Blaze grows to 10,000 Northeast of Santa Maria
June 21, 2006 - Warm weather and dry conditions posed a challenge for firefighters battling a 10,000-acre wildfire that threatens to expand into Los Padres National Forest.
By early Wednesday, more than 800 firefighters had contained about 35 percent of the Perkins Fire, which burned south through chaparral and away from the small town of New Cuyama about 45 miles east of Santa Maria. No homes were threatened.
Temperatures in the 90s and even drier conditions in the heavily brushed area will likely require even more firefighters Wednesday, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Joe Pasinato.
The main focus will be to keep the blaze from reaching a ridgeline bordering a wilderness area that has larger trees and brush but no vehicle access, Pasinato said.
"We do not want that to happen," Pasinato said.
While the fire grew by about 4,000 acres Tuesday, Pasinato said firefighters were able to make gains by dusk. The fire expanded to about 10,270 acres overnight.
The fire began about 1:30 p.m. Monday when a piece of metal blew into electrical wires, authorities said. Three trailers that belonged to an oil company and two sheds were destroyed. No injuries were reported.
Firefighters were aided by four air tankers and six helicopters, as well as heavy brush that was still moist from the spring rains.
Meanwhile, smoke from the fire was choking air quality in southern Nevada, where an advisory was in effect until Tuesday evening. Children, seniors and people with respiratory problems were warned to stay indoors.
The Southern California fire season has started strong with 15 small brush fires charring pockets of the Angeles National Forest in recent days.
Authorities predicted that late spring rains would present only an average risk of wildfires this season.
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=state&id=4293967
FIRE NEAR PENROSE CONTAINED
Firefighters "Keeping An Eye" On Embers -- Nobody Fighting The Fire At This Time
by Associated Press
6/21/2006
CANON CITY, Colo. (AP) _ Fire crews near Penrose hope to get a wildfire completely extinguished Wednesday, before high heat and winds have a chance to trigger a flare-up.
The blaze was first reported along Beaver Creek about two o'clock Tuesday afternoon.
Thirty-mile-per-hour wind gusts and 96-degree heat caused the fire to more-than quadruple in size from three- to 14-acres in just a short time.
Assistant Penrose fire Chief Steve Shannon says trees literally exploded as flames jumped from treetop to treetop among thick junipers and cottonwoods, before racing through sagebrush.
Crews from at least eight departments battled those flames at the height of the fire.
No damage or injuries have been reported.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
http://www.krdotv.com/DisplayStory.asp?id=11406