California Fire News
California Fire News |
| Ten days after the Angora Fire Debris Removal Work Underway Posted: 15 Jul 2007 08:47 AM CDT Angora Debris Removal Work Underway Ten days after the Angora Fire was declared 100% contained, coordinated work to remove the structural debris from the burn area began today at 8:00 AM. "I'm moved by the speed at which all the various agencies have come together to make this happen for the community," said El Dorado County Supervisor Norma Santiago. "I believe there is no finer example of public sector service than the cleanup effort we have on the ground starting today." Gerri Silva, Director of the El Dorado County Environmental Management Department and Todd Thalhamer from the California Integrated Waste Management Board presented a County/State managed debris management plan to affected Angora Fire property owners at a community meeting Thursday, July 5. Under the County/State Plan, property owners consent to let state-managed contractors remove household debris from their property. Any available insurance proceeds homeowners collect for debris removal will be collected by El Dorado County and paid back to the State to help offset removal costs. In the event that insurance proceeds do not cover the entire cost of cleanup, the State has committed to make up the difference through the California Disaster Assistance Act. In order to expedite this process, El Dorado County Building Services issued a blanket demolition permit for all property owners agreeing to the County/State Plan.
To date, approximately 160 property owners have consented to County/State debris cleanup. Interested residents can sign up for the County/State program by completing a "Right-of-Entry Permit". September 1, 2007 is the targeted completion date for all parcels in the County/State program. Residents also have the option of hiring their own contractor for debris removal. However, individual demolition permits must be obtained, and private contractors must follow the same debris management criteria applicable to the state contractor. A guideline for contractors will be available early next week at www.edcgov.us/angora. "Both the County and the State are committed to meeting the needs of the homeowners so that they may have all the information necessary for the successful reconstruction of their homes," said Santiago. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inciweb update: Zaca Wildland Fire - 17,100 acres 45% Posted: 15 Jul 2007 08:14 AM CDT Zaca Wildland Fire INCIDENT UPDATED ANNOUNCEMENT Precautionary Smoke Advisory for Areas Impacted by the Zaca Fire SummaryZaca Fire Update - July 14, 2007 (12:00 p.m.) IMPORTANT ! - See "News" section regarding additional fire restrictions currently in effect throughout the entire Los Padres National Forest. Current Situation: The fire is continuingto travel in an easterly direction within the San Rafael Wilderness. The northeast portion of the fire is still holding at the Hurricane Deck Trail. Work in the wilderness continues to be a challenge due to the steep and rugged terrain. All efforts are being made to protect natural and cultural resources. The burning operation along the northwest portion of the fire continued today, completing 40-50% of the objective near the Sisquoc River drainage. Public and firefighter safety remains top priority. Bulldozers will continue to construct line on San Rafael Ridge to Santa Cruz Peak as a primary holding line in case the fire continues to move east. Bulldozers also continue constructing secondary lines along the northwest side of the fire as a contingency to protect the community of Tepusquet if the fire jumps the Sisquoc River. Safety Message: Travelers using SR-154, please be cautious of firefighting equipment and personnel. Fire Information fact sheets and display boards are placed throughout the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valley's to keep thosecommunities updated regardingstatus of the fire. Media Message: Due to the expanded forest closure, media must be escorted by a Public Information Officer (PIO). Information Officers will be available to provide an escort at 12:00 noon, to a location which has been approved by fireoperations. Credentialed Media only, should check in at the Incident Command Post at Live Oak Camp (State Route154) prior to 12:00 noon for an escortedtour. Additional Information: The fire has potential for increased growth and extended duration of wildfire suppression activities. Depending on wind conditions, smoke from the Zaca Fire may be visible over a wide area with occasional drift smoke as far away as Santa Barbara, Goleta or other areas of the county. If you would likemore information, please contact the Zaca Fire Information Line at 805-961-5770 or go to http://www.fire.ca.gov/, http://www.inciweb.org/, or http://www.sbcfire.com/ Resources currently assigned to the fire: Crews - 59 Engines - 69 Dozers - 37 Water Tenders - 40 Helicopters - 10 (operational during daylight hours) Helitankers - 7 (operational during daylight hours) U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Santa Barbara County Fire, and CAL FIRE, continue to operate under a Unified Command. "Fighting the Zaca Fire in the San Rafael Wilderness" (see "News" section). "Archery Season Impacted by the Zaca Fire Closure" (see "News" section). Fire Perimeter Map and Fire Area Closure Map (see "Maps" section). Also see Rancho Fire on this web site for additional closure information. Additional Fire Restrictions in Los Padres National Forest (see "News" section). ### Basic Information
