Montana News:
Incident: Saunders & Shane Ridge Wildland Fires
Released: 2006-07-13 09:16:00
SAUNDERS & SHANE RIDGE FIRES
DAILY INFORMATION FACT SHEET
(406) 254-9536
www.inciweb.org
DATE: Thursday, July 13, 2006, 7 a.m.
The Saunders fire is human-caused fire four miles west & southwest of Columbus, Mont., in Stillwater County. The Shane Ridge fire stared on July 12 from lightning five miles west of Joliet in Carbon County.
INCIDENT COMMANDER (for both fires): Tom Heintz, Lead Public Information Officer: Pat McKelvey
AGENCIES: Local volunteer fire departments, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
CURRENT RESOURCES:
PERSONNEL: 370
ENGINES: 49
BULLDOZERS: 3
HELICOPTERS: 3
CURRENT SITUATION: The Saunders fire was quiet on Wednesday. There were some isolated smokes and some open flames in the fire’s interior. Good progress was made by firefighters on further cooling and building the fire line.
The Saunders fire is now 75% contained. The fire has burned 3150 acres of grass and trees near subdivisions. A front passed through the area on Wednesday between 5:45 and 6:30 p.m. with high winds, lightning, and rain. While the rain was intense, there wasn’t much soaking moisture. Two homes, an old homesteader cabin, and an unoccupied house have been burned down by the Saunders fire. Investigators reported that the fire is human caused, and investigations continue.
Homeowners in the Countryman Creek Ranch Estates have been allowed to return on a limited basis but remain under an evacuation order. Residents of the Yellowstone Ranch Estates remain under an evacuation order. Residents needing more information should contact the Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office.
A public meeting was held in Columbus that 64 people attended.
The Shane Ridge fire has about 125 firefighters from Fromberg, Columbus, Red Lodge, Joliet, and the Saunders fire have this 847-acre fire 40% contained.
ACTIONS PLANNED: Crews and engines on both fires will keep working on control lines. At the Saunders fire mop-up will be done within 200 feet of the perimeter and next to residences.
SPECIAL MESSAGE: In fire-prone areas, it’s vital for homeowners to reduce the amount of grass, needles, and trees that are close to homes. For ideas on making your home safe, go to www.firewise.org.
Fire-truck traffic will be heavy on many narrow roads in the area. Residents should drive with extra caution.
http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/277/527/
| Sawtooth Complex Incident Information: | |||
| Last Updated: | July 13, 2006 7:00 am |
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| Date/Time Started: | July 9, 2006 8:30 am | ||
| Administrative Unit: | CDF San Bernardino Unit | ||
| County: | San Bernardino | ||
| Location: | 2 miles est of Yucca Valley | ||
| Acres Burned: | 40,000 | ||
| Containment | 20% containment | ||
| Structures Destroyed: | 42 residences and 55 outbuildings destroyed | ||
| Threatened: | 3,000+structures continue to be threatened in the fire area. | ||
| Evacuations: | Mandatory evacuations for Pioneertown, Burns Canyon, Rimrock, Skyline Ranch, Gamma Gulch. Voluntary evacuations for Morongo Valley - West of Big Morongo Canyon to Palo Verde, North of Hwy 62 and Yucca Valley - North of Sunnyslope Drive from Pioneertown Road East to Hwy 247. Evacuations are ongoing within the fire area. | ||
| Injuries: | 2 civilians and 8 firefighters with minor injuries | ||
| Cause: | Lightning | ||
| Cooperating Agencies: | CDF, San Bernardino County Fire, U.S. Forest Service, CHP, LA County Fire, CA Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation | ||
| Total Fire Personnel: | 1,342 | ||
| Fire crews: | 51 (46 CDF) | ||
| Engines: | 100 (31 CDF) | ||
| Airtankers: | 9 (7 CDF) | ||
| Helicopters: | 12 (2 CDF) | ||
| Dozers: | 5 (3 CDF) | ||
| Water tenders: | 12 | ||
| Major Incident Command Team: | CDF Team #8 | ||
| Conditions: | Fire continued to make significant runs. Extremely steep and rocky terrain in some areas of the fire is making access difficult. Evacuation Centers have been set up at the Yucca Valley Community Center and Big Bear Elementary School. A Community Meeting will be held Thursday, July 13, 2006 at 7 pm in the Yucca Valley Community Center located at 57090 Twenty-nine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley, CA 92284. | ||
| Phone Numbers | (909) 881-6949 (Sawtooth Complex Fire Information) | ||
| Phone Numbers | 1 (800) 472-5609 (Animal Evacuation Information (Southern California numbers only)) | ||