Wildfire News Thread, 7/25: Southern California just keeps on burning

NIFC's server is down as I am posting this. Some links may not work. Much of this is on FS servers, though, so I am posting it anyway, and when the NIFC and BLM sites go back up, it should all be readable:

large fires map

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

Haiines index

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

ten hour fuels

INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT
TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2006 – 0530 MDT
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL 4

CURRENT SITUATION:

Initial attack activity was heavy nationally with 548 new fires reported. Twenty-one new large fires (*) were reported, seven each in the Northwest and Western Great Basin Areas, three each in the Northern Rockies and Southern California Areas, and one in the Northern California Area. Seventeen large fires were contained, five in the Western Great Basin Area, four in the Northwest Area, three in the Southern Area, two each in the Northern Rockies and Eastern Great Basin Areas, and one in the Southern California Area. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Washington, Alaska, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Idaho and Wyoming.

Two MAFFS C-130 aircraft and support personnel from the 145th Airlift Wing, Charlotte, North Carolina have been deployed to Klamath Falls, Oregon. Major Dan Cloninger, NCANG is the Mission Commander.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

HORSE, Cleveland National Forest. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Garwood) is assigned. A Type 1 Incident Management Team (Wilcock) has been ordered. This fire is five miles south of Alpine, CA in chaparral. Several communities are threatened and a mandatory evacuation is directed for the Curve Acre community. Heavy fuel loading and inaccessible terrain are hampering containment efforts. A run with a large active fire front with spotting was reported.

BALD, Los Padres National Forest. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Kaage) is assigned. This fire is 20 miles west of Cuyama, CA in chaparral. Watershed and wildlife habitat is threatened. Poor access continues to hinder containment efforts.

EMPIRE, Los Angeles County Fire Department. This fire is on Catalina Island, CA in brush. Residences, power lines and a camp site are threatened. Steep terrain and poor access are hindering containment efforts. Backing fire with creeping and isolated runs was reported.

HEART-MILLARD, San Bernardino National Forest. A Type 1 Incident Management Team (Molumby) is assigned. A transfer of command back to the local unit will occur today. This fire is eight miles southeast of Big Bear Lake, CA in timber and brush. Steep terrain and poor access continue to hamper containment efforts. Creeping and smoldering were observed.

OAK, San Bernadino National Forest. A Type 1 Incident Management Team (Molumby) will assume command today. This fire is 20 miles northeast of Temecula, CA in brush. Creeping and small runs were reported.

WHISPERING PINES, Joshua Tree National Monument. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Kerr) is assigned. This fire is 16 miles west of Twentynine Palms, CA in brush. Watershed and desert tortoise habitat is threatened. Steep terrain continues to hamper containment efforts. Minimal fire behavior was reported.

TUFFNUT COMPLEX, Mohave National Park. This fire is 54 miles west of Needles, CA in grass. Includes multiple lightning fires within the Mojave National Preserve. Steep terrain, remote location and high temperatures are hampering containment efforts.

MT. PINOS LIGHTNING COMPLEX, Los Padres National Forest. A Type 1 Incident Management Team (Feser) is assigned. This complex consisting of the previously reported Scott fire, and the Ridge, Boy and Wood incidents, and 20 additional lightning fires. This Complex is two miles north of Frazier Park, CA in timber and brush. The communities of Frazier Park, Lake of the Woods, Pine Mountain Club, Lebec and a 500 kilovolt line supplying the Los Angeles Basin are threatened. Steep terrain and heavy fuel loading are hindering containment efforts. Active fire behavior with a moderate rate of spread was reported.

RICO, San Benito-Monterey Unit, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. This fire is nine miles east of San Ardo, CA in chaparral with scattered oak. Numerous homes and ranches are threatened. Increased fire behavior with significant upslope runs was reported.

COYOTE, Riverside Unit, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. This fire is near Anza, CA in chaparral. Difficult access is hampering containment efforts.

NORTHWEST AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

BLACK CRATER, Deschutes National Forest. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (West/Barber) has been ordered. This fire is seven miles southwest of Sisters, OR in timber. Campground and trailhead evacuations are in place. Timber, campgrounds and spotted owl habitat are threatened.

