California Fire News

News: Fire threatens Happy Camp - July 17th Posted: 21 Jul 2007 01:24 AM CDT MailTribune.com: Fire threatens Happy Camp: Photo-Happy Camp rafting company owner Joe Cote Giera says he is packed and ready to go if the Elk Complex fire moves a few miles closer to his home on the Klamath River. The fire has burned 5,000 acres so far. Credit: Bob Pennell Damian Mann Crews managed to prevent any structures from burning Monday as they battled flames in steep terrain outside the N. California community By Damian Mann Mail Tribune July 17, 2007 HAPPY CAMP, CALIF. — Firefighters struggled Monday to contain an almost 5,000-acre blaze in the remote Klamath National Forest that has threatened this small town. 'This is a very steep forest,' said Scott Swanson, spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 'Our primary objective is to prevent it from getting to this town.'"Five residences along Elk Creek Road had to be evacuated over the weekend, but Swanson said no structures have been burned. Some 300 homes and 200 other structures remain threatened. The fire, located about 60 miles to the west of Yreka, is 15 percent contained and Swanson said the steep terrain is preventing a direct assault on the fire. Crews created fire breaks and burned off the thick underbrush of poison oak and small trees so the advancing fire couldn't reach Happy Camp or other home sites along the way. The Elk Complex wildland fire is actually a collection of fires 100 miles southwest of Medford that were set by dry lightning last week. Closer to Yreka, another set of fires, known as the China-back Complex, has burned almost 2,500 acres. Smoke from the fires has drifted up into the Rogue Valley over the past few days. Nervous residents in Happy Camp watched helicopters scooping water out of the Klamath River to douse the flames on ridgetops and canyons. "Sometimes they dip right in front of our house," said Becca Cote Giera, who owns Rogue Country Rafting along with her husband, Joe Cote Giera. The Gieras' business is located along the Klamath River, so they feel fairly safe. However, they've made precautions in case the fire comes too close. "We're all packed and ready to go," said Joe. From his vantage point, he said he's surprised the fire has crept toward his home. "I know there's a lot of fires, but this is a priority with the town so close," he said. "Usually something this close to town, they've got to stomp on it." Joe said many of the locals have their own opinions about the handling of the fire and figure more could have been done. "They could have put this out a couple of days ago," he said. But his wife added that the terrain was steep, making it more difficult to fight. The couple has seen their business drop in the usually busy month as tourists cancel their rafting trips. "I'm hoping it doesn't hurt business too much," said Becca, who has more rafting trips scheduled for later this week. The couple said that despite the fire, they can still take people down the river. About a mile away from the Gieras' house, teams of soot-covered firefighters cut trees and brush as they attempted to make an effective ring around the fire. Sarah Harrison, a firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service, has been battling the fire since early Saturday morning. She was keeping a close eye on fellow firefighter Brandon Osanna, who was burning underbrush across a dirt road. Other firefighters braved thick smoke farther up into the forest as they also burned off vegetation. "We're watching it," said Harrison. "We want to keep them OK." Harrison was one of the few women on the line, but didn't mind working with mostly men. "I pick on them more than they pick on me," she said. About 1,200 firefighters and other support personnel are on hand to deal with the fire, said Swanson. He said the complex is made up of 32 different fires. Six firefighters have received treatment for minor injuries, including poison oak and bee stings. Swanson said light winds Monday blew the fire away from town. He said firefighters have bumped into wild animals, particularly deer, as they tromp through the woods away from the flames. On Monday morning, he was driving about 15 mph down a road when a bear shot out in front of him. "It scared me," he said. "I wasn't expecting a bear to run down."

Pleasanton Weekly : Livermore fire burns 8 acres Posted: 21 Jul 2007 01:17 AM CDT Pleasanton Weekly : Livermore fire burns 8 acres: "Livermore fire burns 8 acres Fire department contained blaze within 30 minutes by Emily Atwood Pleasanton Weekly Staff Vegetation on the edge of the Wente Winery property on Collier Canyon Road in Livermore, about a half mile away from the Las Positas College entrance, caught fire Wednesday afternoon. The Livermore Pleasanton Fire Department's fast response allowed crews to control the blaze within 30 minutes. Seven units staffed with 15 firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to nearby open space areas. Traffic on Collier Canyon Road was closed for about two hours and no firefighters were injured. Police Chief William Cody said the weather helped control the fire. 'The humidity helped crews get a handle on the fire,' he said, adding that if it was as windy as last week, the fire would have continued to burn into the night. A statement from the fire department said that although the edge of the Wente Winery property was affected, the vineyards did not sustain any damage."

