California Fire News

InciWeb: Zaca Wildland Fire - Acres: 31,000 Acres Percent Containment: 51 percent Posted: 22 Jul 2007 07:19 PM CDT InciWeb: Zaca Wildland Fire: Zaca Fire Progression Map July 22, 2007 Zaca Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps INCIDENT UPDATED 4 HRS. AGO ANNOUNCEMENT Zaca Fire Evacuation Warning Lifted The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department in conjunction with the Joint Unified Incident Management Team has lifted the Evacuation Warning for the Peachtree Canyon Ranch area and on all lands within the Los Padres National Forest boundary, effective at July 22 at 7:00 a.m. Please contact the Zaca Fire Information Line at 805-961-5770 if you have any questions. Summary Acres: 31,000 Acres Percent Containment: 51 percent Estimated Containment: July 27, 2007 Resources: Hand Crews: 30; Dozers: 23; Engines: 17; Air Tankers: 2; Helicopters: 19; Water Tenders: 29; Overhead Personnel: 224; Total Personnel: 1,068; Injuries: 7; Structures Threatened: 0; Fire line to Build: 20 miles; Estimated Cost-to-Date: $29.4 million Current Forest and Roads 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 Los Padres National Forest closure remains in effect from Hwy. 166 on the north to Hwy. 33 in Ventura County on the south. 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: All evacuation warnings have been lifted. Crews remained on the fire line over night at Hell's Half Acre. Current Situation: Due to a drier air mass, the fire remained active throughout the night. Type 1 hand crews along with the support of Helicopters are making significant progress in containment on the northeast, east, and southeast perimeter. Suppression rehab is now being completed on the west portion of the fire. All efforts are being made to protect natural and cultural resources. Public and firefighter safety remain the top priority. Safety Message: Travelers using SR-154, please be cautious of firefighting equipment and personnel. Fire Information updates and display boards are placed throughout the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valley's to keep the communities informed on the fire status. Media Message: Due to fire equipment activity, Public Information Officers are available to provide media tours. Media should check in at the Live Oak Camp Incident Command Post for escorted tours by 11:00 am. Additional Information: The fire continues to have 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. 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 1,068 Size 31,000 acres Percent Contained 51% Estimated Containment Date 07/27/2007 at hrs. Fuels Involved Chaparral 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 Due to a drier air mass, the fire remained active throughout the night with interior burning. Significant Events The fire made a short ru on the northeast side of McKinley Mountain last night taking advantage of fuels and less sheltered conditions. Outlook Planned Actions Handline construction to continue on the northeast and southeast perimeter. Aerial patrol of the western perimeter. Crews to cold trail and secure fire's edge. Continue to survey for structure protection needs. Continue to inventory fireline for suppression rehabilitation needs. Projected Movement High potential for the fire to grow 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. Despite rugged terrain, poor access and extremely low fuel moisture crews are showing significant progress toward containment on the northeast, east and southeast perimeter with the support of helicopters. Remarks All evacuation orders have been lifted. Los Padres National Forest closure remains in effect (see map). All Los Padres NF lands are closed from Hwy 166 on the north roughly to Hwy 33 in northern Ventura County on the south, including the San Rafael, Dick Smith and Matilija Wilderness areas. Happy Canyon Road is closed to the east at Baseline Road. Figueroa Mountain Road is closed to the east at Hwy 154. The fire is being managed in a Unified Command with Santa Barbara County. Weather Current Wind Conditions 7 mph N Current Temperature 69 degrees Current Humidity 30 %

