The FAA reported that the helicopter that went into Lake Shastiana July 7 was a Bell 212, N911KW registered to Rogers Helicopters.
Their very brief preliminary report says, “Aircraft submerged during water operations from Lake Shastina, Weed, CA.”
The report said there were no injuries.
A Bell 212, N911KW registered to Rogers Helicopters, at the Detwiler Fire near Mariposa, California, July 27, 2017. CAL FIRE photo.
Updated at 6:58 p.m. PDT July 7, 2021
Lava Fire, 6:02 p.m. PDT July 7, 2021.
This article first appeared on Fire Aviation.
The Incident Management Team on the Lava Fire in Northern California announced Wednesday afternoon, July 7, that a helicopter working on the fire performed an emergency landing into Lake Shastina in the afternoon due to unknown reasons. The pilot was able to swim/walk away and was being assessed. There were no other passengers on board.
The 25,000-acre Lava Fire is three miles east of Weed, California on the northern slopes of Mt. Shasta. It has been burning since June 24, 2021.
Map showing heat on the Bootleg Fire detected by satellites at 4:18 a.m. PDT July 7, 2021.
The Bootleg Fire grew very, very rapidly after it started in southwest Oregon at about 1:42 p.m. Tuesday, putting up a huge plume of smoke pushed to the north during the afternoon. The spread was described as “extreme, running, torching, and spotting” by firefighters.
The fire is 21 miles east of Chiloquin, 29 miles northeast of Klamath Falls, and 11 miles northwest of Beatty. (see map above)
(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Bootleg Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.)
Data from satellites at 4:18 a.m. Wednesday indicated that the Bootleg Fire had burned approximately 5,000 acres, and was active throughout the night.
Satellite photo at 7:01 p.m. PDT July 6, 2021, showing the Beckwourth Complex of Fires and the Bootleg Fire.
Firefighters are being mobilized, including a Type 2 Incident Management Team, NW Team 10.
At the request of the Bootleg Fire Incident Commander, Klamath County Emergency Management has issued a Level 1 (GET READY) Evacuation notice for the Sycan Estates area north of the town of Beatty in eastern Klamath County. Level 1 is notice for residents in the affected area that wildfire is potentially near them and they should begin preparations to leave should the Incident Commander believe further increase in evacuation levels is warranted.
In addition, two property owners closer to the fire area were advised that their properties are under Level 2 (GET SET) evacuation notice. Level 2 is notice that the danger has dramatically increased and they need to be prepared to leave at any moment.
Map of the Beckwourth Complex. The white line was the perimeter the morning of July 6, 2021. The yellow line was the perimeter at 11:50 p.m. July 6. The red dots represent heat detected by a satellite at 2:54 p.m. PDT July 7.
The Sugar Fire, part of the Beckwourth Complex of fires, was very active Wednesday, spreading about 3.5 miles to the northeast in a 15 hour period.
Wednesday afternoon the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office ordered a mandatory evacuation for residents of Frenchman Lake Cove.
The Dotta Fire remained quiet.
On Wednesday the relative humidity dropped to 10 percent while the southwest wind gusted at 15 to 20 mph.
(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Dotta and Sugar Fires and the Beckwourth Complex of fires, including the most recent, click HERE.)
The weather forecast for Wednesday night calls for calmer winds but the RH will max out at only 34 percent. For Thursday the prediction is for 10 to 15 mph winds out of the southwest gusting at 23 to 25 mph, 10 percent RH, and a high temperature of 88 degrees. This weather, again, could lead to rapid fire spread toward the northeast. The wind will not be as strong on Friday.
Sugar Fire, as seen from Beckworth Mtn. looking northeast at 6:01 PDT July 7, 2021.
Updated at 8:45 a.m. PDT July 7, 2021
Map of the Beckwourth Complex. The white line was the perimeter the morning of July 6, 2021. The yellow line was at 11:50 p.m. July 6.
A mapping flight Tuesday night at 11:50 determined that the Sugar Fire, one of two fires in the Beckwourth Complex six miles east of Portola, California, spread northeast for an additional 2,214 acres during the afternoon. During satellite overflights Wednesday morning at 3:30 and 7:46 it was still active, producing smoke that was blowing to the north but by dawn was drifting northeast.
The Sugar fire has burned 2,512 acres. The 553-acreDotta Fire has been quiet for several days.
The strong wind that spread the fire Tuesday afternoon gusting out of the west-northwest at 17 to 19 mph, decreased by 8 p.m and by 11 p.m. was only 1 to 4 mph while the relative humidity rose into the 50s overnight.
The Plumas National Forest posted the following at 8:30 Wednesday morning:
An inmate working on a wildfire east of Sacramento in Shingle Springs, California stole a fire engine and went on a joyride.
The 31-year old inmate did major damage to the CAL FIRE engine as he drove cross country at 12:40 a.m. Monday, did donuts, then crashed through a fence and entered the storage area for a company that manufactures truck racks.
When he got the fire engine stuck in a ditch he attempted to steal another vehicle:
From KTVU:
With the firetruck disabled, the inmate ran back toward the truck racks business and tried to steal a vehicle from a business employee who was just leaving, Varao said. They fought, but the employee was able to escape back into the business and lock himself inside, while the inmate was unable to start the employee’s vehicle.
The employee was left with “very minor injuries” but was not taken to the hospital, while the inmate was then captured by correctional officers with the help of El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies about a half-hour after the incident began.
Map showing heat detected by a satellite on the Batterman Fire as late at 4:01 a.m. PDT July 5, 2021.
The Batterman Fire spread rapidly Sunday after it started at about 12:15 p.m. PDT running through grass and brush. The fire is east of Wenatchee, Washington about a mile east of the Pangborn Memorial Airport. It was pushed to the east by a wind that increased throughout the afternoon from the west and northwest at 15 to 22 mph after 5 p.m. while the relative humidity was in the teens and the temperature topped out at 97 degrees.
Monday morning evacuation orders (Level 3) were in effect for Rock Island Grade Road.
On Sunday helicopters and airtankers dropped water and retardant in areas inaccessible to engines. As of Monday at 8 a.m. no structures had been destroyed.
Batterman Fire, July 4, 2021. Douglas County Sheriff’s Office photo.
The Southeast Washington Type 3 Interagency Incident Management Team led by Incident Commander Walter Escobar assumed command of the incident Sunday night. Firefighters worked through the night on structure protection and to secure the perimeter near Rock Island Road.
On Monday more firefighting resources from out of the area are expected to arrive.
Batterman Fire, July 4, 2021. Douglas County Sheriff’s Office photo.
The forecast for Monday is for 93 degrees, winds out of the northwest at 8 to 16 mph, with 21 percent relative humidity.