M.I.S.T. - Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics Posted: 20 Jul 2007 10:46 PM CDT With the ZACA running into the Wilderness and other Forest Fires around the state this term M.I.S.T. will be showing up on the ICP daily briefing, incident 209's etc. Here are the basics of using MIST "light hand on the land" fire suppression tactics M.I.S.T. Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics MIST tactics are a "light hand on the land" approach emphasizing suppression techniques followed by rehabilitation options that have the least impact on the environment and reduce adverse impacts to natural, archaeological and historical resources. Suppression Depending upon the burning conditions and what kind of vegetation, the firefighters have many options on how to fight the fire. MIST tactics discourage hand scratched fireline and emphasizes the use of water and dirt in line construction and trying to tie natural geographic features together to create fireline, i.e. a stream, a rock outcropping, a road or a rocky ridge. Firefighters using MIST try to · Reduce the amount of trees that are cut · Dig fireline around large logs · Use cold trailing techniques (feeling with the back of their hand to sense cold line That doesn't need to be cut) · Allowing standing dead trees to remain if they are not a safety hazard Mop Up Firefighters do minimal spading and scraping Try to roll logs out of the way instead of stacking them or cutting them Try to leave as many standing burned trees as possible. Fire conditions and good judgment dictate the actions taken. Rehabilitation Waterbars are being put in to channel excess water away from the line Dug-out soil and/or duff is being replaced Where trees needed to be cut to help stop the fire, the stumps are being camouflaged with soil or duff or on very large stumps they are chopped with an axe to make it look jagged and rough. Helispots within the wilderness are being rehabilitated to bring them back to as near pristine as they were before the fire. Where soil has been exposed and compacted, crews are raking the top two inches and then scattering needle, twigs, rocks and dead branches. Where trees were cut, stumps are being blasted to attempt to have the area appear to be in a near natural state. Limbs, sawdust and shavings are scattered, returning the area to a natural undisturbed condition. Special attention is being paid to rehabilitate fireline-trail junctions to discourage the use of constructed lines as trails. Firelines are being covered with brush limbs and small diameter logs in a natural appearing arrangement. All flagging, trash and equipment is being picked up and disposed of properly. Any protective structure wrap is being removed and any archeological structures or objects that were moved are being placed back in their original location. Finally the incident command post, helibase, water draft sites and roads that were used for fire fighting are being repaired, restored and rehabilitated.

Developer, CAL FIRE Clash Over Airport Land Posted: 20 Jul 2007 10:46 PM CDT HollisterFreeLance.com of Hollister California: " Developer, Cal Fire Clash Over Airport Land 12:49 AM By Anthony Ha Hollister - Developer Andrew Barnes thinks he has the answer to Hollister's financial woes. Barnes wants to develop six hangars at the Hollister Municipal Airport. The hangars would be rented out to corporate jet owners, generating jobs, rent money and around $1.5 million annually in taxes for the city's general fund, Barnes said. There's just one catch. City Manager Clint Quilter said most of the land is already committed to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for a new air-attack base, and it's been committed since the City Council directed staff to begin lease negotiations in 2001. 'It's been a long, drawn-out process,' Quilter said. There are several reasons for the lengthy discussions, Quilter said, including turnover at the state Department of General Services - which handles negotiations - and uncertainties with the state budget. Cal Fire real property manager Luke Wilson said the existing 'substandard' base is more than 40 years old. Plans for a new one have been in the works since 1999 and call for four fueling pads, a hangar, an operations building and a tractor shed. Barnes, who submitted a proposal for the land on June 13, said he hadn't heard about the city's commitment to Cal Fire"

