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]

Lots of fire news today. Discussion this morning growing about whether the Millard Complex has burned into the Sawtooth Complex in California. Big fire hitting Montana.

Yesterday there were large fires in every GACC in the US, although the one in the Eastern GACC was caught before the report was written, and so doesn't show up in the summary. (This in itself is unusual.)

Because, I suspect, the Sawtooth Fire had all its resource needs met according to its 209 report, NICC put the Montana fire number 1. But both are major priorities.

News posted throughout the day as I find it and can get it posted.

Let me know if you want to be on the ping list.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

yesterday's fire news at:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1664918/posts

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Officials: fires may have merged overnight July 14, 06:38 a.m. Fire officials observing the Millard fire overnight belive it may have linked with the larger Sawtooth fire at 1 a.m. Acre Shreve, night operations chief for the multi-departmental team fighting the blaze north of Cabazon said the fire moved significantly eastward overnight and may have connected with the Sawtooth fire in the Little Morongo Canyon area. An overhead helicopter flight was underway this morning to attempt to confirm the fire linkage.

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

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Incident Intelligence Summary (ICS-209)

1: Date 07/13/2006

2: Time 1900

3: Initial   |   Update   |   Final              |        XX      |

4: Incident Number CA-BDU-007229

5: Incident Name SAWTOOTH COMPLEX

6: Incident Kind Wildland Fire

7: Start Date    Time 07/09/2006 0830

8: Cause Lightning

9: Incident Commander Unified Command

10: IMT Type 1

11: State-Unit CA-BDU

12: County SAN BERNARDINO

13: Latitude and Longitude Lat: 34° 8´ 17"  Long: 116° 32´ 17" Ownership: CA-BDU

14: Short Location Description (in reference to nearest town): 2 miles east of Yucca Valley, CA

Current Situation

15: Size/Area Involved 47,800 ACRES

16: % Contained or MMA 20 Percent

17: Expected Containment Date:   Time:

18: Line to Build 30 Miles

19: Costs to Date $6,150,000

20: Declared Controlled Date: Time:

21: Injuries this Reporting Period:	22: Injuries to Date:	23: Fatalities	24: Structure Information
0	6	0	Type of Structure	# Threatened	# Damaged	# Destroyed
25: Threat to Human Life/Safety: Evacuation(s) in progress ---- No evacuation(s) imminent -- Potential future threat -------- No likely threat ---------------			Residence	1,500	0	45
			Commercial Property	50
			Outbuilding/Other	1,500		118

26: Communities/Critical Infrastructure Threatened (in 12, 24, 48 and 72 hour time frames):
12 hours: Morongo Valley, Burns Canyon, Gamma Gulch
24 hours:
48 hours:
72 hours:

27: Critical Resource Needs (kind & amount, in priority order):
1. Critical resource needs are currently met.
2.
3.

28: Major problems and concerns (control problems, social/political/economic concerns or impacts, etc.) Relate critical resources needs identified above to the Incident Action Plan.
The fire is burning in extremely steep rugged terrain with little access. Control options are few. The Millard Complex, burning to the SW, made is within 3 miles of the Sawtooth Complex. The incident is projecting the potential for the Millard Complex and the Sawtooth Complex to merge. Extreme heat, low humidities and erratic winds are expected. Degredation of a critical road in Burns Canyon will require repair for firefighing vehicles and residents to move through the area.

29: Resources threatened (kind(s) and value/significance):
San Gorgonio Wilderness, Bighorn Mountain Wilderness

30: Current Weather Conditions Wind Speed: 5 mph    Temperature: 92 Wind Direction: SW       Relative Humidity: 20%

31: Resource benefits/objectives (for prescribed/wildland fire use only):

32: Fuels/Materials Involved: 4 Chaparral (6 Feet)
GREASEWOOD & JOSHUA TREES INTERMIXED WITH FINE FUELS AND PINYON JUNIPER.

33: Today's observed fire behavior (leave blank for non-fire events):
Extreme fire behavior in Big Morongo Canyon today. Fire continues to push to the south west and north west.

