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Alaska fire crews mobilized to the lower 48

Bill GabbertJuly 25, 2020July 25, 2020WildfireAlaska, Idaho4 Comments

Alaska fire crews mobilized to lower 48 firefighters — Fire crews line up to board a National Interagency Coordination Center aircraft at the BLM Alaska Fire Service on Fort Wainwright Friday, July 24, 2020. Photo by Tim Mowry, Alaska Division of Forestry.

Three Alaska wildland firefighting crews traveled to the Lower 48 states on Friday to assist with wildfire suppression efforts in the western United States.

The three crews – the BLM Alaska Fire Service Midnight Sun Hotshots, Chena Hotshots, and the Alaska Division of Forestry White Mountain Type 2 Initial Attack Crew – boarded an airliner at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks Friday morning. The aircraft came up to Alaska from the National Interagency Coordination Center in Boise, Idaho Thursday to transport the crews to Boise, where they will be quickly assigned to one of a multitude of wildfires burning in the western U.S.

“It’s always sad leaving Alaska but it will be good to get down there,” Iris Sager, crew superintendent for the Chena hotshot crew, said.

Alaska’s fire season was slowed by abundant and widespread rainfall the past five weeks that has dampened wildfire danger across the state. Because of this, Alaska’s wildland fire agencies have made many resources available to assist with the national firefighting effort while keeping adequate firefighters and aircraft in Alaska to handle any fire activity here.

The mobilization of firefighting resources to the Lower 48 is an annual tradition, similar to Alaska importing firefighters and aircraft from the Lower 48 to assist with wildfires here. Firefighters from Alaska travel to the Lower 48 almost every year to help other agencies battle wildfires after the Alaska fire season winds down, usually in mid- to late-July.

The three crews that departed Alaska on Friday totaled 62 firefighters and will add to the 60 other Alaska firefighting personnel that are already working in the Lower 48. One other crew – the Division of Forestry’s Pioneer Peak Hotshots – flew south last week and is working on the Cedar Fire in Nevada.

In addition, 13 Alaska Smokejumpers are in the Lower 48 working, as well as multiple other personnel filling positions such as dispatchers, heavy equipment managers, engine bosses and division supervisors.

Three more Division of Forestry crews – the Gannett Glacier, Tanana Chiefs, and Yukon Type 2 initial attack crews – are scheduled to fly to the Lower 48 early next week.

Given the fact that Alaska’s wildland fire season has been very slow this season and crews have been relegated to working on fuels reduction projects and other project work the past several weeks, firefighters welcomed the opportunity to head south to work on actual fires.

“We’ve spent less than 20 days on fires this summer,” White Mountain crew superintendent Owen Smith said as he waited to board Friday’s flight. “Everybody is ready for an assignment.”

As of Friday, a total of 309 fires had burned an estimated 178,025 acres in Alaska this summer, which is well below the approximately 650,000 acres that burns in a typical fire season.

Barring any major drying event in Alaska over the next month or two, crews will likely remain in the Lower 48 until fire season in the western U.S. dies down, which isn’t typically until September or October.

Firefighters wore facemasks as they lined up to board the plane on Friday at Fort Wainwright. BLM Alaska Fire Service workers, also wearing facemasks, handed each firefighter a bagged lunch as they boarded the flight to Boise.

While the increase in COVID-19 cases in Alaska and across the U.S. is a concern, it’s something the crews and other Alaska firefighting personnel have been dealing with since the season started in April. Agencies and crews have COVID protocols in place to help prevent the spread of the virus and each crew was traveling with at least three days of personal protective equipment such as facemasks and hand sanitizer.

“I think it would be harder if any of us had families and didn’t live by ourselves,” Smith said in reference to mobilizing to the Lower 48 during the pandemic. “It definitely makes it interesting.”

Returning personnel will follow Alaska state and local health mandates addressing testing and quarantining upon return from their Lower 48 assignments. In some cases, personnel will spend days off in the Lower 48 instead of returning to Alaska in between fire assignments.

From the BLM Alaska Fire Service

Wildfire smoke and COVID-19

Bill GabbertJuly 25, 2020July 25, 2020UncategorizedCOVID-19, firefighter health, pandemic, smoke, smoke & health3 Comments

Preliminary evidence suggests exposure to wildfire smoke may increase susceptibility to COVID-19

The U.S. Forest Service has published a three-page fact sheet with information about the impacts of wildfire smoke during the COVID-19 pandemic. It covers the effects of smoke during the pandemic, who is most at risk, symptoms, masks and face coverings, and how to minimize potential health effects from wildfire smoke. The document has useful information and many links to additional materials.