TRIPOD, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (LaFave/Berndt) has been ordered. This fire is ten miles northeast of Winthrop, WA in timber. Recreational and timber resources are threatened. Rugged terrain and heavy amounts of dead and down fuel is hindering containment efforts. Extreme fire behavior with short range spotting was reported.

MAXWELL, Ochoco National Forest. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Reed/Schulte) has been ordered. This fire is six miles south of Mitchell, OR in logging slash. Steep terrain is hampering containment efforts. Timber resources and the Mitchell watershed are threatened. Running and spotting were observed.

HAPPY VALLEY, Vale District, Bureau of Land Management.   A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Paul) will assume command today. This fire is three miles northwest of Rome, OR in grass and brush.   Strong wind gusts contributed to extreme fire behavior. Spotting was reported.

FOSTER GULCH, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. A Type 1 Incident Management Team (Anderson) has been ordered. The Team will also manage the McClean Creek fire. This fire is six miles southeast of Halfway, OR in grass and brush. Numerous residences and outbuildings are threatened. Gusty winds contributed to very active fire behavior.

MCCLEAN CREEK, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. This fire is one mile west of Oxbow, OR in grass and timber. Active fire behavior was reported.

TIN PAN, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. A transfer of command has occurred from a Fire Use Management Team (Furlong) back to the local unit. This lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use (WFU) incident is being managed to accomplish resource objectives. The fire is seven miles west of Lucerne, WA in timber. Active fire behavior with spotting, backing, torching and crowning was observed.

geneva #3, Ochoco National Forest. This fire is three miles northwest of River Ranch, OR in grass and brush. Cultural resources and fisheries habitat are threatened. Running and short range spotting was observed.

WESTERN GREAT BASIN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

NEW YORK PEAK, Winnemucca Field Office, Bureau of Land Management.   This fire is 80 miles northwest of Winnemucca, NV in sagebrush, grass and timber understory. Grazing allotments are threatened. Inaccessibility is hampering containment efforts. Spotting, running and torching were observed.

SOLDIER, Winnemucca Field Office, Bureau of Land Management. This fire is 50 miles southwest of Denio, NV in tall grass and brush. Limited access is hampering containment efforts. Running fire activity was observed.

TRIDENT, Winnemucca Field Office, Bureau of Land Management. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Thomas) is assigned. This fire is nine miles southeast of Denio, NV in grass and mountain mahogany. Limited access and heavy fuel loading are hampering containment efforts. Fire activity included torching in interior pockets.

HAMBLY, Ely District, Bureau of Land Management. This fire is 13 miles northeast of Hiko, NV near Big Rocks Wilderness in pinyon pine and sagebrush. Active fire behavior with running was reported.

RANGE, Ely Field Office, Bureau of Land Management. This fire is 16 miles southeast of Hiko, NV in brush and grass. Desert tortoise habitat is threatened. Running and torching were observed. Rugged terrain and inaccessibility are hampering containment efforts.

MARBLE, Nevada Division of Forestry, Northern Region. This fire is 20 miles west of Wells, NV in grass and sagebrush. A ranch, outbuildings and powerline are threatened. Active fire behavior with wind driven runs and torching was observed.

9 MILE, Elko District, Bureau of Land Management. This fire is 36 miles southwest of Montello, NV in grass and sagebrush. Grazing allotments and range improvements are threatened. Inaccessibility continues to hinder containment efforts. Short runs and isolated torching were observed.

SPRINGER, Ely District, Bureau of Land Management. This fire is 50 miles east of Nellis Air Force Base, NV in brush. Archeological sites are threatened. Fire activity included uphill runs.

MOON VALLEY 2, Battle Mountain Field Office, Bureau of Land Management. This fire is 40 miles southeast of Battle Mountain, NV in grass. Moderate fire activity was reported. No further information was received.

TROY PEAK, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. This fire is eight miles north of Adaven, NV in timber. Backing fire and smoldering were reported. The fire is being monitored from the air. No further information was received.

HALL, Battle Mountain Field Office, Bureau of Land Management. This fire is 25 miles southeast of Battle Mountain, NV in sagebrush, grass, pinyon pine and juniper. No new information was reported.

EASTERN GREAT BASIN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

SUNSET CANYON, Fish Lake National Forest. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Lund) is assigned. This fire is 55 miles north northwest of Richfield, UT in timber, pinyon pine, oak brush and mahogany. Communications towers and some residences are threatened. Steep terrain, heavy fuel loading and inaccessibility are hindering containment efforts. Active fire behavior with group torching, significant uphill runs and long range spotting was reported.

