California Fire News

InciWeb update: Larson Wildland Fire

Posted: 09 Jun 2007 07:23 PM CDT

UPDATE: Larson Wildland Fire:

Larson Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED TODAY

Larson Fire jumps U.S. Highway 395 on June 5, 2007
Credit: Bureau of Land Management

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Summary

The Larson Fire is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bishop Field Office (California), but the information on this Inciweb site is being posted under the unit heading of the BLM-Carson City Field Office (Nevada) because the Inciweb Administrator for the BLM in Carson City has also been the Lead Fire Information Officer for the Lassen Fire, and it also posting incident data at www.sierrafront.net

The Larsen Fire is currently 89% contained at 1,080 acres. Full containment is expected by June 10.

U.S. Highway 395 is OPEN. There are no current evacuations.

The Great Basin Type I Incident Management Team (Muir) took over the incident at 0600 on 6/7 from the Sierra Front Type II Incident Management Team (Sheuerman).

Twelvefire engines, fifteen handcrews, and four helicopters remain on-scene (total of 542 personnel). Costs to date are estimated at $1.8 million.

Two outbuildings have been reported destroyed.

No injuries have been reported at this time.

The Incident Command Post is set up at 1574 Larson Lane in Walker.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Benefits & Objectives	Complete mop-up and fireline rehabilitation. Demobilize forces to their home units or another assignment.
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	06/01/2007 at 1523 hrs.
Location	Coleville, California
Incident Commander	Muir

Current Situation

Total Personnel	508
Size	1,080 acres
Percent Contained	89%
Estimated Containment Date	06/10/2007 at 1800 hrs.
Fuels Involved	Grass, sagebrush and other vegetation.
Fire Behavior	Minimal.
Significant Events	Reduction in number of crews and fire engines.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Not available
Growth Potential	Low to none.
Remarks	Not available

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	20 mph SW
Current Temperature	70 degrees
Current Humidity	35 %
Forecasted Wind Conditions	25 mph NW
Forecasted Temperature	65 degrees
Forecasted Humidity	20 %

InciWeb: Sequoia National Forest Resumes Command of The Goldledge Fire

Posted: 09 Jun 2007 05:34 PM CDT

Editors note: Fire investigation

After an investigation by Forest Service Federal Agent's, it was confirmed that the Goldledge fire was caused by people shooting in an undesignated shooting area. The public is strongly encouraged to go to a public/private shooting range where forest fuels are minimal and the risk of igniting wildfires is reduced.

Forest Service is asking the public's assistance in locating a white Chevy S-10 pick- up truck, with a sliding rear window. This vehicle was seen Sunday leaving the area where the Goldledge fire originated. These people may have information regarding this fire. Please help the Forest Service by providing us with your information at 559-294-4894.

InciWeb: Sequoia National Forest Resumes Command of The Goldledge Fire:

UPDATE: Incident: Goldledge fire

Incident: Goldledge
Released: 2007-06-09 15:06:00 ET

KERNVILLE, CA... The South Central Sierra Interagency Incident Team has now transferred management of the Goldledge fire back to the Sequoia National Forest. Firefighters will continue suppression efforts in the steep rugged terrain of the fire. Two Hotshot crews, one Helicopter, two engines and support personnel will remain on the fire. The Goldledge fire is approximately 3900 acres and is currently 65% contained with full containment pushed back to June 20^thdue to interior isolated hotspots burning in inaccessible, rugged country.

The area closure based on fire conditions to protect public health and safety will be evaluated on a daily basis due to fire hazards. The area generally includes the west side of the Kern Plateau including the Cherry Hill Road, Horse Meadow, Big Meadow and Cannell Meadow. Specifically the area is bounded on the west by Mountain Road 99 just north of Camp Owens to its intersection with the Sherman Pass Road; Sherman Pass road to the Vista is the northern boundary; the Dome Land Wilderness forms the eastern boundary; the southern boundary generally follows the Kern/Tulare county line but swings south to include the Cannell Trail. Entering or being in the Goldledge fire closure area from June 6, 2007 until the Goldledge fire is fully suppressed is prohibited. The campgrounds along the Kern River, Mountain Road 99 and the Sherman Pass Road all remain open to forest visitors.

Please contact the Kernville Ranger Station for continued fire updates at 760-376-3781 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Fire restrictions are now in affect for the entire Sequoia National Forest and BLM public lands. Visitors can only have a campfire in developed campgrounds or designated fire exempt areas.

