Wildfire News 7/14: Sawtooth Fire and More

NICC, NIFC, WFAS ^ | 7/14/06 | Various

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Haines Index Map - Higher Haines means fire growth tends to be stronger:



Fuel Dryness:  Tells you how likely things are to burn if a fire gets started:







INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2006 – 0530 MDT
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL 3


CURRENT SITUATION:

Initial attack activity was light nationally with 167 new fires reported.  Ten new large fires (*) were reported, four in the Northern Rockies Area, two in the Southern Area and one each in the Southwest, Eastern Great Basin, Eastern, and the Rocky Mountain Areas. Seven large fires were contained, two each in the Northwest and Southern Areas, and one each in the Western Great Basin, Eastern and Eastern Great Basin Areas.  Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

A Type 1 Incident Management Team (Opliger) is assigned to the 21,651 acre Wutlus Lake fire 37 miles west of Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada.  This fire is 100% contained.  No further information was received.


NORTHERN ROCKIES AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

PINE RIDGE COMPLEX, Southern Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.  A Type 1 Incident Management Team (Bennett) has been ordered. This complex, comprised of five fires, is 30 miles east of Billings, MT in sagebrush and agricultural fields.  Evacuations are in progress. Numerous residences, ranches, rangeland, agricultural crops, timber, powerlines, petroleum pipelines and a rest area are threatened.  Weather and ongoing drought conditions are hindering containment.  Extreme fire behavior was observed.

BUNDY RAILROAD, Billings District, Bureau of Land Management. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (McNitt) has been ordered.  This fire is eight miles northeast of Warden, MT in timber, grass and sagebrush.  Evacuations are in effect for several ranches.  High winds, low relative humidity, and drought conditions are hampering efforts to contain the fire.  Extreme fire behavior and rapid rates of spread were reported.

HORTON-HAY, Eastern Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.  A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Grant) has been ordered. This fire is 35 miles southwest of Miles City, MT in ponderosa pine, grass and sagebrush.  Structures and utility infrastructure are threatened.  An evacuation order is in effect for the Moon Creek area. Rapid rates of spread and growth to the south were reported.

WATT DRAW, Miles City District, Bureau of Land Management.  A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Reid) has been ordered. This fire is 13 miles southeast of Ashland, MT in grass, timber and sagebrush. Three residences, outbuildings, and grazing allotments are threatened. Isolated torching, running, and spotting were observed.

SHANE RIDGE, Southern Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Heintz) is assigned.  This fire is 10 miles southeast of Columbus, MT in timber, grass and understory. Significant progress was made in completing the control line. Single and group tree torching was observed.  The Team is also managing the Saunders fire.

IRON JAW, Eastern Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.  This fire is 15 miles southwest of Miles City, MT in timber and grass.  No further information was received.

SAUNDERS, Southern Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Heintz) is assigned.  This fire is four miles west of Columbus, MT in grass and timber.  Numerous residences remain threatened.  Brumfield and Countryman Creek Roads remain closed to non-residents.  Minimal fire behavior with smoldering in heavy woody material and deep duff was reported.


SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

SAWTOOTH COMPLEX, San Bernardino Unit, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF).  A Unified Command has been established between a CDF Type 1 Incident Command Team (Henson) and the Forest Service.  This complex, comprised of the Sawtooth, Waters, and Ridge fires, is two miles east of Yucca Valley, CA, in chaparral. Numerous residences remain threatened.  Evacuation orders for Pioneer Town, Pipes Canyon, and the Skyline Ranch area of Yucca Valley have been lifted. A portion of the fire has burned into the San Bernardino National Forest.  Weather and steep, rocky terrain continue to hinder containment efforts.  Extreme fire behavior in Big Morongo Canyon and spotting were reported.

MILLARD COMPLEX, San Bernardino National Forest.  A Unified Command has been established between a Type 2 Incident Management Team (Walker), the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF), the Forest Service, and Riverside County Fire Department.  This complex, comprised of four fires, State, Jump Off, For Sure and Millard, is seven miles north of Cabazon, CA in chaparral and conifer.  There is potential for this complex to merge with the Sawtooth Complex. Numerous residences and cultural resources remain threatened.  Extreme fire behavior with rapid spread continues.


NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

CANYON, Santa Clara Unit, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF).  A CDF Type 1 Incident Command Team (Paul) is assigned.  This fire is 11 miles west of Patterson, CA in chaparral.  Several residences, ranches and Henry Coe State Park remain threatened.  Del Puerto Canyon Road remains closed to civilian traffic.  Difficult access, steep terrain and weather continue to hinder containment.  Continued dry, hot conditions have intensified ignition potential.  Very active fire behavior was reported.


EASTERN GREAT BASIN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

BABOON 2, Cedar City District, Bureau of Land Management.  This fire is 10 miles south of Minerville, UT in cheatgrass, sagebrush, pinyon pine and juniper.  Active fire behavior included torching, short runs and backing fire.

SAGE VALLEY, Richfield Field Office, Bureau of Land Management. This fire is 10 miles north of Mills, UT in pinyon pine, juniper, grass and sagebrush.  Interior torching was reported.

WEST KANOSH, Fish Lake National Forest.  This fire is six miles southwest of Kanosh, UT in brush and hardwood slash.  Torching and creeping were reported.


ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

THORN DIVIDE COMPLEX, Crook County.  A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Lowe) is assigned.    This fire is 5 miles south of Devils Tower National Monument, WY in timber and grass.
Numerous residences, powerlines and the National Monument are threatened.  Evacuations are in effect.  Active fire runs, torching and spotting were reported. 

WOLF CANYON, South Dakota State.  This fire is five miles northeast of Edgemont, SD in grass.  Short runs, spotting and single tree torching were reported. 

DIVIDE, Mofatt County. This fire is 20 miles northwest of Craig, CO in grass, sagebrush and wheat fields.  One structure is threatened.  Spotting and 20 foot flame lengths were observed.

WESTERN GREAT BASIN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

BALLY, Ely District, Bureau of Land Management.  This fire is seven miles northeast of Barley, NV in brush, slash, pinyon pine and juniper. Crews made good progress on east and west flanks.  Torching and creeping were observed.


NORTHWEST AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

TIN PAN, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.  A Fire Use Management Team (Furlong) is assigned.  This lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use (WFU) incident is being managed to accomplish resource objectives.  This fire is seven miles west of Lucerne, WA in timber.    Smoldering, creeping and single tree torching were reported.


SOUTHERN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

LINDSEY BAY, National Forests of Florida.  This fire is five miles southeast of Wilma, FL in southern rough.  Some light precipitation fell over the fire area.


SOUTHWESTERN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

AUGER, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.   This lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use (WFU) incident is being managed to accomplish resource objectives. This fire is 21 miles northwest of Glenwood, NM in timber.  Minimal fire behavior with some flanking and backing was observed.  This will be the last narrative report unless significant activity occurs. 


OUTLOOK:

Fire Weather Watches: For Friday afternoon and evening for much of north central Montana for low relative humidities and gusty winds. For eastern portions of Wyoming and South Dakota for low relative humidity and increasing winds.

Weather Discussion:  A large high pressure ridge will strengthen over the West today with hot and dry conditions.  Winds will increase over eastern Idaho, and western portions of Montana and Wyoming.  Elsewhere, thunderstorms will develop mainly over the Southwest.





Full NICC Report:
http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.rtf

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Midday CDF update:

Sawtooth Complex Incident Information:
Last Updated: July 14, 2006 12:00 pm
Date/Time Started: July 9, 2006 8:30 am
Administrative Unit: CDF San Bernardino Unit
County: San Bernardino
Location: East of Yucca Valley
Acres Burned: 53,000
Containment 20% containment
Structures Destroyed: 45 residences,
118 outbuildings (detached garages &
barns), 89 cars and pick-up trucks, &
2 R.V.s
Threatened: 3,000+ structures
continue to be threatened in the fire
area.
Evacuations: Mandatory evacuation for
residents in a small area of Morongo
Valley, west of Juniper and north of
Pioneer Drive. Also for Burns Canyon
and Rimrock.


Mandatory evacuations have been lifted
for residents with identification for
Pioneertown, Skyline Ranch, Pipes
Canyon and Gamma Gulch.