PAIUTE FORT, Arizona Strip Field Office, Bureau of Land Management. This fire is in the Paiute Wilderness 30 miles south southwest of St. George, UT in pinyon pine, juniper and brush. Structures and a communications tower are threatened. Difficult terrain and inaccessibility are hindering containment efforts. Active fire behavior with torching and small runs was reported.

ARCO, Idaho Falls District. Bureau of Land Management This fire is 7 miles north of Arco, ID in timber and understory. Big horn sheep habitat and the Natural Arch trail are threatened. Steep, inaccessible terrain is hampering containment efforts. Isolated torching and creeping and smoldering were observed.

ELKHORN, Salmon-Challis National Forest. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Morcom/Lunde) is assigned. This fire is six miles northeast of North Fork, ID in timber. Steep terrain continues to hinder containment efforts. Minimal fire behavior with burning limited to small pockets of fuel on the interior was reported.

QUARTZ CREEK, Payette National Forest. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Haskins/Johnson) is assigned. This fire is five miles north of Yellowpine, ID in timber. Critical fisheries habitat is threatened. Steep, rugged terrain continues to hinder containment efforts. Individual tree torching and some spotting were reported.

TRAILHEAD, Sawtooth National Forest. This fire is ten miles southwest of Stanley, ID in timber. The fire is burning on the western edge of the Sawtooth Wilderness. Steep, rugged terrain continues to impede containment efforts. Minimal fire activity consisting of isolated torching, creeping and smoldering was reported.

DUNCE, Payette National Forest. A Fire Use Management Team (Hahnenberg) is assigned. The Team is also managing the Lick Creek WFU. This lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use (WFU) incident is being managed to accomplish resource objectives. The fire is 31 miles east of Edwardsburg, ID in cheatgrass.

LICK CREEK, Payette National Forest. This lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use (WFU) incident is being managed to accomplish resource objectives. The fire is 21 miles northwest of McCall, ID in timber. Several structures within the Ponderosa campground are threatened.   Minimal fire behavior was reported.

JIM CREEK, Bridger Teton National Forest. A Fire Use Management Team (Weldon) is assigned. This lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use (WFU) incident is being managed to accomplish resource objectives. The fire is 24 miles north of Pinedale, WY in subalpine fir, spruce and pine. Low intensity surface backing fire was reported.

SOUTHWEST AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

GRAN, Tonto National Forest. A Type 1 Incident Management Team (Whitney) is assigned. This fire is nine miles northeast of Rio Verde, AZ in grass and chaparral. Remote access and steep terrain are hampering containment efforts. Fire behavior was limited due to precipitation.

JOES, Phoenix Field Office, Bureau of Land Management. This fire is 40 miles north of Phoenix, AZ in tall grass and brush. Minimal fire activity was observed.

CIBOLA, Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. This fire is 42 miles southwest of Yuma, AZ in chaparral and salt cedar. No new information was reported. This will be the last report unless new information is received.

TOROWEEP, Grand Canyon National Park. This fire is 57 miles west northwest of Grand Canyon Village, AZ in short grass, pinion pine, and juniper. No new information was reported.

STONE, Fort Apache Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs. This fire is 16 miles northwest of Whiteriver, AZ in timber and chaparral. No new information was reported.

RIM, Tonto National Forest. This fire is 60 miles southeast of Flagstaff, AZ. in timber and grass understory. No new information was reported.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

LITTLE VENUS, Shoshone National Forest. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Smith) is assigned. This fire is 30 miles west of Meeteetse, WY in bug-killed spruce and heavy down fuels. A historic cabin continues to be threatened and structure protection measures are in place. Active fire behavior with torching and spotting was observed.

SOUR PATCH, Rio Blanco County. This fire is 20 miles northwest of Meeker, CO in pinyon pine, juniper, sagebrush and grass. Torching within the perimeter was observed. No further information was received.

BOMBER BASIN, Shoshone National Forest. This fire is 15 miles south of Dubois, WY in spruce and Douglas fir. Moisture from passing thunderstorms assisted containment efforts. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering and creeping was observed.