Out of State: Murphy Complex Wildland Fire: CAL FIRE Team takes over huge Idaho fire Posted: 22 Jul 2007 02:26 PM CDT Murphy Complex Wildland Fire 511,000 acres Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps INCIDENT UPDATED 3 HRS. AGO Summary The Rowland Fire and Elk Mountain Fire have now combined into one fire known as the Murphy Complex.A California Interagency Incident Management Teamhas taken control of the incident to relieve local resources to be madeavailable forthe potential of other fires in the area.Evacuation ordersare still in place for residents of Jarbidge, Murphy Hot Springs and the Mountain Home Air Force Training Range. Twelve hand crews, 28 engines, and 11 dozers with overhead staff and air support are working in fire supression. There are approximately 1,300 citizens in numerous small communities without power. Basic Information Incident Type Wildland Fire Cause Lightning Date of Origin 07/16/2007 at 1912 hrs. Location 30 miles SW of Twin Falls Incident Commander Rich Hawkins Current Situation Total Personnel 488 Size 511,000 acres Percent Contained 10% Fuels Involved Numerous brush, grass, and trees Fire Behavior Very active running fire with some torching within junipers. Significant Events Perimetere growth of over 57,000 acres yesterday. Evacuations and road closures remain in effect within the fire area. Outlook Planned Actions Continue fire supression with direct and indirect actions using handcrews, engine crews and air support. Projected Movement Continued rapid spread to the north and north east is expected. Growth Potential Extreme Terrain Difficulty Extreme Containment Target Unknown Remarks Twin Falls Co., Elko Co. and Owyhee Co. Sheriffs are working along side with BLM, Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands, and other agencies to provide public safety and fire supression. Weather Current Wind Conditions 6 mph NW Current Temperature 84 degrees Current Humidity 20 %

Reminder - Flags at half staff - LODD Posted: 22 Jul 2007 01:11 PM CDT Mourning Begins For Contra Costa Firefighters The first line of duty deaths in the Contra Costa Fire Protection Districts history leaves firefighters mourning. Capt. Matt Burton, 34, of Concord and Fire Engineer Scott Desmond, 37, of Brentwood. The men were killed when the were caught in a flashover during a heroic rescue attempt. The residents Delbert Moore, 67, and his wife, Gayle, 62 also died in the inferno. The county firefighter fatalities come less than a month after the neighboring Richmond Fire Department lost Ron Wiley, a deputy fire marshal, in a July 2, on-duty traffic crash.

News: Calavera fire burns 200 acres Posted: 22 Jul 2007 12:05 PM CDT Recordnet.com: Calavera fire burns 200 acres: July 22, 2007 6:00 AM CALAVERAS - A 200-acre fire burned near the San Joaquin County line in Calaveras County Saturday evening, according to a spokeswoman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. A cause for the fire was not known. Two helicopters, two bulldozers, 17 fire engines and two strike teams were dispatched to the fire that was reported about 5 p.m. The fire burned near Highway 26 and Wimer Road in an area near the Ridge at Trinitas golf course. A Cal Fire representative was unable to confirm if the fire was on the golf course, which was built privately and is seeking permits to add resort living areas. Fred Hovey, who lives near the golf course, said the fire was burning on the golf course and that he saw a building on fire there."

News- CAL FIRE air-attack base at the Hollister Airport clashes with lucrative hangar proposal Posted: 22 Jul 2007 11:38 AM CDT City Officials Optimistic on Airport Deals A Cal Fire air tanker drops a load of fire retardant on a vegetation fire that came close to homes July 10 west of San Juan Bautista. Photo by: Nick Lovejoy/The Free Lance Freelancenews.com Hollister - City Council members reached Friday weren't concerned how a plan to build a fire air-attack base at the Hollister Municipal Airport clashes with a developer's potentially lucrative hangar proposal, and the officials expressed optimism that both types of facilities could be built there. City Councilman Doug Emerson, for one, sees the potential dilemma as a chance for serious talks about the airport's future. Hollister officials are open, meanwhile, to the possibility of requesting bids on similar jet center projects and choosing the one that best fits the airport's needs. "We need to make a plan for the airport," Emerson said. "It seems to me we can accommodate both (the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) and some kind of jet center out there." The city has negotiated with Cal Fire since 2001 to lease land there for the air-attack base. The state is pushing for the city to fund a new taxiway and control tower. City Manager Clint Quilter said Friday he didn't know if Hollister "would ever negotiate to pay for those things." The private developer estimates his proposal for six hangars catering to corporate jet owners would bring jobs, rent money and about $1.5 million in tax dollars annually to the city. Considering the amount of property value or sales needed for that return, Quilter said Friday the number doesn't "strike me as quite right." Councilwoman Monica Johnson is in no hurry to accept the first offer to the city for a hangar development. She sees the airport as Hollister's "diamond in the rough" and wants to ensure the city studies multiple offers before a decision. She said the key to improving the airport's value is making sure the city proceeds in a "strategic manner." "We need to look at all the proposals and figure out what will be most beneficial for the city." Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia also said she's open to requesting bids for such an airport development. She added how she believes Cal Fire belongs at the Hollister Municipal Airport. "I'm really excited, though, regardless of the outcome," Valdivia said. "I think the outcome's going to be good." Hollister Airport Manager Bill Gere is convinced there is space for both a jet center and a new Cal Fire building. "There is a lot of room at the airport," he said. "But right now we have two groups looking at the same piece of property." Gere also pointed out that all plans involving the airport must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. "We need to closely examine what everyone's needs are and the benefit to the community," he said.