News - Suspicious fire destroys historic house in San Jose Posted: 20 Jul 2007 03:05 PM CDT News - Suspicious fire destroys historic house in San Jose: Suspicious fire destroys historic house in San Jose By Leslie Griffy SAN JOSE -- A 126-year-old house built for a member of the Donner party went up in flames Thursday morning, turning centuries worth of California and San Jose history and at least a decade worth of contentious redevelopment wrangling into smoke. The 'highly suspicious' blaze fully engulfed the Houghton Donner House on North Fourth and East St. John streets by the time firefighters arrived shortly before 4 a.m., fire Battalion Chief Jose Guerrero said. Today, history buffs and developers will see if any portions of the 5,000-square-foot home's charred facade can be saved and incorporated into other buildings. The house is considered by some to be 'the most historic building in San Jose,' Guerrero said. Fire crews will stay at the site to douse any flare-ups for the next couple of days, Guerrero said. The investigation into what sparked the blaze is ongoing. The house was built in 1881 for Eliza Donner -- a survivor of the Donner party, a group of early California settlers caught in a deadly blizzard in 1846 trying to cross the Sierra -- and her husband, Sherman Otis Houghton, San Jose's fourth mayor, a lieutenant colonel during the Civil War. Whole article here

Inciweb update: Elk Complex Wildland Fire - Size 8,327 acres - Percent Contained 18% Posted: 20 Jul 2007 02:16 PM CDT Crew keeping watch over Little Grider Fire. Click photo to enlarge great wallpaper picture Credit: Scott Swanson (USFWS) Elk Complex Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps INCIDENT UPDATED 1200 hrs. ANNOUNCEMENT Elk Fire Complex Community Meeting 7/20/07 There will be a community meeting regarding the Elk Fire Complex Friday July 20, 2007 at 7pm, held at the Happy Camp Grange Hall. Representatives from the fire management team, local ranger district and the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office will provide an overview of planned fire operations, forest closures and potential evacuation plans. CA-KNF-Elk Complex Active Fires Overview map Credit: USDA Forest Service view pictures || view maps Summary The top priority is the protection of the Happy Camp, Hamburg, and Elk Creek communities. Yesterday, crews made great progress and constructed ten miles of fireline (see list below). Moisture from the recent rain helped in the firefighting effort. However, the respite was short lived. As conditions dry, the fire is becoming noticeably more active and trees have started torching. Smoke from the fires will become more visible and health issues may again be of concern. As conditions change, local communities will be updated regularly. The public is invited to attend another informational meeting at the Happy Camp Grange Friday at 7 p.m. A new call center with the latest information has been established in the Klamath National Forest Supervisor's Office at (530) 841-4451. For information on smoke or air quality, please call Siskiyou County Air Pollution Control District at (530) 841-4025 or visit them on the web at http://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/agcomm/airpollution.htm Complex Fire Details Defensive lines around the following fires are being prepared for a burning operation when conditions become favorable: Little Grider Fire (approx. 1298 acres) King Creek II Fire (approx. 2779 acres): Firefighters are planning to work directly on the fire's edge. Wingate (approx. 909 acres) Elk Fire (approx. 1166 acres) Titus Fire (approx. 2026 acres): There is also a recommended evacuation for homeowners, campers, and miners from Five Mile Bridge to Norcross Campground on the Elk Creek Road. Firelines have been constructed around structures. The following smaller fires have been contained: Tom Marten Fire (approx. 31 acres) Clear Fire (approx. 38 acres) The remaining small fires will continue to be monitored, patrolled and staffed as resources allow. Evacuation Planning: The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office has taken steps to locate an evacuation center at Seiad Elementary School in the event evacuation becomes necessary. Individuals with special needs, such as those requiring mobility assistance, need to notify the Sheriff's Office ahead of time. In the event of an evacuation, small animals will be accepted at Seiad Elementary and large animals may be taken to the Karuk Ranch at China Grade Road at the two-mile marker. All animal owners are asked to be responsible for the feeding and care of their pets at both locations. Basic Information Incident Type Wildland Fire Cause Lightning Date of Origin 07/10/2007 at 00 hrs. Location Happy Camp Ranger District Incident Commander Mike Dietrich Current Situation Total Personnel 1,248 Size 8,327 acres Percent Contained 18% Estimated Containment Date 07/29/2007 at hrs. Fuels Involved Mature heavy timber overstory with brush understory, large quantities of dead fuels and snags. Fire Behavior Continued smoldering in heavy fuels and roll-out on steep slopes. Significant Events Completed 10 miles of fireline in Branches I and II. Continued firing plan development for coordinated backfire/burnout of Branches I and II. Outlook Planned Actions Construction of fireline in Branch I. Preparation of control lines for firing in Branch II. Monitoring fuel conditions in anticipation of burning operations in Branch I and II. Re-initiate burnout operations as fuels conditions allow. Projected Movement 12 hours: Minimal movement expected. 24 hours: Fine fuels becoming receptive to active fire. Limited spread expected. 48 hours: Potential to begin firing operations in addition to some movement of uncontrolled lines. 72 hours: Continued spread expected due to further drying of fuels and potential burnout/backfire operations. Growth Potential High Terrain Difficulty Extreme Containment Target Protection of Happy Camp is likely. Other areas of the fire will have limited success based on availability of resources. Remarks Fire Acreages and Containment: Clear - 38 acres, 100%; Elk - 1166 acres, 0%; Hummingbird - 80 acres, 0%; King Creek #2 - 2779 acres, 5%; Little Grider - 1298 acres, 10%; Titus - 2026 acres, 5%; Tom Marten - 31 acres, 100%; Wingate - 909 acres, 0%. Weather Current Wind Conditions Not available Current Temperature 52 degrees Current Humidity 100 %

