Firefighter Blog

Labels: Maps, wildfires

Straight from the NICC morning report;

National Interagency Coordination Center
Incident Management Situation Report
Monday, June 25, 2007 - 0530 MDT
National Preparedness Level 2
Northern California Area (PL 2)
New fires: 27
New large fires: 1
Uncontained large fires: 1
Type 2 IMTs committed: 1

Angora, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, FS. IMT 2 (Swartzlander). Two miles southwest of South Lake Tahoe, CA. Timber and grass. Wind driven fire with long range spotting. Residences, businesses and recreation
areas threatened. Voluntary evacuation in effect.

* Angora |CA| TMU| 1800| 0| 6/28| 560| 15| 89| 8| 240| 250K|

1,800 acres
0% containment
240 structures
More

There is generally poor media coverage of this event. CNN is trumping Fox News and MSNBC and news wires are all parroting the same byline.
Bloggers talking

Labels: 2007 fire season, wildfires

Wikipedia now occupies the top search result spot on Google.com for the term "Firefighters".
There are lots of great links and info on the site including this glossary of wildland fire terms.
As much time as I spent in servce there are terms within I never heard. Some terminology must be regional. A brief glance at the list acts as a reminder that fire season is upon us here in the West. Early fire activity in Southern California, Goergia, Florida, New Jersey, Arizona and even Minnesota have set the stage for what could be a very dramatic summer.

Labels: wildfires, wildland fire

"The word "dynamo" means "Power in Motion," from Greek: δύναμις; dynamis, -power, and Latin: motio, -motion."

Wikipedia;
Magneto hydrodynamics
Drift of spiral waves

It burns in 35% humidity and "eats" water;

"Gorski said Florida is the driest he has seen since 2000. The fire chief said he has never seen a wildfire so resistant to water. Nothing happened initially when firefighters started pumping more than 100 gallons of water a minute on the wildfire.
"It wasn't even like affecting it," Gorski said. "It was like drinking it.""

Inciweb summary of the two headed Bugaboo Scrub Fire now being fought on fronts in Florida and Georgia.

Summary

This large fire started in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southern Georgia. It eventually spread into northern Florida. The Georgia portion is called the Bugaboo Scrub Fire. The Florida portion is called the Florida Bugaboo Wildfire. This site will provide updates for both portions of the fire.

Mandatory Evacuation - Deep Creek, Florida & areas east of US 441

Residents in the Deep Creek area, east of 441 and north of I-10 remain evacuated. Much of the Columbia County area along the east side of 441 that is west and southwest of the head of the fire, remain evacuated. Residents who need more information can call the Columbia County Information Line at 386-719-7530.

Mandatory Evacuation - Reeves Landing, Georgia

A mandatory evacuation has been issued for Reeves Landing, 3 miles NE of Fargo.

Evacuation lifted - Taylor, Florida

The residents of the town of Taylor have been allowed to return to their home but have been asked to remain on alert.

Precautionary Evacuation - Moniac, Georgia

A precautionary evacuation remains in effect.

Fire Update

Bugaboo Scrub Fire (Georgia)

Fire crews working for Georgia Forestry Commission, along with private timber companies, are working along the flanks of the fire where conditions allow and are working to protect structures in the area. Fire crews and forest industry personnel are also strengthening lines on the southwest edge of the Okefenokee Swamp near Fargo. Crews have been successful in holding the fire inside the refuge with the exception of three small areas that have been contained. A community protection plan has been implemented and crews are continuing structure protection in Fargo. The break in the weather has aided crews in preparations in that community.

Florida Bugaboo Wildfire (Florida)

This is the south portion of the Bugaboo Scrub Fire that began in Georgia. The portion of the fire in Florida is reported at over 101,000 acres. Crews report good progress made Friday due to lighter winds. Despite the best efforts of firefighters however, 9 outbuildings were destroyed and one damaged in a hunting camp near Deep Creek. The same lighter winds are expected to keep fire behavior down today, giving firefighters a chance to complete more containment line. Burnout operations were conducted late into the night Friday and went well. This morning, crews are having difficulty working on the line due to a heavy inversion that's holding thick smoke and fog near the ground.

The Southern Blue Incident Management Team will hold a press conference today (Saturday) at the Day's Inn at the intersection of I-10 and US 441 at 4:00 pm.

