Monday, October 1, 2007

California Fire News

[EDIS] lake wind advisory now in effect - GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-

Posted: 30 Sep 2007 04:49 PM CDT

[EDIS] Lake wind advisory now in effect until 5 am pdt Monday

- GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA -

THE LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM PDT MONDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TONIGHT AND PASS INTO NORTHWEST NEVADA MONDAY MORNING. AHEAD OF THE FRONT SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH 30 TO 40 MPH GUSTS WILL CAUSE ROUGH CHOP ON LAKE TAHOE AND PYRAMID LAKE. SMALL BOATS WILL BE PRONE TO CAPSIZING AND SHOULD REMAIN OFF LAKE WATERS THROUGH TONIGHT. CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO OR LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.

Area: GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE INCLUDING PYRAMID LAKE-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF... SOUTH LAKE TAHOE... TAHOE CITY... TRUCKEE... MARKLEEVILLE... GLENBROOK... INCLINE VILLAGE... FERNLEY... FALLON... LOVELOCK... SILVER SPRINGS... NIXON... IMLAY

Affected Counties or parts of: Modoc, Plumas, Placer, Mono, Lassen, El Dorado, Nevada, Sierra, Alpine

Sent: 2007-09-30T14:38:41-07:00

From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV

This is news in London - Great Bear save in Donner Summit area

Posted: 30 Sep 2007 03:51 PM CDT

Bear rescued from California bridge: Pictures

Story at The Telegraph - UK
By Emma Henry and agencies

Last Updated: 1:28pm BST 30/09/2007

A 250-pound bear stranded under a busy bridge near Lake Tahoe in California was saved by an army of rescuers, a tranquiliser dart and a nylon net bought at an Army surplus store.

The bear was walking across the 80ft high bridge on Highway 40 near Donner Summit in the Sierra Nevada when the closeness of two oncoming cars spooked it, causing it to jump over the railing.

At one point it was dangling over the edge, but it managed to grab on to a ledge and pull itself onto a concrete girder beneath the bridge.

Officials initially decided nothing could be done, but when they returned the next morning and found the bear still stranded on the bridge, they decided to take action.

Volunteers strung the net beneath the bridge and an animal control officer shot the bear with a tranquiliser dart.

Once the bear was unconscious, volunteers used a pole to push it into the net, then lowered the bear onto the floor of the ravine as more than 100 spectators cheered.

The groggy bear was steered away from the crowds and back into the wilderness.

Dave Baker of the Truckee BEAR League said: "I've been on a lot of bear rescues and this is the most intense bear call that I've been on."

Wallspring Prescribed Fire - Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park

Posted: 30 Sep 2007 03:15 PM CDT

Wallspring Prescribed Fire

Wallspring Prescribed Fire map

INCIDENT UPDATED

Summary

Fire crews plan to begin ignitions on the Wallspring Prescribed Fire in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park on September 29, weather and air quality conditions permitting. The 175-acre unit is located south of the Giant Forest Museum between the Moro Rock Road and the Generals Highway. Hand-held drip torches will be used to ignite the burn over approximately three days. A test burn and black lining (burning along the outer edge of the prescribed fire unit) will begin Saturday with full operations beginning on Sunday. Throughout the project, fire managers will work closely with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to manage smoke production and reduce local impacts. Giant sequoias are fire adapted and thrive in naturally cycling fire. Fire opens the cones, and releases the tiny seeds to the nutrient rich ash and mineral soil below-ideal conditions for this tree's germination. Fire thins competing vegetation and trees and opens the canopy for this sun-loving species. The Moro Rock Trail between the Giant Forest Museum and the Moro Rock parking area will be closed for the prescribed fire until further notice. The Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow Road is currently closed because of a repaving project. Fire management would like to complete this prescribed fire while the closure in effect. This will aid firefighter and visitor safety by eliminating traffic on this narrow, winding road during the project. The Generals Highway will remain open during the burn with potential delays. Please use caution while driving in the area since firefighters, equipment, and/or smoke may be present on the roads. Park residents and visitors in the area who are sensitive to smoke or have pre-existing respiratory problems should limit their outdoor activities and keep windows closed during the burn.

Basic Info

Tree top Sequoia fire not out near Springville

Posted: 30 Sep 2007 01:36 PM CDT

(1) A fire at the top of a giant sequoia near Springville continued to burn Friday despite a U.S. Forest Service helicopter dropping water on it.

Burning debris from the tree ignited a quarter-acre blaze in the area that crews from the Sequoia National Forest's Tule River and Hot Springs ranger districts were able to control and extinguish, spokeswoman Denise Alonzo said.

Alonzo said an experienced tree climber was being called in to climb to the top of a neighboring tree to spray water into the top of the burning giant sequoia.

The fire in the giant sequoia was reported by a resident of the private Sequoia Crest subdivision.

Even though it was on private land, forest service crews responded. The area is surrounded by the Giant Sequoia National Monument.