): 1,050 acres at 50 percent contained. This complex of two fires is in Humboldt county. Several residences are threatened. Information: Call (707) 726-1225 or visit the web site.

Indians (Los Padres National Forest): 58,872 acres at 71 percent contained. This fire is 18 miles west of King City. Numerous residences and cultural resources are threatened.
Evacuations are in effect for Aroyo Seco. Information: Call 805-961-5770 or visit the web site.

Iron Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 4,500 acres at five percent contained. This complex of 27 fires is one mile north of Junction City. Residences are threatened. Information: Call (530) 226-2500 ext. 2.

June ABCD Miscellaneous Complex (Mendocino National Forest): 2,998 acres at 20 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 24 miles southwest of Chico. Residences and structures are threatened. Information: Call (530) 934-3316 or visit the web site.

Lime Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 11,200 acres at 10 percent contained. This complex of 53 fires is 14 miles west of Hayfork. Numerous residences are threatened and evacuations are in effect. Information: Call (530) 226-2500 ext. 2.

LNF June Lightning Complex (Lassen National Forest): 200 acres at an unknown percent contained. This complex is 16 miles southwest of Chester. Information: Call (530) 257-9553.

Mad Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 1,400 acres at 20 percent contained. This complex of four fires is in Humboldt county. Residences are threatened. Information: Call (707) 441-3623 or visit the web site.

Mendocino Lightning Complex (Mendocino Unit, Cal Fire): 21,294 acres at five percent contained. This complex of 107 fires is in Mendocino county. Numerous residences are threatened. The communities of Greenfield and Orr Springs are threatened and evacuations orders were issued.Information: Call (707) 972-3846 or visit the web site.

Mill (Lassen National Forest): 1,500 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 16 miles northeast of Los Molinos. Information: Call (530) 257-9553.

North Mountain (Stanislaus National Forest): 1,228 acres at 25 percent contained. This fire is seven miles northeast of Groveland. Residences are threatened. Information: Call (209) 532-3671 ext. 244/245 or visit the web site.

Oliver (Merced-Mariposa Unit, Cal Fire): 2,000 acres at 20 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles east of Mariposa. Structures are threatened. Information: Visit the web site

Oliver Complex (Sierra National Forest): 1,668 acres at zero percent contained. This complex of four fires is seven miles west of Fish Camp. Structures are threatened. Information: Visit the web site.

Peterson (Lassen National Forest): 1,200 acres at five percent contained. This fire is 10 miles east of Cassell. The community of Little Valley is threatened. Information: Call (530) 257-9553.

Popcorn (Lassen-Modoc Unit, Cal Fire): 3,000 acres at 50 percent contained. This complex of was previously reported as the LMU Complex and is nine miles northwest of Little Valley. Voluntary evacuations are in effect for Little Valley. Information: Call (530) 257-9553 or visit the web site.

SHU Lightning Complex (Shasta-Trinity Unit, Cal Fire): 20,000 acres at five percent contained. This complex of 158 fires is in Shasta and Trinity counties. Residences, commercial property and power transmission lines are threatened. Communities of Shingletown and Burney are threatened. Evacuations are in effect. Information: Call (530) 225-2510 or visit the web site.
NEW Silver Complex (Sierra National Forest): 818 acres at 50 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles southeast of Mariposa.

NEW Soda Complex (Mendocino National Forest): 3,500 acres at five percent contained. This fire is 15 miles northwest of Upper Lake. Residences are threatened.Information: Call (530) 934-3316.

Syskiyou Complex (Klamath National Forest): 4,000 acres at eight percent contained. This complex of five fires is 18 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Historical and cultural resources are threatened. Information: Call (530) 493-1518.

TGU Lightning Complex (Tehama-Glenn Unit, Cal Fire): 10,629 acres at 15 percent contained. This complex of three fires is in Tehama county. Moderate fire activity was observed. Information: Call (530) 528-5193 or visit the web site.

Ukonom Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 14,541 acres at 30 percent contained. This complex of nine fires is three miles southwest of Somes Bar. It was previously reported as the Orleans/Ukonom Complex. Structures are threatened. Information: Call (707) 441-3623 or visit the web site.

Walker (Sonoma-Lake Napa Unite, Cal Fire): 14,500 acres at 10 percent contained. This fire is 10 miles northeast of Clearlake Oaks. Residences are threatened. Information: Call (707) 967-1456 or visit the web site.