Zaca Wildland Fire - 31,000 Acres - 51 percent Containment Posted: 22 Jul 2007 11:02 AM CDT Zaca Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps INCIDENT UPDATED 2 MIN. AGO ANNOUNCEMENT Zaca Fire Evacuation Warning Lifted Zaca Fire Evacuation Warning LiftedThe Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department, in conjunction with the Joint Unified Incident Management Team, has lifted the "Evacuation Warning" ... more Heavy helicopter loading retardant at helibase. Credit: Mike Ferris - U.S. Forest Service view pictures || view maps Summary Acres: 31,000 Acres Percent Containment: 51 percent Estimated Containment: July 27, 2007 Resources: Hand Crews: 30; Dozers: 23; Engines: 17; Air Tankers: 2; Helicopters: 19; Water Tenders: 29; Overhead Personnel: 224; Total Personnel: 1,068; Injuries: 7; Structures Threatened: 0; Fire line to Build: 20 miles; Estimated Cost-to-Date: $29.4 million Current Forest and Roads 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 Los Padres National Forest closure remains in effect from Hwy. 166 on the north to Hwy. 33 in Ventura County on the south. 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: All evacuation warnings have been lifted. Crews remained on the fire line over night at Hell's Half Acre. Current Situation: Due to a drier air mass, the fire remained active throughout the night. Type 1 hand crews along with the support of Helicopters are making significant progress in containment on the northeast, east, and southeast perimeter. Suppression rehab is now being completed on the west portion of the fire. All efforts are being made to protect natural and cultural resources. Public and firefighter safety remain the top priority. Safety Message: Travelers using SR-154, please be cautious of firefighting equipment and personnel. Fire Information updates and display boards are placed throughout the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valley's to keep the communities informed on the fire status. Media Message: Due to fire equipment activity, Public Information Officers are available to provide media tours. Media should check in at the Live Oak Camp Incident Command Post for escorted tours by 11:00 am. Additional Information: The fire continues to have 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. 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 1,068 Size 31,000 acres Percent Contained 51% Estimated Containment Date 07/27/2007 at hrs. Fuels Involved Chaparral 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 Due to a drier air mass, the fire remained active throughout the night with interior burning. Significant Events The fire made a short ru on the northeast side of McKinley Mountain last night taking advantage of fuels and less sheltered conditions. Outlook Planned Actions Handline construction to continue on the northeast and southeast perimeter. Aerial patrol of the western perimeter. Crews to cold trail and secure fire's edge. Continue to survey for structure protection needs. Continue to inventory fireline for suppression rehabilitation needs. Projected Movement High potential for the fire to grow 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. Despite rugged terrain, poor access and extremely low fuel moisture crews are showing significant progress toward containment on the northeast, east and southeast perimeter with the support of helicopters. Remarks All evacuation orders have been lifted. Los Padres National Forest closure remains in effect (see map). All Los Padres NF lands are closed from Hwy 166 on the north roughly to Hwy 33 in northern Ventura County on the south, including the San Rafael, Dick Smith and Matilija Wilderness areas. Happy Canyon Road is closed to the east at Baseline Road. Figueroa Mountain Road is closed to the east at Hwy 154. The fire is being managed in a Unified Command with Santa Barbara County. Weather Current Wind Conditions 7 mph N Current Temperature 69 degrees Current Humidity 30 %

