California Fire News

InciWeb: ELK FIRE COMPLEX UPDATE - Daily Update 7/28/2007

Posted: 28 Jul 2007 08:25 PM CDT

InciWeb: Daily Update 7/28/2007:

Elk Complex -
Daily Update 7/28/2007

Incident: Elk Complex
Released: 3 hrs. ago

ELK FIRE COMPLEX UPDATE

ELK FIRE COMPLEX MAP - FIRE PROGRESSION MAP

July 28, 2007

Total Complex Acreage: 10,337acres

Incident Resources: 1,146 personnel

Total Complex Containment: 59% Cost to Date: $12,554,277

Injuries to Date (minor): 13 Fatalities to Date: 1

Expected Full Containment: 8/05/2007

Crews continue to patrol and mop up the perimeter of the Little Grider. Smoke will be produced as fuels burn within the interior of the fire. Suppression efforts continue on the Wingate/Titus/KingCreek2 fire. Aerial patrol of the Elk and Hummingbird fires is continuing and no heat has been observed on the Hummingbird for the last two days. Protection of Happy Camp and Elk Creek communities remains a top priority.

Burning operations continue on the Wingate/Titus/King Creek 2 fires from Branch I/IV break west along the 15N10 road. The containment date for the Elk Complex has been changed to August 5, 2007 due to steep terrain and fuel conditions. Crews continue to secure lines that have burned in previous shifts and brush roads in the southern portion of the incident. Fire activity is anticipated to increase as daytime temperatures rise and relative humidity decreases.

Complex Fire Details

Of the thirty identified fires in the Elk Complex, 25 are 100% contained. The contained fires will continue to be monitored, patrolled and staffed as safety, resources and access permit. The remaining five fires are as follows:

Wingate/Titus/King Creek 2 (6,279 acres) 36% contained. Line construction continues on the fire. A recommended evacuation for homeowners and closure for campers and miners, from Five Mile Bridge to Norcross Campground on Elk Creek Road remains in place. Firelines have been constructed and burnouts continue.
Elk Fire (1,144 acres) 96% contained

Hummingbird Fire (80 acres) 0% contained. Aerial patrols have not detected heat by Infrared resources on fire for over three days.

Sources of info include: http://www.inciweb.org/ (including other fires) or the incident information office at (530) 841-4451. Visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/condition/ for information on fire restrictions and local closures.

News: Brush Fire Caused by Metal From Catalytic Converter

Posted: 28 Jul 2007 07:00 PM CDT

abc7.com:
O.C. Brush Fire Caused by Metal From Catalytic Converter
Full Containment Expected by 6 p.m. Saturday

CA-ORC-261 Incident : 77 Acres 80 percent contained

LOCAL NEWS

IRVINE, July 28, 2007 (CNS) - A fire that chewed through 77 acres of dry vegetation in the hills northeast of Irvine is expected to be fully contained by 6 p.m. Saturday, officials said.

The blaze, burning south of the interchange between the two forks of Orange County's eastern tollways, is believed to have been caused by a hot piece of metal that somehow ejected from the catalytic converter of a car.

The fire caused in one minor heat-related injury to a firefighter, and was 80 percent contained Saturday afternoon, said Ed Fleming, battalion chief for the Orange County Fire Authority.

The blaze broke out about 5:20 p.m. Sunday near the area where the Eastern Transportation Corridor's two tollways -- highways 241 and 261 -- converge in unincorporated territory adjacent to Irvine and Orange, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

Firefighters have halted the fire's forward progression, and the fire was not expected to grow in size, Fleming said.

Pieces of a catalytic converter from a car on Highway 261 were recovered and are believed to have sparked the fire, Fleming said.

"The catalytic converter part of the muffler ejected a hot piece of metal and that's what caused the fire," he said.

Five fire engines, three hand crews and additional support apparatus and personnel were working Saturday to contain the blaze, according to Fleming.

Ironically, the blaze briefly threatened the Emergency Operations Center, which is staffed by the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Some aircraft sprayed the land surrounding the dispatch center with fire retardant.

No evacuations were needed, and no homes were threatened.

Although both directions of both tollways remain open to traffic, the California Highway Patrol reports one lane of the 261 tollway is blocked by fire trucks.

