California Fire News

Posted: 24 Jun 2007 10:45 PM CDT

ANGORA FIRE - News from around the net

750 ACRES 160 HOMES LOST
Highway 50 is closed

ANGORA FIRE view of header From big hill photo courtesy of Rob

WESTERN GREAT BASIN COORDINATION CENTER
6/24-1530 WBC Sending T-21 and T-10 to the Angora Fire on the Lake Tahoe

NorCalFire ANGORA INCIDENT:

Fixed wing aircraft are having great difficulty due to
extreme turbulance in the fire area. Typical of the east
Sierra when the wind is blowing out of the west.

Tankers 88 & 89 out of Grass Valley both requested aircraft
inspection of their aircraft when they landed for refill.
Were getting +3gs an -2gs. Wanted to check for loose rivets
and screws and skin buckling. Sounds like a rough ride!

Aircraft are also using Minden and Stead AABs. Tankers 10 &
21 also on the fire plus several SEATS and helicopters.

http://www.wildlandfire.com CA-TMU-Angora

Cleveland Type 1 IHC Laguna Hotshots ordered to the fire at 17:57
CA-LNU sent a ST at 16:30
Word is, Hawkin's Type One Team has now been ordered.
Sacramento has sent a Type 1 OES Strike Team in Initial Attack Mode (code 3), Understand more S/T orders pending.
OES from SAC county and a Type 1 Strike Team from Sac. Metro Fire left about 2 hours ago.
Strong, erratic winds are a problem and are expected to be for the next 2 days.
Spotting up to 1/2 mile. Because of winds, no air support.
Fire is expected to move N & E
Local Agency Type 1 Engine ST's enroute from San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.
webcam...http://www.sierraattahoe.com/info/winter/web-cam.asp

Free Republic

A wildfire is raging out of control near South Lake Tahoe. The Angora Fire is burning near North Upper Truckee Road. That is near the Tahoe Paradise Subdivision.

So far, the fire has burned more than 500 acres and is spreading rapidly due to strong winds. 50 homes have been burned by the fire so far and more are threatened. An evacuation center has been set up at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center. That's near the ice arena.

The whole area along Upper Truckee Road is evacuated. Highway 50 is closed at Lake Tahoe Boulevard.

Firefighters are attacking this fire from the ground and the air.

Sierrafront.net
The Angora Fire is burning in the Lake Tahoe
Basin Management Unit in the North Upper Truckee area near the Tahoe Paradise
Subdivision, south Lake Tahoe. Some of the air tankers working the Angora
Fire are operating out of the retardant base at the Minden Interagency Fire
Center. A large plume from this fire is visible from the Sierra Front and
affecting air quality in the area. This incident is being managed by the Camino
Interagency Command Center, for fire information contact 530-647-5220.
*** June 24 at 4:30pm: Fires in the area have produced large volumes of
smoke that is affecting the communities of the Sierra Front. Fine particulates in
the air may create unhealthful conditions for area residents, particularly
the elderly, very young, and those who suffer from respiratory ailments.
Affected people should avoid outside activities if possible and seek medical
attention for breathing difficulties. This evening and tonight smoke is likely to
settle into low areas and may affect visibility along area roadways. Drivers
are urged to exercise caution and use headlights when traveling in smoke
impacted areas. Also, the ambient smoke will make the detection of new fire
starts more difficult so please continue to comply with the fire restrictions that
have been in place since June 1. ***

CA-TMU-Angora

Posted: 24 Jun 2007 10:14 PM CDT

Fire News:

Incident Name

State

Lead Agency

Size (acres)

Percent Contained

Estimate of Containment

Personnel

Structures Lost

Angora

350

unknown

n/a

The Camino Command Center is managing a fire in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit in the North Upper Truckee area, south Lake Tahoe. A large plume from this fire is visible from the Sierra Front. A campground has been evacuated, residents in the area are advised to prepare for possible evacuations. At this point it is unknown if the 12 structures lost are homes or outbuildings.

Fires in the area have produced large volumes of smoke that is affecting the communities of the Sierra Front. Fine particulates in the air may create unhealthful conditions for area residents, particularly the elderly, very young, and those who suffer from respiratory ailments. Affected people should avoid outside activities if possible and seek medical attention for breathing difficulties. This evening and tonight smoke is likely to settle into low areas and may affect visibility along area roadways. Drivers are urged to exercise caution and use headlights when traveling in smoke impacted areas. Also, the ambient smoke will make the detection of new fire starts more difficult so please continue to comply with the fire restrictions that have been in place since June 1.

Click here to see a live video of the fire

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH 9 PM SUNDAY FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEVADA AND NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80 FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY. LOW PRESSURE PASSING NORTH OF THE AREA WILL PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THIS EVENING. HUMIDITY WILL REMAIN VERY LOW TODAY WITH IMPROVED RECOVERY TONIGHT. LIGHTER WINDS AND WARMER TEMPERATURES RETURN MONDAY UNDER HIGH PRESSURE. ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BRING DRY AND BREEZY WEATHER LATER THIS WEEK.