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| Fire supertanker to return to duty next week - Is it worth the danger? Posted: 15 Jul 2007 07:44 AM CDT The nation's only jumbo fire bomber is scheduled to return to duty next week following repairs to a wing that was damaged when the converted jetliner hit several treetops and nearly crashed, officials say. "We're thankful that no one got hurt and the damage was as minimal as it was," said Rick Hatton, managing partner of the company that owns the Victorville-based DC-10. "It's a testament to the robustness of the airplane." The DC-10 became the nation's first giant supertanker last year when it fought fires in California and Washington. The near-crash happened July 25 when the big jet clipped trees along a ridge top while its crew was preparing to drop 12,000 gallons of sticky red fire retardant -- 10 times the payload of California's regular air tankers -- on a blaze near Tehachapi. "While in a left turn (onto final approach to the target) the left wing dropped downward and impacted several trees," according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board. The cause of the accident has not been determined. But the pilots say they hit air turbulence immediately before they hit the trees, Hatton said. Since the accident, two of the DC-10's captains and one co-pilot, all experienced airline pilots, have undergone refresher training for air-tanker operations and have been accompanying veteran tanker pilots in the state's medium-sized S-2T tankers, state fire aviation officials say. The accident inflicted substantial damage on the leading and trailing edges of the jet's left wing, including portions of the leading-edge slats, the ailerons and flaps, according to the preliminary report and Hatton. Fixing the plane amounted largely to removing and replacing the damaged parts. The No. 1 engine was unscathed. "That was pretty lucky, because it hangs down off the left wing, and there was damage to either side of it," Hatton said. Two earlier drops that day on the same fire were uneventful. Hatton attributed the accident to unanticipated "extreme turbulence" near the ridge. "The description I heard from the crew ... was that there was nothing abnormal about the situation. It was going very well," Hatton said. "Then 'the bottom fell out' on the left wing due to this condition of air (turbulence) that can sometimes happen in mountain flying." As part of its standard procedures, the jet was following a much smaller "lead plane" that points out the target and acts as a pathfinder to the drop point. The lead plane made its run successfully. But it may have taken a slightly different path than the jet, or the turbulence may have developed after the lead plane passed the trouble spot, Hatton said. The jet fights fires under a $5 million contract with Cal Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which operates its own fleet of 23 medium-size air tankers and uses the DC-10 as its "big gun." Cal Fire Investigating Cal Fire is doing its own investigation of the accident. "We know (the cause) is not mechanical," said Chief Mike Padilla, who oversees the agency's aviation division. "There was turbulence that day, but we don't think that was the sole cause. "We're looking at everything from the weather -- turbulence -- on that date to our procedures for lining up the aircraft (toward the target) and how the pilots were perceiving the drop." Although it's common practice for tanker pilots to jettison their retardant during an emergency, the DC-10 crew didn't drop the 96,000-pound load. "They did not perceive that they had a need to do that," said Padilla. "They thought they'd hit some turbulence because they felt the bump," he said. But the treetops apparently caused most of the bump, although the crew didn't realize it. "As they pulled up, the lead (plane pilot) looked back ... and advised them that they had damage to the wing," Padilla said. Emphasizing that his agency's investigation isn't complete, Padilla said that accidents rarely happen for only one reason. Fooled by Terrain In this case, the pilots were turning onto their final approach near a ridgeline in a type of plane that is new to firefighting and low-level mountain flying. "Even experienced pilots get fooled