September 08, 2007
Lick Fire Bosses Gain Ground
Lick Fire Incident Commander Bob Whallen, his command team and the 1,900 firefighters assigned to the incident have turned a corner. The weather helped as humidity and winds worked to their favor.
According to the morning report from the incident the fire is at 39,585 acres and is 45% contained. Demobilization of some of the resources begins today.
Other facts from the Incident 209 report filed at 0700 hours today;
Injuries
to Date: 4
Actions planned for next operational period:
Indirect line construction in lighter fuels, burnout operations planned, Mop-up and secure completed line.
Today's observed fire behavior (leave blank for non-fire events):
Active fire runs with short range spotting, complete consumption of dead fuels.
Fuels/Materials Involved: 4 Chaparral (6 Feet)
Heavy brush and Oak Woodlands, some timber
Major problems and concerns (control problems, social/political/economic concerns or impacts, etc.) Relate critical resources needs identified above to the Incident Action Plan.
Access to remote areas very difficult, road conditions are deteriorating
Projected Final Size:
48000
Estimated Final Cost:
$10,000,000
Image Mt Hamilton Webcam
According to the morning report from the incident the fire is at 39,585 acres and is 45% contained. Demobilization of some of the resources begins today.
Other facts from the Incident 209 report filed at 0700 hours today;
Injuries
to Date: 4
Actions planned for next operational period:
Indirect line construction in lighter fuels, burnout operations planned, Mop-up and secure completed line.
Today's observed fire behavior (leave blank for non-fire events):
Active fire runs with short range spotting, complete consumption of dead fuels.
Fuels/Materials Involved: 4 Chaparral (6 Feet)
Heavy brush and Oak Woodlands, some timber
Major problems and concerns (control problems, social/political/economic concerns or impacts, etc.) Relate critical resources needs identified above to the Incident Action Plan.
Access to remote areas very difficult, road conditions are deteriorating
Projected Final Size:
48000
Estimated Final Cost:
$10,000,000
Image Mt Hamilton WebcamThe Hamcam is not pointed towards the fire ground however you can see the Santa Clara Valley is socked in with fog. I believe that's smoke above the low lying clouds.
Click HERE for a topographical map of the Lick Fire area.
Labels: 2007 fire season, Lick Fire
September 07, 2007
Lick Fire Chars 27,000 Acres So Far
On September 3 the Lick Fire Incident Commander took a good look at the scene and estimated the fire could grow to 30,000 acres. This estimate was based on existing fire breaks, natural barriers and the weather at the time. According to last night's official Incident 209 report the fire has already taken out 27,000 acres.
Winds and smoke have both helped and hurt fire command. Winds initially worked to push the fire away from populated areas which minimized the potential for property damage while at the same time moved the fire to areas with limited access.
Smoke has hampered the fight as well. Once the wind died down smoke blanketed the fire ground making it difficult to put the assembled air force to work. Smoke from the Moonlight Fire near Lake Almanor added another layer of smoke on top of the Lick smoke that shut down air attack.
The fire is too large to fight effectively on the ground alone so fire command is fighting the fire with one hand tied behind their back. Once the wind clears some smoke the 1,800 + contingent will hit this thing with all cylinders firing.
Here is a video of the DC-10 Supertanker, Tanker 910 making a drop on the Lick Fire. (date unclear)
Lick Fire and Moonlight Fire updates later!
.
Winds and smoke have both helped and hurt fire command. Winds initially worked to push the fire away from populated areas which minimized the potential for property damage while at the same time moved the fire to areas with limited access.
Smoke has hampered the fight as well. Once the wind died down smoke blanketed the fire ground making it difficult to put the assembled air force to work. Smoke from the Moonlight Fire near Lake Almanor added another layer of smoke on top of the Lick smoke that shut down air attack.
The fire is too large to fight effectively on the ground alone so fire command is fighting the fire with one hand tied behind their back. Once the wind clears some smoke the 1,800 + contingent will hit this thing with all cylinders firing.
Here is a video of the DC-10 Supertanker, Tanker 910 making a drop on the Lick Fire. (date unclear)
Below is a great shot of the Supertanker making a drop on the Lick Fire Tuesday September 4.
Lick Fire and Moonlight Fire updates later!
.
Labels: 2007 fire season, DC-10 Supertanker, Lick Fire, Tanker 910
September 05, 2007
Satellite Image of Lick Fire Smoke Trail
S.F. Bay Area, Monterey Bay Area and Central Valley residents are seeing and feeling the effects of smoke from two major wildfires. The Lick Fire east of Morgan Hill has burned 11,000 acres and the Moonlight Fire north of Sacramento has burned 15,000 acres. Both fires are less than 20% contained. If you look at the image below it appears the Lick Fire smoke has entered the central valley and hooked north around Mt. Hamilton. In fact the smoke invading the Bay Area is from the Moonlight Fire. Monterey Bay residents are receiving smoke from the Lick Incident.
