Wednesday, August 15, 2007

California Fire News

California Fire News

InciWeb: Elk Complex Wildland Fire - 17,684 acres - 90%

Posted: 14 Aug 2007 08:06 PM CDT

InciWeb: Elk Complex Wildland Fire:

Elk Complex Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 16:00 hrs.
NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Duane Lyon

August 9, 2007 4pm (530) 281 4485

Klamath National Forest Announces Reopening of Three Existing Klamath River Closures and Continuing One Closure

Yreka, CA--Klamath River access has been reopened for the following areas; Indian Creek Access, Curly Jack Day Use Access, and Chambers's Flat River Access. This is a result of increased containment of the Elk Complex wildfire and reduced conflict with helicopter operations. However, boaters need to avoid landing on the fire side of the Klamath River (east or south side depending on the orientation of the river segment). Hazards still exist in the fire area-including loose rocks and debris, as well as a high number of rattlesnakes.

Based on concern for the safety of the public and firefighters, the Wingate Bar River Access area, located in the W ¼ of Section 5, T.15 N., R.7 E., HM, continues to be closed to launching of boats.

Community Oveview 8/4/07

Community Oveview 8/4/07
Credit: NorCal 1

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Summary

The Elk Complex is 90% contained. Crews continue to monitor. Check www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/conditions/ or call the Fire Information Center at 530 841 4451 for current information on road, trail, and river access closures.

Basic Information

Incident Type Wildland Fire
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin 07/10/2007 at 2201 hrs.
Location Happy Camp Ranger District
Incident Commander Marcos Spivey

Current Situation

Total Personnel 114
Size 17,684 acres
Percent Contained 90%
Estimated Containment Date 10/30/2007 at 0700 hrs.
Fuels Involved

10 Timber (litter and understory). Mature heavy timber overstory with brush understory, large quantities of dead fuels and snags.

Fire Behavior

Slow moving surface fire in green pockets within fire prerimeter with isolated torching, creeping and roll-out on steep slopes.

Significant Events

Continued to secure line burned on previous days. Patrol, mop-up, and repair activities. Fire backed down to the Klamath River on the west.

Outlook

Planned Actions

Continue to secure the line burned on previous days. Continue to perform fireline repair.

Projected Movement

12 hours: Interior burning of unburn fuels.

24 hours: Potential for re-burn in areas wetted by previous rain event as drying continues.

48 hours: Potential for re-burn in areas wetted by previous rain event as drying continues.

72 hours: Potential for re-burn in areas wetted by previous rain event as drying continues.

Growth Potential

Low

Terrain Difficulty

Extreme

Containment Target

Likely to meet objectives based on current weather projections.

Remarks

Fire finished backing into the Klamath River. Portions of the Elk fire, Humming Bird fire and King Creek to / Titus / Wingate fires are in confinement status which accounts for the 90% continement. Plan to transition to a type 3 team on 08/05/07.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions 1 mph NW
Current Temperature 52 degrees
Current Humidity 75 %

Yuba, Plumas, Yolo, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Sierra, Alpine, Shasta, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Sacramento, Placer, Solano, Butte, Colusa

Posted: 14 Aug 2007 07:15 PM CDT

[EDIS] -FIRE WEATHER WATCH gusty winds and low humidity on thursday

Yuba, Plumas, Yolo, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Sierra, Alpine, Shasta, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Sacramento, Placer, Solano, Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Lake, Tehama, Nevada

.AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ON THURSDAY. THIS WILL CAUSE GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE WEST SLOPES OF THE SIERRA NEVADA INCLUDING THE BURNEY BASIN. GUSTY WINDS... ALONG WITH LOW HUMIDITY... WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY OVER THE SIERRA NEVADA...INCLUDING THE BURNEY BASIN. GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. SOUTHWEST WINDS ARE FORECAST TO INCREASE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. SUSTAINED WINDS FROM 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS FROM 25 TO 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED MAINLY OVER RIDGE TOPS ON THURSDAY. MODERATE TO POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERY IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH HUMIDITY LEVELS BELOW 15 PERCENT EXPECTED OVER MUCH OF THE AREA ON THURSDAY.

Instruction:
PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS FIRE WEATHER WATCH.

Area: BURNEY BASIN AND NORTHEAST PLATEAU IN SHASTA COUNTY INCLUDINGNORTHWEST LASSEN NF NORTH OF LASSEN NP-SOUTHERN MOTHERLODE FROM 1000 TO 3000 FT. INCLUDES PORTIONS OFCALAVERAS-TUOLUMNE UNIT-STANISLAUS NF WEST OF THE SIERRA CREST-NORTHERN SIERRA FOOTHILLS FROM 1000 TO 3000 FT. INCLUDES PORTIONSOF SHASTA-TRINITY AND BUTTE UNITS-NORTHERN MOTHERLODE FROM 1000 TO 3000 FT. INCLUDES PORTIONS OFNEVADA-YUBA-PLACER-AMADOR AND ELDORADO UNITS-NORTHERN SIERRA INCLUDING LASSEN NP AND PLUMAS AND LASSEN NF/SWEST OF THE SIERRA CREST (WEST OF EVANS PEAK-GRIZZLY PEAK-BECKWORTH PEAK)-NORTHERN SIERRA INCLUDING THE TAHOE AND ELDORADO NF/S WEST OF THESIERRA CREST-

Affected Counties or parts of: Yuba, Plumas, Yolo, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Sierra, Alpine, Shasta, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Sacramento, Placer, Solano, Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Lake, Tehama, Nevada,

Sent: 2007-08-14T15:50:19-07:00

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

From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA

EDIS- Red flag warning remains in effect until 9 pm this evening for the mountains of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara,Ventura, Los Angeles

Posted: 14 Aug 2007 07:07 PM CDT

EDIS- Red flag warning remains in effect until 9 pm this evening for the mountains of san luis obispo... santa barbara... ventura... and los angeles counties due to very low humidities... high temperatures and gusty winds

Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles


Instruction:
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS... LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

Area: SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-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: 2007-08-14T15:46:47-07:00

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

From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA

Heart attacks were the most frequent cause of Firefighter deaths for 2006

Posted: 14 Aug 2007 06:47 PM CDT

The USFA 2006 annual report on Firefighter fatalities is out.
106 Firefighters died while on duty in 2006 and of that 106, 77 were Volunteer Firefighters and 29 were Career Firefighters who died while on duty.
Overview and breakdown:
-There were 6 Firefighter fatality incidents where 2 or more Firefighters were killed, claiming a total of 17 firefighters' lives.
-22 firefighters were killed during activities involving brush, grass, or wildland firefighting.
-Activities related to emergency incidents resulted in the deaths of 61 Firefighters.
-36 Firefighters died while engaging in activities at the scene of a fire.
-15 Firefighters died while responding to or returning from emergency incidents.
-9 Firefighters died while they were engaged in training activities.
-20 Firefighters died after the conclusion of their onduty activity.
-Heart attacks were the most frequent cause of death for 2006, with 50 Firefighter deaths
- 19 Firefighters were killed as a result of vehicle crashes.

The 2006 report on firefighter fatalities in the United States is available here:
www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/report.shtm
Note: NFPA and the NFFF each have their own and different numbers based upon their own specific criteria for a variety of reasons.

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