Here are some excerpts:

The COVID-19 pandemic is overlapping with the occurrence of wildfires in the United States.
Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of air pollutants that are harmful to human health.
Exposure to air pollutants in wildfire smoke can irritate the lungs, cause inflammation, alter immune function, and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections, likely including COVID-19.
Recent scientific publications (Conticini et al., 2020 & Travaglio et al., 2020) suggest that air pollutant exposure worsens COVID-19 symptoms and outcomes.
Those with or recovering from COVID-19 may be at increased risk of health effects from exposure to wildfire smoke due to compromised heart and lung function caused by the disease.
Although N95 respirators provide protection from wildfire smoke, they might be in short supply as frontline healthcare workers use them during the pandemic.
Cloth face coverings that are used to slow the spread of COVID-19 offer little protection against harmful air pollutants in wildfire smoke because these coverings do not capture most small particles in smoke.

Satellite photo smoke Australia fires — Satellite photo of smoke from fires in New South Wales and Victoria January 4, 2020. The red areas represent heat.

Gold Fire in northern California grows to 21,000 acres

Bill GabbertJuly 25, 2020July 25, 2020WildfireCalifornia, Gold Fire2 Comments

Friday most of the spread was to the southeast

Revised at 9:34 a.m. PDT July 25, 2020.

Gold Fire California wildfire — The red line was the perimeter at 10:26 p.m. PDT July 24, 2020. The white line was the approximate perimeter 24 hours before.

Friday, on the fifth day since it started, the Gold Fire chewed through another 2,000 acres to bring the total up to 21,000. Most of the growth was to the southeast but the prediction from fire personnel is that on Saturday it will be pushed to the east and southeast toward Ash Valley and Coyote Flat Draw. Red Flag Warning weather conditions are expected on Tuesday and Wednesday which could increase fire activity. Evacuations are in effect.

The outlook from the Incident Management Team, CAL FIRE #4 led by Dave Russell, is that the fire might be contained July 30 at 30,000 acres.

(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Gold Fire including the most recent, CLICK HERE.)

Measured from the northwest to the southeast, the Gold Fire is 13 miles long. The estimated costs to date are $6.6 million.

Resources on the fire include 24 hand crews, 12 helicopters, 144 fire engines, 37 dozers, and 25 water tenders for a total of 1,489 personnel.

Hog Fire briefing social distancing — This is the 7 a.m. operational period briefing for firefighters, not on the Gold Fire but the Hog Fire in the same CAL FIRE unit 40 miles to the south. Obviously social distancing is being practiced. CAL FIRE photo.

The article was edited to modify the containment date.

Suspicious fires in Glacier National Park leave a historic structure destroyed

Bill GabbertJuly 24, 2020July 24, 2020Uncategorizedarson, Glacier NP, Montana5 Comments

The Ford Creek Patrol Cabin burned

Ford Creek Patrol Cabin burned arson fire — Ford Creek Patrol Cabin. NPS photo.

In northern Montana Thursday morning seven fires were discovered in Glacier National Park in the North Fork area. Park spokesperson Gina Kerzman said they have all been controlled but the Ford Creek Patrol Cabin built in 1928 which is on the National Register of Historic Places was destroyed.

Due to the suspicious nature of the fires, several investigators are on scene including the FBI and the National Park Service’s Investigative Services Branch, which is assisting remotely.

Anyone with information about the fires is urged to call 406-888-7077.

Resources responding to the fires included local county, state, and federal agencies with hotshot crews, engine crews, and law enforcement personnel.

The Ford Creek Patrol Cabin was built in 1928. The rustic log structure was a significant resource both architecturally and historically as part of a network of shelters approximately one day’s travel apart used by patrolling backcountry rangers.

The nomination of the Ford Creek Patrol Cabin to be on the National Register of Historic Places prepared in 1984 included this description:

“In 1928, Glacier National Park appropriated $2,000 for the construction of four identical snowshoe cabins. The Park hired private contractors to erect the buildings since the staff carpenter force was occupied with construction at Belton headquarters. Documents do not indicate the names of the contractors, although invitations to bid were sent to “several good log men in the vicinity.” The Park provided floor shiplap, roofing materials, cement, okem (chinking), cellar planks, windows and doors and their frames, shakes, and hardware. The contractor cleared the site, cut trees marked by the Park Engineer, built the cabin, and cleared the site.

“The project took three weeks and the cost for all materials and labor totaled $350. This cabin is one of many similar structures built in Glacier National Park during the 1920s and 1930s to facilitate the supervision of lands within the park boundaries. The park’s rugged topography and the often rapidly changing weather conditions made it imperative that these cabins be built at strategic points to protect rangers charged with park surveillance. The cabins were usually located 8 to 12 miles from a permanent ranger station. Thus, a park ranger could spend a number of days on patrol duty without returning to the station for supplies or shelter. The Ford Creek patrol cabin is significant because it illustrates an important aspect in the development and administration of Glacier National Park.