NORTHERN ROCKIES AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

PACKER GULCH, Southwestern Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Kusicko) is assigned. This fire is 11 miles northwest of Drummond, MT in timber. Residences continue to be threatened. Rugged terrain is hampering containment efforts. Creeping ground fire with minor spotting and torching was reported.

SOUTH PINE, Gallatin National Forest. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Hall) is assigned. The fire is 13 miles south of Livingston, MT in timber. Trail bridges, a campground and a church camp are threatened. Steep, rugged terrain and inaccessibility are impeding containment efforts. Light showers limited fire behavior to creeping and smoldering.

JUNIPER, Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation. This fire is 10 miles south of Roundup, MT in grass, sage and timber understory.   Running, torching and spotting were observed.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

CARIBOU COMPLEX, Klamath National Forest. A Wildland Fire Use Management Team (Perkins) is assigned. This lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use (WFU) incident is being managed to accomplish resource objectives. The fire is 10 miles southeast of Cecilville, CA in timber. This complex consists of the Caribou and Moraine fires. A trail closure is in effect for the Caribou Lakes area. Rain showers moderated fire activity.

UNCLES, Klamath National Forest. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Sinclear) is assigned. This fire is 18 miles east northeast of Orleans, CA in timber and understory. Steep terrain is hampering containment efforts. Backing fire with some upslope runs was reported.

BUMP, Modoc National Forest. This fire is near Clear Lake, CA in grass and juniper. Single tree torching was reported.

EASTERN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

CAVITY LAKE, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Superior National Forest. A Type 1 Incident Management Team (Lohrey) is assigned. This fire is 44 miles northeast of Ely, MN in timber and blowdown. Recreational areas on the east side of the fire are being reopened, however the threat to residential and commercial structures remains. Heavy fuel loading and difficult access continue to hinder containment efforts. Lowered fire activity with smoldering and creeping were reported.

TURTLE LAKE, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Superior National Forest. A Fire Use Management Team (Svalberg) is assigned. This lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use (WFU) incident is being managed to accomplish resource objectives. The fire is 15 miles east of Ely, MN in timber. Light precipitation assisted in containment efforts. Limited fire behavior with creeping and smoldering and individual tree torching was observed.

SOUTHERN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:

CARGILL RANCH, Texas Forest Service. This fire started on private land 24 miles northwest of San Angelo, TX in grass and timber understory. Smoldering fire was reported. No further information was received.

OUTLOOK:

Weather Discussion:   Hot and dry conditions will continue over much of the West. Thunderstorms, initially dry, will develop once again over much of the northwest quarter of the country. Further south, mainly wet thunderstorms will continue over the Southwest, southern California, and southern portions of the Great Basin. In addition, windy conditions will develop over portions of the Northwest and Northern Rockies. Hot, dry, and windy conditions will continue over the central and southern Plains.

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

Incident: Packer Gulch Wildland Fire
Released: 2006-07-25 13:44:00
7/25/2006, 8:00 a.m. Fire Information: (406) 825-9265

For Immediate Release Internet Address: http://www.inciweb.org

Packer Gulch Fire - Kim Williams 2

Date Started: 7/18/2006 Cause of Ignition: Person Location: 35 miles east of Missoula, 15 miles west of Drummond

Size: 3,050 acres Percent contained: 80% Estimated Time of Containment: Unknown

Personnel: 519 personnel on the line plus support and overhead Aircraft Assigned: 4 helicopters

Equipment: 27 engines, 3 dozers and 11 water tenders

Yesterday’s Activities: On the Packer Gulch Fire, mop up efforts continued with emphasis on residual hotspots, particularly in the Packer Gulch and Mulkey Gulch areas. Quick initial attack response by Hotshots and helicopter support halted the spread of the Kim Williams 2 fire. Crews worked hard to establish and maintain the fireline despite the strong afternoon Hellgate canyon winds.

Today’s Planned Actions: The objective for Tuesday is to hold the existing line on both the Packer Gulch and Kim Williams #2 fires and to continue with mop up activities. Mop-up operations include making sure there are no hot spots up to 130 feet into the interior of the fire. Good mop up operations insure that the fire will not rekindle in the future. Crews will begin the hard work of pulling the many miles of hose in areas they are no longer needed for mop up operations.