Whiskeytown Complex (Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, National Park Service): 3,000 acres at zero percent contained. This complex of three fires is 12 miles west of Redding. Commercial property, power lines, and communication infrastructure are threatened. Information: Call 530-242-3438 or visit the web site.

Yuba River Complex (Tahoe National Forest): 2,680 acres at 15 percent contained. This complex of 28 fires is 13 miles northeast of Nevada City. Residences, hydroelectric facilities, and power lines are threatened. Road closures are in effect. Information: Call (530) 478-6101.

Wild (Sonoma-Lake Napa Unite, Cal Fire): This fire was contained at 4,089 acres.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008

Smoke fills the air in the northern part of the state. The air in Fresno County, (mid state) has never been uglier or more toxic according to local air monitoring districts.

1,088 fires burning, 12,000+ firefighters assigned June 26 NorCal Update.


Visit MODIS RapidFire for a closeup of the smoke. I think this is unprecedented.




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Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008, fire maps, sa

Text from NASA's MODIS Rapidfire team.

"A heat wave and windy weather plagued firefighters in California in mid-June 2008 as they worked to contain hundreds of fires across the state. Many of the fires were triggered by lightning on Friday, June 20. This natural-color image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite on Monday, June 23, shows places where the sensor detected actively burning fires (red outlines). Fires appear most numerous in Northern California. The Northern region of California has experienced record low levels of rainfall this spring, leaving dry vegetation in the area. This in conjunction with windy weather has made firefighting efforts difficult."

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008, satellite fire photos

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Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008, fire maps

It appears inevitable the Gallery Fire, now known as the Basin Complex will merge with the Indians Fire.

The Indians Fire has burned 58,000 acres and is at 71% containment. The fire has been burning since June 8. Two thousand firefighters are assigned to the Indians Fire.

By comparison 580 firefighters are assigned to the 13,500 acre Basin Complex. Indians Fire command is sharing some resources and, "preparing to assist the Basin Complex with strategic planning and implementation as the need arises".

KSBW TV Salinas reports tonight that new evacuations have been ordered.

They report;

"Mandatory evacuation notices were issued late Tuesday afternoon for residents in the Arroyo Seco area as the Indians Fire continued to move north toward homes. Residents on Arroyo Seco Road from Carmel Valley Road to the Arroyo Seco Campgrounds have been ordered to evacuate the area."

This supports evidence seen on the map above that the Indians Fire is still far from full containment. The map below points to Tassajara Hot Springs, directly between the Basin Complex and Indians Fire.
The combined fires could easily total 125,000 acres or more.
Sixteen homes have been consumed by the Gallery Fire/Basin Complex. Two homes and fourteen outbuildings have been destroyed by the Indians Fire.


View Larger Map

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Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Basin Complex, Big Sur, California Firestorm 2008, Gallery Fire, Indains Fire

A skeleton force of 359 firefighters are assigned to the Oliver Complex Fires comprised of the following named fires.

Directly from the Incident 209 report;

OLIVER Fire 1000 ACRES 0% CONTAINED
WESTFALL Fire 50 ACRES 50%,
SILVER Fire 400 10%,
STAR Fire 30 ACRES 0%,
CHIQUITO Fire 10 ACRES 50%,
GAGG, POISON, AND 7 OTHERS FIRES ARE CONFINED NOT YET CONTROLLED.

Growth Potential - Extreme
Difficulty of Terrain - Extreme

Values at Risk: include communities, critical infrastructure, natural and cultural resources in 12, 24, 48 and 72 hour time frames:12 hours:
PONDEROSA SUBDIVISION WITH 100+ HOMES. RECREATIONAL CABINS IN THE FOREST NUMBER IN THE 100'S. WITHIN 72 HOURS WAWONA AND THE BIG TREES (SEQUOIA GIGANTEA) IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK WILL BE THREATENED BY THE STAR INCIDENT (ONE OF 14 FIRES WITHIN THIS COMPLEX). LATERAL MOVEMENT UP AND DOWN RIVER HAS GOOD POTENTIAL TO REACH NP LANDS.

CONTINUE UTULIZING AVAILABLE RESOURCES. CONTINUE REQUESTS FOR SCARCE RESOURCES

Critical Resource Needs (amount, type, kind and number of operational periods () in priority order in 12, 24, 48, and 72 hour time frames):
12 hours:
10 HEAVY AIRTANKERS, 4 TYPE 1 AND 6 TYPE 2 HELICOPTERS, 15 HAND CREWS.
24 hours:
10 HEAVY AIRTANKERS, 4 TYPE 1 AND 6 TYPE 2 HELICOPTERS, 15 HANDCREWS
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This scenario is being played out similarly throughout central and northern California. The incident commander won't get those 10 heavy tankers or 8 helicopters.
He'll get by with the two helicopters he has assigned along with the 13 engines and 8 bulldozers he has.