Injuries: 6 total - all minor
Cause: Lightning
Cooperating Agencies: CDF, San
Bernardino County Fire, U.S. Forest
Service, CHP, LA County Fire, CA Dept.
of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Red
Cross & Office of Emergency
Services
Total Fire Personnel: 1,979 (1,914)
Fire crews: 62 (52 CDF)
Engines: 181 (67 CDF)
Airtankers: 10 (9 CDF)
Helicopters: 13 (2 CDF)
Dozers: 18 (10 CDF)
Water tenders: 20
Costs to date: .1 million
Major Incident Command Team: CDF Team
#8/Unified Command with U.S Forest
Service/San Bernardino County Fire

Conditions: The fire is burning in
extremely steep rugged terrain with
little access.

No evacuations in the Big Bear Valley
at this time. San Bernardino County
Sheriff's deputies from the Big Bear
Station are currently notifying
residents of the Lake Williams area
and east side of Lake Irwin with a
public safety alert regarding the
Sawtooth Complex Fire. Residents of
these areas are encouraged to stay
tuned to their local media outlet for
any change in the status of their area.

Evacuation Centers have been set up at
the Yucca Valley High School, 7600
Sage Ave,and Big Bear Elementary
School, 40940 Pennsylvania (for Burns
Canyon residents).

For animal/pet information - 1-800-472-
5609 (So. CA only), www.sbcounty.gov/acc

The Millard Fire on the San Bernardino
National Forest and the Sawtooth
Complex were within 1/2 mile of each
other as of 8 a.m. this morning.

Phone Numbers 1 (909) 383-5688
(Sawtooth Fire Information)
Phone Numbers 1 (800) 472-5609
(Animal Evacuation Information, So. CA Only)

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Here's an update on some of the other fires burning in Eastern Montana.

The Birthday 2 fire, which is on the Crow Indian Reservation, has destroyed at least two buildings, including a house.

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A blaze burning west of Billings, the 810 acre Shane Ridge fire near Joliet, is now about 75% contained.

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Residents who were evacuated from the path of the Saunders fire near Columbus have gone back home. Fire officials now say that they have the 3,100 acre fire nearly contained.

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Elsewhere in southern Montana, a wind-stirred fire near Ashland has destroyed at least one house.

Finally, about 50 structures, including 20 houses, are considered threatened by the Horton-Hay Creek fire, burning south of Hathaway and estimated at 10,000 acres.

http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=5150255

[Knitting A Conundrum]

fires in montana:

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Fire Burning Near the Ten Thousand Foot Ridge South Of Onyx

Breaking News

By RIMOFTHEWORLD.net
Friday, July 14, 2006

Heavy fire activity was visible near the Ten Thousand Foot Ridge — about 5 miles south and southeast of Onyx Summit.

http://www.rimoftheworld.net/columns/rotw/fire_creeps

[Knitting A Conundrum]

been listening to the scanner for the Sawtooth complex, and the fire is definitely heating up and being more active.

Several eye witnesses have written about the huge smoke column going up....

[Knitting A Conundrum]

CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. -- An East County freeway accident Friday afternoon sparked a wildfire that tore over brushy hillsides on the outskirts of Pine Valley, authorities reported.

The blaze erupted shortly after 2 p.m., when a pickup truck veered off westbound Interstate 8 near Corte Madera Road in the Cleveland National Forest, crashed and began burning, according to the California Department of Forestry.

Stoked by intense afternoon heat, the flames rapidly spread to the north, the CDF reported. Within an hour, the fire had blackened roughly a dozen acres.

Ground and airborne crews worked to subdue the fire while strike teams took up structure-protection positions in nearby Pine Valley.

Battling the blaze at 3 p.m. were state and federal personnel equipped with six air tankers, four helicopters, 20 engines, two water trucks and a bulldozer, CDF public information officer Roxanne Provaznik said.

http://www.10news.com/news/9521720/detail.html

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Fri 7/14

04:40 PM

From: air to ground

Millard fire with the smoke column up; 32 T 1 N R 3; buring in the lower fuels, can't see the base of it; coming up the South side of Coon Creek ridge; don't know what the fuel load is; would have to come through that road system before it gets to us at the jumpoff; can you have a field observer to let us know if it comes at us; has lot a lot of momentum as I've been watching; the plume has feathered out and cooled it off here for us; see a smoke, hoping it's way out on Branch 1

04:41 PM


cresting the ridge at Coon Creek

http://www.rimoftheworld.net/incident/2432

[La Enchiladita]

It is currently 106 in Yucca Valley, "feels like 115" says weatherman Dallas Raines. Winds are variable, shifting direction. The area may get moisture from the Gulf approx. Monday. Tommorow's temp out there: 112.