Weather and Fire Behavior: A mild cold front passing through the area will result in slightly cooler temperatures with the possibility of isolated afternoon thunder storms. The weather forecast is for temperatures to be in the mid to high 90’s with relative humidity in the low teens. Expect winds upslope of the valley at 4-8 miles per hour with increased activity, out of the west 10-15 miles per hour in the afternoon. Winds will be the primary concern for both fires. Internal burning of green islands within the Packer Gulch Fire is expected.

Trail and Road Closures: Bear Gulch road and the Garnet Ghost Town road. The public is encouraged to access the Ghost town from the north via Highway 200. The Kim Williams trail, as well as other trails in the area are currently closed. The public can access the Missoula County DES hotline for updated information on trail closures.

Special Message: We encourage the public to stay aware of the increased fire traffic along Interstate 90 near the Bearmouth and Beavertail Hill exits as well as the East Missoula area. Driving with headlights on is encouraged in areas where smoke is present.

In response to continued hot, dry weather and the resulting increased fire risk, Montana has moved into extreme fire danger today. Stage I fire restrictions are still in effect.

Resources: This interagency fire fighting effort is supported by the Montana Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Department of Lands, Granite County Sheriff’s Department, Missoula County Sheriff’s Department and fire fighters from several states. In addition the East Missoula and Missoula fire departments are supporting the Kim Williams 2 fire.

Fire Camp Location: Beavertail Hill State Park Campground (Interstate 90, exit 130)

http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/304/747/

Incident: Cavity Lake Fire Wildfire
Released: 2006-07-25 08:00:00
Cavity Lake Fire

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Superior National Forest

Fire Information Update

www.pnw2.com or www.fs.fed.us/r9/superior

Tuesday July 25, 2006 – 7:00 a.m. Cavity Lake Fire Info: (218) 388-0859 or (218) 260-4124

Joint Fire Info Center: (218) 387-3615 or (218) 387-3617

Fire Acres Percent Contained Cost Total Personnel

Cavity Lake 31,830 35% $3,087,420 460

NOTE: Information on this update is likely to change during the day.

WHAT’S NEW: Containment reached 35% yesterday. Fire line explosives may be used in the southwest flank

today. The explosives provide a cleaner break and allow for more natural looking suppression efforts. One Type-2

crew will be leaving the incident today. The fire continues to have little additional growth.

FIRE STATUS: Little fire activity was noticed yesterday following the more than half inch of rain that fell on

Sunday. Most of the activity that did occur was fuel driven. Crews were able to employ direct attack suppression

techniques and continued to make good progress along the east, south and north sides, improving hoselays and

conducting mop-up operations.

OPENINGS/CLOSURES: To ensure public safety in the areas of Gabimichigami Lake, Kekakabic Lake and

Ogishkemuncie Lake, the following areas will be closed: all of Township 66N, Range 6W and Township 65N,

Range 6W. Travel is allowed on the Canadian border waterway between the eastend of Knife Lake to Saganaga

Lake. Seagull Lake has been reopened to the public and boating use is restricted to day-use only. Additional reopenings

occurred as of noon Monday, July 24. These openings included: Red Rock Bay and Devils Walk on

Saganaga Lake, Cross Bay Entry Point (Ham Lake), Missing Link Entry Point (except from Tuscarora Portage to

Owl Portage). Seagull Lake is also open for camping east of the fire perimeter from Paulson Lake Portage, and

north to the Palisades. The remainder of Seagull Lake west of this line remains open to day-use only. Paulson

Lake Portage remains closed.

All businesses and lodges along the Gunflint Trail are open to the public and canoe trips into the Boundary

Waters continue from many access points. Check for latest closure notices. Visitors are reminded that most of

the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness remains open for public use and enjoyment.

FIRE FACTS: Started: July 14; Cause: Lightning; Location: Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, approx.

2 miles south of Seagull Lake, Minn; Resources: 1 Type-1 & 11 Type-2 (20 person) crews; 9 Engines; Helicopters:

6 Type-1 (heavy-lift) and 2 Type-3 (light-lift) Boats: 128 canoes (6 initial attack canoes), 28 boats, & 1 pontoon.

COMMUNITY MEETING: A community meeting is held daily at 10:00 a.m. at the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire

Department at the Blankenburg Landing on the Gunflint Trail near Seagull Lake. The public is welcome to attend.

