The map shows the prediction for the distribution of near-surface wildfire smoke at 6 p.m. MDT July 7, 2018. The states that are the most affected include portions of California, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
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Southern California firefighters being tested by record heat and windy conditions
On Saturday there is a slight chance of isolated dry lightning strikes across the eastern San Gabriel Mountains during Red Flag Warning conditions
Above: Photo taken from the back yard of the USFS District Office in Alpine, CA during the West Fire July 6, 2018. USFS photo.
(Originally published at 9:20 a.m. PDT July 7, 2018)
The predictions for record heat in Southern California were accurate Friday as high temperatures soared into the triple digits. In downtown Los Angeles the old record for the date was broken by 10:15 a.m. when it hit the previous mark set in 1992 of 94 degrees. By the end of the day it was 108. The temperature at UCLA reached 111 degrees, the hottest temperature ever recorded there.
Other record-setting daily temperatures Friday in Southern California:
- 117 – Van Nuys Airport
- 114 – Burbank Airport
- 115 – Ramona
- 118 – Riverside
Firefighters were challenged by not only the heat but dry winds as fires broke out in several areas.
As the temperature reached 109 degrees, U.S. Forest Service firefighters on the Cleveland National Forest found themselves in a structure defense mode at their District Office in Alpine, with the West Fire adjacent to the building’s back yard and the rest of the 400-acre blaze across the street. Live footage shot by a local TV station showed numerous structures were destroyed.
![forest service district office fire](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/AlpineOffice3.jpg)
On the Santa Barbara coast sundowner winds pushed the Holiday Fire through the hills above Goleta, burning 10 to 20 homes according to fire authorities. Even into the night temperatures at the fire scene remained above 100 degrees.
![holiday fire goleta](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/HolidayFire_SBCoFD.jpg)
The Valley Fire that started Friday has burned at least 1,000 acres near Highway 38 on the San Bernardino National Forest. At last report it was headed into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area. Mandatory evacuation are in effect for the Forest Falls Community east of the highway. Southern California Incident Management Team 2 will be assuming command.
A Map of the #ValleyFire is available. Smoke continues to be visible throughout the IE.@CALFIREBDU @sbcountysheriff @SBCOUNTYFIRE @YucaipaPD pic.twitter.com/FaFbp7foSf
— San Bernardino National Forest (@SanBernardinoNF) July 7, 2018
Much of Southern California is again under a Red Flag Warning Saturday as the huge high pressure dome lingers over the area, bringing more of the same very high temperatures, 2 to 8 percent relative humidities, and gusty winds.
And just to make the situation more interesting, there is a slight chance of isolated dry lightning strikes across the eastern San Gabriel Mountains along with thunderstorm-driven winds.
![map Red Flag Warnings, July 7, 2018](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/RedFlag_7-7-2018.jpg)
West Fire burns numerous structures at Alpine, California
Above: The West Fire at Alpine, California. Screenshot from KUSI video.
(UPDATED at 4:37 p.m. PDT July 6, 2018)
CAL FIRE said the spread of the West Fire has been virtually stopped, but there is still quite a bit of active fire between structures that is threatening buildings. Firefighters will be working throughout the night to mitigate the threat.
(Originally published at 3:33 p.m. PDT July 6, 2018)
A destructive wildfire broke out during a heat wave in Southern California Friday. As the temperature in eastern San Diego County exceeded 100 degrees the West Fire started on the east side of Alpine and quickly spread through residential areas south of Interstate 8.
At 3:30 p.m. the fire had burned approximately 350 acres.
In viewing video shot by KUSI News, it appeared that many structures were likely victim to the flames.
There may have been a close call involving an inmate crew. The tweet below has an unfortunate choice of words, but the crew appears to be moving as rapidly as possible away from advancing flames.
A group of inmate firefighters were caught escaping the scene as the fire quickly grew in the area surrounding them. None of them appeared to be injured. #WestFire
Details: https://t.co/NpXzNvMKvD pic.twitter.com/jAjPUWhhDa
— KUSI News (@KUSINews) July 6, 2018
The screenshot below from the KUSI video (at -41:20) was probably just after the crew “escaped” the flames only to have to confront traffic on the busy lanes of Interstate 8 which appeared to be fully open. They can be seen running at first.
![inmate crew west fire alpine](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/InmateCrew.jpg)
The video, if you can deal with the constantly panning camera, shows many examples of structures burning. I skimmed through and while I saw a couple of places with retardant on the ground, I only saw one air tanker, a 1,200-gallon S-2T, making a drop. I didn’t see any helicopters, but there could have been many aircraft that I missed or didn’t appear in front of the camera. Eight air tankers were reloading with retardant at Medford, Oregon Thursday while fighting the Klamathon Fire just south of the California/Oregon border.
