California Fire News

California in October - Red Falg Warnings and Snow advisories on the same day... Posted: 05 Oct 2007 12:52 AM CDT Cal Fire News - National weather service has been announcing numerous weather alerts today mostly high winds but there has also been Red Flags in Imperial county and Eastern Riverside counties and Snow advisories in Modoc, Plumas, Placer, Mono, Lassen, El Dorado, Nevada, Sierra, Alpine counties in California all in the same afternoon only in California in October [EDIS] snow advisory remains in effect until 8 am pdt friday A SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM PDT FRIDAY. SNOW WILL CONTINUE AND BE HEAVY AT TIMES THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 5 INCHES ARE EXPECTED BY FRIDAY MORNING... WITH 1 TO 3 INCHES IN LOWER ELEVATIONS OF EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY...NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY AND THE SURPRISE VALLEY. CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO... OR LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...FOR FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. Instruction: SNOW IS EXPECTED TO POSE AN INCONVENIENCE TO TRAVELERS. ROADS WILL BECOME SLICK AND HAZARDOUS...WITH SNOW AND ICE FIRST DEVELOPING ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. MOTORISTS SHOULD SLOW DOWN AND USE EXTRA CAUTION TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. Area: SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA-LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF... CEDARVILLE... EAGLEVILLE... FORT BIDWELL... PORTOLA... SUSANVILLE... WESTWOOD... SIERRAVILLE... EMPIRE... GERLACH Affected Counties or parts of: Modoc, Plumas, Placer, Mono, Lassen, El Dorado, Nevada, Sierra, Alpine, Sent: 2007-10-04T22:31:10-07:00 Original Sender: KREV@nwws.oes.ca.gov From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV

CA -AEU - LATROBE - Wildland Fire Posted: 05 Oct 2007 12:09 AM CDT Location: Latrobe Rd. X Stone house Rd. Sacramento County Large wildland response, Pine grove crews 1 and 2 Comm: White 2

CA-RRU- - Heavy brush Fire Posted: 04 Oct 2007 11:13 PM CDT CORONA, Calif. (AP) _ A fire burned about 5 acres of heavy brush on a hillside in this Riverside County city Wednesday evening. The fire was reported around 7:30 p.m. and was spreading at a slow rate because of low winds and high humidity, Riverside County Fire spokeswoman Jody Hagemann said. No homes were threatened, she said. The blaze was burning above a housing development and west of Interstate 15. Its cause was under investigation.

In the Clouds, Sitting Watch Over Paradise Posted: 04 Oct 2007 09:48 PM CDT Mountaintop Lookout Mike Gates, a contract fire lookout with the U.S. Forest Service, spends his summers in a lookout tower that sits atop Saddleback Mountain in the Tahoe National Forest near Downieville, Calif. Credit: Jim Wilson/The New York Times By JESSE McKINLEY Published in The New York Times : October 3, 2007 ON SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN, Calif. — Walk into Mike Gates's summer home here and the first thing you notice — the only thing you could possibly notice — is the view. Jim Wilson/The New York Times The job isn't for everyone, but searching for fires from a perch a mile high suits Mike Gates and his frequent visitor, Prairie Rose, who fell in love with him on this very spot. With a wraparound vista broken only by the occasional hummingbird, Mr. Gates has 25-mile visibility on a decent day and more than twice that on a superlative one. The sunrises are pretty enough to make the cold worthwhile, and the sunsets would make a vampire sad to see the day go. But Mr. Gates doesn't really come to the top of Saddleback Mountain — at the corner of 6,698 feet and the middle of nowhere — to look at the horizon or the hummingbirds, at the sunrise or the sunset. He comes to look for smoke. For the last 21 years, Mr. Gates has been a fire lookout, a sky-high sentry at the front line in the battle against wildfires, which have burned more than five million drought-parched acres around the country this year. Armed with four pairs of binoculars, he spends almost every waking hour prowling a narrow catwalk outside his 14-foot-square shack, scanning the day — and night — for nature's surest sign that something is ablaze. Mr. Gates, now 58, has spotted perhaps 100 fires during his years on the job, two this September alone. He is known for staying up late, and waking before dawn to fix his eyes on his patch of Tahoe National Forest, a 1.2-million-acre preserve just north of Lake Tahoe. "Maybe after looking at the same landscape for so long," he said, "it's easy to see something's amiss." His is a skill set that is slowly fading away, replaced by less romantic, more technological methods. Only about 800 lookouts nationwide are now manned, according to the nonprofit Forest Fire Lookout Association, down from more than 8,000 in the 1930s. While few people are suited for his line of work, Mr. Gates was perhaps destined for it. His birthday is the same date that Smokey Bear first appeared on a poster: Aug. 9. And much of his life, it seems, has involved watching at a distance, from his days in an Air Force reconnaissance unit to a lifelong obsession with photography. "I just observe," said Mr. Gates, who wears a gray goatee and glasses. "I'm a looker." That is an opinion shared by the one person who regularly breaks up Mr. Gates's routine: Prairie Rose, a 52-year-old former disc jockey who came up for a visit 12 years ago and fell in love with the lookout, both the place and the man. Now she pays periodic visits during the summers. "I love being on top of the world," she said. "It's my little piece of heaven." A former Chrysler electrical engineer who "unplugged" in the mid-1980s, Mr. Gates says he's "not a real kind of social animal"; he values the pleasures of being alone. It's not everyone's cup of tea. Jack Kerouac, who spent a summer as a lookout in 1956, called the job a "mountaintop trap." True enough, it isn't always thrilling work. Weeks can pass without a fire or a friendly face. And the nature of the lookout's life — basically living in a glass box — means that leaving the office behind is impossible. "Even if I'm doing dishes," Mr. Gates said, "I'm keeping my eyes open." But he seems to love it, combining his smoke-hunting with a passion for photography. (His photographs can be seen at www.pygmyhippo.net.) To get to the Saddleback lookout, one travels back in time, road-wise, going from asphalt to dirt to a treacherous stone-filled path that acts as the lookout's driveway. And then you hike. Up past an outhouse, up past the spot where rattlesnakes like to sun themselves and up two flights of metal stairs, until finally you find what may be the world's coziest government building. Built in 1933, Mr. Gates's wooden shack sits on stilts and is held on a crag by steel cable. Inside are a child-size sink, a small stove and a set of pink flamingo-shaped Christmas lights over his platform bed. Not that sleep is always easy: winds on the mountain can gust up to 80 miles an hour, violently shaking the shack. "You don't have to put a quarter in the bed or anything," he said. "It just goes." Nor is the place exactly insulated, as there are no walls per se, just 360 degrees of windows. Mr. Gates has resorted to tacking personal touches — cartoons, maps, a photo of a woman's eyes — to the ceiling or support beams. There's also a dirt-floored basement that houses a propane-powered refrigerator, as well as a set of car batteries, which store solar-generated power. Mr. Gates keeps his most powerful binoculars next to his bed. For a lookout, red herrings abound: clouds of dirt from logging vehicles, for example, or "water dogs," wisps of steam that rise, smokelike, from valley floors. But it was a real fire that drew Mr. Gates's attention on Sept. 10, when the most recent blaze erupted near Lindsey Lake, a popular area where several campsites and trail heads converge. "I could start to pick up a little bit of a puff behind a ridge," he recalled. "At first I wasn't really sure, but you sense that something is not quite right. The smoke is a little bit thicker and that kind of thing." Within minutes he had calibrated the distance and called in the fast-moving blaze. Air tankers and ground crews flooded into the area and suppressed the fire after it had devoured a mere 21 acres. This time of year, storms start to roll in, and fire season begins to wind down. Mr. Gates, who earns $13,400 for five months on the mountain, said he was already girding himself for a return to his winter home in Bradenton, Fla. There, he and Prairie Rose care for his elderly mother, and curse the stoplights and traffic. "The whole sky closes in, basically," he said of his other life, looking out at low early-morning clouds. "It just takes a while, I guess, to adjust." Just then, the wind changed, and the fog seemed to lift. And then, so did Mr. Gates's mood. "Oh," he said. "It's going to clear nicely."