WEATHER: Mostly sunny, then increasing cloudiness in the afternoon. A slight chance of showers and

thunderstorms late in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 20%. Temperature 84-88 degrees, humidity low to

mid 30’s, light south winds, becoming south west 4 to 8 mph late in the morning.

EVACUATIONS: No current evacuations and no structures are threatened at this time.

CLOSURE INFORMATION:

Fire Restrictions: Level 2 campfire restrictions are in place in the blowdown zone of the Boundary Waters

Canoe Area Wilderness. No campfires are allowed in this area. Please visit the Superior National Forest

website for a map of the blowdown zone and affected lakes at www.fs.fed.us/r9/superior and click on fire

information and restrictions.

BWCAW Closures: There are multiple closures throughout the BWCAW. Visitors should refer to the

Superior National Forest webpage for the most current list of closures at www.fs.fed.us/r9/superior.

###

http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/324/733/

ncident: Horse Wildfire
Released: 2006-07-24 21:32:00
San Diego, CA, July 24, 2006…The Horse Fire started on the Cleveland National Forest, on Sunday, July 23, 2006 at approximately 5:30 a.m. The incident is being managed by a California Interagency Fire Management Team. The fire is burning in Pine Creek and Hauser Wilderness Areas and is approximately 5% contained. The Forest has closed National Forest lands south of Interstate 8 to entry for safety reasons. This closure effects the following recreational sites and designation areas; Pacific Crest Trail from the International Border with Mexico north to Interstate 8, Pine Creek Wilderness, Hauser Wilderness, Pine Creek Trailhead, Corral Canyon OHV Area, Bear Valley Road, and Espinoza Trail.

Currently, the fire is over 7,000 acres and is spreading primarily on the northern and southern flanks. The fire is burning in steep and rough terrain with brush and chaparral that last burned in the Laguna Fire in 1970. Based on the fire investigation, the cause of the fire was an abandoned campfire in a side drainage of Horsethief Canyon. Evidence collected at the scene suggests that the campfire was left by undocumented immigrants.

The Sheriff and California Highway Patrol are continuing voluntary and mandatory evacuations in and around the wildfire area. Over 1,500 homes are threatened as well as over 100 commercial properties. The communities of Carveacre, Skye Ranch, Corte Madera, Japatul Valley Road, Pine Valley, Lake Morena, and Guatay are still threatened. For more information on the fire, please call 619-590-3160. For more information on the Horse Incident or the Cleveland National Forest please visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland and click on current conditions.

-CNF-

http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/336/731/

Tripod Fire

Incident Contact: Robin De Mario (509) 664-9292
Summary

Contact Information:

509-664-9292

The Tripod Fire is burning in heavy dead-down and standing-dead fir, spruce and lodgepole pine on steep terrain approximately 6 miles northeast of Winthrop, Washington. The fire is estimated at 200-500 acres in size.

Yesterday afternoon fire behavior was very active with crowning and torching occurring at the head of the fire. Fire behavior calmed down overnight due to cooler temperatures and increased relative humidities.

The condition of the trees in the fire area presents unique hazards for firefighters; direct attack is very challenging under these conditions. The fire is burning on the ground and also burning in the tree canopy. With the large amount of dead trees in the area there is great potential for this fire to increase in size.

A Type II Interagency Incident Management Team (Incident Commander Gary Berndt) will be arriving on Tuesday to take over suppression efforts.

No structures are near the fire area.

The following roads are closed:

Volstead Road/Blue Buck Creek Road

Pearrygin Creek Road #300

Bear Creek Road #100

Cougar Creek Road #200

The following trail is closed:

Lightning Creek Trail #421

Basic Information
Updated 2006-07-25 14:44:13 EST
Incident Type Fire
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin 07/24/2006 at 1400 hrs.
Location 6 miles northeast of Winthrop,WA

Incident Commander Gary Berndt

(newspaper stories and other info say this fire is now well over 1000 acres. At the time of this report it was at 200)

http://inciweb.org/incident/341/

Mt. Pinos Lightning Complex

Incident Contact: Chuck Dickson (661) 330-0152
Summary

The following fires are now being managed under the Mt. Pinos Lightning Complex.

Scott - 600 acres / 45% contained.

Ridge - 551 acres / 65% contained.

Boy - 15 acres / 90% contained.

Wood - 1/8 acres / 0% contained.