CA-HUU-Chambers - Wildland fire - 60 acres

Posted: 28 Jul 2007 06:44 PM CDT

Wildlandfire.com Hotlist Forum:

CA-HUU-Chambers
Fire started at about 1930 in the Petrolia area.
Currently sounds like 60+ acres with possible structures lost. Heavy commitment
SRF also had several starts on Friday.
(1)@ 0930...2 structures confirmed lost, 1 house, 1 other, Heavy commitment of local resources, 60 acres, lined.

EDIS - Flash flood watch for portions of western mohave... southern clark and eastern san bernardino counties until 9 pm this evening

Posted: 28 Jul 2007 03:44 PM CDT

[EDIS] flash flood watch for portions of western mohave... southern clark and eastern san bernardino counties until 9 pm this evening

Inyo, San Bernardino

A MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS REMAINS IN PLACE OVER THE MOHAVE DESERT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING. NORTHWEST PLATEAU-LAKE HAVASU AND FORT MOHAVE-NORTHWEST DESERTS- LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA-MORONGO BASIN-CADIZ BASIN- SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY-UPPER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY- ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT /9 PM MST/ THIS EVENING... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS HAS ISSUED A * FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST ARIZONA... CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN NEVADA...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN NORTHWEST ARIZONA...LAKE HAVASU AND FORT MOHAVE... LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA...NORTHWEST DESERTS AND NORTHWEST PLATEAU. IN CALIFORNIA...CADIZ BASIN...MORONGO BASIN AND SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY-UPPER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY. IN SOUTHERN NEVADA...LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA. * UNTIL 9 PM PDT /9 PM MST/ THIS EVENING * THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME FROM SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS THAT COULD LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING.

Instruction:
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINFALL AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION AND MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

Area: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV

Affected Counties or parts of: Inyo, San Bernardino,

Sent: 2007-07-28T11:35:24-07:00

Original Sender: KVEF@nwws.oes.ca.gov

From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV

CA.GOV Press Release - Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces California-Nevada Tahoe Basin Fire Commission

Posted: 28 Jul 2007 03:26 PM CDT

Office of the Governor :: Press Release:

Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces California-Nevada Tahoe Basin Fire Commission to Assess Fire Prevention Laws

Visiting the Lake Tahoe area a third time since the Angora Fire began, Governor Schwarzenegger today joined with Governor Jim Gibbons of Nevada to announce the California-Nevada Tahoe Basin Fire Commission. The two governors signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a panel of 17 voting members that represent each State's stake in the responsible management of lands and fire fuels within the Tahoe Basin, including representatives from affected state agencies, fire agencies and the public. They also requested the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to designate one person from the United States Forest Service to serve on the commission.

The Commission will perform a comprehensive review of the laws, policies and practices that affect the vulnerability of the Tahoe Basin to wildfires. It will also study and consider various user-friendly approaches to reducing the threat of wildfires while protecting the environment and submit a report and recommendations to the two governors by March 21, 2008.

"It is crucial that we all work together to prevent something like the Angora Fire from happening again and also make sure people have the right fire protection tools to protect their property," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "With this action we are taking today I know California and Nevada will rise to the occasion and make sure the Lake Tahoe Basin remains as safe as it is beautiful."

The Commission will disband 60 days after delivering its report and recommendations.

To help the victims recover, Governor Schwarzenegger has been engaged in the response efforts since the Angora Fire began on June 24, 2007.

On July 4, 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger sent a letter to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) requesting that El Dorado County be declared a disaster area in order to provide SBA Disaster Loan Program assistance to Angora Fire victims. The request was granted and will qualify victims of the Angora Fire for low income loans of up to $200,000 for homeowners to repair or replace their damaged or destroyed primary residence. Also, homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. Businesses of any size and private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $1.5 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. The loans are available for homeowners, renters and business owners whose property was damaged or destroyed in the fire.

As a result of this disaster, El Dorado County proclaimed a local emergency June 24, 2007, and subsequently requested state and federal assistance by a separate proclamation issued June 25, 2007. In response to El Dorado County's request, a proclamation for a State of Emergency was issued on June 25, 2007. Governor Schwarzenegger also toured the fire zone to see first hand the devastation that was caused. The also Governor announced the establishment of a Local Assistance Center to help provide state and local services to assist victims displaced by the wildfire, suffering property loss and economic and other damages.