![West fire alpine CA](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/WestFire_.jpg)
![West fire alpine CA](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/WestFire_-3.jpg)
From the photos below it appears that the fire burned up against the back yard of the USFS Descanso Ranger District office at 3348 Alpine Blvd. and was also very active across the street.
Tornado observed near Weston Pass fire in Colorado
![Tornado Weston Pass Fire](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Tornado.jpg)
Wildland firefighters have enough to worry about, but Thursday a tornado briefly touched down just south of the Weston Pass Fire, then while receding back into the cloud it moved directly over the fire.
Tornadoes are very rare in this part of the country. According to the National Weather Service office in Boulder, it was the 6th confirmed tornado in Park County since records began in 1950.
Chief Meteorologist/Climatologist for 11 News in Colorado Springs, said “No, this isn’t a firewhirl, it is a legit tornado produced by a thunderstorm that moved across the Weston Pass Fire.”
The Weston Pass Fire has burned about 13,000 acres 9 miles southwest of Fairplay, Colorado.
![Tornado Weston Pass Fire](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/TornadoReceeding.jpg)
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Jason.
Typos or errors, report them HERE.
Klamathon Fire burns into Hornbrook, California, closes I-5
(Above: CHP photo)
(UPDATED at 12:37 p.m. PDT July 6, 2018)
From KOBI5:
A civilian has died due to the Klamathon Fire, CAL FIRE reported Friday morning. The identification of the person will be released after further investigation and notification of next-of-kin. No further information was released.
(UPDATED at 7 a.m. PDT July 6, 2018)
CAL FIRE reported at 6 a.m. MDT Friday that the Klamathon Fire along Interstate 5 just south of the Oregon border is now 8,000 acres with “multiple structures threatened and damaged or destroyed”. Evacuation orders are in effect.
The California Highway Patrol is now escorting traffic on Interstate 5 through the burned area.
(Originally published at 3:35 a.m. PDT July 6, 2018)
The Klamathon Fire that started Thursday afternoon under windy conditions in northern California spread very quickly into the small community of Hornbrook. Burning on both sides of Interstate 5 it kept going north at least another seven miles to another small town, Hilt, which is about a mile south of the Oregon border.
CAL FIRE said approximately 5,000 acres and multiple structures have burned.
Interstate 5, the major thoroughfare connecting California and Oregon, was closed Thursday night between Yreka, CA and Ashland, OR.
![Klamathon Fire](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/KlamathonFireCHP-2.jpg)
![Klamathon Fire](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/KlamathonFireCHP-3.jpg)
While the fire was growing quickly Thursday afternoon a 20 to 26 mph south wind was pushing it along the Interstate. By midnight the wind slowed to just a few miles per hour and that trend is predicted to continue Friday, but the relative humidity will still be low, around 15 percent. This should slow the spread somewhat, but now firefighters have thousands of acres of fire to contend with.
![map Klamathon fire](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/KlamathonFire_1141pmPDT_7-5.jpg)
There are no details yet about the extent of damage in the communities, but the early indications are that it could be severe.
#Klamathon (UPDATE) Fire is 5000+ acres and 0% contained with multiple structures threatened and damaged or destroyed. An Evacuation Order is in effect for Klamathon Rd from I-5 to ager and all Hornbrook City all the way to and including Hilt /Colestein Valley. pic.twitter.com/1VRBKY7BYN
— CAL FIRE SKU (@CALFIRESKU) July 6, 2018
#Klamathon fire burning both sides of I-5 south of Hilt interchange. No ETA on when I-5 will reopen. I-5 closed SB at #Ashland. NB at #Yreka. pic.twitter.com/xSb1gG6vNc
— Oregon DOT (@OregonDOT) July 6, 2018
We were right there when the I5 was closed today due to the #Klamathonfire at the Oregon / California border. This is right by the #Hornbrook exit. Currently stuck in Yreka, couldn’t get to Ashland, Oregon today pic.twitter.com/hmEoWngdxO
— Denise Van Patten (@DeeVP) July 6, 2018
Evacuations ordered for Lake Christine Fire at Basalt, Colorado
Tracer rounds used at a shooting range started the fire, officials said
Above: The Lake Christine Fire, Wednesday night. Photo: Katie Baum Hueth, Eagle County Sheriff’s Office.
(UPDATED at 8:19 a.m. MDT July 5, 2018)
Mandatory evacuations are in effect in several locations for the Lake Christine Fire that is burning between Basalt and El Jebel, Colorado 15 air miles southeast of Glenwood Springs.
The fire started July 3 from tracer ammunition being used by shooters near Basalt.
Fire officials estimated Thursday morning it has burned approximately 4,900 acres.
![map lake christine fire](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/LakeChristineFire_945amMDT_7-5.jpg)
Below is a time-lapse showing the growth of the fire on July 4.
Continue reading “Evacuations ordered for Lake Christine Fire at Basalt, Colorado”