The complex is also monitoring an additional 20 lightning fires that have been contained. Any new fires in the Mt. Pinos Ranger District, associated with lightning, will be managed in this complex. The following figures reflect all four fires combined. Containment is shown as an average of all four fires.
Basic Information
Updated 2006-07-25 14:18:04 EST
Incident Type
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin 07/24/2006 at 1501 hrs.
Location Mt. Pinos Ranger District

Incident Commander Don Feser
Current Situation
Size 1,166 acres
Percent Contained 65%
Estimated Containment Date
Total Personnel 316
Fuels Involved Timber,brush and abundant fine fuels.
Fire Behavior The Ridge Fire exhibited active fire behavior on the North and West flanks. The Scott Fire exhibited interior burning and smoldering. The Boy and Wood fires continue to smolder.

http://inciweb.org/incident/343/

Dryness bad sign for fires

By LORNA THACKERAY
Of The Gazette Staff
When Paul Mock last checked, moisture levels in dead trees in the Ashland area were somewhere around 9 percent.

"That's lower than kiln-dried lumber," Mock, fire management officer for the Custer National Forest, said Monday. "I don't think they can dry lumber that dry."

At the end of July in an average year, "1,000-hour fuel" - dead trees with a diameter of 3 inches or larger - would have moisture levels of around 15 percent. Thousand-hour fuels keep a fire going once it's started.

It's almost as bad in the Beartooth Mountains near Red Lodge. Dead-fuel moisture there is at 10 percent, when it typically would be around 15 to 17 percent.
"We've really lucked out with lightning there," he said, explaining the lack of fires so far in the Beartooths.

But the next six to eight weeks could be long ones in the Beartooth Ranger District and all across Montana.

As of Monday morning, wildfire had consumed 440,344 acres in Montana in a fire season that began April 21, according to the Wildland Fire Assessment System.

Fire managers are comparing conditions to the year 2000, the last major fire year in Montana. Six years ago, fire burned 1.2 million acres in the state.

According to Mock, conditions ripe for fire developed two weeks earlier this year than they did in 2000.

Phil Gill, state fire management officer for BLM, has heard the same reports.

"The rest of the season could be very active unless the weather changes," he said. "We've brought in a lot of extra resources preparing for what could be a very busy August."

Fire season usually starts in Eastern Montana and spreads west as the mountains dry out. Western Montana is starting to get some fires now, too, he said.

"The biggest correlation for an active fire season is heat in July and August," Gill said.

And boy, has it been hot. Billings is on track for the fourth-warmest July on record, said National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Humphrey. Since July 6, daily highs have fallen below 90 degrees just three times. Temperatures have climbed above 100 degrees twice this month. High to mid-90s are forecast for the rest of the week.

Add to that the fact that Billings hasn't seen anything approaching normal precipitation since March, and the situation can get pretty nasty. Billings is 3.36 inches below average precipitation for the year. Only 6.33 inches of moisture has fallen since Jan. 1.

There are no strong indications one way or another for August weather, Humphrey said.

"I can tell you that we are, right now, in the very hottest part of the summer," he said.

The heat came early this year, around the end of June. The hottest period usually begins around July 19 and runs through Aug. 10.

Gill said Eastern Montana typically doesn't see weather to end the fire season until mid-September.

"Interestingly enough, they've been very successful in initial attack," Mock said. "They're catching them. It's the 5 to 6 percent that get away that get all the press."

Conditions across Eastern Montana are about as bad as they can get.

"In southeast Montana the fuels really can't get much drier than they are right now," he said. "The thing that's really going to affect things now is lightning."

But weather can change things quickly in Eastern Montana, where most of the fuel is grass. These are the fine fuels, the one-hour fuels that get fires going. A cloudy day like Monday can be a big help in battling fire, even if the temperature is in the 90s, he said.

"Humidity has a tremendous effect on grass," Mock said.

Grasses are categorized as one-hour fuels, because it takes about an hour for moisture levels to go up and an hour for them to dry out, unlike the bigger trees that take 1,000 hours each way. A day or two of humidity won't have much affect on whether trees will burn.

For the rest of the week, humidity will go down as temperatures remain in the mid to high 90s, Humphrey said.

"Humidity will be at or below 20 percent," he said. "Firefighters like to see it stay above 20 percent. We're expecting teens for the rest of the week."

