News and opinion about wildland fire
The National Weather service has posted Red Flag Warnings for areas in California, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado.
The maps were current as of 8:35 a.m. MDT on Tuesday. Red Flag Warnings can change throughout the day as the National Weather Service offices around the country update and revise their forecasts and maps. For the most current data visit this NWS site.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized7 Comments on California: San Gabriel Complex of Fires near Los Angeles (UPDATED at 6:10 a.m. PDT June 22, 2016)
The activity on the Fish and Reservoir Fires that comprise the San Gabriel Complex near Los Angeles has lessened over the last 24 hours. The Fish Fire is still generating heat near the top of the fire and on the southwest side.
The combined acreage for the two fires is now 4,900 acres according to the U.S. Forest Service — 1,200 acres for the Reservoir Fire and 3,700 acres for the Fish Fire. Approximately 1,040 personnel are currently committed to these fires.
The mandatory evacuations for parts of the city of Duarte and in the national monument still remain in effect.
In spite of predictions otherwise, the two fires have still not merged and are over a mile apart.
Tuesday night firefighters continued structure protection along the south perimeter above Duarte. On Wednesday hand crews will hold and improve the fire perimeter, patrol along Highway 39, and seek opportunities to build indirect dozer lines along the Red Box Road.
With the exception of the wind, which could be an issue, the weather forecast for Wednesday favors firefighters, with moderate temperatures and relative humidity. However the wind will be out of the southwest at 8 to 11 mph with gusts up to 17 mph.
The view from Air7 over the #SanGabrielComplex near Duarte… Not a lot of active flame. @abc7darsha on the ground. pic.twitter.com/EGEfTFjLxE
— Dan Rasmussen (@djrasmussen) June 22, 2016
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(UPDATE at 9:232a.m. PDT, June 21, 2016)
At a 9 a.m. press conference fire officials at the Fish and Reservoir Fires said the expected nighttime downslope winds that intensified after 4 a.m. caused an increase in fire activity, pushing the Fish Fire down the steep slopes above Duarte, California. With the assistance of at least one water-dropping night-flying helicopter firefighters were able to prevent the loss of any structures.
After a Chief with Los Angeles County Fire Department said they put out the fire at the base of the slopes behind the residences early Tuesday morning, he said there is no containment in that area or any other area on the fire. He also said he does not foresee any relaxation of the evacuation order in the near future.
Fire officials expect the two fires to merge. The incident is now known as the San Gabriel Complex.
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(UPDATE at 7:54 a.m. PDT June 21, 2016)
The Fish and Reservoir Fires near Glendora, Azuza, and Duarte in southern California have not grown together. According to satellite heat-sensing data they were still about 1.3 miles apart at 3:23 Monday morning.
The U.S. Forest Service reports that the size estimates of the fires are 3,000 acres for the Fish Fire and 2,400 acres for the Reservoir Fire.
A Type 2 incident management team with Mike Wakoski as Incident Commander is assigned to both fires. They had an inbriefing scheduled for 8 p.m. on Monday.
Time lapse #4, this one covers a 1.5 hours 2:45 and 4:15 PM @JoshSvensson #ReservoirFire #FishFire #cawildfires pic.twitter.com/dJ6OLzHefK
— Barry Parker (@bfireman5) June 21, 2016
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(UPDATE at 9:40 p.m. PDT June 20, 2016)
The U.S. Forest Service reports the Fish Fire has burned 3,000 acres and the Reservoir fire, 1,500 acres. LA County reports that as of 8:30 p.m. the two fires had not merged… yet. They were still 1.5 miles apart. But at that time the Fish Fire was 2,000 acres.
Incredible #wildfire shot – smoke behind Los Angeles skyline (AP Photo / Ringo H.W. Chiu) pic.twitter.com/djKN54uszh
— Cassandra Gauthier (@cassgtv) June 21, 2016
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(Originally published at 4:45 p.m. PDT June 20, 2016. Updated at 5:33 p.m. PDT June 20, 2016)
Two wildfires started today near Los Angeles and both got off to a roaring start. The map above shows the location of the fires at 1:21 PDT on Monday, about two to three hours after they started. They have grown substantially since then.
The Reservoir Fire ignited at about 11 a.m. after a vehicle accident on Highway 39 near Morris Reservoir on the steep slopes above Glendora, California. Within about three hours it had burned 1,200 acres and required the evacuation of San Gabriel Canyon recreation area. At 5:30 p.m. it was estimated at 1,500 acres.
Continue reading “California: San Gabriel Complex of Fires near Los Angeles”
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Photos of the Reservoir and Fish Fires near Los Angeles These are photos from the Reservoir and Fish Fires near Los Angeles on June 30, 2016.
Smoke from the fire above Azusa, Ca is visible from Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area. #LA #fire pic.twitter.com/gPjt55okfK
— Francine Orr/LATimes (@francineorr) June 20, 2016
And these photos:
PHOTOS: Viewers capture images of smoke, flames from #ReservoirFire and #FishFire https://t.co/XED0n94DHy pic.twitter.com/nmZZYU3hgW
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) June 20, 2016
And then this:
Amazing and relentless effort by @LACoFireAirOps on the #reservoirfire pic.twitter.com/dMzER6Z0E1
— Kat (@LinLorienelen) June 20, 2016
Photo taken of #ReservoirFire #FishFire by @RICKatFOX from FOX11 10,000ft over San Gabriel Valley. #heatwave pic.twitter.com/ciikQDeVTk
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) June 20, 2016
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Our main article about the Fish and Reservoir Fires has more details about these blazes.