Acreage Update

Totals for Bugaboo: 212,042 acres

Bugaboo Scrub Fire (Georgia): 111,042 acres

Florida Bugaboo Wildlife: 101,000+ acres

Weather

Mostly clear and breezy with a 20% chance of showers in the afternoon. High temperature of 90, minimum humidity of 35%. Winds: E to NE at 5-10 mph with gusts to 15 mph.

Road Closures

Georgia

·· Hwy 441 is closed from Homerville to Florida line (previously Fargo to Florida line)

·· SR 177 south of Hwy 1 (entrance to Okefenokee Swamp Park) is now open

·· SR 177 between Stephen C. Foster State Park and Fargo is closed

·· SR 94 is closed from St. George to Moniac and from the Florida line through Fargo to Statenville

·· SR 185 in Georgia is closed

·· SR 89 in Georgia from Fargo to Homerville is closed

Florida

·· US 441 from County Road 100 A in Lake City to the FL/GA line in Columbia County, FL is closed

·· State Road 2 from CR 127 in Baker County to the FL/GA line in Columbia County, FL. Is closed

·· I-10 exit ramps to US 441 are closed.

·· I-10, from US 90 (Sanderson, FL) to US 129 (Live Oak, FL), is closed due to smoke and fog. The fire is still north of I-10 and east of US 441.

·· US 129 entrance ramp to I-10 in Live Oak is closed

·· I-75 is now closed form Valdosta, Georgia to I-10 at Lake City, Florida (previously from Florida line to Lake City)

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	05/05/2007 at 1700 hrs.
Location	Ware County, Georgia/Baker County, Florida
Incident Commander	Ruggiero / Quesinberry /

Current Situation

Total Personnel	339
Size	233,718 acres
Fuels Involved	Bugaboo Scrub (GA) - The fire is burning in southern rough and wet scrub/shrub, and industrial pine plantations of various ages. The western area is made up of timber stands of various ages and composition, with dominate species being longleaf, loblolly, and slash pine. Swamp/bays are intermixed throughout and due to a low water table are readily available to burn. Florida Bugaboo - Mosaic of southern rough, 1 to 25 years old, and wet scrub/shrub, and commercial pine plantations.
Fire Behavior	Bugaboo Scrub (GA) - Moderate to extreme fire behavior with widespread torching. Rate of spread 40 chain/hour with 5 to 25 foot flamelengths. The western area is observed to have high to extreme fire behavior with high rates of spread and single tree and group torching, as well as spotting. Florida Bugaboo - Extreme fire behavior with torching and spotting.
Significant Events	Bugaboo Scrub (GA) - An evacuation ordered is still in effect for the Moccasin Creek community. A flight restriction remains in effect for the southern end of the Bugaboo Fire. Florida Bugaboo - I-10 closed periodically due to smoke east of Lake City.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Bugaboo Scrub (GA) - Continued line building along the swamp edge break and perimeter road. Plans for the western area include structure protection, fuel mitigation, and line construction. Florida Bugaboo - Construct and hold lines in all divisions. Structure protection.
Projected Movement	Bugaboo Scrub (GA) - Projected incident movement/spread during the next period is west and southeast. Projections for the western area include potential for significant spread due to continued high temperatures, gusty winds and low humidities.
Growth Potential	Bugaboo Scrub (GA) - High to extreme Florida Bugaboo - Extreme
Terrain Difficulty	Bugaboo Scrub (GA) - High Florida Bugaboo - Medium
Containment Target	Containment and control efforts will be dependent on a significant rain event.
Remarks	Bugaboo Scrub (GA) - Of the total acreage 118,643 acres are in Georgia and 10,447 acres in Florida. All critical needs and costs to date are included in the Big Turnaround complex ICS-209 since the Big Turnaround resources are taking action on the Bugaboo Scrub fire. The Bugaboo Scrub fire is now moving off of federal wilderness and refuge areas managed by the Southern Area Red Team. The fire is now entering private and industry land in Georgia. Once this fire moved off of federal property, the Lone Star State IMT (Hannemann) assumed management of these areas on state and private property on behalf of the Georgia Forestry Commission. Florida Bugaboo - Fire is also in Columbia County.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	5 mph NE
Current Temperature	86 degrees
Current Humidity	45 %
Forecasted Wind Conditions	12 mph NE
Forecasted Temperature	85 degrees
Forecasted Humidity	40 %

Labels: wildfires

For those that don't know Griffith Park is a 4,000 acre oasis in the middle of L.A. proper. It is the home of the Griffith Park Observatory, the Greek Theatre, L.A. Zoo, a golf course equestrian center and kiddie play land. Dozens of miles of hiking trails wind through the park and views from the higher points are the best in the Southland.
The fire started at 1:30 pm and from my (TV) vantage point 200 miles away it looked like it was skunking for the most part and was nothing more than a curiosity. Later in the evening a major wind gust put the fire in context. It could have been bad. The TV people were excited and there was talk of the Zoo animals being evacuated. Media hysteria was setting in.