Fire Officials would like to remind visitors traveling along Mountain 99 to drive with caution due to emergency vehicles and firefighters in the area.

Utah news - Wildfire blamed on Air Force drone - Air Force Times

Posted: 09 Jun 2007 04:40 PM CDT

Utah wildfire blamed on Air Force drone - Air Force Times:

Utah wildfire blamed on Air Force drone

The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jun 7, 2007 21:44:23 EDT

DUGWAY, Utah — An Air Force drone sparked a wildfire that burned 46 square miles in the Cedar Mountains.

Second Lt. Beth Woodward of Hill Air Force Base's 388th Fighter Wing said the unmanned aircraft was part of a weapons test Tuesday. The drone was hot when it landed, and the dry grass and brush ignited.

"With the dry and windy conditions, it jumped the Dugway property to Bureau of Land Management property," Woodward said.

The Quincy Fire was declared contained Wednesday.

Quincy Fire
(as of 2 p.m. June 6)

Start Date: June 5, 2007, at 1300 hours

Location: West side of Cedar Mountains, Tooele County--10 miles south of I-80's Aragonite Exit

Cause: Under Investigation

Size: 30,000+ acres

Contained: 100%

Estimated Containment: Contained: June 6 at 1200 hours

Fuels: Grass, brush

Structures Threatened: None

Evacuations: None

Injuries: None

Resources: The Bureau of Land Management's Salt Lake Office will continue to monitor the fire for the next few days.

Other: Nearly 1" of wetting rains were vital in suppression efforts in containing Quincy Fire.

Contact: Erin Darboven, 801.243.0004

News - Hemet-Ryan firefighting base to undergo rebuilding |

Posted: 09 Jun 2007 04:29 PM CDT

Hemet-Ryan firefighting base to undergo rebuilding
10:00 PM PDT on Friday, June 8, 2007
By STEVE FETBRANDT
The Press-Enterprise

RIVERSIDE - The Riverside County Board of Supervisors has allocated $2.5 million in redevelopment funds to help rebuild the air-attack base at Hemet-Ryan Airport.

Supervisors, sitting as the Riverside County Economic Development Agency governing board, this week also earmarked $417,000 to conduct an environmental-impact study in preparation for extending the runway from 4,300 feet to 6,000 feet. County officials say the longer runway is needed to accommodate heavier firefighting aircraft and increased corporate jet traffic.

The balance of the air-base renovation project, estimated at $25 million, will be funded by the state. The county also is applying to the Federal Aviation Administration for $10 million in grants to pay for the runway extension and hopes to have the money by 2009.

Colby Cataldi, deputy director for the Economic Development Agency's Desert Region, said a comprehensive environmental study will be done over the next 18 months on the runway project, which will require realignment of Stetson Avenue and Warren Road. The process includes public hearings and time for the agency to respond to environmental concerns.

"Meanwhile, the agency will ask the board in July to approve an architectural contract to design the base project," Cataldi said. "We plan to bid out the project between July 7 and September 2008 and start construction in October 2008. Construction will take a year."

Cataldi said the improvements will not affect existing aviation operations. During construction, Cal Fire plans to have a temporary 3-acre site to continue fire-suppression services.

In adopting its findings, the board said the base project will help eliminate blight at Hemet-Ryan Airport in Hemet and improve essential emergency fire-protection and public-safety services.

The county has contracted with Cal Fire for fire services since 1921, and the airport has served as an aerial firefight/attack base since 1967. It houses four permanently based fixed-wing aircraft and a Cal Fire helicopter, providing initial air-attack services for more than 830,000 acres in Riverside and neighboring counties.

In 2006, the county's Economic Development Agency entered into an agreement with the state to cooperate and coordinate in the development of a new air-attack base.

Cataldi said redevelopment funds will be used for the county's portion to pay for architectural design, engineering, environmental studies, airport master-plan update, inspection, and construction. The county plans to seek bids for the project on behalf of the state and jointly manage the construction.

The 12-acre base will contain a 5,842-square-foot, 22-bed barracks building, a 4,812-square-foot three-bay vehicle storage facility and shop; a 4,646-square-foot, two-story operations building containing pilot facilities, administration and dispatch center; a 15,300-square-foot, two-bay open-shade canopy and an 8,211-square-foot helicopter/ OV-10 enclosed hangar.

Also planned are new public and secured staff parking areas, six fire-retardant loading pits to handle interagency aircraft, along with equipment tanks, pumps and piping used to mix and deliver fire retardant.