California Fire News

Posted: 29 Jun 2007 11:50 AM CDT

Wildlandfire.com: CA-FHL-Mission

Located on base near DelVentura and Nacimiento-Fergusson Roads.

Started 1500 hours, cause accidental. Multi agency response with US Army Base Fort Hunter Liggett. FHL, Calfire-BEU and Los Padres NF resources, no aircraft.

Final size around 2000 acres. Fuels- grass, brush and oak woodland. Rapid rates of spread, spotting. Containment was achieved around 2000. Good success with indirect firing operations from roads and dozerline. No injuries reported.
Most resources released by 2200.

EDIS Red flag warning Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles counties

Posted: 29 Jun 2007 11:37 AM CDT

[EDIS] Red flag warning in effect through sunday evening for the mountains of santa barbara... ventura... and los angeles counties... as well as the santa barbara south coast... due to gusty winds and low humidities

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST

A VERY WARM AND DRY AIR MASS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS INTERIOR SECTIONS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THROUGH THE WEEKEND. NORTHWEST FLOW WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE WARNING AREAS...RESULTING IN SUNDOWNER WIND CONDITIONS ACROSS THE PASSES AND CANYONS OF SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON THROUGH NIGHTTIME HOURS TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THE GUSTY SUNDOWNER WIND WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR WARMER AND DRIER CONDITIONS ALONG WIND EXPOSED PORTIONS OF THE SANTA BARBARA SOUTH COAST. THE NORTHWEST FLOW WILL ALSO BRING GUSTY WINDS TO THE INTERSTATE 5 CORRIDOR DURING THIS PERIOD... WITH CONTINUED LOW HUMIDITIES ACROSS HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS. ... RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT PDT SUNDAY NIGHT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT PDT SUNDAY NIGHT. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING... GUSTY NORTHWEST TO NORTH WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE PASSES AND CANYONS OF SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY DURING THE NIGHTTIME THROUGH EARLY MORNING HOURS. IN ADDITION TO THE GUSTY WINDS...THERE WILL BE VERY WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS ACROSS MUCH OF THE MOUNTAIN AREAS THROUGH THE PERIOD...WITH A LONG DURATION OF HUMIDITIES IN THE TEENS...AND SINGLE DIGITS...LIKELY. THE WARMEST TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SANTA YNEZ RANGE... WHERE TEMPERATURES COULD SOAR TO AROUND 90 DEGREES EACH DAY.

Instruction:
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS... LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

Area: SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-

Affected Counties: Monterey, Santa Barbara, Kings, San Bernardino, Kern, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Orange, Los Angeles

NEWS-CAL FIRE new fire-spotting technology

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 11:14 PM CDT

Amador Ledger Dispatch:

CAL FIRE putting new fire-spotting technology to work

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

- Kelly Enos

CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit Chief Bill Holmes, left, and Dick Hess. Holmes made a presentation on new firefighting technology Monday afternoon during the Amador Fire Safe Council meeting.

Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch

For Bill Holmes, Amador-El Dorado unit chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, it's amazing what a little networking can accomplish.

In 2003, Bill Teie, a retired CAL FIRE deputy director of fire control, stopped by to visit Holmes and see what the "rookie" unit chief was up to. This led to a conversation on the need to replace the detection systems that budget cuts had reduced years before. These "lookouts" were staffed by permission only during critical fire season and lightning storms. Only a few of these lookouts were manned by volunteers or funded by fire safe councils and local government.

While touring the emergency command center in Camino, Teie stopped at the 160-foot-tall communications tower. As the two looked up at the tower, Holmes said he wished there were a camera and fire detection system that could spot and locate new fires. Teie quickly replied that such a system existed, sparking a quest that resulted in the implementation of the Fire Hawk Forest Watch Program three years later, which was the subject of an Amador Fire Council meeting Monday afternoon.

It's a program that's existed for a decade in South Africa, Holmes said during his presentation on the latest in fire protection, including the remote viewing cameras. For the past 10 years, the African country has used a system of cameras linked together, run through a software program and piped into a dispatch center.

Holmes learned the information from Jake Oosthuizen, a fire chief in South Africa who was using the system and is also part owner of the technology. Holmes and Oosthuizen exchanged information about the system that was being used in ZuZuland.

"I was excited about trying such a system," he said Monday. All he needed now was the money and permission for such a project. "Getting the permission was one thing, finding the money was another," Holmes said.