by the (mountainous) terrain, which affects your perception," Padilla said. "We've had several tree strikes this year." Preventing additional accidents requires detailed analysis of many factors, he said, ranging from the agency's procedures for lead planes and tankers to the DC-10's operating methods and the pilots' training, decisions and actions. There are many questions to be answered, he said. "What is the pilot perceiving? What is he looking at? How do we give him an extra margin of safety? Do we line him up sooner? Do we not turn over ridgelines?" Padilla mused. "Do we drop (the retardant) from a higher altitude?" And since pilots can't see wind, they have to know how it behaves near ridgelines and what to expect. "You get lift on the side where the wind's coming from," Padilla said. "And as it goes over the hill, you'll get turbulence as (it breaks like a wave at the beach and) it begins to burble. "Aerial firefighting is more of an art than a science." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 15 Jul 2007 07:31 AM CDT Monterey County Sheriff's deputies, responding to a report of a vegetation fire on San Juan Grade Road on Saturday, discovered a burning body. Deputies determined the partially burned body was that of a male. Cause of death and the identification of the victim are being investigated. The body was found about 2.1 miles from the county line.were dispatched to a vegetation fire on San Juan Grade Road about 2.1 miles from the county line. Sheriff's deputies discovered a body burning. After determining the body was deceased, deputies called for sheriff's investigators. The partially burned body was that of a male. The cause of death and identification of the victim is being investigated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Update out of state: Egley Complex Wildland Fire - 83,200 acres Posted: 14 Jul 2007 10:08 PM CDT Egley Complex Wildland FireINCIDENT UPDATED NEWS RELEASE News Release - 07/14/07 8:00 am PT Approximate Size:83,200 acres [CLICK] for a look at Egley fire using Google Earth. [CLICK] for Photo Gallery Listing CLOSURE INFORMATION [CLICK] for details about fire closures on BLM administered land in Harney County. [CLICK] for details about area and road closures on the Malheur National Forest. The objectives for the incident include:
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| CA-TCU-Escalon - Vegetation Fire Posted: 14 Jul 2007 08:33 PM CDT CA-TCU-Escalon Incident Sizeup: 60 acres, potential for several hundred acres. Multiple fires Fire in TCU reported as 5-7 starts with one already at 60+ acres with 3 having very high potential for 200-300+ acres. Shutting down Hwy 26 in the area. Resources: 17 type 3 engines, 4 Air Tankers, 2 Copters(404), 2 Dozers, local goverment units also responding or at scene. Comms: Command TCU 151.175 Tac 8 151.370 Air Tac 4 151.280 UPDATE: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NEWS - Wildfire builds quickly in eastern Tulare Co. foothills Posted: 14 Jul 2007 05:17 PM CDT By Tim Sheehan / The Fresno Bee 07/14/07 04:24:07 SPRINGVILLE -- Water-carrying helicopters and airplanes laden with fire-retardant chemicals battled a wildfire Friday in the foothills of eastern Tulare County. Cal Fire officials said the Yokohl fire was reported shortly after noon burning on Blue Ridge, off Yokohl Drive about 8 miles north of Springville. Initially reported at about 10 acres, Cal Fire Capt. Larry Harris said, the blaze burned quickly through thick stands of tinder-dry chaparral, primarily manzanita and chamise, charring more than 200 acres within several hours and filling the valley below with acrid smoke. Harris said the rugged terrain of the mountain ridge, at an elevation of about 4,500 feet, limited the initial firefighting efforts to aircraft. "It's a very steep, rocky area that hasn't burned in years," Harris said from a staging area at Cal Fire's former Milo Station on Yokohl Drive. "No one around here remembers when this area had a fire last," he said. Becki Redwine, an information officer with Cal Fire's Tulare Unit, said officials estimated the fire had the potential to spread to about 1,000 acres. No injuries were reported among either firefighters or civilians Friday, and there was no immediate threat to structures in the lightly populated area, she added, but some communication and radio towers on a nearby peak could be endangered. Firefighters said they didn't know yet how the fire started. By Friday evening, 13 engine crews, eight hand crews, five helicopters, seven air tankers, seven bulldozers, three spotter planes and 20 fire commanders -- a total of about 300 people -- were committed to the blaze by Cal Fire, the Tulare County Fire Department, the U.S. Forest Service and the Kern County Fire Department. One of the helicopters was sent from Sequoia National Park. But in the afternoon, conditions were simply too dangerous because of an abundance of dry