We are so blessed to have a breeze where I am, 5 miles from the beach and 120 miles from Yucca Valley.

KABC-TV saying Sawtooth and Millard fires have merged. So, that would bring the total burned to 61,000 acres. Burning 400 acres per hour or faster, thanks to those variable winds.

I worry about firefighters getting too close to some of this.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

My husband just got dispatched as an information officer for the Millard Complex. He will be there tomorrow. So now this fire is personal.

[drungus]

Not sure how much he will be on the lines, but I hope he stays safe and out of the way of the dragon. You both will be in my thoughts.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Hopefully, he won't be on the lines at all, but will be helping the locals with information about what's going on. But I thank you!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

By CHRISTINA ALMEIDA, Associated Press Writer 36 minutes ago

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. - Thousands of firefighters aided by aircraft worked Friday in fierce heat to keep two big wildfires from gaining a foothold in the heavily populated San Bernardino Mountains, where millions of trees killed by drought and bark beetles could provide explosive fuel.
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The lightning-caused fires, covering more than 95 square miles combined, merged Friday afternoon. Wildfires can grow more unpredictable after merging, but the two blazes were moving slowly Friday and U.S. Forest Service officials said it appeared that their combination was unlikely to seriously increase fire activity.

The larger of the two fires has destroyed 45 homes and 118 outbuildings and remained a potential threat to 1,500 homes, said Kristel Johnson of the U.S. Forest Service. The 53,000-acre blaze started a week ago on the Mojave Desert floor below the eastern flank of the San Bernardinos, and was 20 percent contained.

The smaller fire had burned 8,300 acres, mostly at higher elevations. Though heavy smoke continued to fill the sky Friday, wind was pushing that fire away from the mountaintop Big Bear resort region and onto areas already burned by the larger fire.

Several thousand people live in and around Big Bear Lake, which went through its last big scare in Southern California's onslaught of devastating wildfires in 2003.

"There's no danger to Big Bear residents, there's no imminent threat at this time," said Tracey Martinez, a San Bernardino County Fire Department spokeswoman. However, about 75 scattered homes and a fish hatchery remained in the fire's path.

Despite low humidity, steep, broken slopes and 105-degree temperatures, firefighting efforts were in "great shape," U.S. Forest Service spokesman Jim Wilkins said. About 2,700 firefighters and three dozen aircraft were fighting the blazes.

Still, fire did burn onto ridges with scattered trees, which went up like torches underneath heavy air tankers that dropped fire retardant.

Concerns about what would happen when the fires merged had focused on the possibility of an ultra-hot fire front that could create its own unpredictable winds, but a merger also can create firebreaks by quickly burning up brush in each fire's path.

"They're going to burn each other out in that area," Martinez predicted.

In Pioneertown, a former Western movie locale where the larger fire burned several homes this week, a 20-person search and rescue team headed out Friday to look for a 57-year-old man missing since Tuesday. The wife of Jerry Guthrie reported him missing.

Firefighters in southern Montana, mostly east of Billings, were battling three major fires totaling close to 150,000 acres, or more than 230 square miles. The estimate on the largest fire nearly tripled overnight, fire information officer Paula Rosenthal said.

More than 200 structures, more than 80 of them homes, were threatened by the fires, and another blaze near Ashland destroyed at least one house. Firefighters were close Friday to containing a wildfire that destroyed five buildings earlier this week.

Meteorologists had bad news for firefighters in southern Montana and California's Mojave Desert and foothills: Both parched areas were expected to see weekend thunderstorms that could trigger more lightning-caused wildfires.