News: City calls Forest Service Angora fire recovery plan 'inadequate' Posted: 20 Jul 2007 11:19 AM CDT South Lake Tahoe City: Forest Service Angora fire recovery plan 'inadequate' Recognizing the delicate balance of nature following the Angora fire, the city pushed hard on initiatives to keep South Lake Tahoe safe from fire in summer and rain in winter. During a debriefing, the council heard concerns from its public works director regarding the extent of rehabilitation planned by the U.S. Forest Service. John Greenhut told council members that the federal agency's efforts announced last week don't go far enough to reduce the risk of fire and flood. The Angora fire consumed 254 homes in the North Upper Truckee and Tahoe Mountain neighborhoods, charred 3,100 acres, cost $12 million to fight, and caused an estimated $160 million damage. Also Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called for the Forest Service and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to re-evaluate the permitting process relative to tree removal and fuel reduction. Both agencies have pledged to review policies. Greenhut called the initial report of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit's Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) "inadequate." He said in a harsh winter, a thick paste could carry burn debris down the slopes and into drains, causing clogs. He pinpointed areas of jeopardy as a down-slope site west of South Tahoe High School and another west of Gardner Street. "If we get heavy debris flow, we won't have time to react," he said. He was joined by a worried City Council, with some members cringing over the thought of winter storms like that of New Year's Eve 2005 -- which caused about $9 million in damage to El Dorado County. But LTBMU Supervisor Teri Marceron and BAER team hydrologist Stephanie Heller assured the council the report represents an early phase of work in the fire zone, and the team developed a computer model based on its geologist's assessment. "There will be some debris flow. We can't stop all of it," Heller said. "All models fall short of reality," Councilman Bill Crawford said. "This needs to be tested in the field." Mayor Kathay Lovell concurred, asking if the model creators considered a wet winter. The model was set by effects of the two- to five-year storm. The New Year's Eve flood was a 50-year event. Cleaning up The U.S. Forest Service has scheduled a three-tiered, $2.2 million recovery plan for the Angora fire including fire suppression, the current "temporary emergency" rehabilitation, and long-term recovery focusing on revegetation, stream restoration, and hazard tree cutting, Marceron outlined. The plan concentrates on 20 percent -- equal to 636 acres -- of the "high burn area." Fire fuel reduction treatment involves taking mechanical devices like chain saws into stream environment zones. "We've never done that before," Marceron told the council. The sensitive areas have been off-limits to these methods of thinning because of their impact on lake clarity, prompting a backlash among residents over a perceived stifling bureaucracy in the basin. In particular, the Lahontan Water Board has issued stricter water quality control guidelines for the city to follow. City officials are also concerned increased storm water runoff will make the government vulnerable to fines. Feinstein asked the Forest Service -- which owns 80 percent of the land around the basin -- and TRPA to streamline the process to implement the forest management plan. She wrote to Forest Service Chief Gale Kimbell and TRPA Executive Director John Singlaub to see to the changes.