brush for firefighters to tackle the blaze on the ground. "We had one crew hiking in," Harris said, "but they were uncomfortable with the amount of fuel between them and the fire so they decided to withdraw." Instead, bulldozers were being used to cut fire lines, but by Friday evening firefighters reported they had yet to gain any degree of containment. A 20-mile stretch of Yokohl Drive between Myer Drive, about 3 miles south of Highway 198, and Balch Park Road was closed Friday afternoon to keep traffic from interfering with the fire crews. The rumble of airplane engines and the rhythmic chop of helicopter blades pierced the normal quiet. Guided by spotter airplanes, helicopters and air tankers flew into the column of smoke to drop their loads of water and chemicals on hot spots and then circle back. Harris said the firefighting effort was expected to continue at least through the weekend. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CA-TUU-Yokohl Fire - WILDLAND FIRE Posted: 14 Jul 2007 04:48 PM CDT CA-TUU-Yokohl Valley / Milo FFS SIZEUP: Full wildland dispatch en-route. Very little engine access. AT req 4 fixed wing, 3 copters. 10-15 acres and running. IC anticipates heavy crew order. LOCATION: Yokohl Valley / Reported East of Lindsay, North of Porterville, CA RESOURCES: KRN H-408 just dispatched from Keene. H-522 also responding. San Bernardino CDF one strike team of engines to the fire SB CDF dispatch: Batallion 3511, Eng 3562, Eng 3563, Eng 3576, Eng 3577, Eng 3586 Meeting at the Phelan Station to form strike team 9350C. South Ops dispatched Tanker 73 from Hemet to cover Fresno AAB. ADDITIONAL: Little to no engine access. Attempting to find suitable location to cut in helispot in order to fly crew shuttles. Lots of resources in town including CALFIRE kitchen. THIS FIRE HAS LARGE POTENTIAL They are already looking at contingency lines. No engine access yet or foreseeable anytime soon other than to reinforce secondary contingency lines. Threat to CAL FIRE TUU repeaters on Blue Ridge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 14 Jul 2007 04:41 PM CDT CA-KNF-China-Back Complex update from 209 China-Back Complex = Fires S of Hwy 96, Klamath River and in Marble Mtn Wilderness, Ft Jones Current sizeup: 350 acres 0% contained Location: Latitude and Longitude Lat: 41° 34´ 40" Long: 123° 4´ 30" Ownership: CA-KNF Major problems and concerns: Heavy fuel loading, extremely dry fuels, short range spotting and receptive fuel bed causing control problems, communities at risk, resource shortages Natural and Cultural Resources to be protected: Klamath Wild and Scenic River, wilderness values, range values, industrial timber lands, logging slash on private timber lands. Current Weather Conditions Wind Speed: 1-5 mph Temperature: 85 Wind Direction: SW Relative Humidity: 25-44 Fuels/Materials Involved: 9 Hardwood Litter FM 9 and 10 Today's observed fire behavior: Running crown fire during the evening hours, spotting, extreme fire behavior Significant events today: Crews attempted to flank and hold fire with limited success. A running crown fire began around 2200 with extreme fire behavior and spotting. Actions planned for next operational period: Fall back to ridges and attempt to hold fire. Projected incident movement/spread during next operational period: 12 hours: Backing down to Klamath River on the China fire and continued spotting on the Back fire. Resistance to control: 1. Growth Potential - High 2. Difficulty of Terrain - Extreme The Back and China incidents will be combined on the Scott River district. Bente's Type 3 team is currently in command. A Type 2 team has been ordered and transition to take place today at 1800. The Back and China incidents will be combined on the Scott River district. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| InciWeb UPDATE: Seven Eleven Wildland Fire Posted: 14 Jul 2007 04:32 PM CDT Seven Eleven Wildland Fire - Sanger Fire is a new start at 1/10 acre Seven Eleven Wildland FireINCIDENT UPDATED SummarySeven Eleven Complex is located on the Smith River National Recreation Area. The Pioneer Fire is located near the town of Gasquet, California. Approximately 18 occupied residents in Pioneer Tract are adjacent, downslope and upslope from the Pioneer Fire. Camp 6 repeater and cell towers are upslope and south of the fire. State Highway 199 partial highway closure is possible. All of the above, plus Gasquet Mobile Home Park, Middle Fork Ranch and other occupied private residences total approximately 100 residences. Bear, Jedediah and Twin Fires are located adjacent or in the Sisikiyou Wilderness Area. Steven Fires is contain. Sanger Fire is a new start at 1/10 acre. Basic Information