“It is a one-story, rectangular log structure with new corrugated metal on a gable roof, a metal stove pipe, and nine log purlins. The wall logs are saddle notched with sapling chinking and square-cut crowns. There is a concrete alignment foundation under the structure and porch posts. The roof extends to a full porch with a tie beam and vertical pole beneath the ends of seven purlins. There are shakes in the gable ends. The door is solid wood and “bear-proofed.” The windows are iron bars woven with barbed wire over six-light, wood frame casements. The structure is in good condition.”

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Kelly. Typos or errors, report them HERE.

Update on wildfires in northeast California

Bill GabbertJuly 24, 2020July 27, 2020WildfireCaldwell Fire, California, Gold Fire1 Comment

Evacuations are in effect on the Gold Fire south of Adin

map Wildfires in northeast California — Wildfires in northeast California at 2 a.m. PDT July 24, 2020.

Lightning earlier this week ignited numerous wildfires in northeast California. Most of them were suppressed while still small, but several are resisting the efforts of firefighters.

(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Gold Fire including the most recent, CLICK HERE. To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Caldwell Fire, including the most recent, CLICK HERE.)

In addition, the Gold Fire southeast of Adin that started July 20 (cause undetermined) prompted more evacuations Thursday when fire intensity increased during the afternoon. An overnight mapping flight found that it grew by 4,876 acres to bring the total up to 19,642 acres. It is burning in areas with private residences, ranches, and commercial operations including agriculture, livestock, and timber. Seven structures have been destroyed. The Willow Creek Campground is threatened and Highway 139 is closed at Susanville Road (A-2) south to Termo Grasshopper. Resources assigned include 20 hand crews, 132 engines, and 12 helicopters for a total of 1,214 personnel.

@FirePhotoGirl is on the job at the Gold Fire:

#goldfire several different spot fires have gotten well eatablished. pic.twitter.com/BOwY71pP1W

— FirePhotoGirl (@FirePhotoGirl) July 24, 2020

Very little current information is available about the lightning-caused fires on the Modoc National Forest:

The Caldwell Fire on the Modoc/Siskiyou county line southeast of Lava Beds National Monument has burned approximately 7,000 acres. It was very active again Thursday spreading to the south. Around 11 p.m. Thursday a weather station on Timber Mountain five miles to the southeast recorded 0.06″ of rain. The maximum relative humidity overnight was 59 percent. There is another fire, name unknown, burning five miles west-northwest of the Caldwell Fire northwest of Cinder Butte.

The Allen Fire near Allen Butte 11 miles southwest of Canby was last reported at 800 acres. It was partially obscured by clouds during an attempt to map it from a fixed wind aircraft Thursday night. Smoke jumpers and other crews are working to keep it south of County Road 85.

The Canyon Fire four miles southwest of Canby was also unable to be mapped due to clouds. During the last two days satellites have only been able to detect a small amount of heat on this fire.

Almost a dozen new lightning-caused fires on the Modoc National Forest

Bill GabbertJuly 23, 2020September 21, 2020WildfireCalifornia, lightning, Modoc National Forest

Originally published at 4:38 p.m. PDT July 23, 2020

Modoc Lightning Fires; satellite heat data from 12:05 p.m. PDT July 23, 2020.

In the last 48 hours firefighters have discovered at least 11 lightning-caused fires on the Modoc National Forest in northeast California.

The Caldwell Fire close to Tionesta and southeast of Lava Beds National Monument, has burned 1,500 acres. It was growing rapidly Wednesday afternoon while pushed by winds associated with a thunderstorm.

(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Caldwell Fire, including the most recent, click here.)

The Allen Fire in a difficult to access area near Allen Butte was last reported at 800 acres. Smoke jumpers and other crews are working to keep it south of County Road 85.

The Canyon Fire near Canby Bridge has been contained at 234 acres.

At least eight other fires started by lightning have each burned 0.1 to 3.8 acres.

From the Modoc National Forest:

Quick response from firefighting resources in difficult conditions allowed great progress toward containment and control on fires that have been kept small.

The primary fire response strategy for 2020 in Region 5 [California] continues to be aggressive initial attack, to include using local resources from partners. The primary firefighting goal is rapid containment to minimize the number of large wildfires.

Caldwell Fire Modoc National Forest — Caldwell Fire on the Modoc National Forest, posted to InciWeb July 23, 2020.

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