Inciweb Update: Elk Complex Wildland Fire - 8,337 acres - 20% Posted: 22 Jul 2007 11:00 AM CDT Elk Complex Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps INCIDENT UPDATED 1 MIN. AGO ANNOUNCEMENT Elk Fire Complex Community Meeting 7/24/07 There will be a community meeting regarding the Elk Fire ComplexTuesday July 24, 2007 at 7pm, held at the Happy Camp Grange Hall. Representatives from the fire management team, local ranger district a... more Elk Complex Area Map Credit: USFS 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). As conditions dry, the fire will become noticible more active. Smoke from the firew 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 GrangeTuesday, July 25at 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 Of the thirty identified fires in the Elk Complex, 23 fires are 100% contained. The fires will continue to be monitored, patrolled and staffed as resources allow. The remaining seven fires are as follows: Little Grider Fire (approx. 1298 acres) 10% contained, crews are constructing direct line on the northwest, southwest and west portions of the fire. The plan is still to burn the Perkins Creek area in order to secure the eastern perimeter and provide a buffer to the community from the fire. King Creek II Fire (approx. 2779 acres): 5 % contained, firefighters are planning to work directly on the fire's edge. Wingate (approx. 909 acres) 0% contained Elk Fire (approx. 1166 acres) 0% contained Titus Fire (approx. 2026 acres): 5% contained. 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. Hummingbird Fire (approx. 80 acres) 0% contained Walker Fire (approx. 1 acre) 95% contained 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 1,172 Size 8,337 acres Percent Contained 20% 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 Continue with driect line contruction on Little Grider fire in Branch 2 and northern porimeter on Branch 1. Continue towards completion of contigency line in southern part of Branch 1. Outlook Planned Actions Initiate burnout on Branch 2 as conditions allow. Continue direct attack on the Wingate fire on Branch 1. Continue direct and indirect line contruction on the Kings Creek 2 fire in Branch 1 and the Little Grider fire in Branch 2. Projected Movement 12 hours: Fine fuels becoming receptive to active fire. Limited spread expected. 24 hours: Fine fuels becoming receptive to active fire. Limited spread expected. 48 hours: Continued spread expected due to further drying of fuels and potential burnout/backfire operations. 72 hours:Continued spread expected due to further drying of fuels and potential burnout/backfire operations. Growth Potential High Terrain Difficulty Extreme Containment Target Likely to meet objectives based on current weather projections. Remarks Expect an increase in containment as direct strategy continues. A total of forty-two miles of fire line has been contructed to date. This includes twenty-one miles of dozer line and twenty-one miles of handline and brushed roads. Fire acreages and containment: Of the thirty identified fires in the Elk Complex, 24 fires are 100% contained. The remaining six fires are as follows: Little Grider 1, 303 acres-30%; Titues 2,026 acres-5%; Wingate 914 acres-5%; King Creek 2 2,779 acres-5%; Elk 1,166 acres-0%; Hummingbird 80 acres-0%. Weather Current Wind Conditions Not available Current Temperature 60 degrees Current Humidity 70 %

[EDIS] - Fire weather watch in effect Posted: 22 Jul 2007 10:59 AM CDT [EDIS] fire weather watch in effect from monday afternoon through monday evening for possible dry lightning GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-MONO-EASTERN ALPINE COUNTIES-WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT-MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY EVENING. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP MONDAY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS ALONG THE SIERRA CREST FROM MONO COUNTY INTO THE LAKE TAHOE REGION. ADDITIONAL STORMS MAY ALSO DEVELOP OVER THE SIERRA FRONT OF WESTERN NEVADA DOWN INTO MINERAL COUNTY. THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE MAINLY DRY... THEREFORE ANY LIGHTNING STRIKES WILL HAVE AN ENHANCED CHANCE OF RESULTING IN FIRE STARTS. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING GUSTY AND ERRATIC OUTFLOW WINDS ABOVE 40 MPH. Instruction: A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS. Area: GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-MONO-EASTERN ALPINE COUNTIES-WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT-MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES- Affected Counties or parts of: Modoc, Plumas, Placer, Mono, Lassen, El Dorado, Nevada, Sierra, Alpine, Sent: 2007-07-22T05:59:24-07:00 Original Sender: KREV@nwws.oes.ca.gov

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