He applied for grants and was approved to buy one camera, one video monitor, two computer cathode ray tube screens, a joystick and hundreds of feet of cables. On Aug. 14, 2005, Oosthuizen and his partner Dr. Gavin Hough arrived in Camino to put all the pieces together work. A little more than a week later, the system was up and running and had spotted its first fire.

The system itself is unique in that it is much different from the human lookout towers. Holmes said the lookouts still provide a function, but aren't comparable to a system that can operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The system not only spots fires, but gives the location on a road layer map as well as a topographic layer.

The computer is loaded with global imaging system datum for the local CAL FIRE unit and the Eldorado National Forest. In one instance last fire season, a 911 call came in from the Georgetown area where the reporting party could not give a location. Fire Captain Dale McGill spun the camera around and was able to respond resources right to the fire's location.

"The system pinpoints the exact area where the fire is," Holmes said. "This saves resources and allows us to make better management decisions."

The camera rotates around every three minutes, analyzing each of its 21 vectors for movement and change from what it saw the last time it went around. If it detects what it believes is a fire, it will sound an alert and a special symbol and box will surround the detection screen. The detection screen is one of two CRT screens that comprise the system, the other being a map display. The camera can then be taken over by a dispatcher for manual operations such as zooming and spotting any new fires that have been detected.

The computer's ability to store the last 4,000 revolutions of what the camera has seen made it possible last summer to zoom in on several wildland fires and watch the aircraft make drops and see the spot fires take off. For investigative purposes, the system can verify the start time of the fire and also the exact location where it started.

"Now we have a date and time stamp on any new starts for later investigations and a time lapse photo history of the fire for any critiques," Holmes said.

Holmes has just received another grant to buy three additional cameras, which will be placed on Mt. Zion, Pine Hill and the Tahoe Basin. Although the free year they were given on software has run out, Holmes said bidding companies would help to keep the costs down now that there is more than just one company with this technology.

"Our ongoing cost is up in the air," he said. "It can run anywhere from $500 to $1,500. I hope with the competitive bidding the cost will go down."

Holmes also added that this year the fuel beds are at the critical stage already. This is his 39th fire season and, so far, his driest.

"It all depends on the weather in California," he said. "We could have a bad season or a not so bad season. We just don't know."

EDSO - ANGORA FIRE - Fire perimeter impact map

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 10:24 PM CDT

ANGORA LAKES FIRE COVERAGE
ANGORA FIRE
Fire perimeter impact map

ANGORA LAKES FIRE COVERAGE
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE AREA
As of 06-28-07 o900 hrs
Photo of El Dorado County Sheriff's Office
ANGORA INCIDENT Map

CLICK PHOTO FOR LARGE VERSION

http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/PressReleases/images/smallermap6-28-2007.jpg

smallermap6-28-2007.jpg (JPEG Image, 1500x2000 pixels)

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 10:18 PM CDT

smallermap6-28-2007.jpg (JPEG Image, 1500x2000 pixels)

NEWS-CAL FIRE to report break in Woodlake fires

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 09:09 PM CDT

Visalia Times-Delta:

CAL FIRE to report break in Woodlake fires

CAL FIRE will announce today that an investigation has linked a 25-year-old Woodlake resident to a series of wildland fires in the Woodlake area.

Humberto Gonzalez, 25, is suspected of lighting wildland fires from June 19, 2006, to June 10, 2007. Gonzalez was in custody Wednesday and CAL FIRE said it would elaborate on his status today.

CAL FIRE chief resigns as county takes reins

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 09:05 PM CDT

Tulare Advance Register:

Ed Wristen, CAL FIRE's last fire chief in Tulare County, has submitted his resignation.

The fire warden's resignation is effective at 8 a.m. Sunday, when CAL FIRE hands over operations to the new Tulare County Fire Department.

Wristen first retired as CAL FIRE chief for the county in July 2000. But he agreed in January 2006 to come out of retirement and oversee the transition between CAL FIRE and the new department. Once the transition is complete, Wristen plans to retire again from the firefighting business — but not right away.

After Sunday, CAL FIRE still will be responsible for fire protection and prevention in the Tulare County foothills, and Wristen will continue running the smaller Tulare County unit until December."