A weather pattern that could produce lightning and gusty winds, but little rain, will persist through Wednesday.

"It's typical for this time of year," Humphrey said.

What may not be typical is the extreme dryness and the heat that shows no sign of easing.
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/07/25/news/state/32-dryness.txt

LAS VEGAS A wildfire is nearing power lines and the hamlet of Mountain Springs west of Las Vegas.
And a series of lightning-sparked fires have the loop road closed at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Nothing's been damaged or destroyed -- no injuries are reported and no evacuations have been ordered.

But a B-L-M official says structures and power lines near Torino Ranch ARE threatened by the so-called Picnic Fire in Lovell Canyon.

It's a little more than one-thousand acres -- about 30 miles west of Las Vegas.

The fire is one of about 22 reported to have been started by lightning strikes overnight in the mountains of southern Nevada.

The tiny Lincoln County community of Hiko's got two fires nearby -- the five-and-a-half square-mile Springer Fire is about six miles west -- while a two-and-a-half square-mile Hambley Fire is about 15 miles northeast.

The town's about 100 miles north of Las Vegas. Officials say it's NOT in immediate danger.

http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=5194930

Storms ignite new fires, but crews hit them fast
Posted on July 25
By The Associated Press

Firefighters quickly attacked numerous lightning-caused blazes, keeping their damage to a minimum, while wrapping up efforts on the Packer Gulch fire near Missoula.

A lightning storm started several fires between Billings and Roundup Sunday night, including the 600-acre Juniper fire in the Bull Mountains, 10 to 12 miles south of Roundup.

Supervisors even canceled a request for a slurry bomber on the Juniper fire, though the plane eventually ended up making the drop because it had nowhere else to empty its contents.
*
"Nothing was a real panic," said Linda Robinson, a dispatcher at Billings Interagency Dispatch. "We were really watching it as a front came through, but it looks like everything held."

The nearby Juniper 2 and 30 Mile fires were held to about 5 acres each, the Pfister fire, 10 miles north of Shepherd, remained at an estimated 108 acres, Robinson said.

Firefighters also traveled to Carbon County to conduct initial attacks on fires 5 to 10 miles north of Joliet. The largest was 10 acres and all were lightning caused.

"It sounds like we hit them hard and fast and got them," Robinson said.

Southeast of Livingston, the South Pine fire was 35 percent contained at 420 acres.

East of Missoula the 3,050 acre Packer Gulch fire was 80 percent contained Monday evening, after destroying a house and two outbuildings.

"It's dry, hot and there are gusty winds," said Brandon Smith, a fire information officer. "The terrain is rugged and there are scattered fuels, but they're holding it together and making progress."

A 20-acre fire on Mount Sentinel poured smoke into downtown Missoula Monday morning, but crews had the upper hand by mid-afternoon.

The fire started at about 1:30 a.m. Monday and was likely human caused, said Linda McFaddan, an information officer with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

"The team got on this fire fast," Smith said.

The state's largest series of fires, the Black Pulaski fires near Jordan, are now contained, fire officials said. The fires, seven in all, started with a series of lightning strikes about a week ago.

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006/07/25/bnews/br26.txt

Latest info on the Horse:

asic Information
Updated 2006-07-25 14:33:50 EST
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin 07/23/2006 at 0530 hrs.
Location

Incident Commander Don Garwood
Current Situation
Size 15,408 acres
Percent Contained 5%
Estimated Containment Date
Total Personnel 778
Fuels Involved Heavy brush. Last burned in Laguna Fire in 1970
Fire Behavior Fuel, wind and topography driven fire behavior this afternoon 7/24.
Today's Significant Events
Outlook
Estimated Date of Control
Planned Actions Continue direct attack where opportunities exist.
Projected Movement
Growth Potential Extreme
Terrain Difficulty Extreme
Containment Target
Remarks Mandatory Evacuation for Carveacre. Voluntary evacuation for Corte Madera, Sky Valley,and Lake Morena. Advisory evacuation warning for Pine Valley, Horizon View, Round Portrero, and Long Portrero.
Weather
Current Wind Conditions 8 mph
Current Temperature 95 degrees
Current Humidity 30 %
Forecasted Wind Conditions 5-15 mph SE
Forecasted Temperature 103 degrees
Forecasted Humidity 21 %

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