Governor Schwarzenegger also issued two executive orders to help victims of the wildfire recover. On June 27, 2007, he issued an executive order to assist individuals that suffered losses by waiving fees for replacing state documents lost in the fire including vehicle registrations, driver's licenses and birth certificates. He issued another executive order on July 2, 2007 to help victims clean up and rebuild as quickly as possible by streamlining, and in some cases suspending, certain state rules regarding the removal and disposal of both hazardous and non-hazardous debris as well as dead and dying trees.

The Angora Fire began on June 24, 2007 in the North Upper Truckee area in South Lake Tahoe, California and was fully contained on July 2, 2007. The fire burned a total of 3,100 acres and destroyed 254 homes.

The full text of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Governors Schwarzenegger and Gibbons is below:

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Between
The State of California
And
The State of Nevada

WHEREAS on June 24, 2007, the Angora Fire began in the North Upper Truckee area in South Lake Tahoe, California. The fire burned out of control, threatening hundreds of residences and commercial structures, and resulted in thousands of evacuations. A total of 3,100 acres were burned and 254 homes were destroyed by this fire.

WHEREAS El Dorado County proclaimed a local emergency June 24, 2007, and subsequently requested state and federal assistance by a separate proclamation issued the next day. In response to El Dorado County's request, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a State of Emergency for this event on June 25, 2007. The Angora Fire was fully contained on July 2, 2007.

WHEREAS the Angora Fire has underscored the need for a comprehensive review of fire prevention and fuel management practices in the Lake Tahoe Basin, and on July 5, 2007, Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons publicly invited California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to join him in establishing a joint fire commission to review fuels management of forests in the Tahoe Basin as well as the policies and procedures of the various agencies that govern fuels management within the Basin.

WHEREAS the States of California and Nevada are committed to reducing the threat of wildfires while preserving the unique and treasured environment of the Tahoe region.

NOW, THEREFORE, California and Nevada hereby agree as follows:

The California-Nevada Tahoe Basin Fire Commission (Commission) is hereby created.
Voting members of the Commission:
1. The Governors of California and Nevada shall each appoint eight voting members within the Tahoe Basin, including, but not limited to, representatives from affected state agencies, fire agencies, and the public.
2. The Governors of California and Nevada hereby request that the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture designate one person from the United States Forest Service to serve as a voting member of the Commission.
3. Non-voting members of the Commission:
1. The Governors of California and Nevada may each appoint a maximum of three non-voting ex officio members to ensure that Tahoe Basin issues, as well as respective State issues, are represented.
Commission members shall serve without compensation, but may receive reimbursement of expenses by their respective States. Members shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing authorities.
The Governor of California and the Governor of Nevada shall each designate one member from their respective appointees to serve as co-chair of the Commission.
California and Nevada will provide resources and staffing to the Commission on a substantially equal basis.
The Commission shall perform a comprehensive review of the laws, policies, and practices that affect the vulnerability of the Tahoe Basin to wildfires and/or that pertain to fire prevention and fuel management in the Basin. The Commission shall study and consider various approaches to reducing identified vulnerabilities, and shall submit findings and recommendations to the Governors of California and Nevada by March 21, 2008. These findings and recommendations shall:
1. Identify the wildfire suppression and fuel management practices that are currently used in the Tahoe Basin, and evaluate the effectiveness of those practices;
2. Recommend improvements and changes that will reduce the Tahoe Basin's wildfire vulnerability while protecting the environment; and
3. Recommend ways to effectively educate homeowners and other members of the public on appropriate fuel-reduction and fire-protection measures that they can take.
The Commission shall meet as appropriate to fulfill its functions, and shall comply with the open meetings laws of both California and Nevada. In the event of a conflict between these laws, the Commission shall comply with the law that provides the greater right of public access.
The Commission may create committees to carry out its mission. Each committee may be comprised of Commission members (including ex officio members) and a maximum of three individuals who are not members of the Commission.
The Commission shall disband 60 days after delivering its findings and recommendations.
This Memorandum of Understanding is not intended to be legally binding or to impose legal obligations on California or Nevada and will have no legal effect. Neither California nor Nevada is responsible for the actions of third parties or associates who may be involved in activities outlined in this Memorandum of Understanding.