EDIS - Dense smoke advisory in effect until 11 am pdt monday

Posted: 24 Jun 2007 10:36 PM CDT

EDIS - ANGORA FIRE - Dense smoke advisory in effect until 11 am pdt monday:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A DENSE SMOKE ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT MONDAY.
THE SMOKE PLUME FROM THE ANGORA FIRE EXTENDS FROM SOUTH LAKE TAHOE EASTWARD TO FALLON. THE PATH OF THE PLUME INCLUDES CARSON VALLEY... CARSON CITY... VIRGINIA CITY... DAYTON AND SILVER SPRINGS. SPOTTERS AND AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS UNDER THE PLUME HAVE REPORTED LIGHT ASH ACCUMULATIONS. THE HEAVIEST ASH ACCUMULATIONS WILL OCCUR FROM SOUTH LAKE TAHOE TO CARSON CITY TO DAYTON. AS TEMPERATURES COOL TONIGHT SMOKE FROM THE ANGORA FIRE WILL NEAR THE GROUND...ESPECIALLY IN THE TOWN OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE. VISIBILITIES TONIGHT WILL LOWER TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS WITH VERY POOR AIR QUALITY IN THE SOUTH LAKE TAHOE AREA AND IN VALLEYS OF WESTERN NEVADA. LIGHT WINDS ARE EXPECTED TOMORROW... WHICH WILL ALLOW SMOKE TO LINGER IN THE LOWER VALLEYS.

Instruction:
A DENSE SMOKE ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SMOKE FROM WILDFIRES SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES VISIBILITIES...MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AND BREATHE. THE SMOKE AND VERY POOR AIR QUALITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM... ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH LAKE TAHOE... UNTIL THE FIRE IS EXTINGUISHED. PERSONS IN THE ADVISORY AREA SHOULD AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE SMOKE AND STAY INDOORS.

Area: GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-GREATER RENO-CARSON CITY-MINDEN AREA-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF... SOUTH LAKE TAHOE... TAHOE CITY... TRUCKEE... MARKLEEVILLE... GLENBROOK... INCLINE VILLAGE... SPARKS... VERDI... GARDNERVILLE

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

News - Lake Tahoe Wildfire Destroys 50 Homes

Posted: 24 Jun 2007 10:22 PM CDT

Lake Tahoe Wildfire Destroys 50 Homes - News Story - Lake Tahoe:

MEYERS, Calif. -- A wind-whipped 500-acre forest fire at Lake Tahoe destroyed 50 homes on Sunday and threatened 500 others, a top U.S. Forest Service official confirmed. Kit Bailey, the agency's fire chief for Lake Tahoe, said high winds were hampering fire crews in their battle against the fast-moving blaze and were a culprit in the property destruction.

Asked how fast the fire was growing, Bailey replied, "Let's just call it rapid rates of spread."

No injuries were reported. The blaze in the upper Angora Creek drainage about five miles south of Lake Tahoe prompted evacuations of the Angora Lakes Resort and hundreds of homes in the North Upper Truckee Road area of Meyers, located next to the resort town of South Lake Tahoe, authorities said.
"I can't stay on the phone. We just got a notice to evacuate," said Gloria Hildinger of the Angora Lakes Resort. "The smoke is getting pretty thick. It's probably two miles away and we're hoping it won't reach here." Flames were being fanned by winds of up to 25 mph, and the National Weather Service was calling for gusts of up to 35 mph on Sunday evening. "They're definitely having problems with the winds up there," said Linda Curran of the Camino Interagency Dispatch Center in California. "The fire has a rapid rate of spread because of the winds."
At least five air tankers and two helicopters were assisting more than 400 firefighters on the ground. The fire, believed to be caused by human activity, was reported at 2:14 p.m. Sunday on Forest Service land. The blaze is under investigation.
Its huge smoke plume can be seen for miles around the Reno-Tahoe area.

EDIS - Red flag warning now in effect until 9 pm pdt sunday for gusty winds and low humidity

Posted: 24 Jun 2007 12:54 PM CDT

EDIS - Red flag warning now in effect until 9 pm pdt sunday for gusty winds and low humidity:

"THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SUNDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. GUSTY WEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON WITH SPEEDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH. WIND PRONE AREAS ALONG THE SIERRA FRONT COULD SEE GUSTS TO 45 MPH. HUMIDITY VALUES WILL REMAIN BELOW 10 PERCENT THIS EVENING CAUSING CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE GUSTY WINDS WILL DECREASE AFTER SUNSET...HOWEVER VERY DRY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE WITH POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERIES OVERNIGHT. WEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP AGAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH SPEEDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH. DAYTIME HUMIDITY VALUES SUNDAY WILL BE AROUND 10 PERCENT KEEPING CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING.

Instruction:
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR.