Residents upstream should be advised. If you are told to evacuate do so without hesitation. Under ordinary circumstances structure protection crews would be available to prep your house and stand guard. This is not an option from my read.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008, Oliver Complex

A Cal Fire crew bus rolled over yesterday critically injuring 2 firefighters. Blogger Bob has the details and a picture of the crew and Captain. The rollover injured injured 18 total and was caused by a tire blowout.
The crew was comprised of CDC inmates and a Cal Fire Captain. Local news reports the crew was returning to quarters near Temecula after responding to a 20 acre brush fire.

About Cal Fire Crew Carriers.

The California Department of Corrections released this earlier today;

June 24, 2008;
FAIRFIELD - Today, 2,237 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) inmates supervised by 180 custody staff have been deployed to battle the Wild Fire in Solano and Napa counties, and other raging wildfires statewide.

"Inmate firefighting crews and the custody staff who supervise them are a critical component of the state's coordinated effort to battle wildfires and to respond to other emergencies," said CDCR Secretary Matthew Cate. "Right now, a total of 156 inmate firefighter crews from 42 conservation camps are assisting the state gain control of these devastating fires scattered primarily throughout Central and Northern California."

Since 1946, the Conservation Camp Program has provided California with a well-trained, well-equipped workforce for fire suppression. More than 4,400 male and female inmates participate in the program, which consist of approximately 200 fire crews. The crews respond nearly every type of emergency, including wildfires, floods, search and rescue operations, and earthquakes. They also log millions of hours annually on fire reduction and conservation projects and provide forest, range and watershed enhancement on public lands.

CDCR jointly manages 39 adult and juvenile camps with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and five adult camps with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Only minimum-custody inmates may participate in the Conservation Camp Program. They must be physically fit and have no history of a violent crime, including kidnapping, sex offenses, arson or escape. Juvenile offenders earn their way into camp placement and must be free of major rule infractions. Wards convicted of sex offenses or arson are excluded.

"The Conservation Camp Program provides an enormous benefit to offenders. They learn skills, teamwork and discipline that will serve them well when they are released from prison," Cate added. "The citizens of California benefit by having a fully trained workforce able to respond to fires, while saving more than $80 million every year that otherwise would be paid to accomplish the same tasks."

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008, Firefighter Injuries

This NASA satellite image from MODIS Rapidfire AERONET (Fresno subset) shows the extent of the fire crisis in California. Click the image for a better view. Notice the fires in the Sierra's and Sierra foothills are burning north while fires along the north and central coast are running south. Coastal fog is no help.
An animated satellite view of current wind patterns in California can be viewed here.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008

The Gallery Fire burning in Big Sur is considered part of the Basin Complex. Fire management is slow to update so an acreage number is only a guess. However we see from GeoMAC (below) the Gallery Fire and Basin Fire have joined. Prevailing N/W winds may push the "Basin Complex" fires into the as yet contained 60,000 acre Indians Fire.

*UPDATE: ICS-209 filed 1800hrs.
The Logwood Fire has been consumed by the Gallery Fire. The Complex now has two fires. The Gallery fire is 5920 acres with 10% containment. The Basin fire is 1105 acres with 0% containment.
Possible 5 structures/outbuildings damaged in last 24hrs. Confirmation is an ongoing effort.
Size/Area Involved 7,015 ACRES, % Contained; 3 Percent.
Structures, heavy fuel loads due to sudden oak death, threat to community of Big Sur and Carmen watershed basin.

Here is what stands out as the largest issue on this incident. There are ONLY 380 fire personnel assigned to this fire. Personnel include 190 Forest Service and 65 Cal Fire professionals. Equipment is sparse with 18 fire engines, 4 water tenders and 5 bulldozers.
Seventy of the fire personnel are overhead so effectively there are 150 firefighters per shift on the 7,000 acre of fire line.
Under normal circumstances Cal Fire would have 1,500 people swarming this fire.
Three helicopters and seven fixed wing aircraft are assigned and it is safe to say any substantial movement to suppress these fires will come from the air and the dozers working with firing crews.
Bottom line, this one will need cooperative weather.