34: Significant events today (closures, evacuations, significant progress made, etc.):
The evacuation orders have been lifted for land owners in the communities of Pioneer Town, Pipes Canyon, and Skyline Ranch area of Yucca Valley. Significant progress made on direct line construction in Divisions D,E,F,G along the east end of the fire. Dozers are making good progress on line contruction from DP5 to the west to prevent the fire from further movement to the north. The Onyx Contingency Group is staffed and is operating in the Onyx

Outlook

35: Estimated Control Date and Time:

36: Projected Final Size:

37: Estimated Final Cost:

38: Tomorrow's Forecasted Weather Wind Speed: mph    Temperature: Wind Direction:        Relative Humidity:

39: Actions planned for next operational period:
Complete indirect dozer line from DP5 to Onyx Peak to the west. Continue direct line construction on the south side of the fire. Mop-up and patrol operations on the east end of the fire.

40: Projected incident movement/spread during next operational period:
The western perimeter of the fire continues to be the priority. The fire has now burned into a portion of the San Bernardino Nat'l Forest. Extremely steep rocky terrain is making access difficult as the fire moves west. The fire is projected to spread up to 100 feet per minute in light fuels with spotting up to .3 miles. The Millard and Sawtooth may begin to interact with each other.

41: For fire incidents, describe resistance to control in terms of:

1. Growth Potential - Extreme

2. Difficulty of Terrain - Extreme

42: How likely is it that containment/control targets will be met, given the current resources and suppression/control strategy?
Containment within the next burn period is unlikely.

43: Projected demobilization start date:

44: Remarks:
The change in the structure count is due to more accurate accounting by the Damage Assessment Team.
 

45: Committed Resources (Supplemental Committed Resources follow the first block)

Agency	CRW1		CRW2		HEL1	HEL2	HEL3	ENGS		DOZR		WTDR	OVHD	Camp Crews	Total Personnel
	SR	ST	SR	ST	SR	SR	SR	SR	ST	SR	ST	SR	SR
PRI					2	4	3					4	1		27
ST	8	22				2		7	12	2	4	5	98		1,194
BLM	1							1					2		27
CNTY	1	2						3	8	4			11		245
OTHR
USFS	4					1			4	3		4	8		174
OES									7			1			140
LGR								5	2			5	28	5	163
NPS										1					7
DDQ												1			2
Total	14	24	0	0	2	7	3	16	33	10	4	20	148	5	1,979

Total personnel by agency are listed in the first section of committed resources.
Agency	HELTK	FIXW	TRKCO	RESMD	LGTAIR
	SR	SR	SR	SR
PRI
ST		7
BLM		2
CNTY
OTHR
USFS
OES
LGR
NPS
DDQ
Total	0	9	0	0	0

46: Cooperating and Assisting Agencies Not Listed Above:
SAN BERNARDINO CO. FIRE, MORONGO VALLEY FIRE, CHP, SAN BERNARDINO CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT, CALIF. DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS & REHABILITATION, LA COUNTY FIRE,RED CROSS, OES, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

Approval Information

47: Prepared by:

48: Approved by:

49: Sent to: by: Date: Time:

 

1: Date 07/13/2006

2: Time 1800

3: Initial   |   Update   |   Final              |        XX      |

4: Incident Number CA-BDF-6773

5: Incident Name MILLARD COMPLEX

6: Incident Kind Wildland Fire

7: Start Date    Time 07/09/2006 0833

8: Cause Lightning

9: Incident Commander Walker, Windsor

10: IMT Type 2

11: State-Unit CA-BDF

12: County SAN BERNARDINO

13: Latitude and Longitude Lat: 34° 2´ 10"  Long: 116° 46´ 37" Ownership: CA-BDF

14: Short Location Description (in reference to nearest town): SEVEN MILES NORTH OF CABAZON

Current Situation

15: Size/Area Involved 8,200 ACRES

16: % Contained or MMA 5 Percent

17: Expected Containment Date:   Time:

18: Line to Build 20 Miles

19: Costs to Date $2,061,500

20: Declared Controlled Date: Time:

21: Injuries this Reporting Period:	22: Injuries to Date:	23: Fatalities	24: Structure Information
0	0	0	Type of Structure	# Threatened	# Damaged	# Destroyed
25: Threat to Human Life/Safety: Evacuation(s) in progress ---- No evacuation(s) imminent -- Potential future threat -------- XX No likely threat ---------------			Residence	75
			Commercial Property	7
			Outbuilding/Other

26: Communities/Critical Infrastructure Threatened (in 12, 24, 48 and 72 hour time frames):
12 hours: Mission Creek
24 hours: Possible merge with Sawtooth Complex
48 hours:
72 hours:

27: Critical Resource Needs (kind & amount, in priority order):
1. 1 ST Type III Engines
2.
3.

