California Fire News

[EDIS] WIND ADVISORY - Gusty northwest winds expected wednesday afternoon and evening

Posted: 19 Sep 2007 03:14 AM CDT

[EDIS] gusty northwest winds expected wednesday afternoon and evening
-SAN FRANCISCO-SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA COAST-

.A STRONG AUTUMN-LIKE STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE SOUTH ACROSS THE BAY AREA ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AND AN INCREASE IN NORTHWEST WINDS TO THE BAY AREA...WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS EXPECTED ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST FROM SOUTHERN SAN MATEO COUNTY TO NORTHERN SONOMA COUNTY. ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM WEDNESDAY TO 3 AM PDT THURSDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN FRANCISCO HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY FOR SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN MATEO COUNTY COAST...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM WEDNESDAY TO 3 AM PDT THURSDAY. NORTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP MIDDAY WEDNESDAY ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST SIDE OF SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN MATEO COUNTIES. THE GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT THEN DECREASE BY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.

Instruction:
A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

Area: SAN FRANCISCO-SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA COAST-

Affected Counties or parts of: San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Marin, Monterey, Contra Costa, Napa, San Benito, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Alameda,Los Trancos Woods, San Bruno Mtn Park, Pacheco, Millbrae, Lafayette, Bethel Island, Crockett, Pleasant Hill, Sequoia Tract, San Ramon, Blackhawk, San Gregorio, Orinda, Rodeo, Standford Linear Accel, El Granada, East Palo Alto, Antioch, Walnut Creek, Broadmoor, Hillsborough, Oakley, Clayton, Harbor/Industrial, Woodside, San Pablo, Emerald Lake Hills, El Sobrante, Hercules, Clyde, Kensington, Byron, Port Costa, Pittsburg, Discovery Bay, Richmond, SFO, Loma Mar, Colma (Uninc), Concord, La Honda, Montara, Menlo Oaks, Martinez, Half Moon Bay, Sky Londa, San Mateo Highlands, Olympic Club, Portola Valley, Danville, Mobile Home Parks, Ladera, Moraga, El Cerrito, West Menlo Park, Pinole, Country Club Park, Foster City, Menlo Park, Peninsula Golf Club, Miramar, North Fair Oaks, Brentwood, Diablo, Vine Hill, Princeton, San Bruno, Pacifica, Palomar Park, Knightsen, Bay Point, Alamo

Sent: 2007-09-18T21:30:44-07:00

Original Sender: KMTR@nwws.oes.ca.gov

From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN FRANCISCO CA

Red flag warning in effect from 10 am to 8 pm pdt wednesday for parts of the eastern sierra and western nevada for strong winds

Posted: 18 Sep 2007 08:56 PM CDT

[EDIS] Red flag warning in effect from 10 am to 8 pm pdt wednesday for parts of the eastern sierra and western nevada for strong winds
MONO-EASTERN ALPINE COUNTIES-WEST CENTRAL NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE-MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES-

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM PDT WEDNESDAY. A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL BRING STRONG WINDS TO THE AREA WEDNESDAY. RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL LOWER TO 15 TO 20 PERCENT EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON BEFORE A STRONG COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA IN THE EVENING. THE MAIN FIRE WEATHER CONCERN WILL BE STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS WHICH WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH BY LATE MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH WILL BE WIDESPREAD WITH LOCAL GUSTS APPROACHING 50 MPH IN THE MORE WIND PRONE AREAS. AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH AREA...THE WINDS WILL SWITCH TO THE NORTHWEST BETWEEN 6 PM AND 8 PM PDT. SOME SHOWER ACTIVITY...MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES AND HIGHER HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED AFTER THE COLD FRONT PASSES.

Instruction:
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR. CONTINUE TO CHECK WEATHER.GOV/RENO/FIRE FOR UPDATES.

Area: MONO-EASTERN ALPINE COUNTIES-WEST CENTRAL NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE-MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES-

Affected Counties or parts of: Modoc, Plumas, Placer, Mono, Lassen, El Dorado, Nevada, Sierra, Alpine,

Sent: 2007-09-18T14:48:15-07:00

Original Sender: KREV@nwws.oes.ca.gov

From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV

Red flag warning in effect - Southeast California

Posted: 18 Sep 2007 04:35 PM CDT

[EDIS] Red flag warning in effect from 11 am pdt /11 am mst/ to 9 pm pdt /9 pm mst/ wednesday for southern nevada... southeast california and northwest arizona

Affected Counties or parts of: Inyo, San Bernardino

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM PDT /11 AM MST/ TO 9 PM PDT /9 PM MST/ WEDNESDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL DROP SOUTH INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ON WEDNESDAY. INCREASING SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT AHEAD OF THIS LOW WILL BRING SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MPH TO MUCH OF THE AREA BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO BE CLOSE TO OR BELOW 15 PERCENT IN MOST AREAS. STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL PERSIST INTO THE EVENING HOURS BEFORE CONDITIONS MODERATE AFTER ABOUT 9 PM.

