Headlines - Just News headlines all the time: Sep 20, 2007

Thursday, September 20, 2007

California Fire News

Increasing Lightning activity in Northern California

Posted: 19 Sep 2007 10:06 PM CDT

Increasing Lightning activity in Northern California

Northern California Lightning activity
Credit: The weather Channel

Severe Weather Alert

Special Weather Statement

WEST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-EAST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- SOUTHWESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- SOUTHEASTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- MARIPOSA MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS- TULARE COUNTY FOOTHILLS- KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS- SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON- TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-INDIAN WELLS VALLEY- SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT- 235 PM PDT WED SEP 19 2007

...UNSEASONABLY COLD AND STRONG STORM SYSTEM NEARING THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR...

THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT WEATHER SYSTEM OF THE SEASON IS CONTINUING NOW OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND IT WILL MOVE INTO THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR TONIGHT AND AFFECT THE WEATHER THROUGH SATURDAY.

FORECAST MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT IN BRINGING THIS LOW PRESSURE AREA TO A POSITION ALONG THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST THURSDAY MORNING AND THEN SHIFTING IT SOUTHWEST TO A POSITION WEST OF POINT CONCEPTION THURSDAY NIGHT. THE LOW IS THEN PROJECTED TO REMAIN OFFSHORE ON FRIDAY AND THEN LIFT NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...FINALLY DEPARTING THE REGION ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

INITIALLY...THE MAIN THREAT OF PRECIPITATION WILL BE NORTH OF FRESNO COUNTY TONIGHT...AND THEN ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY ON THURSDAY AS THE LOW SLIDES SOUTH. ENOUGH COLD AIR WILL ACCOMPANY THE STORM TO PRODUCE A CHANCE OF SHOWERS OVER MANY LOCATIONS AND EVEN A FEW THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WEST SIDE OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. BY THURSDAY NIGHT...AS THE LOW MOVES TO THE SOUTH...THE THREAT OF PRECIPITATION WILL DIMINISH...ESPECIALLY OVER THE NORTH. AS THE LOW SWINGS INLAND ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...THE PRECIPITATION THREAT WILL BE FOCUSED ON SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE FORECAST AREA WITH THE SOUTH FACING SLOPES OF THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS HAVING THE BEST CHANCES OF RECEIVING SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION. ON SATURDAY...AS THE LOW MOVES TO THE NORTHEAST...THE THREAT OF PRECIPITATION WILL AGAIN WORK NORTHWARD.

THIS STORM SYSTEM HAS PLENTY OF COLD AIR TO WORK WITH AND TEMPERATURES WILL BE MUCH COLDER OVER THE ENTIRE AREA. HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY TIME PERIOD WILL BE 20-25 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL FOR LATE SEPTEMBER AND SNOW IS POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 6500 FEET. WITH THE ARRIVAL OF COLDER AIR...WINDY TO VERY WINDY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE SIERRA CREST...THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS THROUGH THURSDAY.

ALTHOUGH THE CALENDAR SAYS LATE SEPTEMBER...HIKERS...CAMPERS AND OTHER OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR WINTER-LIKE CONDITIONS AND PREPARE ACCORDINGLY.

CA-SCU-CORRAL IC - VEGETATION FIRE

Posted: 19 Sep 2007 08:46 PM CDT

Location: Corral Hollow Rd. East of I-580, Tracy area - Between exit and aqueduct.
Sizeup: 1815: 2 acres, strong winds, moderate ROS
BC - 1615 -Full wildland response, All Aircraft from Hollister, Copter 106
Comms:
COM- SCU Local Tone 3
TAC - White 2

Fire Update:
1845: Cancel balance 1666, 1684 new non injury incident overturned truck 580 - 1/2 mile south Corral Hollow Rd
1825: Fire contained 4 acres, cancel air show, continue 3 engines code 2
1821: AA and Tanker enroute, Three Tracy LG units on scene

Butler #2 Fire - Weather event could be troublesome

Posted: 19 Sep 2007 08:10 PM CDT

Severe Weather Alert

Wind Advisory

- SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS- SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-APPLE AND LUCERNE VALLEYS- COACHELLA VALLEY-SAN DIEGO COUNTY DESERTS -

939 AM PDT WED SEP 19 2007

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT FRIDAY...

A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT FRIDAY.

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE WILL BRING LOCAL GUSTY WEST WINDS TO THE DESERTS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY.

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT... ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION

San Bernandino County (Cal Fire News) - Approaching Weather event could be troublesome, Winds are expected to gust up to 35 mph today and reach 45 mph tonight and Thursday.

Conditions continue to be very dry but this storm could bring localized thunderstorms and for the Butler 2 Fire Command and Crews no joy.

For Fire Command it means gusty erratic winds on the fire lines and possible flooding, mudflows and rock slides and it leaves the Containment Target date unknown until after the predicted wind event.

For the crews that arrived without proper cold and wet weather gear and shelter it could mean more than just discomfort it could affect the health of the crew members.

Fire Command has asked the local community to donate warm clothing such as sturdy coats for the crews, and is exploring better shelter than the dome tents most crews sleep in up at Snow Vallley.