28: Major problems and concerns (control problems, social/political/economic concerns or impacts, etc.) Relate critical resources needs identified above to the Incident Action Plan.
Fire continues to be active in Whitewater Canyon and is also moving to the Northeast. Originally, the Complex consisted of four fires (State, Jump Off, For Sure, Millard) and the Millard has overtaken the unstaffed For Sure fire. This merge has created a Complex of three fires. Potential for merge with the Sawtooth Complex to East also exists. Lightning Activity Level predicted to increase to 1-2 and also a potential for thunderstorm activity in the region.

29: Resources threatened (kind(s) and value/significance):
City of Banning watershed, San Gorgonio Wilderness, Morongo Tribal interests, Agua Caliente Tribal interests, Whitewater Canyon, Mission Creek, Morongo Valley, Significant archeological sites and paleontological resources.

30: Current Weather Conditions Wind Speed: 10-15 mph    Temperature: 101 Wind Direction: SSW       Relative Humidity: 11

31: Resource benefits/objectives (for prescribed/wildland fire use only):

32: Fuels/Materials Involved: 4 Chaparral (6 Feet)
Fuels on the Millard fire are FM 4 and 10 with large amounts of understory and bug killed timber intermixed with a grass component

33: Today's observed fire behavior (leave blank for non-fire events):
Extreme fire behavior

34: Significant events today (closures, evacuations, significant progress made, etc.):
Unified Command established between U.S. Forest Service, CDF, and Riverside County Fire on 07-12-06, 1600 hrs. Crews were working in the Snow Peak region and Millard Canyon prepping structures. Continuing to find safe anchor points and evaluating contingency lines; Additional crews staged.

Outlook

35: Estimated Control Date and Time:

36: Projected Final Size:

37: Estimated Final Cost:

38: Tomorrow's Forecasted Weather Wind Speed: 5-15 mph    Temperature: 96-106 Wind Direction: W       Relative Humidity: 11

39: Actions planned for next operational period:
Structure protection in Whitewater Canyon

40: Projected incident movement/spread during next operational period:
Rapid rates of spread to East / Northeast: Potential for spread to North / Northwest

41: For fire incidents, describe resistance to control in terms of:

1. Growth Potential - Extreme

2. Difficulty of Terrain - Extreme

42: How likely is it that containment/control targets will be met, given the current resources and suppression/control strategy?
Likely in 3-5 days

43: Projected demobilization start date:

44: Remarks:
Heavy use of air tankers and helicopters to anchor Southern flank of fire. Constant communication between Teams on Millard Complex and Sawtooth Complex ongoing; Mission Creek identified as boundary between Complexes
 

45: Committed Resources (Supplemental Committed Resources follow the first block)

Agency	CRW1		CRW2		HEL1	HEL2	HEL3	ENGS		DOZR		WTDR	OVHD	Camp Crews	Total Personnel
	SR	ST	SR	ST	SR	SR	SR	SR	ST	SR	ST	SR	SR
CNTY								1					20		23
LGR													13		13
PRI					3					2		6	14		58
ST													1	3	45
BLM													5		5
USFS	13				2	8	2	2	3				45		473
NPS													2		2
BIA	2														41
Total	15	0	0	0	5	8	2	3	3	2	0	6	100	3	660

Total personnel by agency are listed in the first section of committed resources.
Agency	HELTK	FIXW	TRKCO	RESMD	LGTAIR
	SR	SR	SR	SR
CNTY
LGR
PRI	4
ST
BLM		3
USFS	12	3
NPS
BIA
Total	16	6	0	0	0

46: Cooperating and Assisting Agencies Not Listed Above:
Morongo Tribe, Riverside County Sheriff, Agua Caliente Tribe

Approval Information

47: Prepared by: M Hoose SITL (T)

48: Approved by: Norm Walker, ICT2

49: Sent to:SOPS by: M Hoose Date: 07/13/2006 Time: 1715

 

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Red Flag Warning/Fire Weather Watch Information

FNUS56 KLOX 132207
FWFLOX

FIRE WEATHER PLANNING FORECAST FOR SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA
330 PM PDT THU JUL 13 2006

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM FRIDAY FOR LOW HUMIDITIES
ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY...

...HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS TO PREVAIL THROUGH THE WEEK ACROSS
INTERIOR SECTIONS...

.DISCUSSION...AN UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN
UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
THIS COMBINED WITH WEAKENING ONSHORE FLOW NEAR THE SURFACE WILL BRING
RELENTLESS HEAT TO INLAND PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
THE PEAK OF THE HEAT WAVE IS EXPECTED ON SATURDAY...WHERE THE HOTTEST
VALLEY...MOUNTAIN...AND DESERT LOCATIONS COULD SOAR TO BETWEEN 105 AND
110 DEGREES. THE AIR MASS WILL CONTINUE TO BE QUITE DRY ACROSS THE DISTRICT
WITH WIDESPREAD HUMIDITIES ACROSS INLAND AREAS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND TEENS
THROUGH FRIDAY. THE LOWEST HUMIDITY READINGS WILL CONTINUE TO OCCUR ACROSS
THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY...WHERE SOME LOCATIONS ARE EXPECTED
TO HAVE LONG DURATIONS OF SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES THROUGH FRIDAY...PROMPTING
THE RED FLAG WARNING.

ANOTHER FIRE WEATHER CONCERN WILL BE GUSTY SUNDOWNER WINDS ACROSS
SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY NIGHT...WHERE THERE
WILL ALSO BE VERY WARM TEMPERATURES AND LOW HUMIDITIES. THERE WILL BE
INCREASING MONSOONAL MOISTURE THIS WEEKEND WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF AFTERNOON
AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS OF LOS ANGELES
AND VENTURA COUNTIES. A MORE SIGNIFICANT SURGE OF MOISTURE AND UPPER
LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL BRING A BETTER THREAT OF MORE ORGANIZED AND MORE
WIDESREAD THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/FIREWX/LAXFWFLOX.html

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Incident: Shane Ridge Wildland Fire
Released: 2006-07-14 08:38:00

SAUNDERS & SHANE RIDGE FIRES

DAILY INFORMATION FACT SHEET

(406) 254-9536

www.inciweb.org

DATE: Friday, July 14, 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 is a lightning-caused fire five miles west of Joliet, in Carbon County.

INCIDENT COMMANDER: 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

Saunders Fire Shane Ridge Fire

Personnel: 262 114

Engines: 36 14

Bulldozers: 2 1

Helicopters: 1 0

CURRENT SITUATION: Firefighters burned out an area at the 806-acre Shane Ridge fire on Thursday. The fire is 75% contained and was burning inside the fire’s perimeter, but not near the firelines. A new blaze seven miles south of Columbus called the McNally fire broke out Thursday. Thirty firefighters were able to contain this fire after it burned 30 acres of mostly grass. They had 10 engines and three water tenders. No buildings were threatened by either the Shane Ridge or McNally fires. The cause for the McNally fire isn’t known yet.

At the 3,175-acre Saunders fire the evacuation ordered for two subdivisions was lifted on Thursday, allowing all residents to go home. The fire is 95% contained and firefighters expect to have the fire contained by Friday at 6 p.m.

Meantime, the Benedict Gulch fire in Stillwater County and the Coal Creek fire in Carbon County have each been turned back to the counties from the incident management team working on the Saunders fire.

ACTIONS PLANNED: Crews and engines on all three fires will keep working on control lines. Mop-up will continue.

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 may be heavy on many narrow roads in the Saunders fire area. Residents should drive with extra caution.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: “Stage 1” fire restrictions go into effect in Stillwater, Carbon, and other southern Montana counties on Friday. Campfires are allowed only in developed recreation areas. Smoking can take place only in developed recreation areas, in vehicles and buildings, and in areas cleared of flammable vegetation.

See http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/fire/nrcg/Restrictions/stage1.htm for details.

http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/283/538/

[EX52D]

bttt

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Incident: Pine Ridge Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 2006-07-13 18:35:00

Hot, dry and windy conditions this afternoon pushed the Pine Ridge Fire to approximately 30,000 acres, prompting officials to prepare for possible evacuation of residents north of Hardin, Montana. With temperatures in the 90s and low humidities, the fire made runs both to the northeast and southwest, crossing the Bighorn River by late Thursday (7/13) afternoon.