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| InciWeb UPDATE: Antelope Complex Wildland Fire - FINAL UPDATE Posted: 14 Jul 2007 04:28 PM CDT Antelope Complex Wildland Fire 100% CONTAINED INCIDENT UPDATED 21 HOURS AGO This incident is 100% contained. SummaryAntelope Complex Fire Information Plumas National Forest Phone: (530) 283-7882 / (530) 283-7883 www.fs.fed.us/r5/plumas/ The Wheeler Fire is now contained, but much work remains to fully extinguish the fire. Fire fighters are cooling hot spots within 100 to 200 feet of the fire line, reinforcing existing line and continue to fall dangerous trees and snags. Falling trees in the burned area pose the greatest limiting factor to public access. Many have come down on roads in the area. Saw teams are working to mitigate this situation along roadways. The entire area remains closed to recreation and a forest closure order remains in effect for an approximately 60 square mile perimeter around Antelope Lake to ensure public safety. No precipitation is expected in the near future and fuels remain extremely dry. See Fire Closure map www.fs.fed.us/r5/plumas/. Access will be granted, once the snag hazards are abated and mop up is completed. Home owners with documentation of ownership now have access to their property if it is outside the fire perimeter. Those with property within the fire perimeter can contact the Plumas National Forest Supervisor's Office Fire Information Center for escorted access to their property. Firefighters are also beginning rehabilitation in the burned area according to Plumas National Forest guidelines. This includes mitigation to reduce erosion from dozer and handlines. A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team is on site to conduct an assessment of risks to fish, wildlife, archeological and historic sites, and community water supply from the effects of the Antelope Complex Fire. They will recommend additional actions to address future impacts. Evacuations for campgrounds and cabins in the immediate fire area remain in place. No new evacuations have been established. The campgrounds at the Antelope Lake Recreation Area are closed until further notice due to the recent fire activity around the lake. Our concessionaire, Northwest Park Management, has notified ReserveUSA about the closure. If you have a reservation that is cancelled due to fire activity, Reserve USA will contact you and arrange your refund. Please allow a couple of working days for the closure notification to be posted with ReserveUSA. Please call Northwest Parks at (530) 283-5559 if you do not reach resolution within a week. Other camping alternatives in the area include Eagle Lake and Almanor Lake west of Susanville, Bucks Lake west of Quincy, Little Grass Valley near LaPorte, and Frenchman Lake east of Portola. We appreciate your patience and support during this fire incident. The current Type 1 Incident Management Team,IIMT3,is due to transition the fire back tothe Plumas National Forest Type 3 team at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Firefighting forces are expected to number approximately 200 at that time. Antelope Complex firefighters will continue to provide additional initial attack support for the Plumas National Forest. Additional maps of the Antelope Fire Complex area are available on Google maps via the following website http://www.northtreefire.com/gis/virtual.php Google Earth Softwareis required to view the Google Earth Tour. Statistics: Acres - 22,902 Containment - 100 percent Personnel - 439 Basic Information
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| CAL FIRE RELEASE - Zaca Fire Incident Information Posted: 14 Jul 2007 02:34 PM CDT Zaca Fire
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| InciWeb:Inyo Complex Wildland Fire - FINAL UPDATE - 100% contained Posted: 14 Jul 2007 02:31 PM CDT Inyo Complex Wildland Fire - FINAL UPDATE INCIDENT UPDATED TODAY This incident is 100% contained. SummaryThe Inyo Complex has been delcared 100% contained as of 1800 on Friday evening. The Sage Fire is 100% contained by constructed line and the Seven Oak Fire is 80% contained by constructed line and 20% contained by natural barriers. On Wednesday the Inyo National Forest re-opened roads, campgrounds and trailheads that were impacted by the fire. Areas that are still closed include the Oak Creek Canyon area including Oak Creek Canyon Road, Oak Creek Campground, Sawmill Pass and Baxter Pass trailheads and Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery. The June Fire located north of June Lake is 100% contained as of Wednesday evening, at 682 acres. The public is urged to use caution and drive slowly when traveling through any of these fire areas as there are still crews and equipment mopping up the fires, and rocks and debris can fall onto roads and trails where the fire has burned over. Fire restrictions are in effect on the Inyo National Forest. Please visit www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/ for more information on the restrictions. Basic Information