Instruction:
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR ARE IMMINENT. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS... LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

Area: LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-AZ SIDE-NORTHWEST DESERTS/NORTHWEST PLATEAU-OWENS VALLEY/SOUTHERN INYO FOREST-DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK-MOJAVE DESERT-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-ESMERALDA AND NYE COUNTY DESERTS/CNC DISPATCH-LINCOLN COUNTY/ELY DISPATCH-NYE COUNTY DESERTS/LAS VEGAS DISPATCH-SHEEP RANGE-SPRING MOUNTAINS-CLARK AND SW LINCOLN COUNTY DESERTS/LAS VEGAS DISPATCH-LAKE MEAD NRA/COLORADO RIVER-NV SIDE-

Affected Counties or parts of: Inyo, San Bernardino,

Sent: 2007-09-18T13:51:21-07:00

Original Sender: KVEF@nwws.oes.ca.gov

From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV

Butler 2 Updates and Geomac hotspot map

Posted: 18 Sep 2007 04:20 PM CDT

Butler Fire Satellite perimeter map
UPDATED: HMS 2007-09-18; Thermal MODIS: 2007-09-18 1749 (GMT); Fire Perimeters 2007-09-18; Sit Reports 2007-09-17

Geomac Satellite viewer showing hot spots or possibly spot fires on the west, south and east flanks of the fire, and outside of the fire perimeter as of the time of the over flight.
This map does not reflect the actual real time realities on the ground

Summary

The Butler 2 Fire was reported at 1:21 pm on Friday northwest of Big Bear Lake. The fire is currently 14,039 acres and 53% contained. Highway 18 is closed from Running Springs east to Big Bear Dam. Drivers may not access Big Bear from Hwy 18 or from Hwy 330 in San Bernardino, but Hwy 18 is open from Apple Valley (the high desert). Drivers may also access Big Bear via Hwy 38 from I-10 in Redlands.

The Butler 2 Fire is burning in grass, brush, and timber. There is 53% containment on the 14,039-acre fire. There have been no official reports indicating a change in acreage or containment since last evening and fire activity has decreased from the extreme fire behavior exhibited previously.
Single tree and small group torching was observed by firefighters as well as short range spotting according to the latest Inciweb report and the he line on the northwest flank was reportedly completed as of the Monday evening.

Tankers are currently on hold at the air bases. "This looks like a helicopter show right now," said Air Command. "Just call us if you need [the tankers]."

Manadatory Evacuations for Fawnskin-- Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for the Fawnskin area from the Big Bear Dam to The Discovery Center north of Hwy 38. The evacuation center has been moved to Pine Summit Christian Camp at 700 Wren Drive in Big Bear Lake.

Voluntary Evacuations are in effect for the Green Valley Lake area-- The mandatory evacuation order for the entire community from Hwy 18 as well as campgrounds from Green Valley Lake RD has been downgraded to a voluntary evacuation status. Campgrounds include--Greeen Valley, Crab Flats, Tent Peg, and Fisherman's.

Evacuation centers closed: Jerry Lewis Community Center and Victor Valley College. Evacuation center at Big Bear High School has been moved to Pine Summit Christian Camp.

Voluntary Evacuations remain in effect for Lucerne Valley from Crystal Creek Road on the east to High Rd on the west and North to the Pitzer Buttes area.

Voluntary Evacuations remain in effect for the communities of Running Springs and Arrowbear.

Geomac map legends:

Water tender flips, driver hospitalized

Posted: 18 Sep 2007 01:59 PM CDT

By Record Searchlight staff
Tuesday, September 18, 2007

A Colusa man was in serious condition Monday evening after the water tender he was driving for a Bieber logging company rolled over on a forest road Monday morning north of Lake Britton. Wallace Allee, 69, was airlifted to Mercy Medical Center in Redding about an hour after the 1980 Kenworth he was driving for Dell Logging hit a small tree and flipped, according a report by the California Highway Patrol.

It appeared that the truck brakes had failed as Allee was driving downhill, a CUHP spokesman said.

The truck lost its water tank and ended up on its wheels again, the CHP report said.