RED FLAG WARNING - IMPERIAL COUNTY AND EASTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY- Posted: 04 Oct 2007 07:54 PM CDT [EDIS] Red flag warning in effect from 10 am mst /10 am pdt/ to 8 pm mst /8 pm pdt/ friday for southeast california and the lower colorado river valley due to strong gusty winds and low relative humidities IMPERIAL COUNTY AND EASTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY- THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM MST /10 AM PDT/ TO 8 PM MST /8 PM PDT/ FRIDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH THAT WAS ISSUED PREVIOUSLY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT AND HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A RED FLAG WARNING. A STRONG COLD UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND PORTIONS OF ARIZONA FRIDAY. THIS WILL CAUSE WINDS TO INCREASE TO 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 40 MPH ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY. IN ADDITION...A VERY DRY AIRMASS WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA... RESULTING IN MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES FALLING TO NEAR 10 PERCENT. THE STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL COMBINE TO CREATE HAZARDOUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS ON FRIDAY. Instruction: PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS AND FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING. Area: ARIZONA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 131YUMA/MARTINEZ LAKE AND VICINITY/LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY AZ-CALIFORNIA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 230JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK-CALIFORNIA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 231LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY CA-CALIFORNIA FIRE WEATHER ZONE 232IMPERIAL COUNTY AND EASTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY- Affected Counties or parts of: Riverside, Imperial, Sent: 2007-10-04T15:18:56-07:00 From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ

CA-RRU-Garner valley - Fire Engine fire Posted: 04 Oct 2007 02:11 PM CDT Incident Photos (Incident Name: Garner Valley) Riverside County Fire Department engine fire Click on a photograph for a larger image. Firefighters at the Riverside County Fire Department's Station 53 in Garner Valley were awakened by a passerby (a Volunteer Firefighter from Station 53 who was enroute to work) that smoke was coming from the detached engine apparatus bay. The cab and engine compartment of a parked fire engine was on fire inside the apparatus bay. Incident Name: Garner Valley Incident Number: CARRU-86466 Date Reported: 10/04/2007 Time Reported: 4:45 AM Incident Type: Vehicle Fire (Fire Engine) Incident Location: Station 53 Garner Valley 32900 Morris Ranch Rd. City: Garner Valley Size/Type of Fuel/etc.: Cause: Loss: $0 (STR): $0 (Contents): $0 Vehicle(s): $0 Save: $0 (STR): $0 (Contents): $0 Cost to Date: $0 Injuries: Fatalities: 0 Critical: 0 Moderate: 0 Minor: 0 Non-Injury: 0 Transported Ground AMB: 0 Air AMB: 0 Containment Time: Control Time: Resources Assigned Engines: 1 Breathing Supp.: 0 Helicopters: 0 Truck Co: 0 Squad: 0 Air Attack: 0 Firefighters: 4 RVC Medics: 0 Air Tankers: 0 Overhead Personnel: 2 AMB's: 0 Fire Crews: 0 Haz. Mat: No Co. Health: No County OES: No Fire Prev.: No Water Tenders: 0 Electrical Co: No Gas Co: No Water Co: No Bulldozers: 0 Red Cross: No Chaplain: No Displaced Persons: No Adult: 0 Child: 0 Misc. Equip: Sheriff's Office: No CHP: No Office: Cooperating Agencies: CAL FIRE/Riverside Supplemental Comments: Firefighters at the Riverside County Fire Department's Station 53 in Garner Valley were awakened by a passerby (a Volunteer Firefighter from Station 53 who was enroute to work) that smoke was coming from the detached engine apparatus bay. The cab and engine compartment of a parked fire engine was on fire inside the apparatus bay. The fire was contained to the cab and engine compartment of the fire engine. The fire station, apparatus bay, and other fire equipment did not sustain any damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation. If you would like additional information plesae contact the PIO Fire Captain Julie Hutchinson at 951-377-8380. Problems: Evacuations: No Evacuation Comments: Information Center: 951-940-6985 OR: Prepared By: Jody Hagemann Prepared Date/Time: 10/04/2007 1025

