Firefighters attacking the Valley Fire north of Pine Valley, California

UPDATED at 2:27 p.m. PDT August 23, 2022

Firefighters have stopped the spread of the Valley Fire north of Pine Valley, California. It was not active overnight and is being held at 188 acres. Pine Creek Road is still closed and there never were any evacuations.

On Tuesday crews are working on constructing fire line along the perimeter.

The cause is under investigation.


Updated at 5:45 p.m. PDT August 22 2022

The cameras are showing very little smoke at the Valley Fire north of Pine Valley, CA. The latest size estimate is 127 acres. All air tankers have returned to their bases but a couple of helicopters and Air Attack are still on scene.

There is very little radio traffic, which reminds me of the old saying, “When the radio traffic stops, the fire goes out.”


UPDATED at 3:21 p.m. PDT August 22, 2022

Valley Fire map, 1:33 p.m. PDT Aug. 22, 2022
Valley Fire map, 1:33 p.m. PDT Aug. 22, 2022.

The Valley Fire north of Pine Valley, California was mapped by an aircraft at 1:33 p.m. August 22 at 120 acres. About an hour later the size was estimated at 175 to 200 acres.

It is burning on both sides of Pine Creek Road at the intersection of Deer Park Road near Noble Canyon two air miles north of Old Highway 80.


UPDATE at 2:53 p.m. PDT August 22, 2022

At 2:29 p.m. the Incident Commander on the Valley Fire reported that it had grown to 175 to 200 acres, with a moderate to rapid rate of spread.

Valley Fire
Valley Fire looking NNE from Los Pinos at 2:43 p.m.
Valley Fire
Valley Fire north of Pine Valley, CA, August 22, 2022. CAL FIRE photo.

No evacuations are in effect and it is spreading away from structures in the Pine Valley area.


UPDATE at 1:10 p.m. PDT August 22, 2022

Valley Fire, 1:10 p.m. PDT Aug. 22, 2022
Valley Fire, 1:10 p.m. PDT Aug. 22, 2022. ABC10.

Firefighters from the Cleveland National Forest and CAL FIRE are attacking the Valley Fire which was reported Monday at about 11:37 a.m. a few miles north of Pine Valley, California near Pine Creek Road and Noble Canyon.

At 1:36 p.m. the size was estimated at 120 acres with a moderate rate of spread.

Aircraft over the Valley Fire at 1:27 p.m. PDT Aug. 22, 2022.
Aircraft over the Valley Fire at 1:27 p.m. PDT Aug. 22, 2022.

In addition to numerous engines, aircraft dispatched include several helicopters plus approximately nine air tankers, one of which is a DC-10.

Valley Fire
Valley Fire looking NNE from Los Pinos at 1:19 p.m.

At 2:02 p.m. the weather at Cuyamaca Peak northwest of the fire was wind out of the west at 12 mph, 70 degrees, with 44 percent relative humidity. The fire is in the large valley that runs north from the community of Pine Valley, so until the fire spreads up onto higher slopes it may be partially sheltered from the 12 mph wind measured at the top of Cuyamaca Peak. Brush fires rarely spread rapidly when the humidity is above 40 percent, but the fuel moisture, depending on what it is during this drought, may also be a major factor.

The Valley Fire is about 36 air miles east of San Diego, north of Interstate 8.

Typos, let us know HERE, and specify which article. Please read the commenting rules before you post a comment.

Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

7 thoughts on “Firefighters attacking the Valley Fire north of Pine Valley, California”

  1. Having fought fire there (including the 1970 Laguna Fire) I saw the potential for the Valley Fire and followed it closely yesterday. Any change in the nearby desert’s influence could result in a rapid (negative) change in fire behavior. The same attitude as seen in some commenting here has resulted in past tragedies. There are no small fires. Great coverage as usual, Bill.

    0
    0
  2. Fires here bring back memories of the 1970 Laguna Fire. We arrived at Pine Valley as the fire tore into the area from the Laguna Mountains, pushed by east winds. Many days of fire to follow that one. Exactly right about radio traffic. This one had mild winds out of the west, and is no longer showing on the Los Pinos fire cam; just a lot of hand crew work to do.

    And Linda, better luck finding realistic things to complain about.

    0
    0
  3. Not really a large fire, typical initial attack. With that much horsepower, aviation and ground, you would hope they would pick it up pretty easily, especially with no wind. Back in my day on the Cleveland…

    0
    0
  4. You think by now they could utilize preventive measures to avoid these large fires. Years ago, I remember they had time to clear brush, do fire barriers, and most importantly avoid these by setting some type of water availability in remote areas. My God some states are flooding, bring some of these waters via pipeline. We built KeystonePipeline for oil, can you do it for water. Oh wait there is no money to be made in water. Greed

    0
    0
    1. Linda has solved the wildfire fire issue! Congratulations.

      On another note, there are hundreds of fires in the northern Rockies, but Wildfire Today decides to report on a non issue fire in Cali?

      0
      0
      1. Hundreds?

        Northern Rockies Area (PL 3)
        New fires: 28
        New large incidents: 0
        Uncontained large fires: 2

        0
        0
    2. And yet the Lindas moved into the WUI and loved all the vegetation against their house and throughout their property, they loved nature(until their firewood storage under the deck caught an ember). The fire environment has changed, the Brush Disposal Crews (BDUS) and firefighters got pulled away from prescribed fire and fuels projects to put out large fires threatening the Linda Mountain HOAs.

      The Keystone Pipeline (and others) move natural resources to feed the economy. How do you propose we pump water instead of NG and oil? People are upset about $4/gallon gas. Imagine how upset they will be to pay for infrastructure to pump water from the SE to the PNW! There is no financial incentive to pay $4/gallon for fire suppression water (not including flight time, availability rate, ramp fees, fuel costs, personnel time, etc) when the Linda Acres HOA refused to do basic fire mitigation and establish secondary egress routes.

      Until the Linda Meadows HOAs decide to enact/follow mitigation and home hardening standards there will be no good outcomes. Mitigation is cheaper than suppression, but nobody seems to want to fund the proactive approach.

      0
      0

Comments are closed.