Storms may hurt south-state firefighting
By Jeremiah Marquez
ASSOCIATED PRESS
YUCCA VALLEY - Lightning and heavy rains were expected to pose new challenges today for firefighters who have made gains on wildfires that have destroyed close to 60 homes.
"We'll get substantial rain. Whether it will be helpful or harmful will be determined by how you look at it," said Robert Balfour, a National Weather Service senior forecaster assigned to the fires.
There is a 40 percent chance of rain in the area today, and a 60 percent chance of heavy rain, with the possibility of flash flooding later in the week, Balfour said.
"We have a concern that the rain might come too fast, and if it does, that's another safety threat for the firefighters as well as the public," Balfour said.
Firefighters were bracing for the possibility of thunderstorms rolling over the region, triggering lightning that could start new blazes and bring rain that could flood the scorched canyon areas.
Higher humidity allowed firefighters to further contain the 61,700-acre Sawtooth Fire, which was 70 percent surrounded Sunday night. Some crews were being sent home.
"It's looking a lot better. We're feeling good about the progress," said Don Roberts, a spokesman for the National Park Service assigned to the fire.
The adjacent Millard complex of fires had grown to more than 22,103 acres today and was 26 percent contained. Together, the fires have scorched more than 83,800 acres.
The moist air lessened the intensity of the wildfires, making way for what fire officials called a major ground attack on the Millard blaze, which threatened about 75 homes in the Mission Creek and Whitewater Canyon areas.
The conditions allowed helicopters loaded with crews to land near the fire line after firefighters carrying chain saws rappelled in and cut places to land. Two dozen helicopters and 15 fixed-wing airplanes were working the fire.
"It was just too dangerous to go in there before," said B.P. Fennessey, air operations branch director for the Millard fire.
Forestry officials also employed a modified DC-10 to help contain the Sawtooth fire -- the first time a jet aircraft has ever been used for firefighting. The jet flies a four-person crew and can carry 12,000 gallons of fire retardant.
Firefighters had been having a hard time reaching remote, rugged pockets in both fires, which merged on Friday. They were forced to rely on helicopters to drop in suppression teams instead of using bulldozers and other heavy equipment.
Once on the ground, firefighters faced rocky terrain and sheer cliffs.
"It's steeper than a cow's face," said Tony Duprey, an air tactical group supervisor who has flown helicopter reconnaissance.
Since being ignited by lightning a week ago in this area about 100 miles east of Los Angeles, the Sawtooth fire has destroyed 58 houses and mobile homes, dozens of outbuildings and scores of vehicles.
Fire officials estimated damage from the fire at more than $8.4 million and firefighting costs at $10.3 million.
At least 11 people, including firefighters, have been injured. On Saturday, a search team found the body of a man who had been missing since the Sawtooth fire burned through historic Pioneertown on Tuesday. The cause of the man's death remained under investigation but sheriff's officials said it appeared to be fire-related.
Elsewhere in Southern California, a wildfire in a rural area six miles east of Lake Arrowhead was expected to be fully contained Sunday night, said CDF spokesman Nick Rossman. The fire, sparked by lightning Sunday afternoon, burned about 10 acres in the Crab Flats area, Rossman said.
In San Diego County, a 260-acre wildfire sparking by lightning about 10 miles east of the town of Julian also was fully contained.
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