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| InciWeb UPDATE: Seven Eleven Wildland Fire Posted: 14 Jul 2007 02:25 PM CDT  Smoke from Jedediah FireCredit: Monte Satern Seven Eleven Wildland FireINCIDENT UPDATED 1:08 HOURS AGO SummarySeven Eleven Complex is located on the Smith River National Recreation Area. The Pioneer Fire is located near the town of Gasquet, California. Approximately 18 occupied residents in Pioneer Tract are adjacent, downslope and upslope from the Pioneer Fire. Camp 6 repeater and cell towers are upslope and south of the fire. State Highway 199 partial highway closure is possible. All of the above, plus Gasquet Mobile Home Park, Middle Fork Ranch and other occupied private residences total approximately 100 residences. Bear, Jedediah and Twin Fires are located adjacent or in the Sisikiyou Wilderness Area. Steven Fires is contain. Sanger Fire is a new start at 1/10 acre. Basic Information
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| Posted: 14 Jul 2007 01:46 PM CDT Elk Complex Wildland FireINCIDENT UPDATED 7 MINUTES AGO NEWS RELEASE Elk Complex Update 7.14.07 Contact: Incident Information, Phyllis SwansonPhone: (530) 493-1519 July 14, 2007 The Elk Complex in the Klamath National Forest is currently composed of 32 fires. Seven new fires were added yesterday. All fires are in areas with steep terrain. Some are inaccessible. Many remain unstaffed. Happy Camp District: Tom Martin Fire (approx. 40 acres): The community of Hamburg is still at risk. The fire is approximately one mile from town and approximately 100 structures threatened. Crews made significant progress yesterday lining the fire. Little Grider Fire (approx. 30 acres): The fire burned actively around 5pm yesterday and continues to burn up the drainage. King Creek II Fire (approx. 60 acres): A firing operation was conducted yesterday evening and line construction continues today. Elk Fire (approx. 150 acres): This fire continues to be monitored. Titus Fire (approx. 80 acres): Line construction efforts have began. Clear Fire (approx. 10 acres): Good progress has been made and the fire is close to being lined. The remaining fires are small. The fires will continue to be monitored, patrolled and staffed as resources allow. Total Complex Acreage: 400 acres Total Complex Containment: 10% Expected Full Containment: 7/22/2007 Cost to Date: $750,000 Injuries to Date: 5 Structures Threatened: 100 Committed Resources: 720 personnel Additional fires on the Klamath National Forest: Oak Knoll District: China Fire (approx. 600 acres) Incident Management Team Southern California 1 (Walker) has been ordered. Salmon District: zero fires Scott River District: Black Fire (approx. 15-20 acres) Sky Fire (approx. 22 acres) Goosenest District: zero Cal Fire: Secret Fire (approx.450 acres): containment date of Saturday, July 14, 2007 Shaft Fire (approx. 6 acres) Additional Fire Information: http://www.inciweb.org/ (including other fires) or (530) 493-2243. Please go to the Klamath NF website for more information on restrictions and trail closures at www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/conditions/. SummaryNumerous lightning fires within the Happy Camp Ranger District boundaries that started Wednesday, July 11, 2007. Basic Information
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| Emergency tapes show dispatcher dismissed early Tahoe fire calls Posted: 14 Jul 2007 01:43 PM CDT Emergency tapes show dispatcher dismissed early Tahoe fire calls
On the tape from five calls answered by the CHP Truckee field office, dispatchers tell callers the smoke they are seeing is from a controlled burn in the area. The smoke actually came from a fire that ultimately destroyed 254 homes and burned 3,100 acres of mountain wilderness. "I'm on the golf course, it's - uh - Lake Tahoe Country Club, and we can see smoke coming off the mountain to the west of us," a man reported, according to a transcript of the first call received by the CHP's Truckee communications center at 2:02 p.m. on June 24. "Yeah. Yeah, they're doing a - a control burn there," the dispatcher responded. "Thank you," the unidentified male caller responded. "Sorry to bother you." Capt. Gary Ross, commander of the CHP field office in Truckee, said their dismissals caused a delayed response to the fire. The dispatchers also did not follow CHP policy, in which they are instructed to keep callers on the line and transfer them to a local fire department in such situations. Instead, they let the callers hang up. Both dispatchers have been reassigned while the CHP investigates, Ross said. "We have policies in place to make sure these type of things don't happen," he said. The CHP said it will not release the names of the dispatchers. One is a 27-year CHP veteran and the other has been a dispatcher for 17 years, Ross said. The Angora fire started June 24 after an illegal campfire was built about a quarter mile south of Seneca Pond, a popular recreation area south of Lake Tahoe. An army of firefighters descended on Tahoe, containing the blaze on July 2. The