UPDATE-Angora Fire

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 09:02 PM CDT

Angora Fire General Information:

Angora Fire

Angora Fire Incident Information:
Last Updated:	June 28, 2007 6:30 pm
Date/Time Started:	June 24, 2007 2:10 pm
Administrative Unit:	Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
County:	El Dorado County
Location:	West of South Lake Tahoe
Acres Burned:	3,100 acres; Full containment expected on July 3, 2007.
Containment	70% contained - 3,100 acres West of South Lake Tahoe.
Control:	Full control expected on July 3, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Structures Destroyed:	229 residence and 75 commercial structures have been destroyed 14 residence have been damaged
Threatened:	300 homes, 45 commercial properties and 70 outbuildings.
Evacuations:	Voluntary evacuations are in effect in portions of the South Lake Tahoe community. For more information on evacuations and re-entry call (530) 541-9205.
Injuries:	3
Cause:	Under Investigation
Cooperating Agencies:	All fire agencies within the Tahoe Basin, USFS, CAL FIRE, CHP, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, El Dorado County Sheriffs Office, Red Cross, Civil Air Patrol.
Total Fire Personnel:	2,008 (615 CAL FIRE)
Fire crews:	37 (23 CAL FIRE)
Engines:	166 (38 CAL FIRE)
Helicopters:	14
Dozers:	4 (1 CAL FIRE)
Water tenders:	21
Costs to date:	$8 million
Major Incident Command Team:	Unified Command
Conditions:	The fire is burning in heavy timber and rugged terrain. A Red Flag Alert will remain in effect until 11:00 pm this evening. A road closure for Highway 89 at the Highway 50 junction is expected to remain in effect until 9:00 pm this evening. Utility services remain interrupted throughout the majority of the communities impacted by the fire.
Phone Numbers	(530) 543-2694 (Angora Fire Information)

Governor issued Executive order - ANGORA FIRE

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 08:16 PM CDT

Schwarzenegger Issues Executive Order to Assist Angora Wildfire Victims, Waiving Fees, Replacing State Documents

By: Office of the Governor
Published: Jun 28, 2007 at 08:43

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued an executive order to help individuals who have suffered losses in the Angora Wildfire near Lake Tahoe. The executive order assists victims by waiving fees and assisting in the replacement of state documents, including vehicle registrations, driver's licenses and birth certificates.

"Victims of the Angora Wildfire have suffered tremendously and we must help them overcome the devastation and restart their lives," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Fire has destroyed the personal vital records of many residents such as driver's licenses, birth certificates and vehicle registrations that are critical to restarting their lives and applying for financial assistance."

The Governor also requested the Franchise Tax Board to consider using its administrative powers to provide fire victims with extensions for filing or relief from penalties and assessments.

"The devastation I witnessed today is overwhelming. Families have lost their homes and possessions. We must do everything we can to help these victims recover," said the Governor.

Governor Schwarzenegger today toured the fire-damaged areas. He met with firefighters, local officials and was joined by Lt. Governor John Garamendi, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and Governor Jim Gibbons of Nevada. Also present were Resources Agency Secretary Mike Chrisman, Office of Emergency Services Director Henry Renteria and CalFIRE Deputy Director for Fire Protection Ken McLean.

On Tuesday, Governor Schwarzenegger announced the establishment of a Local Assistance Center, located at Lake Tahoe Community College, to provide services to assist those who have been displaced by the fire. Ten state and local agencies are on site to assist fire victims.

The Angora Wildfire, which started on June 24, 2007, has burned more than 3000 acres and destroyed or damaged more than 200 structures.

NEWS - Controlled burn set for Friday - Monterey/San Benito Range

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 07:54 PM CDT

Salinas Californian

Wildland Fire Safety Council will be conducting a controlled burn

Property owner Ron Clements and the Monterey/San Benito Range Improvement Association and the Wildland Fire Safety Council will be conducting a controlled burn on the Clements property northeast of Chualar on Friday.

The burn will begin about 9 a.m. and continue throughout the day.

Several fire agencies from around the area, including CalFire, Bureau of Land Management, Presidio of Monterey, Salinas Rural, North County, Aromas, Ben Lomond, Seaside, Carmel Valley and others will be supporting the operation.

Smoke from the fire will likely be visible throughout the Salinas Valley but should dissipate away from populated areas.
Council approves police pay

The Gonzales City Council has approved a 27.5 percent salary increase (mid-contract) over the next 12 months for the officers and sergeants of the police department.

Council members said they approved the raise June 18 in the hope the significant increases will help the police department become more competitive, with the ability to attract the best officer candidates, as well as retain existing personnel.

The city also approved a contract with the Monterey County Sheriff's Office to provide assistance in patrol as an interim measure until the existing vacancies are filled.