Two large California fires 100% contained Posted: 20 Jul 2007 11:06 AM CDT China-back Complex Wildland Fire - Klamath National Forest - 2,906 acres - 100% contained Fletcher Wildland Fire - Modoc National Forest - 8,121 acres - 100% contained

Inciweb update: Zaca Wildland Fire - 30,800 acres, 44% Posted: 20 Jul 2007 10:46 AM CDT Zaca Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps INCIDENT UPDATED NEWS RELEASE Forest Service Expands Zaca Fire Closure into Ventura County GOLETA, CA...Due to the threat posed by the Zaca Fire, the area of Los Padres National Forest closed to public entry has been expanded to the south. The closure now encompasses all national forest lan... more Zaca Fire Progression Map Credit: Inciweb Zaca Fire Progression Map July 20, 2007 view pictures || view maps Summary Friday, July 20, 2007 7:00am (Morning update complete) Modifications to Evacuation Order Effective July 19, 2007 at 12:00 pm - see "News" Update on Precautionary Smoke Advisory for Areas Impacted by the Zaca Fire Call the Zaca Fire Information Line at 805-961-5770 for current conditions. Fire Location: 15 miles Northeast of Buellton, in Santa Barbara County. Command Team: U.S. Forest Service and Santa Barbara County Fire Department (Unified Command). Start Date & Report Time: July 4, 2007 @ 10:53 AM. Acres: 30,800 Acres. Percent Containment: 44 percent. Estimated Containment Date: No estimate. Estimated Control Date: No Estimate. Resources Currently Assigned: Hand Crews: 45; Dozers: 33; Engines: 70; Air Tankers: 6; Helicopters: 20; Water Tenders: 34; Overhead Personnel: 297; Total Personnel: 1,751; Injuries: 7; Structures Threatened: 102; Estimated Cost-to-Date: $24,600,000. Evacuations: All evacuation orders have been lifted. An evacuation warning is now in place for the residents of Peachtree Canyon, Tunnel Ranch and areas within the Los Padres National Forest boundary. Canyon Road is closed to the east at Baseline Road. Figuerora Mountain Road is closed to the east at Hwy 154. All Los Padres NF lands are closed from Hwy. 166 on the north roughly to Hwy. 33 in Ventura County on the south, including San Rafael, Dick Smith and Matilija Wilderness areas. Current Closures: Santa Barbara County Fire Officials have ordered the following road closures. Happy Canyon Road closed to the east at Baseline Road. Figueroa Mountain road closed to the east at Highway 154 Los Padres National Forest Officials have ordered the following forest closures: The current closure encompasses the entire San Rafael, Dick Smith, and Matilija Wilderness within the National Forest land. The area roughly includes all of the Los Padres National Forest from HWY 166 on the north to HWY 33 in Ventura County on the south. The 614,223 acre area will be closed until further notice. This closure will limit access to the San Rafael and Dick Smith Wilderness in order to insure the safety of citizens and fire personnel. Significant Events: The fire has progressed to the bottom slope of McKinley Peak. Suppression tactics continue to be successful in maintaining north and west flanks. Current Situation: Suppression tactics continue to be successful in maintaining north and west flanks. Poor access, rugged terrain, and extremely low fuel moisture continue to be problems in achieving containment in the Wilderness. Safety Message: Residents should use caution when evacuating. 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 fire status. Media Message: Due to fire equipment activity, media escorts are available through the information office. Information Officers will be available to provide an escort to an operations approved locations. Media will need to check in at the Incident Command Post at Live Oak Camp for an escorted media tour at 11:00 am. 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/ . ### Basic Information Incident Type Wildland Fire Cause Human Caused Date of Origin 07/04/2007 at 1053 hrs. Location 15 miles north east of Buellton, CA. Incident Commander Aaron Gelobter / Rick Tod Current Situation Total Personnel 1,751 Size 30,800 acres Percent Contained 44% Fuels Involved Model 4 (6 ft) and oak woodlands. North and east flanks of fire are burning in heavy, 40 year old fuels with high dead to live ratio. Fuel moisture levels are extremely low, at levels normally seen in late summer. Fire Behavior Backing spread with interior burning out of fuels. Significant Events Interior burning with slow lateral spread. Fire has progressed to the bottom slope of McKinley Peak. Outlook Planned Actions Aerial patrol of western perimeter. Line construction and cold trail as needed. Prepare for firing and holding. Recon north perimeter for helispot locations. Continue to survey for structure protection needs. Dozers to construct line south/southwest.Suppression rehab to continue fireline inventory for suppression rehab needs. Recon Sierra Madre Ridge for suppression strategy. Projected Movement High potential for growth to the east and south. Growth Potential High. Terrain Difficulty Extreme. Containment Target Suppression tactics continue to be successful in maintaining north and west flanks. Poor access, rugged terrain, and extremely low fuel moisture continue to be problems in achieving containment in the Wilderness. Remarks All evacuation orders have been lifted. An evacuation warning is now in place for the residents of Peachtree Canyon, Tunnel Ranch and areas within the Los Padres National Forest boundary. Happy Canyon Road is closed to the east at Baseline Road. Figuerora Mountain Road is closed to the east at Hwy 154. All Los Padres NF lands are closed from Hwy. 166 on the north roughly to Hwy. 33 in Ventura County on the south, including San Rafael, Dick Smith and Matilija Wilderness areas. Unified Command with Santa Barbara County. Weather Current Wind Conditions 17 mph NE Current Temperature 52 degrees