Map from GeoMAC Wildfire Mapping (click to enlarge)




This image was grabbed from Fremont Peak Cam in the east side of the Salinas Valley June 22, 2008.



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Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Big Sur, California Firestorm 2008, Gallery Fire

What's documented here is an overview of the current (unprecedented) situation faced by California firefighters as they combat the more than 900 wildfires actively burning throughout the central and northern portions of the state.

Samples from the document are from various fire managers found in ICS-209 Incident Reports;

What you are reading below is exasperation across the board. In a normal environment fire managers possess the ability to call upon resources and count on them being filled.

"Our lack of adequate resources to staff the additional 6 lightning fires on the unit has required us to focus our attention toward containment as opposed to control. Strategy has been to complete line constuction/containment as resources allow. Fires have been prematurely placed in patrol status in order to contain other unmanaged incidents."

"Poor access and limited equipment available. SHU incident 1-1 (Popcorn)in the area of Popcorn WSA has burned onto Lassen Modoc Unit and is an immediate threat Pitt River power transmission lines. Fire has potential of 5000-6000 ac. Precautionary evacuations are in progress in the Little Valley area. Critical resource needs are helicopters, engines, and crews."

"LACK OF CRITICAL RESOURCES. IMPACT OF HIGH VISIBILITY ALONG THE HWY 50 CORRIDOR ADJACENT TO THE SOUTH FORK OF THE AMERICAN RIVER."

"Our lack of adequate resources to staff the additional 6 lightning fires on the unit has required us to focus our attention toward containment as opposed to control. Strategy has been to complete line constuction/containment as resources allow. Fires have been prematurely placed in patrol status in order to contain other unmanaged incidents."

"Multiple fires MINIMAL STAFFING with evacuations in place or imminent: Flynn Creek is 1400 acres, 5% contained and threatening homes; Orr Springs is 200 acres threatening 1 commercial property and approximately 25 residences; Cherry is 180 acres, evacuations of 40 residences and 0% containment; Table is approximately 1000 acres and threatening residences. Heavy resource drawdown is leaving 2/3 of the fires unstaffed. Inaccessible, steep terrain. No Unit coverage, all stations are unstaffed."

"Two new fires were detected today. Unstaffed fires continue to grow. Accessibility is a problem along with difficult terrain, rolling material, snags and poison oak. Approximately 50% of 36 fires are in the Trinity Alps Wilderness area. Many of the fires will require type 1 crews and air support. Several groups of fires are burning together and consolidating. Eight fires are .."

"The Lime Complex is comprised of approximately 68 fires ranging in size from one acre to over 400 acres. A number of fires are located in remote areas with steep terrain and limited, or no access. We continue to concentrate on fires that have been initial attacked versus those fires which have not been attacked, and choosing winnable initial attack, or extended attack actions. We are determining resources assigned to each staffed fire. Projections in the 24 to 72 hour time frames show the community of Hyampom may be surrounded by fire in the 24 hour time range with all ingress and egress severed. A similar forecast holds for the Town of Hayfork in the 72 hour time frame. A critical priority is maintaining the integrity of Highways 3 and 36"

"Fatigue and lack of resources are compromising control objectives. The Gov and Westville fires may burn together and make a significant up-canyon run. The communities of Foresthill, Baker Ranch and Michigan Bluff are potentially threatened. Air quality health issues are currently affecting the community of Foresthill."

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008

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Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008

W.I.S.E. sums up the Clover Fire blunder.

Well said!

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008, Clover Fire

The animated satellite view of the entire state shows the magnitude of this fire event.
Note the Clover Fire in the bottom right and the Gallery Fire below Monterey Bay. The Lime Complex in Trinity County upper right and the numerous fires burning in Lassen, Butte, Amador and neighboring counties. In the center of the image is the Mariposa Complex. Barely visible is the remnant of the Wild Fire in Napa County. More than 700 fires are burning in north and central California. Many fires are unmanned, many manned fires are woefully understaffed presenting a danger to firefighters and surrounding communities.







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Labels: 2008 Fire Season, California Firestorm 2008

I've covered the Clover Fire and have watched this FUM to suppression fire deteriorate. Best of luck fellas, that's nasty country to fight fire in.



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Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Clover Fire

More than 600 fires are burning in the northern California while 66 fires burn in the central section of the state. The daily NIFC report is posted by 7:00 am PST.

Inciweb.org is the Federal Government's incident information website and a repository for information submitted by fire managers for public consumption.