Area: MONO-EASTERN ALPINE COUNTIES-MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES-

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

CA-KRN-White

Posted: 24 Jun 2007 12:49 PM CDT

CA-KRN-White:
CA-KRN-White
New fire in the Tehachapi Area. KRN has 1st alarm equipment onscene.
Air Attack just updated fire at 60 Acres in 20 MPH wind. Requesting 4 additional air tankers."

InciWeb: Hwy 89 Wildland Fire

Posted: 24 Jun 2007 12:02 PM CDT

InciWeb: Hwy 89 Wildland Fire:

Hwy 89 Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 14 HOURS AGO

Summary

The Highway 89 fire was first reported at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 23. It is burning on public land in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper and Jeffrey Pine, approximately 1/4 mile NE of Markleeville (Alpine County), California.

The fire is currently at 45 acres (reduced acreage due to more accurate GPS mapping) and is 30% contained.

Road Closures: CA SR 89 has REOPENED between the intersection of CA SR 88 at Woodfords and through the Markleeville area & Monitor Pass to the intersection with U.S. 395 near Topaz Lake. A pilot car is shuttling vehicles between Airport Road (turnoff to Turtle Rock Park) and Markleeville - expect delays.

Evacuations: Indian Creek Campground is under a voluntary evacuation. Two structures are threatened at this time. The Alpine County Airport is being used as a helibase and is closed to general aviation.

A Type III Incident Management Team has been ordered and is expected to take over management of the fire at 1800 on 6/23.

Incident Commanders: Unified Command of Dave Easton (USFS) & Scott Johnson (BLM). ICP is at Turtle Rock Park.Hand Crews: 6 Engines: 10 Watertenders: 1 Dozers: 1 Airtankers: 3 Helicopters: 2

Total Incident Personnel: approximately 200

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Under Investigation
Date of Origin	06/23/2007 at 0300 hrs.
Location	Markleeville, California
Incident Commander	Dave Easton (usfs) & Scot

Current Situation

Total Personnel	200
Size	45 acres
Percent Contained	30%
Estimated Containment Date	06/24/2007 at 1800 hrs.
Fuels Involved	Grass, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper and pine understory.
Fire Behavior	Wind is pushing the fire through very dry fuels.
Significant Events	CA SR 89 has REOPENED between the intersection of CA SR 88 at Woodfords and through the Markleeville area & Monitor Pass to the intersection with U.S. 395 near Topaz Lake. A pilot car is shuttling vehicles between Airport Road (turnoff to Turtle Rock Park) and Markleeville - expect delays. Indian Creek Campground (BLM) is under a voluntary evacuation.

Outlook

Planned Actions	A Type III Incident Management Team has been ordered.
Growth Potential	Extensive if the anticipated wind event occurs.
Terrain Difficulty	Moderate.
Remarks	Not available

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	20 mph SW
Current Temperature	80 degrees
Current Humidity	8 %

Water tender Flipped On Way to Fight Fire

Posted: 24 Jun 2007 11:26 AM CDT

A Fire Truck Flipped On Way to Fight Fire:

2 firefighters trapped inside

By Jessica Peres

06/24/2007 - The accident happened at about 7 pm Saturday, at the intersection of Avenue 21 and Road 26, just north of the City of Madera.

It certainly was a scary situation for two volunteer firefighters and two civilians who got caught in a nasty wreck.

The Madera County Firefighters were on their way to fighting a vegetation fire along the Chowchilla River when their water tender got broadsided by another car.

This was the tangled scene after a Honda crashed into a 4 thousand gallon water tender. As the water tender lay helpless on its side, two volunteer firefighters were trapped inside.

CHP Officer Peter Grotto was one of the first to arrive on the scene. He says the two volunteer firefighters were calm as the jaws of life came to free them.

"We had two volunteer firefighters that were very calm and they had their wits about them they were talking to us and to each other and they were just patiently waiting to be rescued from the vehicle" says Officer Grotto.

Cal fire officials said it was hard to see one of their own in such a critical situation. Tracy Cheek, Cal fire, says "afterwards we think about the families of the PCF's and the people that were involved, but that's what we do that's our job."

The two firefighters had their lights and sirens on as they traveled down road 26 to the Chowchilla River fire. CHP officers say they cleared the intersection and kept going but they were hit by a Honda when the driver didn't stop at the stop sign.

When emergency crews arrived, the water tender was on its side. They say it took 15 minutes to get the firefighters out.

"The H40 helicopter transported the two passengers from the Honda to Regional Medical Center and the two volunteers went via ambulance to the medical center" says Officer Grotto.

Crews helped drain the water tank to make it easier to tow away.

Officials say the accident shows how dangerous firefighters' jobs are, even when responding to an incident.

The fire along the Chowchilla River was fully contained.

The driver of the water tender truck was released from the hospital Saturday evening. The other firefighter spent the night at the hospital, no word on his condition.

CHP is continuing to investigate the accident.