Other wildfires around the West included an 850-acre blaze that forced the closure of southern Nevada's Beaver Dam State Park since lightning started it late Tuesday. The park reopened Friday, and authorities said the blaze was 50 percent contained.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060715/ap_on_re_us/wildfires

[Knitting A Conundrum]

A large column of smoke is visible from a fire only a few miles south of Onyx Summit. The fire has been moving very rapidly toward the northwest and north. (Photo by Scott Straley.) http://www.rimoftheworld.net/columns/rotw/fire_creeps

[Knitting A Conundrum]

The heavy fire activity that was visible near the Ten Thousand Foot Ridge — about 5 miles south and southeast of Onyx Summit — several hours ago have progressed rapidly toward the northwest. A large column of smoke with very active burning can be seen just to the south of Onyx Summit.

Smoke drifted across eastern Big Bear Valley this morning from the Sawtooth Fire. Aside from the drift smoke, however, very little fire activity can be observed from the Onyx Summit area. The areas where torching occurred Thursday night show only a few columns of white smoke. The winds are generally calm. Forest Service crews from Mill Creek pulled into the small community and are working with Big Bear fire crews to shore up the "contingency line" from Onyx Peak to the Arrastre Fire burn area. Additionally, crews are continuing to work in Burns Canyon to the east.

Some reports indicate that the Sawtooth Complex and Millard Complex Fires have merged in Little Morongo Canyon — but the official word is that they're still 1/2 mile apart, according to fire officials. Excessive heat and breezier conditions today are expected to create extreme fire behavior.

The western edge of the Sawtooth Fire slowly is backing westward down a ridgeline about 3 miles to the east of Onyx Summit. Firefighters had hoped for additional air support today, but those aircraft were diverted elsewhere on the fire. And, without air support, officials are reluctant to send in hot shot crews.

http://www.rimoftheworld.net/columns/rotw/fire_creeps

[Fitzcarraldo]

[Fitzcarraldo]

http://www.socalmountains.com/forum_viewtopic.php?14.49617.10

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Thanks a lot for posting the pic and the map!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

UPDATE: WILDFIRE SLOWED, CONTAINMENT INCREASES
07/14/06 8:40 PDT

A large and stubborn wildfire vexing firefighters since Sunday has "slowed down tremendously" today, John Amos, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention said this evening.

The blaze, which is burning in Stanislaus and Santa Clara counties, spread a mere 300 acres in the past 24 hours, and containment is now at 47 percent, Amos said.

Fire officials predict the fire will be completely contained by Saturday at 11 p.m.

"They're sticking to that like it's religious," Amos said.

Thousands of firefighters overnight pushed back the fire that had spread to Santa Clara County on Wednesday evening, containing the blaze to about three-quarters of a mile across the county line.

The fire has destroyed 10 homes and one outbuilding but is no longer threatening any structures, fire officials said.

The blaze, which started in the Del Puerto Canyon west of Patterson near the Frank Raines Regional Park in Stanislaus County on Sunday afternoon, is no longer seriously threatening Henry Coe State Park, the largest state park in Northern California covering 87,000 square miles.

"At this point it's not moving toward Coe Park, and the park is miles away," Amos said.

The effort has cost more than $7 million and engaged 2,132 firefighters, five of whom have suffered minor injuries.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060715/ap_on_re_us/wildfires

[Fitzcarraldo]

http://www.rimoftheworld.net/gallery/24

[Fitzcarraldo]

http://www.rimoftheworld.net/columns/rotw/fire_at_72,000

Fire At 72,000 Acres; Firefighters Ready For Assault

Breaking News

By RIMOFTHEWORLD.net

Friday, July 14, 2006

The western edge of the 72,000 acre Sawtooth and Millard Complex fire that is burning in Coon Creek Canyon has continued westward this evening. The fire is expected to lay down overnight with minimal forward motion. However, on Saturday the fire will resume its westward and northward progress in the wilderness south of Onyx Summit, according to firefighters.

Firefighter hand crews have aggressively cut a line from Onyx Summit north to the old Arrastre Burn and southward connecting a line to Coon Creek Canyon. Water tenders have been preparing the Coon Creek Road out of Heart Bar Campground so it can accept the heavy equipment they intend on bringing in on Saturday.

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A water tender returns from helping prepare the road leading to Coon Creek from the Heart Bar Campground. (Photo by Scott Straley.)