Signed this 25th day of July 2007.

InciWeb: Zaca Wildland Fire - Acres: 31,000 Acres Percent Containment: 80 percent

Posted: 28 Jul 2007 08:11 PM CDT

InciWeb: Zaca Wildland Fire:

Zaca Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED

ANNOUNCEMENT

Forest Service Reduces Zaca Fire Closure
Date: July 26, 2007 Forest Service Reduces Zaca Fire Closure GOLETA, CA...With the Zaca Fire nearing containment, the area of Los Padres National Forest closed to public entry has been reduced signifi... more

Forest Service Zaca Fire Map
Zaca Fire Map has no perimeter changes from the map prepared on the 27th.
Credit: Zaca Fire GIS Section

view pictures || view maps

Summary

Location: 20 miles north west of Santa Barbara, Ca.

Unified Command Team: Los Padres National Forest and Santa Barbara County Fire

Start Date & Report Time: July 4, 2007 at 10:53 AM

Acres: 31,000 Acres

Percent Containment: 80 percent

Estimated Containment: August 3, 2007

Resources: Hand Crews: 10; Dozers: 3; Engines: 12; Air Tankers: 1; Helicopters: 13; Water Tenders: 22; Overhead Personnel: 115; Total Personnel: 472;

Injuries: 8;

Structures Threatened: 0;

Fireline-to-Build: 5 miles;

Estimated Cost-to-Date: $35.98 million

Current Forest and Road Closures: The emergency closure around the area of the fire has been reduced. Figueroa Mountain Road and Happy Canyon Road are now open. Sunset Valley Road remains closed.

Significant Events:

Fire remained active overnight in Divisions I and U, making several narrow runs.
Expect interior islands, some large, to continue to burn out during peak burning periods, with no real threat to the current fireline.
Hotter and drier weather will continue. Relative humidity in single digits early Saturday morning.

Current Situation:

The fire is in patrol status with the exception of the southeast corner.
Indirect fireline has been completed in the southeast corner of the fire, and is supported by a fuel (vegetation) type change from the Marre Fire on the southeast slope of San Rafael and McKinley Mountain.
Mop-up of remaining hot spots will continue.
West and northern areas of the fire are being patrolled by aircraft.
Rehabilitation of fire suppression lines is underway in the national forest.
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. Forest visitors in the Santa Barbara Canyon area should be on the alert for fire equipment and personnel on the road.

Additional Information: Depending on fire behavior and 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.

Approved By Unified Incident Commanders:

AARON GELOBTER / RICK TODD

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Human Caused
Date of Origin	07/04/2007 at 1053 hrs.
Location	20 miles north west of Santa Barbara, Ca.
Incident Commander	Aaron Gelobter / Rick Tod

Current Situation

Total Personnel	472
Size	31,000 acres
Percent Contained	80%
Estimated Containment Date	08/03/2007 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	Low relative humidity overnight caused the fire to make narrow runs to indirect fire lines constructed in Division U, the easternmost extension of the fire. An early morning flight will determine the extent of last night's advance and the potential for slopovers or spotting.
Significant Events	Demobilization of 3 Type 1 helicopters has been postponed because of last night's fire activity.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Assess potential slopovers and spots in Division U. Secure and hold the lines as needed. Continue rehabilitation of dozer lines and damage caused by fire suppression activities.
Projected Movement	Projected fire spread is expected to be within indirect fire lines. Interior islands of vegetation, some very large, will continue to burn.
Growth Potential	Low
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme. Steep rocky terrain in Divisions I and U makes direct attack of the fire unsafe and impractical.
Containment Target	The fire is in patrol status with the exception of the southeast corner.
Remarks	A closure around the area of the fire remains in effect, but has been reduced in size. Figueroa Mountain Road and Happy Canyon Road are now open. Sunset Valley Road remains closed.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	10-15 exp. mph NE
Current Temperature	93-98 expe degrees
Current Humidity	Not available

InciWeb: Elk Complex Wildland Fire - 10,337 acres - 59% containment.

Posted: 28 Jul 2007 03:47 PM CDT

InciWeb: Elk Complex Wildland Fire:

Elk Complex Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED