Firefighter Blog

Great video of Tanker 910 making a drop over the Slide Fire on October 22.

The converted DC-10 Supertanker is making a drop on the right flank of the fire near the head. Unfortunately the 40 mph winds dispersed the retardant over a too wide area but the point has been made again that this weapon is worth its weight.

I'm betting the Forest Service people who killed the 747 Supertanker earlier this year feel kinda stupid right now.

Labels: DC-10 Supertanker, Slide Fire, Tanker 910

Labels: Grass Valley Fire, Harris Fire, Rice Fire, Santiago Fire, Slide Fire, Witch Fire

The Grass Valley Fire is at 1,000 acres burned with an estimated 200 homes destroyed. The slide Fire has burned over 5,100 acres and has destroyed over 200 homes.

Exact counts are not available but the reported count is 200 homes on each fire. There is some confusion as the incident base camp is changing locations at the same time the new command team moves in.

Compounding overall efforts is the lack of personnel, damage assessment is pushed back.

These two fires ordinarily would require 2,000 + firefighters and support personnel each. The bark beetle kill in the forest is the added element that makes the fires more volatile. A lack of driving wind does not mean the fire is going to die on its own.
All the brown trees you see from overhead are dead trees from the bark beetle kill.

Currently (as per official incident 209 reports filed 0600 today) there are 561 assigned to the Slide Fire and 548 fighting the Grass Valley Fire.

The good news from the Grass Valley Fire is found in the 209 report this morning;

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

"Night, light interior burning no significant movement"

Also from the Grass Valley Fire report;

Significant events today (closures, evacuations, significant progress made, etc.):

"Damage assessment, mitigate work rest issues that exist, CA-IMT #1 takes command of Slide 0600. NorCal Team II remains in command of the Grass Valley Fire. Both incidents will be unified in planning and resource allocation"

Projected incident movement/spread during next operational period (in 12, 24, 48, and 72 hour time frames): 12 hours:

"With winds decreasing expect little movement, still concern regarding the current wind shift and reversal of the fire"

Slide Fire Information from the 209 report;

26: Communities/Critical Infrastructure Threatened (in 12, 24, 48 and 72 hour time frames):
12 hours:

"Green Valley, Running Springs, Live Oak, Fredalba, Smiley Park, Calavery Chapel Camp, National Children's Forest and Visitors Center, Arrowbear lake, Snow Valley, Nordic Rim Ski Area and Deer Lick
24 hours: Fiberoptic lines, cell sites, gas lines, water storage and distribution, SOCAL Edison powerlines."

Major problems and concerns (control problems, social/political/economic concerns or impacts, etc.) Relate critical resources needs identified above to the Incident Action Plan.

"High density residential properties intermixed amongst bug killed timber, with poor to limited access, lack of resources, continued adverse weather and extremly dry fuels. Inability to fully assess structure loss due to fire activity."

Slide Fire homes lost, according to the incident 209 report is # Destroyed 200

Note;
Robin Prince of the US Forest Service is reporting on channel 9 Los Angeles that only 2 homes have burned in the Slide Fire and 100 lost in the Grass Valley Fire.
It's astounding the Forest Service would put this spokeswoman on the air without proper consultation and training.
She and the Forest Service have to know the people evacuated and waiting for word from their communities are not well served when given conflicting data.
The community deserves better from (off site) media relations personnel who have no other work to do but prepare press releases and deal with the media.
Shameful and irresponsible!