Personnel working on the fire this afternoon had to retreat to safety zones during times of rapid fire spread. No injuries were reported for the operational period. Resources on order include engines, water tenders, dozers, and aircraft.

Approximately 152 structures are threatened by the blaze; 63 of them are residences.

A total of 166 personnel are currently assigned to the fire.

http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/282/535/

[Knitting A Conundrum]

TheKSBWChannel.com
Related To Story
Del Puerto Canyon fire

Del Puerto Canyon Fire Grows To 27,000 Acres
Blaze Also Creeps Into Santa Clara County

POSTED: 7:29 am PDT July 14, 2006
UPDATED: 7:37 am PDT July 14, 2006
PATTERSON, Calif. -- A wind-whipped wildfire that started in western Stanislaus County thrust across rugged canyons Thursday toward a state park in neighboring Santa Clara County.

The fire in the Del Puerto Canyon had burned more than 27,000 acres as of 7 p.m. and was located about six miles from Henry W. Coe State Park, said Henry Dekruyff, spokesman for the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Despite the proximity, authorities had no immediate plans to evacuate the 87,000-acre park as more than 2,000 firefighters continued working to build a fireline around the blaze, he said. It was about 45 percent contained by Thursday night.

"It's been really, really difficult country to get into and around," said Shane Lauderdale, another CDF spokesman. "The winds are being difficult, and so that continues to make it hard. Also, it's very hot in the daytime."

Ten homes and one outbuilding have been destroyed in the blaze that started Sunday, about 85 miles southeast of San Francisco. The remote ranching area has steep terrain and little access to water.

The fire was about 45 percent contained early Wednesday at 11,000 acres, but firefighters lost ground as it more than doubled; containment shrank to about 30 percent.

Officials hoped to have full containment by Sunday, although erratic winds and high temperatures forecast through the weekend could delay that effort, Dekruyff said. Four firefighters were treated for heat exposure and some residents voluntarily evacuated.

The cause of the blaze was not determined.

More Resources:

* California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

http://www.theksbwchannel.com/news/9517703/detail.html

[Knitting A Conundrum]

CBS/AP) Firefighters dug in for another day of blistering heat Thursday as they struggled to keep a string of desert wildfires from spreading toward the mountain resort community of Big Bear Lake.

The lightning-sparked flames had already destroyed nearly 100 homes and other structures and chased about 1,000 people from Rimrock, Burns Canyon, Gamma Gulch, Flamingo Heights, Little Morongo Canyon and the Wild West film community of Pioneertown, officials said.

It was worst combination for firefighters, reports CBS News correspondent Steve Futterman (audio): dry brush, hills that haven't burned for years, temperatures over 100, and low humidity.

"We're talking about steep hills that make progress by hand crews and engines slow and difficult," San Marcos Fire Battalion Chief Rick Vogt told CNN Thursday morning. "That, combined with the weather, makes it a challenging fire."

Air power was helping to slow the fire down, but the weather continues to heat up, reports CBS News correspondent Vince Gonzales.

A 37,000-acre blaze threatening Pioneertown was one of several fires started by dry lightning that moved through the area earlier this week, Vogt said.

Fire officials worried that if the fires continued west toward the San Bernardino National Forest, they could grow rapidly in the steep terrain and get dangerously close to Big Bear Lake, a community of summer lake and winter ski resorts and about 5,500 residents.

A severe bark beetle infestation has killed many trees in recent years, and the dry trees would fuel the flames.

"If it starts in there it will be almost impossible to stop," said California Department of Forestry spokeswoman Karen Guillemin.

At least 42 houses, 55 other buildings and 91 vehicles have burned in around the high desert communities about 100 miles east of Los Angeles, authorities said. Most of the historic buildings that made Pioneertown famous, old west saloons and storefronts that once were props for movie cowboys like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, were spared. Some privates homes were not.

"Here's the front door over here. This was the living room," one homeowner told Futterman.