(Note: Inciweb has been down for most of the day)

In the alternative Wildlandfire.com is a great resource for those who want to follow the action statewide, near real time.

Cal Fire's incident page is generally updated with (sanitized) information every shift.

Here is their list of lightning caused fires in the north State.

Summary of Fires by Unit

Siskiyou Unit: 8 fires reporting minor acreage

Humboldt Unit: 50 fires for more than 200 acres

Mendicino Unit: 60 fires mapped, more than 30 additional observed; fires range in size from 1-125 acres

San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit: 15 fires up to 2 acres in size

Amador-El Dorado Unit:8 fires for approximately 75 acres

Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit: 7 fires all less than 1 acre each.

Butte Unit: 24 fires for a total of more than 300 acres.

Tehama-Glen Unit: 34 fires for a total of 550 acres.

Shasta-Trinity Unit: 62 fires up to 50 acres in size.

Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit: 5 fires with 4 contained and one burning near Napa West of Fairfield at 300 acres.

Lassen-Modoc Unit: 27 fires for a total of 25 acres.

Tuolumne-Calavares Unit: 16 fires for a total of 140 acres. Currently the counties of Tuolumne and Calaveras are experiencing heavy smoke in low lying areas due to fires caused by heavy lightning activity yesterday.

Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit:15 fires reported. The Cunningham Complex (5 fires total) are burning 3,150 acres total, the Stumpfield Fire is burning 2 acres, the Indian Peak Fire is burning 60 acres, and the Oliver Fire is burning in the Sequoia National Forest. The Sequoia National Forest has reported 25 fires.

Many Fires like the Gallery Fire in Big Sur have no current updates from the government sites. I'm preparing a post with an update from various sources including blog search, old media outlets, message boards, Flickr, Youtube, CHP and official incident reports.

Check back later!

Labels: 2008 Fire Season

Lightning ignited numerous smaller fires in Big Sur late yesterday. The Gallery Fire is reported at 2,000 acres and moving. The smaller Bear Basin Fire burning inland from the Gallery Fire is reported to have burned 200 acres.

Resources for these fires are being pulled from the (55,000 acre) monster Indians Fire burning on the east side of the Ventana Wilderness. Indians Fire management may postpone some firing operations as resources are pulled for initial attack and structure protection on these smaller fires.

The 3,000 acre Brown Fire in San Benito County is burning in grass rangeland south of Hollister. The optimistic narrative in the ICS-209 makes it sound like this one will get pinched off by the 5 engines they were given. That's an optimistic viewpointconsidering the weather near the Pinnacles and lack of resources available.

In Gilroy the Hummingbird Fire is forcing evacuations of residents along Day Road. Scanner chatter indicates incoming crews are setting up for day and night shifts. No ICS-209 reports are available at this time.

Crews in the Napa Valley near Suison and Green Valley are battling the 3,000 acre Wild Fire. Fire management estimates this fire may take four days to contain provided resource requests are filled. One structure has been destroyed as the fire rips through 20 year old stands of mature chaparral and oak woodlands. As I write this Tanker 910 is requested by air attack.

Multiple fires ignited in Butte County threatening communities of Paradise, Forest Ranch, Cohasset, and Magalia. Most of these fires are smaller, unnamed events for the time being.

In Tuolumne County in the Stanislaus River Canyon below Big Trees State Park and Dorrington firefighters are keeping watch on multiple lightning caused fires. While these fires do not present a current threat to life and property they require a vigilant watch. These crews are not allowed to respond to other areas at the moment.

Shelton Ridge near Lyonsville east of Red Bluff in Tehama County is ground zero of numerous lightning caused fires, many under 1 acre, some as high as 15 acres.

In Trinity County the Lime Complex involves a number of lightning caused fires. The main fire has consumed 1,500 acres manned by 600 fire personnel. There are frankly too many fires to name.

The Forest Service is gaining an upper hand on the 4,000 acre Clover Fire in the Sequoia National Forest. For the time being these crews are pinned down for mop up activities.

This is the widest spread of resources I can recall. Thankfully Southern California has been quiet.

View the Wild Fire from the Mt Diablo web cam.

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Labels: 2008 Fire Season

The lightning caused Clover Fire has burned nearly 4,000 acres near the Sequoia National Forest. The Clover Fire began May 28 and was designated a "Wildland Fire Used For Rescource Benefit" or FUM. The fire has been redesignated and suppression efforts are now being put in place.
Hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail are being rerouted, away from flames and fire suppression activities. The fire is burning generally eight miles north of Kennedy Meadows in the So. Sierra Wilderness.