Idaho - 9-18-07 Cascade Complex Fire Update - 302,177 acres - 28%

Posted: 18 Sep 2007 01:38 PM CDT

9-18-07 Cascade Complex Fire Update

Incident: Cascade Complex
Released: 1:04 hrs. ago

Fire Update

Fire Information - Contact

Robbie McAboy 208-382-3202

Elayn Briggs

For Immediate Release Date: September 18, 2007

CASCADE COMPLEX

More than 850 firefighters continue to manage the 302,177 acre wildfire burning 27 miles east of Cascade, ID. The fire is 28% contained and crews continue to focus on structure protection measures and securing containment lines. Weather conditions continued to be favorable over the fire yesterday with low temperatures and high humidity minimizing fire growth.

Idaho Power completed the assessment for restoration work in Johnson Creek. Three power poles were destroyed and four were damaged. They anticipate having power fully restored by Thursday baring any changes in fire activity.

Tom Suwyn's Type II Team will be arriving throughout the day to transition with Whalen's Team. They will assume command of the fire at 6:00pm Wednesday night.

There were more reports yesterday of residents traveling on restricted roadways and being in restricted areas. It is imperative that residents follow directions outlined in closure orders. Being in restricted areas while crews are working increases the threat to firefighter and public safety and may hamper the firefighting effort. Crews are making great progress and would like to be able to respond appropriately should changes in fire behavior occur.

Area and road closures remain in affect in the vicinity of the fire. Visit www.fs.fed.us/idahofires for up-to-date information on closures affecting the Boise, Payette and Salmon-Challis National Forests.

Resources
Hand Crews	19
Helicopters	9
Water Tenders	13
Engines	35
Overhead	238
Total Personnel	856

Lick Fire - DC-10 drop

Posted: 18 Sep 2007 12:59 PM CDT

This is a professional quality video of a retardant drop on the Lick Fire by Tanker 910 The DC-10 Supertanker Firefighting jet. This video could be used as stock footage or a commercial for this amazing plane.
Great video job by Cal Fire News contributer - Photo1 productions

Butler 2 Fire - Tanker 492 Down, NO INJURIES - Hard landing

Posted: 18 Sep 2007 04:30 PM CDT

Tanker 492 Hard Landing
Credit; Jim Tunnell

At approximately 1312 hrs yesterday Tanker 492 a contract single engine air tanker was forced to make a emergency hard landing in a nearby field yesterday after a engine failure; no apparent injuries and pilot was ambulatory, Aircraft landed hard but generally in one piece.

Repeat No injury; Medi-vac was not needed apparently the aircraft ran out of fuel after a warning system was activated and the pilot began looking for Big Bear airport nearby, But determined he did not have enough altitude to make it too the airport according to Beryl Shears, president of Western Pilot Service Tanker 492 crash landed near Fox Farm Road and Sandalwood in Big Bear Lake at 1:12 pm.
The pilot, Bill Penny of Phoenix, AZ, had an fuel warning light and alarm and was looking for an airport to land at, Immediately after the warning, his engine lost power. Penny radioed Butler 2 Air Operations, His last transmission before the hard landing -"I just had a engine failure, over the lake, going to put it in the field." and crash landed in the vacant field. At the end of the landing the wheels collapsed and the aircraft came to a stop on its belly and wing. The pilot walked away from the aircraft with no injuries.

The SEAT Type 4 Aircraft is out of Phoenix, Arizona and apparently they do keep the aircraft in very clean condition and spare no expense on exceptional support crews...Where do I apply?

Picture from Western Pilot Service Firefighting Aircraft
Website

Related Inciweb report below

Small Engine Air Tanker Pilot Has a Controlled Emergency Landing Near Big Bear

Incident: Butler 2
Released: 24 hrs. ago

About 1:10 PM today a single engine air tanker assigned to the Butler 2 Fire had an internal engine warning light come on and lost power. The pilot determined that he did not have enough time to land at Big Bear Airport and initiated an emergency landing in a vacant field off of Fox Farm Road. At the end of the landing the wheels collapsed and the aircraft came to a stop on its belly and wing. The pilot walked away from the aircraft with no injuries.

The site was secured and emergency medical support was provided by Big Bear Lake and Big Bear City. The accident is under the jurisdiction of San Bernardino County Sheriff.

A "Safety Stand-down" was initiated by the incident management team managing the Butler 2 Fire, which involved stopping air operations until 230 PM for people involved in air operations activities to pause for a reflection on air safety.

The loss of the plane will not adversely affect fire fighting activities on the Butler 2 Fire.