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Updated map of Detwiler Fire near Mariposa, CA — Wednesday afternoon

Bill GabbertJuly 19, 2017July 21, 2017UncategorizedCalifornia, Detwiler Fire11 Comments

Above: Map of the Detwiler Fire. The blue line was the perimeter at 10 p.m. PDT July 18. The dots represent heat detected by a satellite, with the red ones being the most recent, from 1:30 p.m. PDT July 19, 2017.

(Originally published at 4:32 p.m. PDT July 19, 2017)

A satellite that overflew the Detwiler Fire at 1:30 p.m. PDT on Wednesday detected heat sources that, if accurate, indicate that in the previous 15 hours since the last fixed wing aircraft mapping flight, the fire spread significantly to the north toward Coulterville and to the south east of Catheys Valley. There was also expansion on the east side, but very little on the west.

The data from this satellite hundreds of miles overhead is not nearly as sensitive and accurate as a dedicated fixed wing mapping aircraft, so this information should be considered tentative until the next conventional mapping flight which will probably occur Wednesday night. The sensors only pick up large heat sources. If it does turn out to be accurate, we’re looking at more than 60,000 acres.

The growth toward the north is consistent with the satellite photograph taken Wednesday afternoon, which shows dense smoke being pushed north.

Detwiler Fire NASA satellite photograph — NASA satellite photograph taken Wednesday afternoon, July 19. The red dots represent heat. Click to enlarge.

(All articles on Wildfire Today about the Detwiler Fire are tagged “Detwiler Fire” and can be found here, with the most recent at the top.)

Huge fire whirl in Nevada

Bill GabbertJuly 19, 2017July 20, 2017Uncategorizedfire tornado, fire whirl, firenado, Nevada

Rod Dines of the Payette National Forest took these photos from an aircraft while flying over a wildfire near Winnemucca, Nevada.

Fire whirl Nevada wildfire — Fire whirl in Nevada. Photo by Rod Dines of the Payette National Forest. Used with permission.

Trailer released for the movie about the Granite Mountain Hotshots

Bill GabbertJuly 19, 2017September 12, 2017UncategorizedArizona, film, lodd, movie, Only the Brave, Yarnell Fire12 Comments

The film is due to open October 20.

The Director of the film about the Granite Mountain Hotshots just recently completed the final edits and has released the official trailer (above).

Supposedly it tells the story of the 19 firefighters that were entrapped and killed on the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona June 30, 2013. One crewmember who was not with the others at the time of the burnover and survived, Brendan McDonough, is listed in the credits as a Creative Consultant.

The images shown here are from the website and the trailer.

The name of the film has changed, from No Exit, to Granite Mountain, and finally to Only The Brave: Based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. The release date has been pushed from September to October 20.

A number of books and articles have been written about the tragedy, but the producers say the film is based on an article published in GQ Magazine titled No Exit, by Sean Flynn.

GQ published an article today featuring an interview with the Director, Joseph Kosinski. Here’s an excerpt in which he talks about casting:

..The two roles I cast first were Eric Marsh and Brendan McDonough. Josh Brolin was always at the top of my list. I flew out to Asheville, North Carolina, where he was filming another movie, and sat down with him on a Saturday afternoon. I talked him through the vision I had for this film, and the importance of this story, and he got it instantly. He had actually worked as a volunteer firefighter at one point in his life, and he had lived in Prescott, Arizona, at one point. He felt an instant connection to the material and the story; that got him interested.

Before production began, the director hired two former members of Granite Mountain who put the 20 actors playing the parts of firefighters through a two-week “Hotshot camp”.

Here’s another excerpt from the GQ article about the reaction to the film from the Granite Mountain family members.

I just finished the film two weeks ago, so we’re just starting to show it to the family members now. The reaction so far has been everything I would have hoped and more—which, to me, is almost the most important thing. I believe so wholeheartedly in [the Granite Mountain Hotshots’] story being a heroic one, and one that needs to be told. Of all the opinions on a film, [the family members’ reaction] is one that truly matters to me on the deepest level. And so far, every reaction I’ve gotten from the family members is that we did our job.

The film’s website has more information.

Satellite photo of Detwiler Fire

Bill GabbertJuly 19, 2017UncategorizedCalifornia, Detwiler Fire1 Comment

This aerial photo of California shows smoke and heat (the red dots) from the Detwiler Fire. It was taken by NASA’s Terra satellite on July 18, 2017.

As of Wednesday morning the fire, which is very close to Mariposa and 23 miles northeast of Merced, had burned 45,724 acres.

More information about the fire on Wildfire Today.

Detwiler Fire doubles in size, grows to over 45,000 acres

Bill GabbertJuly 19, 2017March 23, 2019UncategorizedCalifornia, Detwiler Fire6 Comments

Above: Map of the Detwiler Fire. The red line was the perimeter at 10 p.m. PDT July 18, and the white line was the perimeter 21 hours earlier.

(Originally published at 7:34 a.m. PDT July 19, 2017)
(UPDATED at 9:54 a.m. PDT July 19, 2017)

The Detwiler Fire continued to burn vigorously Tuesday evening. When it was mapped at 10 p.m. it had more than doubled, adding another 26,123 acres during the previous 21 hours to bring the total burned area up to 45,724 acres according to CAL FIRE. Satellite data acquired four hours later at 2 a.m. Wednesday showed the fire had still been spreading and may have added at least another 5,000 acres.

About 4,000 people are affected by evacuations, including the entire city of Mariposa. CAL FIRE and the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office have more information about evacuations. Approximately 1,500 homes are threatened and 8 structures have been destroyed.

The Detwiler Fire has burned very close to Mariposa and is 23 miles northeast of Merced.

The fire has crossed Highways 49 and 140, which are now closed in the area of the fire.

Firefighters are worried about the power lines that supply electricity to Yosemite National Park which is 16 air miles east of the fire.

About 2,200 personnel are assigned or en route.

The Detwiler Fire, Tuesday afternoon. Photo provided by Robert D. Barnett, CAL FIRE Deputy Chief of Training & Safety, Northern Region C205. Used with permission.

The video below shows a drop from a DC-10 air tanker.

Retardant drop: trying to protect the town of Mariposa as the #detwilerfire flames come towards downtown @FOX40 pic.twitter.com/RGEF9IUSkw

— Eric Rucker (@EricRuckerfox40) July 19, 2017