Firefighter Blog

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