The police department encourages anyone interested in a career in law enforcement to call 675-5010, stop by the station at 425 N. Alta Street, Gonzales, or visit www.ci.gonzales.ca.us for more information."

Editors note: Got Nomex? Photo Op?

NEWS - College firefighter files hazing claim

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 07:30 PM CDT

UnionDemocrat.com

Columbia College Fire Department firefighter files hazing claim

Published: June 28, 2007

By ALISHA WYMAN

The Union Democrat

A former Columbia College Fire Department trainee alleges that senior firefighters on the force poisoned his meals, forced him to eat "foul" and "excessive amounts of" foods and made him perform "excessive physical activities" as part of a hazing ritual.

Andrew Grafius,19, made the contentions in a claim he filed against Tuolumne County last month. In it, he asked for more than $10,000 in damages, including medical expenses and reimbursement for a dorm deposit he forfeited when he left the college.

He also filed a claim against the Yosemite Community College District and Columbia College.

The claims came in the wake of a Jan. 15 off-campus party at which Grafius says he was kicked, punched and forced to drink large amounts of beer. The county claim also spells out previous and ongoing harassment he says he and others experienced at the fire department.

YCCD's board rejected the claim earlier this month.

Tuolumne County Counsel Gregory Oliver also rejected the claim. The allegations didn't involve county employees, and the county doesn't run the college's firefighter program, Oliver said.

"I didn't see where there was any liability of the County of Tuolumne," he said.

Grafius has six months to file a lawsuit from the day the rejection was personally delivered or put in the mail. The letter notifying Grafius of the county's rejection is dated May 24.

A Stockton resident, Grafius began working at the college's fire department in early November of 2006 — "working towards fulfilling his dream of becoming a fireman," according to the claim.

Almost as soon as he began his probationary period, Grafius experienced hazing and harassment that lasted until the Jan. 15 incident, the document says.

Other new firefighters, referred to as "Probees," also were harassed, it says.

According to Grafius' claim, department members involved in the hazing:

• Poisoned his food, causing him to become ill;

• Forced him to eat foul or excessive amounts of foods;

• Made him pay for and make expensive meals for the crew;

• Forced him to perform excessive physical activities as punishment;

• Tampered with his gear, filled his boots with water and sticks, and emptied the air from his respirator;

• Delivered constant verbal abuse, such as yelling or cursing;

• Forbade him from going to the bathroom while on duty.

As an example of the physical punishment forced on Grafius, the claim contends he had to swing a 10-pound sledge hammer against a stump nearly 3,000 times per shift, while others threw eggs, dirt and sticks at him and hit golf balls toward him.

"(Grafius) was told that the hazing and harassment was the normal and customary process that Probees had to go through, and that if he refused or complained, that he would suffer further retribution until he was forced to quit," the document says.

Tuolumne County, Cal Fire-Tuolumne County Fire and-or Columbia College should have known about the abuse because others before him had gone through similar harassment, it says. Cal Fire/Tuolumne County Fire and the college run the program in partnership.

The day-to-day supervision of the station was left to Columbia College students, who participated and encouraged the hazing, it says.

Capt. Preston Birdwell, the fire department's supervisor, was rarely at the station, the document alleges.

According to the claim, Grafius spoke with Joe Daugherty, an instructor at the college, about the hazing in late November or early December 2006, and believes Daugherty passed the report on to Dean Gary Mendenhall.

Grafius also told Birdwell, who he believes discussed the problem with Mendenhall.

Birdwell declined to comment due to the legal action.

The hazing ebbed, but didn't stop completely, for about two weeks, the claim said. Then it rose to its previous level, according to the claim.

At the end of Grafius' probationary period, he was told he must attend a party as "his final right right of passage," it continues.

At that party, on Jan. 15 at a house in the Crystal Falls area, his senior colleagues forced him to drink numerous beers "shotgun" style — in which a hole is pierced in the bottom of a can and the beer is chugged rapidly. He also had to drink large amounts of water.

"(Grafius) realized those forcing him to drink would not relent, and fearing for his life, realized that he could not continue to drink the beer and water," the claim says.

He was in an upstairs room when he heard others coming for him. He panicked, punched out a glass window and jumped to the ground, the document says.

Those at the party ran down to him, where they began "verbally and physically attacking" Grafius, the claim states.