Tahoe Basin Fire Restrictions End October 3 Posted: 04 Oct 2007 02:03 PM CDT News Release USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit 35 College Drive South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 Public Affairs (530) 543-2627 Fax: (530) 543-2743 Date: October 1, 2007 Contact: Cheva Heck (530) 543-2608 or Rex Norman (530) 543-2627 Tahoe Basin Fire Restrictions End October 3 Residential Debris Burning Restrictions Also to be Lifted South Lake Tahoe, CA. --USDA Forest Service Fire Management Officer Kit Bailey announced the end of Tahoe Basin Fire Restrictions, effective October 3, 2007. In addition, in coordination with CalFire , residential debris burning restrictions are being lifted. Residents are urged to contact their local Fire Department or Fire Protection District station for details prior to conducting residential debris burning. 2007 fire restrictions prohibited campfires except within established fee campgrounds that provide fire rings, and prohibited charcoal fires at beaches and day use areas. Smoking has been restricted to the interiors of structures and vehicles, and to properly cleared areas. These restrictions will be lifted effective Wednesday, October 3. Residents and visitors should be aware that Forest Service fire regulations require the use of stoves year-round in most backcountry areas and in the Desolation Wilderness, and that valid campfire permits are required for both stoves and campfires. Charcoal fires will again be allowed at Forest Service beaches and other developed day use areas without a permit. The Tahoe Basin 2007 Fire Season was one of the driest on record with exceptionally low fuel moistures and humidity by Mid-June. Just prior to the 3,100 acre Angora Fire which started on June 24, the dryness of dead and down fuels (measured by fuel moisture) on the forest floor was comparable to conditions usually experienced in August. The Angora Fire was the result of an illegal campfire, started and abandoned in an area where fires are prohibited year-round. Although the cause of the fire has been established, the individual responsible is yet to be identified. Recent rain, snow and increased humidity, along with cooling temperatures, have significantly reduced wildfire risks. Despite improved conditions, the public should continue to use great caution with all potential sources of ignition, and be aware of, and follow fire regulations. For more information, call the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Forest Supervisor's Office at: (530) 543-2694. Reporter's Background: To view the Forest Order that identifies year-round fire and camping regulations, visit: www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/documents/recreation/forest-orders/Camping-Order-II.pdf

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit - Prescribed Fire Information Update Posted: 04 Oct 2007 01:57 PM CDT Prescribed Fire Information Update USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit 35 College Drive South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 Public Affairs (530) 543-2627 Fax: (530) 543-2743 Date: October 3, 2007 Contact: Rex Norman (530) 543-2627 Prescribed Fire Project Work to Continue South Lake Tahoe, CA. --Forest Service Fuels Management Crews will continue burn activity in two locations on Thursday, October 4. Kingsbury Grade - this project is expected to continue at least until Tuesday. Blackwood Canyon - near west shore. This project may be completed by Thursday. Residents and travelers can expect to see smoke from prescribed fire project areas. This and other prescribed fire projects are designed to reduce the wildfire risks to communities and critical resources. To view maps that described current prescribed fire project locations, visit: www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/fire/index.shtml Take a few moments to visit an excellent web site and learn about Prescribed Fire vs. Wildfire at: www.smokeybear.com/good-bad.asp ###

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