cost of suppressing the fire was $12.1 million. Assemblyman Ted Gaines, R-Granite Bay, said the delay shows that California's 911 system should be modified to route calls directly to county emergency responders. "I'm shocked there would be that much of a delay before it got to the fire department," said Gaines, who spent Friday touring the charred forest. "People's homes could have been saved or at least some of their personal possessions and pets." South Lake Tahoe Mayor Kathay Lovell said she also would push for changes to California's 911 system to prevent such communication delays. Homeowner Tony Colombo, 52, who lost his home in the fire, said he didn't want to "play the blame game" but added, "I find it disgusting, because we knew this basin was a tinderbox." "There were people who dropped the ball in the jobs," he added. A spokeswoman for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the governor was concerned. "We take this matter very seriously," said spokeswoman Sabrina Lockhart. "We are awaiting the outcome of the CHP investigation." The 911 calls first came from golfers at a course at the base of a hill within three miles of where the fire began. Within 10 minutes, people as far as 10 miles away near the base of the gondola at Heavenly Ski Resort could see the smoke, according to the recording. At first dispatchers were dismissive, telling at least five callers that the smoke was from a controlled burn - a purposely set fire which is often used to clear forests. But there were no controlled burns scheduled in the area then, said Jeff Michael, chief of the Lake Valley Fire Protection District. Michael said there had been no controlled burns allowed for a week before the start of the Angora fire because of the unusually dry conditions. "There's no way in heck we'd let people burn on that day. It was too dangerous a situation," he said. As additional calls came in to dispatchers on the afternoon the fire began, they became less sure about the existence of a controlled burn. "Yeah, we've got a bunch of reports on it," a dispatcher told a female caller at 2:12 p.m. "Do you know what the story is with that? I live over there," the caller responded. "Oh, you - well, I'm not sure," the dispatcher answered. "Yeah, I'm trying to get through to fire to verify if it's a control burn or not." Eight minutes later, another caller described seeing flames from the golf course. "Yes, we've got a number of calls from everybody on every fairway," the dispatcher responded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| InciWeb NEWS: Fighting the Zaca Fire in the San Rafael Wilderness Posted: 14 Jul 2007 01:38 PM CDT Fighting The Zaca Fire in The San Rafael WildernessIncident: Zaca Fighting the Zaca Fire in the San Rafael Wilderness July 13, 2007 ·· The San Rafael Wilderness has a history of large fires. The terrain is extremely rugged and there are very few suitable ridgetops or other landscape features where firefighters can safely construct lines that can hold the fire. Firefighters are taking advantage of every safe and effective opportunity to keep the Zaca Fire from spreading further into the wilderness. ·· Wilderness areas are set aside by Congress to protect their primitive character. Mechanized and motorized equipment is generally prohibited in these areas. During a fire emergency the Forest Supervisor can approve the use of certain equipment such as chainsaws and portable water pumps, and the construction of temporary helicopter landing spots. The Forest Supervisor has authorized these tools for use in fighting the Zaca Fire in the San Rafael Wilderness. ·· Use of bulldozers or tractors in wilderness areas requires approval from the Regional Forester who must consider whether the benefit of using the equipment outweighs the negative effects on the wilderness landscape. Because of the rugged broken terrain there are very limited opportunities to use dozers in the San Rafael Wilderness. Bulldozers are not currently being used in the San Rafael Wilderness, but have been very effective in building line in the more suitable terrain outside the wilderness. ·· Water and retardant-dropping aircraft have been used extensively on the Zaca Fire to slow its spread. They have been an essential tool in this firefighting effort. Airtankers and helicopters alone do not stop wildfires. They help to cool and slow down the spread of the fire so that firefighters can get closer to the fire and construct control lines. The Forest Supervisor has granted permission to use fire retardant on the Zaca Fire within the wilderness. Firefighters follow guidelines to minimize any effects on the wilderness values; for example, they avoid dropping retardant in streams. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| InciWeb UPDATE: Zaca Wildland Fire Posted: 14 Jul 2007 01:26 PM CDT Zaca Wildland Fire INCIDENT UPDATED 7 MINUTES AGO ANNOUNCEMENT Precautionary Smoke Advisory for Areas Impacted by the Zaca Fire SummaryZaca Fire Update - July 14, 2007 11:15 a.m. Current Situation: The fire made a significant run to the east in the San Rafael Wilderness, along the Hurricane Deck on Friday afternoon. However, the northeast portion of the fire is still holding at the Hurricane Deck Trail. Work in the wilderness continues to be a challenge due to the steep and rugged terrain. All efforts are being made to protect natural and cultural resources. Firefighters may continue to improve the north flank along the Sisquoc River, with burning operations this afternoon. Public and firefighter safety remains top priority. Bulldozers will continue to construct line on San Rafael Ridge to Santa Cruz Peak as a primary holding line in case the fire continues to move east. Bulldozers also continue constructing secondary lines along the northwest side of the fire as a contingency to protect the community of Tepusquet if the fire should jump the Sisquoc River. Safety Message: Travelers using SR-154, please be cautious of firefighting equipment and personnel. Fire Information fact sheets and display boards are placed throughout the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valley's to keep the communities updated on the status of the fire. Media Message: Due to the expanded forest closure, media must be escorted by a PIO. Information Officers will be available to provide an escort at 12:00 noon, to an area which has been approved by Incident Operations. Credentialed Media should check in at the Incident Command Post at Live Oak Camp, prior to 12:00 noon for an escorted tour. Additional Information: The fire has potential for increased growth and extended duration of wildfire suppression activities. Depending on wind conditions, smoke from the Zaca Fire may be visible over a wide area with occasional drift smoke as far away as Santa Barbara, Goleta or other areas of the county. If you would likemore information, please contact the Zaca Fire Information Unit at 805-961-5770 or go to http://www.fire.ca.gov/, http://www.inciweb.org/, or http://www.sbcfire.com/ Resources currently assigned to the fire: Crews - 51 Engines - 79 Dozers - 40 Water Tenders - 42 Helicopters - 10 (operational during daylight hours) Helitankers - 7 (operational during daylight hours) U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Santa Barbara County Fire, and CAL FIRE, continue to operate under a Unified Command. Fighting the Zaca Fire in the San Rafael Wilderness (see "News" section) Archery Season Impacted by the Zaca Fire Closure (see "News" section) Fire Perimeter Map and Fire Area Closure Map - see "Maps" section of this update (also see Rancho Fire on this website for additional closure information) Additional Fire Restrictions in Los Padres National Forest - see "News" section of this update ### Basic Information
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| NEWS- Fire crews battling Zaca Fire focus efforts around Sisquoc River Posted: 14 Jul 2007 01:06 PM CDT Thursday, July 12, 2007 KSBY - Reported by: Leana Orsua SANTA YNEZ VALLEY Fire crews battling the Zaca Fire concentrate their efforts around the Sisquoc River as the flames move closer to a community. Here's the latest:
Thursday, Forest Service gave the media a mountain top view of the area firefighters are concentrating their efforts. In order to gain control of the eastern flank of the Zaca blaze, fire crews have established a burning operation south of the Sisquoc River. "We are doing some air tanker drops and retardant drops on the ridge tops trying to keep the fire from going into the Sisquoc Drainage," said Manny Madrigil from the Forest Service. The fire lies just above the ridgeline of the Sisquoc River, an area that is moving closer to the Tepasque community. Their fear is that the fire may jump the river. "They do have a control lined up on the Sierra Madre ridge which hopefully they can contain it there," said Madrigil. Control efforts are being focused on containing the fire east of Schoolhouse Canyon, north of the Figueroa Catway and west of Buckhorn Road. "It is very difficult to get hand crews down in there. As a matter of fact in most of this area, we are having to rely on hand operations and ground crews," said Zaca Fire Public Information Officer Captain Jim Arvizu. Firefighters are burning vegetation between the fire and the constructed fire break in order to keep it from jumping. For now, firefighters' biggest obstacle remains Mother Nature. "It's the upcoming weather. Its going to be getting hot on us this weekend and that's the biggest concern is that the weather is going to be changing on us," said Madrigil. To get to that rough terrain area, firefighters have to either fly in or hike there. The Forest Service has expanded the forest closure to the entire San Rafael Wilderness. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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