He ran to a neighbor's house for help, and a resident there called an ambulance. He was taken to Sonora Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

"As the result of the conduct described herein, (Grafius) has suffered humiliation and embarrassment and has been forced to quit Station 79 and Columbia Junior College, thus compromising his education and career," the document says.

Withdrawing from school cost him his $1,000 dorm deposit.

He is still seeking diagnosis and treatment for the injuries he suffered in the incidents the claim describes, including a herniated disc, arthritis in his back and inflammation in his shoulder, it said.

Columbia College officials declined to comment on the claim.

"We're working with our attorney on this matter and therefore we cannot make any public comment on this situation," college spokesman Doug Lau said.

The college's attorney did not return calls by press time.

Cal Fire Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit Chief Mike Noonan said he was unaware of any claim against the state fire department.

He plans to meet with Dennis Townsend, Cal Fire/Tuolumne County Fire Law Enforcement/Fire Prevention Bureau chief, Cal Fire Assistant Chief Julie Henriques, and Columbia College President Joan Smith next week about a personnel investigation Townsend conducted.

They will discuss whether any punishment within the department is warranted.

They are also talking about how to prevent similar incidents from occurring again, he said.

"I'm hoping within the next couple of weeks, we'll be operating again out of there," Noonan said.

The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office has conducted its own criminal investigation.

It forwarded its findings to the Tuolumne County District Attorney Donald Segerstrom, who hasn't yet announced if he will file charges.

Contact Alisha Wyman at awyman@uniondemocrat.com or 588-4527.

NEWS - Fire investigators suspect ATV riders caused 'White Fire'

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 07:23 PM CDT

Title: picture-6.jpg
Credit: Greg Loskorn

Tehachapi News:

Fire investigators reported today that the White Fire was determined to have been caused by off road vehicle riders, in the area of Twin Oaks, 20 miles northwest of Rosamond. CAL Fire representatives said investigators have ruled out the possibility of an electrical short or lightning, using the phrase "human caused," however, investigators are not yet able to determine to whether the fire was caused by neglicence, accident or if it was intentionally lit.

"All Terrain Vehicles (ATV's) were seen leaving the area shortly after the fire was reported. According to investigators, the fire origin is located in a remote area of White Oak Canyon that is frequented by off road vehicles," stated a CAL Fire release.

The blaze is now 60 percent contained, with 12 residences, six outbuildings and 11,400 acres destroyed. Damage inspection is ongoing with Kern County building and safety officials.

More than 1,600 firefighting personnel are still working round the clock to contain the blaze, at an estimated cost of $3,550,000.

"Winds surfaced as predicted last night and gusted to over 50 miles per hour. Fire behavior was extreme in the Oak Creek Canyon area again overnight," stated the most recent CAL Fire release.

As many as 25 homes remain directly threatened and an evacuation order is still in place for the Oak Creek Canyon area.

CAL Fire reports that the western section of the fire will require additional resources today to help contain a 100 acre "slopover" that occurred last night.

While CAL Fire reports that the fire is currently holding south of Horse and Oak Creek Canyons, additional equipment and crews have been assigned to the Blackburn Canyon area where more than 100 structures remain at risk.

Anyone with information regarding the ATV riders known to have been in the area on Sunday morning, June 24, is asked to call the Kern County Fire Department's "Fire Tip Hotline" at 1-877-397-3847.

CAL Fire also wants to remind rural area residents to create and maintain 100 feet of defensible space between buildings and any vegetation. Fire hazard reduction work should be done before 10 a.m. when higher humidity levels can help reduce the possibility of igniting sparks in areas containing dry brush or foliage.

NEWS - CAL FIRE seeks arson charges against Woodlake man

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 07:20 PM CDT

Visalia Times:

Authorities said a search of a Woodlake home earlier this month uncovered evidence connecting a resident to a series of arson fires around Woodlake.

On Wednesday, CAL FIRE presented its findings to the Tulare County District Attorney's Office and requested that Humberto Gonzalez be charged with setting the woodland and grassland fires, which ranged in size from five to 80 acres, CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Paul Marquez said during a Thursday press conference in the Woodlake City Council chambers.

The first three fires occurred June 19, 20 and 21 of last year, while the rest occurred on May 22 and 27 and June 10 of this year. All were in rural areas north and northwest of Woodlake.

Officials would not say what was found in the home Gonzalez lived in that prompted Woodlake police to call in fire investigators. The search was conducted June 12 in the 300 Block of South Magnolia Street.