Later in the afternoon L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa conducted a press conference from the incident base. He had the L.A. Fire PIO, the police chief and other officials at his side. The mayor clearly knows nothing about fire and it showed as he fumbled with words and warned people to clear brush from their property. Then the strangest thing I ever heard from a fire base happened. A mayoral aid came to the mic and began speaking Spanish. I could not believe it. Now I could understand if the residents of the affected Los Feliz neighborhood were primarily Spanish speaking but they are not. Los Feliz is upscale and doesn't share the same demographics as East L.A., they speak English! Bizarre, truly bizarre and tells you everything you need to know about Los Angeles politics.

The fire burned roughly 800 acres (updated) and last count there were more than 600 firefighters on scene. No structures lost. The firefighter to acre ratio could not be higher. With 6 local TV channels covering the incident it was fun to change channels to see which crews had the best views. Later in the evening I caught Chuck Henry of NBC channel 4. Chuck Henry is a great fire correspondent who always manages to get right on the line. Sometimes he gets to close as he did near lake Arrowhead in 2003 when his satellite truck burned. Had a firefighter not scooped Chuck from the road he would have died. Henry has earned his (fire) wings. Here is a link to a slideshow from NBC4 news from the Griffith Park Brushfire.

What made this a true "Hollywood" event was the grand stage. I'd estimate up to 5 million people were able to see flames by simpy walking outside of their house. If you can see the Hollywood sign or the back side of Hollywood Mountain you could see flame. If you lived in Burbank, Santa Monica, Downtown L.A or Long Beach all you had to do was look outside to see red. Quite a site for so many and doubtful there could be a more interesting venue for a fire.
The helitack people knew it too. Ordinarilly air ops stop at dusk but these helicopter pilots played on into the night. They were true action hero stars putting on a fantastic show.

Capping the night was another press conference by Mayor Villaraigosa. I actually felt sorry for him as he once again started in on the need to clear brush. He really had no clue about the fire. Everyone watching on any of the TV stations offering full coverage knew by now the threat to structures had passed. The mayor looked like an ill informed boob. In this Hollywood production he was the comic relief or tragic figure, take your pick.

Kuddos to the L.A. County and L.A. City fire crews as well as CDF support. L.A. Fire Ops. and media operations. You all put on a helluva production.

Labels: brush fires, Griffith Park Fire, wildfires

The fire disaster in Georgia remains under the radar of the national press but the story of life disrupted and dedicated firefighting continues. Children in the town of Waycross in Ware County Georgia have missed 8 days of school and everyone in the county face weeks of lingering smoke. The Okefenokee area's Satilla Regional Medical Center posts a fire information page for local residents.

Posted today;

"In the recent days, we have all witnessed incredible damage and awesome power. But the greatest power we have seen has been the extraordinary resolve, courage and dedication of the firefighters and rescue workers that are serving our community, fighting the wildfire. These brave men and women have worked day and night, saving lives and homes. On behalf of the employees, physicians, volunteers, and board of directors at Satilla Regional Medical Center, we thank you. Once again, you have given us someone to look up to. "

Here here, some stories to be told and heard from those on the ground. When 100 acres burn in the Southern California we get beginning to end coverage. When 100,000 acres burn in rural Georgia affecting thousands and endangering the health of hundreds we get glancing coverage. Yesterday
Governor Sonny Perdue issued an Executive Order declaring a state of emergency in 21 counties in southeast Georgia.
Did you know that?

Labels: wildfires

A car fire turned quickly into a wildland fire in Anaheim Hills in Orange County today. Helped by temperatures in the mid 90s and pushed by sustained onshore winds of 40 mph the fire made for quite a challenge for firefighters.

Fox News has broadcasted live footage from local television feeds for most of the afternoon. More news coverage about the fire can be found on Google News. Hundreds of residents were warned to evacuate. The fire grew to an estimated 1000 acres in 9 hours.

This is way too early for this kind of activity!

Labels: 2007 fire season, wildfires, wildland fire