Satellite Image ActiveFireMaps.fs.fed.us
(Click Image to enlarge)
The Lick Fire as seen from Mt Hamilton (Hamcam) 4:30 today.
Although there's not much of a smoke column you can see the smokey conditions firefighters are working under.
__
Satellite Image ActiveFireMaps.fs.fed.us(Click Image to enlarge)
The Lick Fire as seen from Mt Hamilton (Hamcam) 4:30 today.Although there's not much of a smoke column you can see the smokey conditions firefighters are working under.
__
Labels: 2007 fire season, Lick Fire
Lick Fire Midday Update, Day 3
San Francisco's CBS 5 reports on their Bay City News Page that the National Guard has committed resources to the fire.;
"Cal Fire has now utilized 155 engines, 24 bulldozers, 34 crews, nine air-tankers and eight helicopters, including two Nevada National Guard and three California National Guard helicopters. About 1,298 firefighters have been deployed to combat the blaze."
Henry Coe area weather is cooperating so far today but winds are projected to stiffen later this afternoon.
This is a textbook CDF/ Cal Fire operation. Don't look for biologists to be flown in from Maine or any ICP tours here. No touchy feely kiosks or wine and cheese going away receptions either.
This is how fires are fought.
"Cal Fire has now utilized 155 engines, 24 bulldozers, 34 crews, nine air-tankers and eight helicopters, including two Nevada National Guard and three California National Guard helicopters. About 1,298 firefighters have been deployed to combat the blaze."
Henry Coe area weather is cooperating so far today but winds are projected to stiffen later this afternoon.
This is a textbook CDF/ Cal Fire operation. Don't look for biologists to be flown in from Maine or any ICP tours here. No touchy feely kiosks or wine and cheese going away receptions either.
This is how fires are fought.
Labels: 2007 fire season, Lick Fire
Lick Fire Day 3
One of the unique aspects of the Lick Fire a webcam from above points at the action. This morning the camera shows us a sleeping beast waiting for it's wake up call from nature. Just beyond the peak in the foreground are a few hundred men and women scraping the ground on a steep grade. Daybreak on the fire line is a special time. A time to stop for a moment and look around. Later as the day heats up and the winds perk up a different mood sets in.
The fire has consumed 10,000 acres. CDF/Cal Fire has assembled an army of 1,700 to combat the flames.
More as the day progresses.
The fire has consumed 10,000 acres. CDF/Cal Fire has assembled an army of 1,700 to combat the flames.More as the day progresses.
8:00 AM Wed. Sept. 5
(click to enlarge)
(click to enlarge)
Read all Lick Fire related posts here!
Labels: 2007 fire season, Lick Fire
September 04, 2007
Lick Fire Quadruples Overnight
According to the Incident 209 report the Lick Fire has grown to 5,000 acres. The fire is moving to the S/E generally. The IC claims the fire is 10% contained.
As only they can CDF/ Cal Fire amassed an army of nearly 800 overnight to battle the flames that they expect to eat through 30,000 acres.
The webcam on Mt Hamilton has been shut down (since midnight) so a live view of the fire is unavailable. I suspect their servers were hit hard by viewers pointed to their unique fire view. I hope they boot it back up later this morning.
The good news is the fire is moving away from populated areas.
Labels: 2007 fire season, Lick Fire
September 03, 2007
Lick Fire In Henry Coe State Park
Update: 700 acres, moderate rate of spread, spotting in all directions.
They tilted the webcam on Mt Hamilton to give us a view of the Lick Fire burning East of Morgan Hill in Henry Coe State Park. The San Jose Mercury News has information that 10 CDF engines are on scene as well as Tanker 910, the DC-10 Supertanker CDF/Cal Fire has contracted.
You'll recall the firefighting supertanker responded to another South Bay fire last week above Cupertino and helped contain that fire to 150 acres even though initial attack brass suggested that one could go to 3,000 acres.
The Lick Fire is currently at 200 acres. From personal experience I know this country has not burned in 30 years or more and most of the country it's headed into is inaccessible.
Prayers for all the responders.
This is an updated image (20:10 Hrs) from the Mt Hamilton webcam facing South.
(link below)
(link below)
They tilted the webcam on Mt Hamilton to give us a view of the Lick Fire burning East of Morgan Hill in Henry Coe State Park. The San Jose Mercury News has information that 10 CDF engines are on scene as well as Tanker 910, the DC-10 Supertanker CDF/Cal Fire has contracted.
You'll recall the firefighting supertanker responded to another South Bay fire last week above Cupertino and helped contain that fire to 150 acres even though initial attack brass suggested that one could go to 3,000 acres.
The Lick Fire is currently at 200 acres. From personal experience I know this country has not burned in 30 years or more and most of the country it's headed into is inaccessible.
Prayers for all the responders.
Labels: 2007 fire season, Lick Fire
