June 22, 2008
Significant Challenges For California Firefighters
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.
.
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.
.
Labels: 2008 Fire Season