Take a look at this webcam view of the Clover Fire.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Clover Fire

Dry lightning ignited 11 named fires (so far) in the Six Rivers and Shasta National Forests. At risk is watershed and fisheries resources. The town of Hyampom could be at risk. The eleven named fires are Rabbit, Van Duzen, Mad, Black, Gainor, Mingo, Groves, River, South Fork Mountain, Limedyke, Lake Mountain Ranch and Greedy Fires.

Redding Smokejumpers responded before nightfall last evening and are deployed on at least three of the fires.



These fires and others could burn all summer. The initial ICS-209 filed includes the following information;

Projected incident movement/spread 12, 24, 48, and 72 hour time frames:
12 hours: DOUBLE IN SIZE
24 hours: QUADRUPLE IN SIZE
48 hours:
72 hours: SIGNIFICANT GROWTH EXPECTED

Significant events today (closures, evacuations, significant progress made, etc.):
RECEIVED DRY LIGHTNING IN LATE AFTERNOON HOURS. 40 IDENTIFIED NEW STARTS ON THE FOREST, 29 ON THE HAYFORK DISTRICT. LIGHTNING CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT ON THE FOREST.

Values at Risk: include communities, critical infrastructure, natural and cultural resources in 12, 24, 48 and 72 hour time frames:
12 hours: LYMEDYKE LOOKOUT, SOUTHFORK OF TRINITY RIVER WATERSHED AND FISHERIES. ASSESSMENT OF STRUCTURES THREATENED AND OTHER VALUES AT RISK ONGOING

99 degrees in the region yesterday!


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Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Lime Complex

Firefighters across California will be tested by extreme weather this weekend. The 2,600 firefighters on the Indians Fire near Fort Hunter Liggett will face 106 degree temps with west winds at 11 mph.

Firefighters in Watsonville fighting the Trabing Fire will see temps. in the mid 90's.

Heat exhaustion is a consideration.

A Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National weather Service for south and central coast counties including Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo.

In the north part of the state there are no formal Red Flag Warnings but common sense says these are uncommonly hot and dangerous conditions.



Use caution my Brothers. Listen to your crew captains.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season

New fire, burning off near Trabing Road and Highway 1. Unprecedented fire activity for a county I called home for years. Multiple homes have burned. Check out these fire photos from the Monterey Herald.

Trabing Fire Map


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Trabing Fire Video shot by local residents.



Steady camera work, Cal Fire Air Attack at work!



This video looks like it was shot from near the Summit Fire grounds or from Mount Loma Prieta.


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Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Trabing Fire

Now that the fire is firmly established in a Wilderness designated area don't look for this to be a priority. Like the Zaca, and countless other such fires including the Marble-Cone Fire that burned 177,000 acres in 1977 (only miles from the Indians Fire scene) the Forest Service will milk this baby for awhile.

Example; from the ICS-209 tonight

Given the current constraints, when will the chosen management strategy succeed?

"A projected date will be provided upon the completion of long term strategy planning."

It's understandable they want to pad the budgets, it's cultural within the Forest Service but my thoughts anymore are with the younger firefighters who really believe they are there to put the fire out. Firefighter retention within the Forest Service is a big problem. Forest Service firefighters are bolting to Cal Fire, not only for pay and better hours but to actually fight fire instead of babysitting dead divisions on prolonged events.

Draw your own conclusions. Follow the Indians Fire at Inciweb.

More information from the Incident 209 (via email and NIFC pdf)

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*The incident remains under unified command with CIIMT2 (Molumby, IC), Cal Fire (Hutchinson, IC), and Fort Hunter Liggett (Crum, IC). Long range strategic plans continue to be developed. Perimeter calculations are based on the primary control line. The correction to the number of residences destroyed in blk. 25 is due further assessment performed during todays operational period.

Short Location Description (in reference to nearest town):

*Ventana Wilderness, West of Fort Hunter Liggett

Start Date

*06/08/2008

Expected Containment Date:

(None specified)

Today's observed fire behavior (leave blank for non-fire events):

Primarily backing with some moderate slope runs. Single and group tree torching were observed.

Actions planned for next operational period:

Continue indirect line construction. Prepare for future firing operations. Patrol and hold line. provide structure protection.

Total personnel assigned:

2,400 +

Image, Rapidfire

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Indians Fire