In the meantime lots of preparation is needed to strengthen the lines, extend hose lays and add water bars and other erosion controls.

The North end of the fire has been an air show all along and without an actual containment line these predicted winds could cause serious flare ups along the North flank.

Cal Fire: Angel Fire - 95% contained - 850 acres

Posted: 19 Sep 2007 11:15 AM CDT

Angel Fire

Angel Fire - Julian, Ca - Incident SIT Report perimeters - Geomac
UPDATED: HMS 2007-09-18; Thermal MODIS: 2007-09-19 906 (GMT); Fire Perimeters 2007-09-18; Sit Reports 2007-09-18
Click on Image to enlarge

Angel Fire Incident Information:
Last Updated:	September 19, 2007 7:00 am
Date/Time Started:	September 15, 2007 1:31 pm
Administrative Unit:	CAL FIRE San Diego Unit
County:	San Diego County
Location:	Whispering Pines/Hwy 78, Julian
Acres Burned:	850 acres
Containment	95% contained - 850 acres Full containment expected September 19. Whispering Pines/Hwy 78, Julian
Structures Destroyed:	1 residence and 23 outbuildings destroyed; 1 outbuilding damaged
Evacuations:	All evacuations have been lifted. A road closure remains in place for Highway 78 at the Banner Grade.
Injuries:	7
Cause:	Under Investigation
Cooperating Agencies:	CAL FIRE, United States Forest Service, San Diego Sheriff, San Diego OES
Total Fire Personnel:	978 (864 CAL FIRE)
Fire crews:	33 CAL FIRE
Engines:	62 (43 CAL FIRE)
Dozers:	4 CAL FIRE
Water tenders:	12
Costs to date:	$2.9 million
Major Incident Command Team:	CAL FIRE Incident Command Team #9 (Windsor)
Conditions:	Aggressive direct suppression action was successful at holding the fire at its current location. Evacuations of all areas have been lifted. A road closure remains in place for Highway 78 at the Banner Grade. All other road closures are lifted. Evacuation Centers have been set up at Ramona High School (1401 Hansen Lane) and Borrego High School (2281 Digueno Road)
Phone Numbers	(619) 590-3160 (Angel Fire Information)

Inciweb: Butler 2 Wildland Fire - 14,039 acres - 86%

Posted: 19 Sep 2007 10:20 AM CDT

Butler 2 Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 28 MIN. AGO

Smoke Plume
Credit: DANIEL ELLIOTT

view pictures || view maps

Summary

The Butler 2 Fire was reported at 1:21 pm on Friday northwest of Big Bear Lake. The fire is currently 14,039 acres and 86% contained. Highway 18 remains closed from Running Springs east to Big Bear Dam. Drivers may not access Big Bear from Hwy 18 or from Hwy 330 in San Bernardino, but Hwy 18 is open from Apple Valley (the high desert). Drivers may also access Big Bear via Hwy 38 from I-10 in Redlands.

Manadatory Evacuations for Fawnskin-- Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for the Fawnskin area from the Big Bear Dam to The Discovery Center north of Hwy 38.

The evacuation center at Big Bear High School has been moved to Pine Summit Christian Camp at 700 Wren Drive in Big Bear Lake.

Voluntary Evacuations Lifted for the Green Valley Lake, Running Springs, Arrowbear Lake, and Green Valley Lake Lucerne Valley areas

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Under Investigation
Date of Origin	09/14/2007 at 1321 hrs.
Location	NW of Big Bear Lake
Incident Commander	Opliger/corley/mcclellan

Current Situation

Total Personnel	2,346
Size	14,039 acres
Percent Contained	86%
Fuels Involved	Grass, Brush, and Timber.
Fire Behavior	Good humidity recovery overnight resulted smoldering fire.
Significant Events	Significant progress made with line construction today. Evacution for Green Valley, Running Springs, Arrowbear Lake, Lucerne Valley lifted today at 18:00

Outlook

Planned Actions	Continue line construction, hold existing line, provide structure protection where needed.
Projected Movement	Northeast
Growth Potential	Extreme
Terrain Difficulty	High.
Containment Target	Unknown until after the predicted wind event.
Remarks	Highway closures--Hwy 18 remains closed from Running Springs to Big Bear Dam. Drivers may not access Big Bear from Hwy 18 or from Hwy 330 in San Bernardino, but Hwy 18 is open from Apple Valley (the high desert). Drivers may also access Big Bear via Hwy 38 from I-10 in Redlands. Areas Closed--Camp Whittle Boy Scout Camp, Big Pine Flat, Ironwood, Hanna Flat, Yellow Post campsites in the area, and Butler Peak Lookout. Forest Road Closures--2N13, both ends of 3N14, 4N16, 3N16 at Crab Flats, Grays Peak Trailhead. Resources on Scene--69 hand crews, 164 engines, 17 helicopters, 12 fixed wing aircraft,8 dozers, and 28 watertenders. Mandatory Community Evacuations remain in effect for the Fawnskin area from the Big Bear Dam to The Discovery Center north of Hwy 38. The evacuatiion center has been moved to Pine Summit Christian Camp at 700 Wren Drive in Big Bear Lake. Voluntary Evacuations lifted for Green Valley Lake, Lucerne Valley, Running Springs and Arrowbear.