(UPDATED at 8:15 a.m. PDT June 24, 2016)
The growth of the Border Fire east of Potrero, California has slowed in recent days. CAL FIRE reports that it has burned 7,483 acres.
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(UPDATED at 7:20 a.m. PDT June 22, 2016)
The Border Fire at Potrero, California, 18 miles east of the greater San Diego area, continued to spread to the east on Tuesday, adding another 480 acres. CAL FIRE is reporting that it has burned a total of 6,500 acres, two residences, and 11 outbuildings.
A spot fire 1.2 miles northeast of the main fire had burned 40 acres as of early Wednesday morning.
#BorderFire Firefighters continue to make progress as containment rises. pic.twitter.com/sSqk55823k
— CAL FIRE SAN DIEGO (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) June 22, 2016
Resources assigned to the fire include 1,604 personnel, 200 engines, 40 hand crews, 6 helicopters, 12 water tenders, and 7 dozers.
Highway 94 and the Pacific Crest Trail are closed.
#BorderFire [update] Potrero (San Diego Co) is 6,500 acres & 15% contained. Vid:@NBCSanDiego https://t.co/EHDNokTynd pic.twitter.com/TZ9hA6njRh
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) June 22, 2016
@CAL_FIRE Capt. Bortisser: Over 1,000 fighting #BorderFire from the air and ground. https://t.co/4YYwlLyyds pic.twitter.com/F5TldApgVj
— FOX 5 San Diego (@fox5sandiego) June 22, 2016
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CAL FIRE reported at 7 p.m. on June 21 the revised size of the Border Fire was 6,020 acres.
Latest Facts – #BorderFire in San Diego County. 1,550 personnel, 6,020 acres burned, 1,000 structures threatened. pic.twitter.com/7QxDoljeDW
— justin-time (@justinmccauley5) June 22, 2016
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(UPDATED at 5:25 p.m. PDT June 21, 2016)
New evacuations were ordered for the Border Fire in San Diego County at 2 p.m on Tuesday June 21. It includes Lake Morena Village northwest of Campo, California.
CAL FIRE reported that there are 1,484 personnel assigned, plus 158 engines, 32 hand crews, 6 helicopters, 12 water tenders, and 3 dozers.
The mandatory evacuations have been placed in parts of the city of Duarte and in the national monument still remain in effect.
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(UPDATED at 6:10 a.m. PDT June 21, 2016)
CAL FIRE’s latest estimate on the size of the Border Fire at Potrero, California was 7,500 acres late Monday afternoon. Our very rough analysis of Monday night’s mapping data puts it much closer to 6,000 acres … but it may eventually grow into the larger figure.
The fire has gone through or past several small communities with names like Dog Patch, and has come within two miles of Campo, which was the first evacuation shelter. When the fire grew closer to Campo, the shelter was moved to the rest area on Buckman Springs Road at Interstate 8, and was later relocated to El Cajon at the Los Coches Creek Middle School, 9669 Dunbar Lane.
According to CAL FIRE mandatory evacuations are still in effect for the communities of Potrero, Forest Gate, Star Ranch, Cowboy Ranch, Dog Patch, & Canyon City. Highway 94 remains closed.
The number of structures destroyed remains at four outbuildings. There have been three minor injuries to firefighters.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized2 Comments on A virtual aerial tour of the site of the Cedar Fire in Arizona This is virtual flyover of the site of the Cedar Fire 10 miles south of Show Low, Arizona, showing the fire perimeter as of 10 p.m. MDT June 17. There is also a quick stop at the Show Low Airport with photos of the helicopters that assisted firefighters on the ground by dropping water.
Officials believe they were intentionally set by the mafia, developers, or even forest rangers
Firefighters have been battling dozens of wildfires on the island of Sicily that broke out on Thursday during a period of “sirocco”, strong winds that originate in the Sahara. Since the fires started at around the same time, it is likely that arson is to blame, and perhaps coordinated arson.
Below are excerpts from an article in The Telegraph:
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“Authorities have pointed the blame at mafia mobsters allied with unscrupulous developers who hope to build villas and holiday homes on the torched land, as well as disgruntled forest rangers who were recently sacked after being found guilty of collusion with Cosa Nostra.
The fires broke out within hours of each other on Thursday, suggesting that they were deliberately lit in a carefully coordinated plan.
“We don’t yet have the proof but we suspect that there are criminal interests behind these fires,” said Rosario Crocetta, the governor of Sicily. “It horrifies me that criminals in Sicily would set fire to national parks and centuries-old woodland, but there are speculative interests behind the fires.”
Fires also broke out around Messina and in the Nebrodi national park in eastern Sicily.
Last month the park’s director narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when armed men ambushed his car at night and sprayed it with bullets.
The murder attempt was apparent retribution for Giuseppe Antoci’s efforts to crack down on mafia bosses making millions of euros by defrauding EU funds intended for farmers living within the park.
There was speculation that the arsonists might include some of the dozens of forest rangers who were sacked two months ago after they were found to have links with the mafia or to have deliberately set fires in the past, apparently as a way of guaranteeing that their fire-fighting services would be used.
Sicily employs around 23,000 full-time and auxiliary forest rangers, an enormous number considering its size and the fact that it is not a particularly forested part of Italy.
Critics say many were appointed as part of a corrupt system of political cronyism, with politicians able to rely on the votes of people they find jobs for.”