EDIS - Fire weather watch for potentially very low humidities in the mountains of ventura and los angeles counties from friday morning until s Posted: 19 Jul 2007 08:13 PM CDT [EDIS] Fire weather watch for potentially very low humidities in the mountains of ventura and los angeles counties from friday morning until saturday evening VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST- VERY DRY CONDITIONS ARE DEVELOPING OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS AFTERNOON. THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED TO FALL TO NEAR OR BELOW CRITICAL LEVELS BY NOON FRIDAY AND CONTINUE UNTIL SATURDAY EVENING. SINGLE DIGIT RELATIVE HUMIDITIES ARE POSSIBLE ABOVE 4000 FEET ELEVATION AND ALONG THE NORTH FACING SLOPES OF THE SAN GABRIEL RANGE. ... FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING FOR POSSIBLE CRITICALLY LOW HUMIDITIES... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING. SINGLE DIGIT RELATIVE HUMIDITIES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES ABOVE 4000 FEET ELEVATION AND ALONG THE NORTH SLOPES OF THE SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS. Instruction: A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER WATCH. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS. Area: VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST- Affected Counties or parts of: Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Sent: 2007-07-19T15:38:26-07:00 Original Sender: KLOX@nwws.oes.ca.gov From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA

Inciweb Update: Fletcher Fire - 8,121 acres 80% Posted: 19 Jul 2007 06:48 PM CDT Fletcher Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps INCIDENT UPDATED 1:47 HRS. AGO Ownership Map for Burned Acres by Fletcher Fire Credit: Modoc NF view pictures || view maps Summary The Fletcher Fire has burned about 8,121 acres: 2,207 acres on Modoc NF land; 4,399 acres on private land; and 1,515 acres of Oregon land. Nor Cal Team II (IC Bill Kaage), is managing the suppression rehabilitation efforts and coordinating with the Oregon Department of Forestry, Fremont-Winema NF, Oregon BLM units, and the Modoc NF. Firefighters will mop-up hot spots to 300 feet within the fire perimeter. Highter relative humidity and some light moisture that fell on the fire moderated fire behavior yesterday which allowed fire crews to strengthen fire containment lines. All road closures and evacuation orders have been lifted. Basic Information Incident Type Wildland Fire Cause Lightning Date of Origin 07/10/2007 at 1315 hrs. Location 20 miles North West of Davis Creek Incident Commander Bill Kaage, Norcal 2 Current Situation Total Personnel 597 Size 8,121 acres Percent Contained 80% Estimated Containment Date 07/19/2007 at hrs. Fuels Involved Timber (Jeffrey pine, white fir, juniper) and grass Fire Behavior Higher relative humidity and some light moisture that fell on the fire moderated fire behavior which was limited to some isolated interior torching, smoldering, and burnout. Significant Events Fire managers mapped and surveyed the burned area for structures that were either damaged or destroyed by the fire. Additional destroyed outbuildings were located. Fire crews continue to make good progress on strengthening containment lines. Outlook Planned Actions Firefighters will mop-up hot spots to 300 feet within the fire perimeter and begin fire suppression rehabilitation. Projected Movement None Growth Potential Low Terrain Difficulty High Containment Target 7/19/07 Remarks Closures: None. All roads in the fire area have been re-opened. Evacuations: None. All evacuation orders have been lifted in the areas of Modoc County and Lake County that were affected by the fire. Remarks: Of the total 8,121 acres that the fire has burned, 1,515 acres are Oregon land, 4,399 acres are private land, and 2,207 acres are Modoc National Forest land. Fire suppression and rehabilitation is being coordinated with the Oregon Department of Forestry, Fremon-Winema National Forest, Oregon BLM units, and the Modoc National Forest. Additional Fire Information: www.inciweb.org (including other fires) and (530) 233-5811. Please go to the Forest Service website for more information on fire restrictions and closures at www.fs.fed.us/r5/modoc/. Weather Current Wind Conditions 3 mph SW Current Temperature 41 degrees Current Humidity 65 %

CA-YNP-Babcock Complex. - 20+ ACRES - YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK Posted: 19 Jul 2007 06:10 PM CDT NPS Fire News: Babcock complex YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CA ** Wildland Fire Use ** Started on or about 07/10/2007 (Evening) Status as of 07/18/2007 Cause Natural Location 3/4 mi. north of Echo Valley and Merced Lake, east of Half in the Yosemite Wilderness (CA) Acreage Burned The Babcock fire is currently at 20 acres, and has been averaging 3-5 acres per day for the past few days. Park Status No closures or restrictions at this time. Warning signs have been posted for backpackers along the Fletcher and Lewis trails, advising them to avoid the immediate vicinity of these fires. Localized smoke may accumulate during the morning hours near the Babcock lake area and other low-lying flat ares in the vicinity. All High Sierra Camps and the Wilderness Permit office are posting smoke and fire advisories for potential backpackers in these areas. Overview The Echo and the Babcock Fires were combined into the Babcock complex on July 13th. The fire is currently at 9000 ft, 20 acres with moderate growth potential in bug-killed lodgepole pine forest. 40% of the perimeter is active, and fire crews have observed low levels of fire spread (single tree torching, short-distance spotting and some downslope rollout. Contact Information Gary Wuchner Phone Number: 209-372-0480 gary_wuchner@nps.gov

InciWeb: ZACA - Modifications to Evacuation Order Posted: 19 Jul 2007 05:20 PM CDT InciWeb: Modifications to Evacuation Order Effective July 19, 2007 at 12:00 PM: Modifications to Evacuation Order Effective July 19, 2007 at 12:00 PM Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps Incident: Zaca Released: 1:52 hrs. ago Modifications to Evacuation Order Effective July 19, 2007 at 12:00 p.m. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department issued an "Evacuation Order" for the residents of the Peachtree Canyon Ranch and areas within the Los Padres National Forest boundary on July 17, 2007. These areas have been modified to an Evacuation Warning. The Zaca Fire is a potential threat to life and property. Residents living in these identified areas should prepare for evacuation. For residents of Happy Canyon and Woodstock, who were under an Evacuation Warning, the warning has now been lifted. Please continue to monitor fire information as conditions could rapidly change. For more information, please contact Zaca Fire Information at 805-961-5770. Approved By Unified Incident Commanders: AARON GELOBTER RICK TODD Boise Incident Management Team Santa Barbara County Fire Dept.

Local Daily News - Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors declare state of emergency Posted: 19 Jul 2007 02:45 PM CDT Yreka's Siskiyou Daily News - News: Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors declare local state of emergency News Thursday, July 19, 2007 Supes briefed on fires, declare local emergency By BRAD SMITH Daily News Staff Writer Published: Thursday, July 19, 2007 10:44 AM CDT SISKIYOU COUNTY – During their Tuesday meeting, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors received fire status briefings from both the U.S. Forest Service and CAL FIRE about the Elk and China-Back Complex wildfires. "As you may already know, most of Supervisor (Marcia) Armstrong's district is burning," USFS Klamath National Forest supervis, or Peg Boland said. Supervisor Jim Cook used the moment to interject some levity. "Supervisor Armstrong's district typically burns up," he said. "It's when we have a fire up at Copco that shocks us." Boland told the supervisors that most of the fires were started during the July 10 storms. "However, the China-Back Complex fire was ignited during a storm last Monday (July 9)," she said. She explained that this fire season has been unusual. "The fires that we're fighting and fires elsewhere in the state are moving quickly," Boland said. "We haven't seen anything like this before." For example, Boland said that the Back fire started at an altitude of more than 7,800 feet during a period of high humidity. "It's unusual to see something like that," Boland observed. And, while last year's fires creeped along, she said that the recent fires have been very "energetic." USFS firefighters have been very concerned with the Little Grider Fire, which has been the primary threat to Happy Camp. "We've had a series of meetings with the residents and have been briefing them on the fire status," Boland said. Armstrong said that she had attended a Sunday morning community meeting, in which evacuation plans had been discussed. "I'm hoping that it doesn't come to that," she said. Boland said that firefighters are watching the Wingate, Titus and King Creek 2 fires. "We're concerned that those fires might link up," she said. She reported to the board that there were fires in the Modoc National Forest as well. Supervisor LaVada Erickson asked if any of the fires were accessible. "Some of the fires are located in steep terrain," Boland answered. If fire crews can't reach them, then aerial water and fire retardant drop runs have been made. "That has been done, weather permitting," Boland said. Boland received reports of rain from the Happy Camp area before leaving for the supervisors' meeting. "The rain should stop the fires from spreading, but it won't put them out," she said. "And this is just the start of our fire season. It could be a long one." CAL FIRE Capt. Ron Bravo said that his department had already dealt with more than 30 fires this season. "The totality of those fires came out to 400 acres," he said. Those fires have been contained, and that has allowed CAL FIRE to form a unified command with the USFS and other firefighting and support agencies. "We've been assisting the USFS with the China-Back Complex fires and elsewhere when possible," Bravo said. Bravo added that CAL FIRE has been using the county fairgrounds as an incident base. "We also have been maintaining a presence at the incident command post at Collier's rest area." He said that CAL FIRE personnel have been making routine inspections of residential properties. "We want to make sure that people have proper clearance around their homes." According to Bravo, CAL FIRE is looking at biomass programs, green recycling and chipper programs to help people clear vegetation from their houses. He added that during the the county fair this year, CAL FIRE will be presenting information on evacuation procedures. Later on, county administrator Barry Shioshita – who also acts as the county's director of emergency services – presented a proposal to declare a local emergency for Happy Camp and the Humbug Creek area. "Considering the fires that threaten Happy Camp and what could happen to Klamath River if the China fire jumps the river, we need to take some steps," Shioshita said. The declaration of a local emergency will enable the county to tap into state funding and other support, the county administrator said. "It's a precautionary move," Shioshita said. He felt that it was the best thing to do, given the Elk and China-Back Complex fires. Cook agreed. The board voted unanimously to declare a local emergency. Rest of article here: Yreka's Siskiyou Daily News

News- Big California wildfire still a potential threat to rural homes Posted: 19 Jul 2007 02:29 PM CDT Bobonit News Blog - News - Big California wildfire still a potential threat to rural homes San Jose Mercury News - Big California wildfire still a potential threat to rural homes The Associated Press LOS OLIVOS, Calif.—California firefighters were working Thursday to keep at least two stubborn blazes around the state from spreading toward homes tucked in rugged wilderness. Authorities warned winds could push the state's biggest blaze, dubbed the Zaca fire, toward about 50 rural homes scattered in Los Padres National Forest in the interior of Santa Barbara County. The fire was about four miles from the Peachtree Canyon community, which remained under an evacuation order, officials said. 'This is a dangerous fire that is capable of advancing several miles in a matter of hours,' U.S. Forest Service supervisor Ken Heffner said. The fire has burned an area equal to more than 44 square miles, or 28,346 acres. Containment was put at 35 percent. Temperatures were moderate but firefighters struggled in the steep, roadless terrain of the San Rafael Wilderness northeast of Los Olivos, a town popular with tourists because of its wineries. Winds were light but were expected to change direction and gust up to 20 mph. The fire was heading toward areas of chaparral, oak and pine that last burned 40 years ago. 'It's gob"

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