Temperatures hit 108 degrees Fahrenheit Wednesday as 2,500 firefighters attacked flames devouring Joshua trees, pinon pines and brush in hills and canyons. Highs in the 100s are forecast for the Pioneertown area through the weekend. Higher up at Big Bear Lake, temperatures in the mid-80s were forecast for Thursday.

North of Yucca Valley, a blanket of smoke darkened the sky over the Mojave Desert.

In the Gamma Gulch area, dead animals littered a property where a home and barn burned. Eight firefighters and two civilians were treated for minor burns or smoke inhalation.

Elsewhere in the West, several new wildfires in southern Montana spread quickly — one to an estimated 10,000 acres — because of windy weather.

Wildfires have burned more than 4 million acres across the United States, almost twice the 10-year average for this time of year, according to National Interagency Fire Center.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/13/national/main1798848.shtml

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Fires Have Merged; Extreme Fire Behavior Expected Today

Breaking News

By RIMOFTHEWORLD.net
Friday, July 14, 2006

The Sawtooth Complex and Millard Complex Fires have merged in Little Morongo Canyon, 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

[Knitting A Conundrum]

[Knitting A Conundrum]

oday: July 14, 2006 at 7:17:36 PDT

Federal team takes over wildfire near Nevada-Utah state line

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ELY, Nev. (AP) - Federal firefighters took up the battle Friday to stop a southern Nevada wildfire that forced the closure of a state park near the Utah state line.

New aerial surveys showed the Bally Fire, about 20 miles east of Caliente, covered about 850 acres and was 50 percent contained, said Chris Hanefeld, federal Bureau of Land Management spokesman in Ely. Earlier estimates put the fire at about 1,200 acres.

Beaver Dam State Park was not in immediate danger, no injuries were reported, and no structures were threatened as flames burned through grasses, sage, pinon pine and juniper trees in eastern Lincoln County, Hanefeld said.

About 150 firefighters were digging in to contain the blaze about 100 miles northeast of Las Vegas, supported by several single-engine air tankers, Hanefeld said.

The fire was sparked by a lightning strike late Tuesday about five miles southwest of the park, Hanefeld said.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2006/jul/14/071410698.html

[Knitting A Conundrum]

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/280/

Sawtooth Complex

Fire Behavior
Extreme fire behavior in Dry Creek and
Mission. Fire continues to push to the
south west and north west to forest
boundary. Spotting occurred.

Today's Significant Events
Firing operation proceeded through the
night, currently firing along the west
side of Yacca Valley to protect homes.
Dozers are making good progress on
line construction from Burns Canyon to
Rattlesnake to prevent the fire from
further movement to the north. The
Onyx Contingency Group is staffed and
is operating in the Onyx Peak area.

Planned Actions
Complete indirect dozer line from
Burns Canyon to Onyx Peak to the west.
Continue direct line construction on
the south side of the fire to the
Millard Complex. Mop-up and patrol
operations on the east end of the fire.

Projected Movement
The western perimeter of the fire
continues to be the priority. The fire
has now burned into a portion of the
San Bernardino Nat'l Forest. Extremely
steep rocky terrain is making access
difficult as the fire moves west. The
fire is projected to spread up to 100
feet per minute in light fuels with
spotting up to .3 miles. The Millard
and Sawtooth may have merged, to be
confirmed by air attack.

Growth Potential
Extreme

Terrain Difficulty
Extreme

Containment Target
Containment within the next burn period is unlikely.

Remarks
The Sawtooth fire is under the
management of a Unified Command
consisting of the California
Department of Forestry, San Bernardino
County Fire Department and the United
States Forest Service.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Wildfire ping! Lots of news stories.

[EX52D]

Do we have anyone here from Morongo? I used to live there years ago and had to prepare for evacuation from another huge fire back then. It was pretty scary there for awhile, had to evacuate horses, etc. That fire approached from the west or northwest I believe. Prayers to those in harms way...

[socal_parrot]

The morning update shows the Millard and Sawtooth Complex fires have merged...

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I think they've replaced or pulled that image already. Here's the most recent I found

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Fires Still 1/2 Mile Apart; Extreme Fire Behavior Expected Today

Breaking News

By RIMOFTHEWORLD.net
Friday, July 14, 2006

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.

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

[proudofthesouth]

Please add me to your ping list.

Prayers to all of you affected by these fires. I'll take the occassional tornado and severe storm where I live any day over going through these fires!