Labels: 2007 fire season, Grass Valley Fire, Slide Fire

Date	Time	News and Notes
10/23	1525	Update Rosa; the fire has burned 350 acres and is 70 percent contained. The fire has threatened 175 residence.
10/23	1520	Update Ranch; The fire has burned 54,518 acres and is 10% contained. Numerous residential structures are threatened by the fire.
10/23	1515	Update Canyon; The fire has burned 4,400 acres and is 15% contained. Numerous residential and commercial structures are threatened by fire.
10/23	1515	Update Magic; The fire has burned 1,500 acres and is 40% contained. The fire is threatening 900 residence and 50 outbuildings. Continued Red Flag conditions.
10/23	1500	Update Buckweed; The fire has burned 37,812 acres and is 27% contained. The fire is threatening 55,000 residence, 3 residence are damaged and 15 destroyed. The fire has threatened 300 commercial properties and 100 outbuildings. 17 outbuildings were destroyed. High winds associated with extreme Santa Ana conditions. Red Flag weather conditions predicted for the next 24 to 48 hours.
10/23	1455	Update Rice; The fire has burned 6,100 acres and is 0% contained. 1 injury has been reported. 2,500 residence have been threatened, 30 damaged and 500 destroyed. Erratic and extreme fire behavior.
10/23	1445	Update Harris; The fire has burned 70,000 acres and is 5% contained. 5 injuries have been reported. 2,000 residence are threatened, 250 are damaged and 200 destroyed. Extreme fire behavior due to weather conditions. Fire is threatening to establish in the Otay River drainage and burn through Chula Vista.
10/23	1445	Update Cajon; The fire has burned 250 acres and is 50% contained. No injuries are reported to date. No structures are threatened. Steep rugged terrain and high winds.
10/23	1430	Update Poomacha;(CA-MVU-10643) The fire has burned 1,000 acres and is 0% contained. Injuries reported to date are 8. Structures that are threatened are 2,000. Extreme fire behavior, hi wind, low humidity.
10/23	1425	Update Ammo Fire;(CA-MCP-001111) The fire has burned 350 acres and is 16% contained. No injuries have been reported. 50 structures are threatened.
10/23	1415	Update Witch Fire; The fire has burned 164,000 acres and is 1% contained. There have been 7 injuries to date.
10/22	1800	Sedgewick Fire; is 100% contained at 710 acres.
10/22	1800	Coronado Hills Fire; is 100% contained at 300+ acres.
10/22	1400	Coronado Hills Fire; 300+ acres, multiple structures lost in Discover Hills, San Marcos. The fire is heading to Elfin Forest and Harmony Grove.
10/22	1400	Harris Fire; 20,000 acres, the aircraft are grounded at this time due to winds. Southwest power line is off.
10/22	1345	Rice Fire; 300+ acres, the fire has jumped I-15 and aHwy 395. It is burning into Fallbrook, 1 structure has burned.
10/22	1345	Witch Fire; 10,000 acres, structures lost in Poway, Rancho Bernardo, the fire is heading to Carmel Mountain Ranch 4-S Ranch. There are 20 civilian injuries, casualties are probable.
10/22	1330	Valley/Slide Fire; The Green Valley and Slide fires are being managed as one fire. The fire has burned 600+ ac. No injuries, structures have been destroyed in the Community of Arrowhead, and some structures have been destroyed in Green Valley Lake. All roads going to the mountain communities are closed. Evacuations are in place for Arrow Bear, Arrowhead, Running Springs, Green Valley Lake, Twin Peaks.
10/22	0930	Buckweed Fire; 30,000 acres, 3,800 structures threatened in Santa Clarita Area, 25 structures lost, Fire burning towards Magic Mountain, 3 civilian injuries, (1 major, 2 Minor). 1 minor firefighter injury . winds increasing through canyons.
10/22	0930	Santiago Fire; 8,800 ac. 30% contained, 1 structure destroyed, 2 structures damaged, Portola Hills and Foothill Ranch threatened, Unified Command with City of Orange.
10/22	0930	Ranch Fire; 29,000 acres, multiple structures lost, evac in communities of Halsey, Oak Canyon, Val Verde, and Piru, The fire may burn across Hwy 126.

Labels: Buckweed Fire, Harris Fire, Magic Fire, Ranch Fire, Rice Fire, Slide Fire, Slide Incident, Witch Fire

Labels: Buckweed Fire, Canyon Fire, Grass fire, Harris Fire, Magic Fire, Ranch Fire, Slide Fire, Witch Fire

This is a quote I heard on the Big Bear scanner, by one of the air attack guys flying over Lake Arrowhead.

The pilot was commenting on the view he had overlooking the Southland and how these fires are sprouting all over.

For a moment we may want to think about that quote.

Many of these fires are obvious arson related. The Santiago Canyon Fire in Orange County is confirmed arson and before it's over I believe they will find the Slide Fire was a set as well. Overhead views of the fire origin shows al remote location upwind from the Green Valley community.
A new fire in Stevenson Ranch (Magic Fire) is a roadside set. The Devore Fire was set with an intent to see it move up and into Lytle Creek.
A fire without a lot of media attention is the Rainbow Fire taking out homes in Fallbrook.


It's obvious many of these fires are sets and sleeper cells, working with little to no smarts could work this out.

Something to consider.

As for the global warming argument, extended drought is not unknown to Southern California. The Santa Ana winds are an annual Fall event.

Take a look at the partial list of current fires here.
Read about the San Diego tragedy here.

Update; This blog was picked up by Newsweek.com

Labels: 2007 fire season, Harris Fire, Slide Fire, terror related, Witch Fire