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Investigation shows California Governor misled the public about fuel reduction projects completed

Bill GabbertJune 23, 2021June 24, 2021UncategorizedCalifornia, fuel management3 Comments

Prescribed fire fuel break Angeles National Forest — Prescribed fire on the Clear Creek fuel break in the Angeles National Forest in Southern California. ANF photo.

An investigation found that California Governor Gavin Newsom grossly exaggerated the amount of fuel reduction projects that have been completed on state lands, and he reduced the fire prevention budget.

From Capradio, June 23, 2021:

“An investigation from CapRadio and NPR’s California Newsroom found the governor has misrepresented his accomplishments and even disinvested in wildfire prevention. The investigation found Newsom overstated, by an astounding 690%, the number of acres treated with fuel breaks and prescribed burns in the very forestry projects he said needed to be prioritized to protect the state’s most vulnerable communities. Newsom has claimed that 35 “priority projects” carried out as a result of his executive order resulted in fire prevention work on 90,000 acres. But the state’s own data show the actual number is 11,399.

“Overall, California’s response has faltered under Newsom. After an initial jump during his first year in office, data obtained by CapRadio and NPR’s California Newsroom show Cal Fire’s fuel reduction output dropped by half in 2020, to levels below Gov. Jerry Brown’s final year in office. At the same time, Newsom slashed roughly $150 million from Cal Fire’s wildfire prevention budget.”

Update at 6:44 a.m. PDT June 24, 2021

Here are two other points of view:

The pandemic disrupted state operations at all levels and that includes the fuels reduction work of @CALFIRE_CHIEF + @CAL_FIRE – but they and the administration deserve credit for getting that work back on track and allocating the necessary $$$ to continue it in years to come.

— CA Forestry Association (@CalForests) June 24, 2021

While I always appreciate intrepid reporting, and have strictly scrutinized and sought to reform CA wildifre prevention strategy over the last few years, @CapRadioNews story today criticizing @CAL_FIRE & @GavinNewsom missed the mark. Here’s why ?

— Senator Henry Stern (@SenHenryStern) June 24, 2021

Weather prevented firefighters from continuing firing operations Tuesday night on the Backbone Fire

Bill GabbertJune 23, 2021June 23, 2021WildfireArizona, Backbone Fire

The fire has burned over 38,000 acres near Strawberry, Arizona

2:28 p.m. MDT June 23, 2021

Backbone Fire June 22, 2021 — Backbone Fire 8:23 a.m. MDT, June 22, 2021.

The weather Tuesday night made it impossible to obtain heat sensing data from satellites or fly the fixed wing mapping aircraft to obtain the latest perimeter information for the Backbone Fire. It also prevented additional firing operations along Highway 260. The last time the fire was mapped it was 38,321 acres.

On the west side, crews continue to monitor the fire as it nears the east side of the Verde River. Contingency lines near Beasley Flat and Camp Verde are being improved. Preparation efforts also continue along State Route 260 and near structures and other infrastructure for additional firing operations. Firefighters continue to hold, patrol, and secure the east side of the fire. Personnel and aircraft are working in the southeast area, including Hardscrabble Canyon and Deadman Mesa, to prevent fire from becoming established in the drainage.

To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Backbone Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.

The communities of Pine and Strawberry are still under evacuation orders.

Firefightrers install defensive sprinkler system — Firefighters install defensive sprinkler system in the Strawberry area. InciWeb photo.

Rafael Fire spread about 4 miles to the east Tuesday

Bill GabbertJune 23, 2021June 23, 2021WildfireArizona, Rafael Fire5 Comments

9:05 a.m. MDT June 23, 2021

Rafael Fire map. The red dots represent heat detected by a satellite at 3:54 a.m. MDT June 23, 2021. The red line was the mapped perimeter at 8:39 p.m. June 22.

Not much information is available about the Rafael Fire from the Incident Management Team (IMT). The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office posted this on Facebook:

Based on information recently received from fire incident command. Some rural ranches in the area of North FSR 525 and Bill Grey Road, West of Sedona, have been notified, in person, of a “Go” status. Several additional properties were placed on “Set” status via in person notification. YCSO will continue to work with the fire incident command on this fire and assess the need for any other “ready”, “set” or “go” alerts that will be sent out through our Code Red Emergency notification system.

If you are not signed up for Code Red you can sign up at https://www.ycsoaz.gov/…/Emergency-Notification-System if you live in Yavapai County and https://www.coconino.az.gov/ready if you live in Coconino County. We will also continue to post updates here on our Facebook page.

The Arizona Central West Type 3 IMT is managing the 26,746-acred Rafael Fire plus six other wildfires that range from 27 to 567 acres.

To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Rafael Fire, including the most current, click HERE.