CA-TGU- Hall IC - Vegetation Fire

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 06:51 PM CDT

CA-TGU- Hall IC - Vegetation Fire

Veg fire on Hall road south of South Ave.
Latest size is 70 acres from Copter 205.

7 engines, 2 Water Tenders, one hand crew
and C205 working the fire.

EDIS - Red flag warning now in effect until 8 pm pdt this evening for parts of the lassen and plumas national forests

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 06:03 PM CDT

[EDIS] Red flag warning now in effect until 8 pm pdt this evening for parts of the lassen and plumas national forests and surprise valley in northeast california for gusty winds and low humidity

Lassen and Plumas National Forests

3:04 pm

RED FLAG WARNING:
THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING. A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY OFF THE WEST COAST THROUGH FRIDAY. SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 30 TO 35 MPH AND HUMIDITY LEVELS NEAR 15 PERCENT WILL COMBINE TO PRODUCE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS EVENING.

THE MOST CRITICAL CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR FROM TRUCKEE TO THE SIERRA VALLEY...DIAMOND MOUNTAINS AND AREAS NEAR AND JUST WEST OF SUSANVILLE. SOME INCREASE IN HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED ON FRIDAY.

Instruction:
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. FIRE OFFICIALS SHOULD MONITOR WEATHER FORECASTS CLOSELY THE REMAINDER OF THIS WEEK.

Area: SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA-WESTERN LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA-EASTERN NEVADA COUNTIES-

Affected Counties: Modoc, Plumas, Mono, Lassen, El Dorado, Madera, Alpine, Sierra, Shasta, Tuolumne, Placer, Inyo, Fresno, Nevada

Sent: 2007-06-28T14:56:27-07:00

EDSO - ANGORA FIRE EVACUATION UPDATE

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 05:37 PM CDT

ANGORA FIRE EVACUATION
Update on El Dorado County/South Lake Tahoe Basin Angora Fire

For Immediate Release
Thursday, June 28, 2007—9:20 AM
Update on El Dorado County/South Lake Tahoe Basin Angora Fire

EVACUATION INFORMATION

NORTH UPPER TRUCKEE AREA:
BEGINNING AT 8:00 AM THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2007

Residents from Highway 50 to Grizzly Mountain Drive with appropriate identification will be
allowed access to their property via North Upper Truckee Road only.
Residents of the following
streets will be allowed access to their property:
North Upper Truckee Road, Grizzly Mountain Drive, Kiowa Drive, Cochise Circle,
Seneca Drive, Tehama Drive, Koru Street, Wintoon Drive, Mewuk Drive, Pima Street,
Toppewetah Street, Nez Perce Drive, Kikapoo Street, Delaware Street, Normuk Street, Ulmeca
Street, Chilicothe Street, Cholula Street, West San Bernardino Avenue, Pooewin Street, Shawnee
Street, Yucatan Street, Oaxaco Street, Otomites Street, Zuni Street, Little Bear Lane,
Quinanetzin Street, Teton Court, Tolteca Way, Tolteca Court, Taos Court, Chiapa Drive, Cayuga
Street, Shoshone Street, Mushogee Street, Algonquin Court.

15th STREET AREA:
THE MANDATORY EVACUATION OF THE STREETS NEAR THE TAHOE
KEYS AREA IN THE SOUTH LAKE TAHOE BASIN:
WEST WAY, LUKINS WAY,
WARD WAY, WEIR WAY, 15TH STREET TO VENICE ARE TO REMAIN UNDER
MANDATORY EVACUATION until further notice.

GARDNER MOUNTAIN, TAHOE KEYS, TAHOE ISLAND AREAS:
Residents in the Gardner Mountain, Tahoe Keys, and Tahoe Island Areas of the South
Lake Tahoe Basin remain under VOLUNTARY EVACUATION and may choose to return to
their residence, but should stay informed and remain aware of conditions throughout the day and
to stay prepared to evacuate if needed.
El Dorado County Evacuation Information Hotline:
(530) 573-7966
###

EDIS - Red flag warning now in effect until 10 pm pdt this evening over the lake tahoe basin for gusty winds and low humidity... ... red flag

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 05:29 PM CDT

[EDIS] Red flag warning now in effect until 10 pm pdt this evening over the lake tahoe basin for gusty winds and low humidity... ... red flag warning in effect from 1 pm to 9 pm pdt friday for gusty winds and low humidity

GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 9 PM PDT FRIDAY. A RED FLAG WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS EVENING. A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY OFF THE WEST COAST THROUGH FRIDAY. GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL PRODUCE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EACH AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE STRONGEST TODAY WITH WIDESPREAD GUSTS 30 TO 35 MPH AT LAKE LEVEL AND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH FROM THE MIDSLOPES TO RIDGELINE. WINDS WILL DECREASE TO 10 TO 15 MPH OVERNIGHT IN THE TAHOE BASIN...HOWEVER GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH CAN STILL BE EXPECTED NEAR THE MIDSLOPES WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 45 ALONG THE RIDGES. WINDS WILL DECREASE SLIGHTLY ON FRIDAY ALTHOUGH DRY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER DAY OF CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER. HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED TO DROP BELOW 20 PERCENT EACH DAY.

Instruction:
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR. FIRE OFFICIALS SHOULD MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS CLOSELY THE REMAINDER OF THIS WEEK.

Area: GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-

Affected Counties: Modoc, Plumas, Mono, Lassen, El Dorado, Madera, Alpine, Sierra, Shasta, Tuolumne, Placer, Inyo, Fresno, Nevada

Sent: 2007-06-28T14:56:24-07:00

InciWeb: Angora Fire News Release #8

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 05:05 PM CDT

InciWeb: Angora Fire News Release #8:

Angora Fire News Release #8

Incident: Angora - ANGORA FIRE
Released: 2007-06-28 13:00:00 ET

Today's Date: Thursday, June 28, 2007, 10:00am

Start Date: June 24, 2007, 2:00 p.m.

Location: South of Lake Tahoe and east of Fallen Leaf Lake

Acreage: 3,100 Containment: 55% Expected Containment: July 3, 2007

Fuel type: Heavy timber Injuries: 3 Cause: Under Investigation Fire Resources: 2,174

Engines: 164 Crews: 51 Helicopters: 21 Dozers: 4 Water Tenders: 15 Discussion:

• Last night's crews increased their efforts to secure firelines along the majority of the fire perimeter. The priority for suppression efforts continues to be along the north/northeast fireline adjacent to the South Lake Tahoe community. Firefighters will work around homes next to the fire area to ensure that all hot spots are extinguished and hazardous trees are removed.

• Today is another Red Flag Warning Day with anticipated high winds and low humidity. Yesterday and last night's progress will help today's fire crews reduce the potential for the fire to move outside of its current boundary.

• Crews will again continue to work into the fire perimeter to fall dead trees and cool hot spots. Construction and improvement of fire lines will also continue.

• Note: Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit entered into Fire Restrictions on June 24. Campfires, including charcoal bbqs, are prohibited except in fee campgrounds.

Evacuations: Also see: City of South Lake Tahoe website at http://cityofslt.us.an/ Evacuation and Re-Entry hot line can be reached at: (530) 573-7966 or http://www.edso.org/.

Residents will be allowed back into their homes, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, along North Upper Truckee to Grizzly Mountain.

Voluntary evacuations:

• Gardner Mountain Area, Tahoe Keys and Tahoe Island.

Mandatory evacuations:

• The Fallen Leaf area

• 15^th Street North bordering Highway 89

• The entire area within the fire perimeter

Road Closures: Highway 89 is closed from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. between the intersection with Highway 50 from the city limit to Emerald Bay.

OUT OF STATE: Madison Arm Wildland Fire

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 04:53 PM CDT

Editors note: 800, 1500, 2,800 Acres Madison Arm Fire near West Yellowstone is growing fast with reports of 200 foot flame lengths, Long spots, and continuous crown fire runs, and could get big and could become major national incident. Looks like our Hotshot (IHC) wifes which are a national assets in their own right will be having a long summer...

Photo Credit: Larry Hultz

InciWeb: Madison Arm Wildland Fire:

Madison Arm Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATE

Summary

The Madison Arm Fire, detected June 27, 2007 is burning on the Madison Arm of Hebgen Lake approximately 2 miles south of the Madison Arm Resort. The fire continues to grow to an estiamted 1,500 acres.

Resources currently assigned to the fire Four air tankers, One medium and two light helicopters, One Type 2 hand crew, Two bulldozers, Three Type 6 Wildland fire engines

A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Jeff Seacrest, IC) is expected to take over management of the fire on Friday. Also enroute to the fire are two Type I hand crews, three additional Type 2 hand crews, and eight additional engines.