The fire was active on the northeast and east sides during the day Tuesday and into the night. Based on satellite heat detection data at 3:54 a.m. Wednesday it spread north about a mile and to the east more than four miles in the previous 24 hours. Most of the south and west sides were relatively quiet.

The Rafael Fire is now about 9 miles northwest of Sedona and 17 miles southwest of Flagstaff.

President Biden says “ridiculously low” pay for federal firefighters will end in his administration

Bill GabbertJune 22, 2021June 23, 2021Uncategorizedpay22 Comments

In a meeting in the White House today with FEMA and other federal officials, the subject changed to wildfires, and the President expressed his opinion about the pay of federal firefighters.

From the Washington Post:

“There’s an old expression: God made man. Then he made a few firefighters. They have a higher incidence of severe injuries than police officers do. They are incredibly, incredibly brave at what they do. … And I just realized — I didn’t realize this, I admit — that federal firefighters get paid $13 an hour. That’s going to end in my administration,” he said. “That’s a ridiculously low salary to pay federal firefighters.”

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters earlier that Biden wanted to meet with federal emergency management officials to discuss preparedness and response efforts given the onset of peak wildfire and storm season.

Federal firefighters get paid a “ridiculously low” $13 an hour — that’s going to end in this admin, @potus tells us during meeting with FEMA. pic.twitter.com/p03FiYSnIg

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) June 22, 2021

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom.

Firefighters take advantage of sand dunes

Bill GabbertJune 22, 2021WildfireBlack Knoll Fire, Idaho, sand dunes1 Comment

The Black Knoll Fire in Eastern Idaho

It is not every day that firefighters can take advantage of sand dunes to help contain a rapidly spreading wildfire. That’s what happened Monday when firefighters attacked the Black Knoll Fire burning in sage, grass, and juniper in Eastern Idaho five miles north of St. Anthony.

It turns out, much to my surprise, there are extensive sand dunes in that area stretching 18 miles to the southwest from Sand Creek Road.

The Bureau of Land Management reported that much of the perimeter outside of the sand dunes was contained by dozer line. Tuesday morning it was 433 acres and they expected containment by evening.

map Black Knoll Fire — Map showing the location, in red, of the Black Knoll Fire, June 22, 2021.

The Wyrick Fire grows to 7,452 acres north of Heber-Overgaard, AZ

Bill GabbertJune 22, 2021June 24, 2021WildfireArizona, West Chev Fire, Wyrick Fire4 Comments

Updated 12:37 p.m. MDT June 24, 2021

Rainbow in the Wyrick Fire area, June 23, 2021. Photo by Jeff Zimmerman.

Showers slowed the spread of the Wyrick Fire Wednesday. It was not enough to completely extinguish the fire, but it was a wetting rain a local told us, that reduced the rate of spread for a while.

The evacuations have been cancelled, and residents can return to their homes.

The precipitation will give firefighters an opportunity to build fireline directly next to the fire, taking advantage of the temporary reprieve to make progress toward containment.

On Wednesday, the West Chev Fire seven miles west of the Wyrick Fire remained active. Helicopters were used to keep the fire from moving to the south in the timber that lines the steep canyons. Firefighters are assessing how to safely construct fireline to contain the blaze.

The Incident Management Team reported Thursday that the Wyrick Fire had burned 7,452 acres. Clouds prevented satellites and mapping aircraft from gathering intelligence about the two fires Wednesday night.

10:26 a.m. MDT June 22, 2021

map Wyrick and West Chev Fires — The red dots represent heat detected on the Wyrick and West Chev Fires at 4:12 a.m. MDT June 22, 2021 by a satellite. The red line was the perimeter of the Wyrick Fire at 4:29 a.m. MDT June 22.

The Wyrick Fire was active on the eastern two-thirds of the fire on Monday but did not make any massive runs. A mapping flight early Tuesday morning determined it had burned about 7,100 acres and was about three miles from Heber-Overgaard.

To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Wyrick Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.

Evacuations are in effect. The Incident Management Team (IMT) announced on Monday:

Areas in READY Status: Overgaard south of Highway 260 High Country Pines in Heber Kendall Ranch / Camp Ponderosa.

Areas in SET Status: Areas in Heber not identified as Ready or Go status Chevelon Ranches and Retreat Communities in Overgaard south of Highway 277 and North of Highway 260.

Areas in GO Status (leave now): Antelope Valley Despain Ranch Heber and Overgaard North of 260 AND 277.

A Type 2 IMT led by Incident Commander Mark Bernal is scheduled to assume management of the fire Tuesday, June 22.

Another fire is burning 7 miles west of the Wyrick Fire. The West Chev Fire has burned 288 acres 14 miles northwest of Heber-Overgaard.