The fire is burning in sagebrush and timber and continues to increase in size. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Bakers Hole FS Summer Cabins, and MTFWP game wardens cabin, Madison Arm Resort and Lakeshore Summer Homes have evacuated. The Baker's Hole Campground is being closed. Yellowstone Holiday subdivision is on alert for evacuation. About 40 residences and seasonal cabins in the Baker's Hole area were evacuated Wednesday evening. The Madison Arm Road is closed.

The forest will be implementing an Area Closure later today. The closed area will be bounded on the east by US-191, on the north by the Rainbow Point Road, on the west by the South Fork Madison River, and on the south by US Highway 20.

Stage I Fire Restrictions go into effect Friday at Noon on the Hebgen Lake Ranger District.

For further information please contact the Hebgen Lake Ranger District, (406) 823-6961or the Supervisors office at (406) 587-6701.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Under Investigation
Date of Origin	06/27/2007 at 1315 hrs.
Location	2 miles west of West Yellowstone, MT
Incident Commander	Ron Naber

Current Situation

Total Personnel	Not available
Size	2,800 acres
Percent Contained	5%
Fuels Involved	Sagebrush and Mature lodgepole pine with scattered dense clumps and bitterbrush forest
Fire Behavior	Active burning, crowning and spotting
Significant Events	Bakers Hole FS Summer Cabins, and MTFWP game wardens cabin, Madison Arm Resort and Lakeshore Summer Homes have evacuated. The Baker's Hole Campground is being closed. Yellowstone Holiday subdivision, Yellowstone Village, Rainbow Point Campground and Duck Creek Campground are on alert for evacuation. The forest will be implementing an Area Closure later today. The closed area will be bounded on the east by US-191, on the north by the Rainbow Point Road, on the west by the South Fork Madison River, and on the south by US Highway 20. The Madison Arm Road is closed. Stage I Fire Restrictions go into effect Friday at Noon on the Hebgen Lake Ranger District.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Not available
Growth Potential	High
Terrain Difficulty	Low
Remarks	Not available

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	5-15 mph SW
Current Temperature	84 degrees
Current Humidity	7 %

CA-LAC -JACK - VEGETATION FIRE

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 03:51 PM CDT

LAFD News & Information: LAFD Resources Sent To Newhall Pass Fire:

Pursuant of a long-standing Automatic Aid Agreement, the Los Angeles Fire Department has assigned air and ground resources to the Los Angeles County Fire Department in their battle against a brush fire near the Newhall Pass, that borders the northern city limits of Los Angeles.

These sixty-nine members of the Los Angeles Fire Department have been dispatched to the wildfire as a result of the blaze being in a formally identified 'Mutual Threat Zone'."

UPDATE: LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT INCIDENT near Santa Clarita Jack fire was knocked down at 10:50 held to ten acres near Santa Clarita

ANGORA FIRE - Information - Angora Fire from space

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 03:04 PM CDT

ANGORA FIRE FROM SPACE
NASA HAS RELEASED HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOGRAPHS OF ANGORA FIRE AREA

Angora Fire Burn Scar
Credit: CAL FIRE NEWS

Click here
for large high res photograph of Angora fire Burn area released by NASA

Editors note: THE REFERENCE POINTS ON THIS PICTURE WERE OVERLAID BY CAL FIRE NEWS AND DO NOT APPEAR ON NASA MAPS / PHOTOS

CA-TMU-Angora - North Ops report

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 02:43 PM CDT

CA-TMU-Angora Hotlist Forum:

ANGORA FIRE NORTH OPS REPORT

North Ops report on the Angora incident as of this A.M.:

Angora Incident, reported at 3100 acres with 55 percent containment.
A Red Flag Warning will remain in effect into next operational period and expected to continue into Saturday with a potential wind event occurring bringing gusts to 35 mph. Fuel moistures remain extremely low in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Fuels remain extremely dry with fuel consumption up to %100.
Consequently, the fuel bed is highly receptive to fire spread if wind activity increases spotting.

A road closure for Highway 89 at the Highway 50 junction is expected to take effect at 1000 hours in the next operational period.
Utility services remain interrupted throughout the majority of the communities impacted by the fire.
Crew safety remains a concern due to working in hazardous conditions including rolling material and snags.
Good progress was made during the last operational period with mop-up extending 200-300 feet in depth.
Crews continued to patrol the fire line and monitor any safety risks.

InciWeb: Angora Wildland Fire Update

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 02:35 PM CDT

InciWeb: Angora Wildland Fire: