Wildfire Archives - Page 37 of 151

Oak Fire spreads rapidly east of Mariposa, California

Bill GabbertJuly 24, 2022July 25, 2022WildfireCalifornia, Oak Fire8 Comments

It started Friday afternoon

Updated 8:32 a.m. PDT July 25, 2022

Oak Fire 3-D map 9 p.m. July 24, 2022 — Oak Fire 3-D map, looking north at 9 p.m. July 24, 2022.

The Oak Fire northeast of Mariposa, California was very active Sunday especially on the east side where firefighters worked to minimize the spread beyond Footman Ridge and battled, successfully, to keep it from crossing Bear Clover Lane.

The blaze was mapped Sunday night at 16,791 acres.

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

Part of the western edge of the Ferguson Fire that burned 96,000 acres in 2018 was south of Jerseydale and east of Jerseydale Road. That four-year-old footprint is not stopping the Oak Fire, but the rate of spread and intensity is greatly diminished as it burns, giving firefighters more options to put in direct fireline on the edge where they can, and construct indirect lines out ahead. Drops from helicopters and air tankers are also more effective in the lighter fuels.

Oak Fire 3-D map, east side, looking northwest at 9 p.m. July 24, 2022.

While personnel have their hands full slowing or stopping the spread on the east and north sides, the south and west perimeters are looking much better. Direct fire line has been completed in many areas and tactical burning has helped to secure the edge.

In a community meeting Sunday evening fire officials said that soon after the fire started at 2:10 p.m. Friday it was creating spot fires two miles ahead of the main fire. At that time there was little the limited number of firefighters at the scene could do other than protect lives and structures and help with evacuations.

Oak Fire map 9 p.m. July 24, 2022 — Oak Fire map. The red line was the perimeter at approximately 9 p.m. July 24, 2022. The white line was the perimeter about 23 hours before.

The number of structures reported as having been destroyed remains at 10, but that number will change after the two-person damage assessment team begins to report their findings, which may be released today.

Resources on the incident include 17 helicopters, 225 fire engines, 58 dozers, 23 water tenders, and 51 hand crews for a total of 2,093 personnel.

The video below has excellent footage of air tankers dropping retardant on the Oak Fire. You’ll see in order, DC-10 with a lead plane, BAe-146, DC-10 making a downhill drop, and finally an S-2T.

#Oakfire Some of the air show on the Oak Fire on the South Eastern side pic.twitter.com/HuF5Fk7PL8

— Tim Walton (@Photo1Prod) July 25, 2022

7:54 a.m. PDT July 24, 2022

Oak Fire map 10:46 p.m. PDT July 23, 2022 — Oak Fire map. The red line was the perimeter at 10:46 p.m. PDT July 23, 2022. The white line was the perimeter at 4 a.m. July 23.

The Oak Fire two miles northeast of Mariposa, California was active on all sides Saturday and into the night. Most of the overnight movement was on the east side which saw the largest growth, spreading for one to two miles east and northeast, crossing Jerseydale road and surrounding a fire station on the road. It moved into the footprint of the Ferguson Fire which burned more than 96,000 acres four years ago.

When the fire was mapped at 10:46 p.m. Saturday night it was spreading toward Bear Clover Lane north of Jerseydale. It was six miles from Yosemite National Park, with the burn scar from the Ferguson Fire in between.

As you can see in the photo below, at 8 a.m. Sunday it was already creating a large plume of smoke.

Oak Fire 8:02 a.m. July 24, 2022 — Oak Fire, as seen from Miami Peak, looking northwest at 802 a.m. July 24, 2022.

CAL FIRE reported Sunday morning at 7 a.m. it had burned 14,281 acres since it started Friday afternoon. The number of structures destroyed remained at 10.

On the south, it crossed Triangle Road then reached and crossed in some places Darrah Road.

“The fire is moving quickly. This fire was throwing embers out in front of itself for up to 2 miles yesterday,” Daniel Patterson, a spokesman for the Sierra National Forest said Saturday. “These are exceptional fire conditions.”

Oak Fire 3-D map, east side, 1046 p.m. PDT July 23, 2022 — Oak Fire 3-D map, east side, 10:46 p.m. PDT July 23, 2022.

As of the Saturday night mapping flight the west side has remained east of Highway 140 in the Midpines area.

Evacuations are in effect. Mariposa County maintains a map online showing the affected areas.

Resources assigned include 17 helicopters, 225 fire engines, 58 dozers, 23 water tenders, and 51 hand crews for a total of 2,093 personnel.

Oak Fire, at dawn, July 24, 2022. Courtney Aviation.

Moose Fire near Idaho-Montana border grows to more than 28,000 acres

Bill GabbertJuly 23, 2022July 23, 2022WildfireIdaho, Moose Fire14 Comments

Most of the 5,000 acres of growth was on the west and east sides

12:12 p.m. MDT July 23, 2022

Moose Fire 3-D map 10:33 p.m. July 22, 2022 — Moose Fire 3-D map looking northwest at 10:33 p.m. July 22, 2022.

Most of the 5,000 acres of growth of the Moose Fire in eastern Idaho Friday was on the west and east sides, spreading for about a mile to the east and west. Friday night the fire burned actively, spreading west as far as Kayak Camp. In the North Fork area it reached the west bank of the Salmon River. Two miles of the east flank are on the steep slopes west of and above US Highway 93.

Friday’s Red Flag weather conditions increased fire activity along the top of Napoleon Ridge. North of the Salmon River, firefighters succeeded in holding fire line built during the last several days.

At 10:33 p.m. Friday it was mapped at 28,839 acres. At that time it was 12 miles northwest of Salmon, Idaho and 10 miles west of the Idaho/Montana border.

Moose Fire map 10:33 p.m. July 22, 2022 — Map of the Moose Fire. The red line was the perimeter at 10:33 p.m. July 22, 2022. The white line was the perimeter 24 hours before.

Two pilots were killed Thursday July 21 when their Chinook helicopter crashed into the Salmon River while working on the fire. They were identified as Thomas Hayes, 41, of Post Falls, Idaho, and Jared Bird, 36, of Anchorage, Alaska. The National Transportation Safety Board will conduct an investigation.

A spokesperson for the Salmon Challis National Forest said the cause of the fire is undetermined.

On Saturday firefighters will be holding and improving line around the north end of the fire and protecting structures along Salmon River Road and Highway 93. On the southeast side, crews and heavy equipment will work on building an indirect line along Diamond Creek Road from the Highway 93 corridor up into Five Corners.

At the site of the Indianola Ranger Station along the Salmon River (see map above) there is a memorial to two firefighters who were killed while working on the Cramer Fire July 22, 2003 — Jeff Allen and Shane Heath, members of the Indianola Helitack Crew. More information HERE and HERE.

Moose Fire photo GOES 17 satellite — Smoke produced by the Moose Fire in eastern Idaho, as seen from the GOES 17 satellite at 7:36 MDT July 22, 2022.

Weather conditions are expected to moderate Saturday with quieter winds, however it will still be hot and dry for several days.

Oak Fire prompts evacuations in Mariposa County, California

Bill GabbertJuly 23, 2022July 24, 2022WildfireCalifornia, Oak Fire5 Comments

Updated 8:36 p.m. PDT July 23, 2022

Map of the Oak Fire, 8 p.m. July 23, 2022.

The Oak Fire has spread to the east quite significantly, crossing Jerseydale Road about two miles south of Jerseydale in the vicinity of Wild Dove Lane.

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

That puts it less than a mile west of the footprint of the very large Ferguson Fire which burned more than 96,000 acres in 2018. It was caused by a hot catalytic converter on a vehicle that parked in dry grass July 13, 2018 along Highway 140 near the Savage Trading Post.

The Oak Fire is exhibiting extreme fire behavior, igniting spot fires far ahead of the main fire.

CAL FIRE announced that at 6:45 p.m. it had burned 11,900 acres.

Oak Fire 7:43 p.m. July 23, 2022 — Oak Fire, as seen from Miami Peak, looking northwest at 7:43 p.m. July 23, 2022.

Updated 5:00 p.m. PDT july 23, 2022

Oak Fire at 4:57 p.m. July 23, 2022 — Oak Fire, looking northwest from Miami Peak at 4:57 p.m. July 23, 2022.

At approximately 4:20 p.m. Air Attack reported that the latest mapping of the Oak Fire showed had grown to 11,500 acres.

Updated 12:58 p.m. PDT July 23, 2022

Oak Fire, 12:34 p.m. July 23, 2022 — Oak Fire, looking east from Mt. Bullion, 12:34 p.m. July 23, 2022. AlertWildfire.

At 11:15 a.m. Saturday the Oak Fire was mapped by Air Attack at 9,100 acres.

CAL FIRE confirms 10 structures have been destroyed. That number will likely increase.

Updated at 8:35 a.m. PDT July 23, 2022

Oak Fire map, 4:25 a.m. July 23, 2022 — Oak Fire map, the red line was the perimeter at 4:25 a.m. July 23, 2022. The white line was the perimeter at 5:09 p.m. July 22.

The Oak Fire at Midpines, California was active throughout much of Friday night, growing by about 2,200 acres between 10 p.m. and 4:25 a.m. Saturday when it was mapped by FIRIS at 6,555 acres. Half an hour after sunrise it was putting up two smoke columns that were quite some distance apart, with one of them creating enough energy to be capped by a pyrocumulus cloud.

Oak Fire 6:37 a.m. July 23, 2022 — Two smoke columns on the Oak Fire are seen soon after dawn, looking southeast from Edith Hill at 6:37 a.m. July 23, 2022.

Just to be clear — wildfires normally lay down at night, providing an opportunity for firefighters to move in closer and put in direct fireline. It is not common for a fire to be burning so actively soon after dawn that it is creating multiple smoke columns, especially a pyrocumulus column.

The Mariposa County Sheriff has ordered evacuations as far south as Highway 49 and east to Jerseydale. Their map is available online. As we wrote earlier, this is a dangerous fire.

The Oak Fire is spreading rapidly. When it was mapped at 4:25 a.m. Saturday it had spread south across Triangle Road and reached Darrah Road. At that time it was about a half mile west of the community of Darrah. Firefighters were planning a burning operation between Triangle Road and Darrah Road west of the town.

Oak Fire, Lush Meadows subdivision, Friday afternoon July 22, 2022. Credit: Chad Anderson.

Weather
The spot weather forecast for the area predicts hot and dry conditions to persist into next week. Winds will be generally light, except becoming gusty in the afternoons. On Saturday, mostly sunny skies, 90 to 94 degrees, 9 to 13 percent relative humidity, and 6 to 12 mph ridgetop winds from the south to southwest gusting to 20 mph in the afternoon. Saturday night will see poor humidity recovery, 26 to 31 percent, with very light winds. For Sunday, 10 to 14 percent RH with afternoon ridgetop winds out of the west at 4 to 8 mph.

10:36 p.m. PDT July 22, 2022

Oak Fire map at 5:09 p.m. July 22, 2022. The fire is growing rapidly and has doubled in size since this data was collected.

The Oak Fire that started Friday afternoon in Central California has been growing rapidly in Mariposa County. The County Sheriff has ordered evacuations for several areas east and southeast of Midpines. At 10 p.m. Friday it was about 4 miles northeast of Mariposa.

Evacuation Map, Oak Fire, posted by the Mariposa County Sheriff at 10:21 PDT July 22, 2022. This is a dynamic situation and the evacuation status and map may only be current only for a short while.

This is a dangerous fire. Residents should not hesitate to evacuate if there is any doubt about their safety.

At 5:09 p.m. it was mapped at 1,745 acres; at about 10 p.m. CAL FIRE reported it had grown to 4,350 acres.

Oak Fire, looking east at 8:08 p.m. July 22, 2022.

Helicopter crashes into Salmon River while working on Moose Fire

Bill GabbertJuly 22, 2022July 22, 2022Wildfirecrash, Idaho, lodd, Moose Fire17 Comments

Updated 3:56 p.m. MDT July 22, 2022

More information is available about the helicopter crash in Idaho.

Both pilots have died, the U.S. Forest Service said on Friday.

Mary Cernicek with the Salmon-Challis National Forest said Thomas Hayes, 41, of Post Falls, Idaho, and Jared Bird, 36, of Anchorage, Alaska, died from injuries they sustained when their CH-47D Series Chinook crashed in the Salmon River about 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

The pilots were employees of the Anchorage-based ROTAK Helicopter Services and were working on the Moose Fire northwest of Salmon, Idaho.

7:52 a.m. MDT July 22, 2022

Thursday afternoon a CH-47D Chinook helicopter operated by ROTAK Helicopter Services crashed into the Salmon River while working on the Moose Fire northwest of Salmon, Idaho. The US Forest Service reported Friday morning there were two fatalities.

The company released a brief statement Thursday evening.

It is with heavy hearts that we confirm that on July 21, 2022, at approximately 3:30 p.m. a CH-47D series “Chinook” helicopter operated by ROTAK Helicopter Service with two pilots on board was involved in an accident near Salmon, Idaho. Emergency medical teams are responding to the scene. ROTAK is working closely with all appropriate agencies and will issue a full statement as information is confirmed.

We send out our sincere condolences to the families, friends, and co-workers of the two that were killed.

Growth of the fire
The Moose Fire grew incrementally on Friday, showing growth on all sides, primarily south of the Salmon River on the west and east sides. Very little growth occurred north of the river.

A mapping flight Thursday night determined it had burned 23,620 acres, an increase of nearly 3,000 acres. Much of that difference was due to an overnight change in procedure, a decision to not consider in the acreage the unburned islands in the interior. Previously the size of those islands had been subtracted from the total exterior perimeter.

Moose Fire map 10:38 p.m. July 21, 2022 — Moose Fire map. The red line was the perimeter at 10:38 p.m. July 21, 2022. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours previously.

Weather
The forecast for Friday afternoon is for increasing winds, gusting out of the west and then northwest at 31 mph with the relative humidity in the mid-teens. After sunset the wind will drop to about 6 mph out of the north. Saturday should bring 5 to 8 mph winds out of the south shifting to the north, with 13 percent relative humidity.

Firefighters expect the weather on Friday could lead to spread south of the Salmon River west towards Spring Creek, east towards North Fork, and spotting to the north side of the river.

Resources
Resources assigned to the fire Thursday evening included 18 hand crews, 25 fire engines, and 7 helicopters for a total of 517 personnel, a 24-hour increase of 141 individuals.

Structures
There are no reports of structures burning, but 301 are threatened. Evacuation information is available at the Lemhi County website.

Moose Fire burns tens of thousands of acres north of Salmon, Idaho

Bill GabbertJuly 21, 2022July 22, 2022WildfireHog Trough Fire, Idaho, Montana, Moose Fire11 Comments

Both sides of the Salmon River

Moose Fire map, 9:56 p.m. July 20, 2022 — Moose Fire map, 3-D, looking east at 9:56 p.m. July 20, 2022.

The Moose Fire 12 air miles northwest of Salmon, Idaho was very active Wednesday afternoon on both sides of the Salmon River, on the west, south, and east flanks. A mapping flight Wednesday night found that it had grown to more than 20,600 acres and was 2 miles west of North Fork and Highway 93.

Fire officials said the potential remains for the fire to reach the Highway 93 corridor. Additionally, the fire continues to grow to the west along the south side of the Salmon River, beyond East Boulder Creek.

Fire crews are constructing direct and indirect fire line on the north side of the fire north of the Salmon River, working from Ulysses Mountain to the west and the east toward the river. On Wednesday burn out operations were completed near the mountain and crews secured and improved the line into the evening.

South of the river firefighters are expecting to use indirect line, natural features, or roads to stop the spread.

Evacuation information is available at the Lemhi County website.

Continued dry, hot, and windy conditions are expected Thursday with humidities near 10 percent and 15 mph winds out of the west gusting to 22 mph. The forecast for Friday predicts humidity in the mid-teens with stronger winds, 22 mph gusting to 31 out of the west switching to the northwest in the late afternoon. Fire growth on Thursday and Friday could be considerable, but conditions will moderate on Saturday and Sunday.

Another blaze, the Hog Trough Fire 53 air miles to the north-northeast, has burned about 350 acres 15 miles east-southeast of Grantsdale, Montana.

Moose and Hog Trough Fires, satellite photo at 7:16 p.m. MDT July 20, 2022. The Hog Trough Fire is the northernmost, and is smaller.

The forecast for smoke from the two fires predicts it will be moving primarily to the northeast and east Thursday afternoon and evening, possibly affecting Salmon, Butte, Bozeman, Livingston, Dillon, and points further east and southeast.

Smoke forecast 8 p.m. MDT July 21, 2022 — Smoke forecast for 8 p.m. MDT July 21, 2022. NOAA.

A Type 1 Incident Management Team has been activated. Other resources assigned include 18 hand crews, 25 fire engines, and 9 helicopters for a total of 517 personnel.

Experienced my first hotshot proposal today on the #MooseFire pic.twitter.com/WiEmmkLaOi

— Thomas Stokes (@tstokes1219) July 19, 2022

Firefighters work to control two fires in north Texas, Chalk Mountain and 1148

Bill GabbertJuly 20, 2022July 20, 2022WildfireTexas5 Comments

Multiple homes were destroyed in both fires

2:07 p.m. CDT July 20, 2022

Chalk Mountain Fire

The Chalk Mountain Fire 48 miles southwest of Fort Worth, Texas has burned more than 6,339 acres north of US near Highway 67 since it started Monday between Dinosaur Valley State Park and the community of Chalk Mountain.

It was first reported north of US 67, east of FM51, then spread north and northeast, crossing CR-205. Wednesday morning it was approaching CR-1008. Group torching of trees and crown fires have been observed with the fire spotting up to 200 yards ahead from timbered areas into brush and grassy fuels. On the west side crews are working to keep the fire east of FM51. Firefighters will continue constructing fire containment lines and providing structure protection to homes Wednesday.

Chalk Mountain Fire July 19, 2022. InciWeb.

On July 19, The Hood County Judge issued a mandatory evacuation for the areas of Hutchinson, Coleman Ranch Road, Rock Church Highway, and Nocal in Tolar, however that evacuation order has since been rescinded.

A Post Fire Assessment Team arrived Tuesday and is assessing impacts on structures. There are 12 confirmed destroyed as of Wednesday morning, however this number is expected to increase.

There have been no reports of serious injuries.

Collateral damage of the Chalk Mountain Fire in Somervell County. Cleanup continues today. #ChalkMountainFire pic.twitter.com/NdTuwJ7Ql3

— David Montesino (@dmontesino) July 20, 2022

1148 Fire, Palo Pinto County

Another fire that started on Monday was the 1148 Fire on the north side of Possum Kingdom Lake four miles west of Pickwick. Wednesday morning it had burned 454 acres north of FM1148.

map 1148 Fire 1116 a.m. July 20 2022 Texas — Map of the 1148 Fire at 11:16 a.m. July 20, 2022,

Tuesday night a hand crew and dozers completed a fireline along the north side, connecting both the west and east sides to FM1148.

The Star-Telegram reported “At least two homes seen from the lake were visibly gutted by the fire. Authorities reported at least eight homes were believed to be destroyed, although assessment of the damage continued as the fire still burned Wednesday. The affected homes are in an area called Lake Shore Cove.”

Initially, 50 homes were evacuated. As of Wednesday that has been reduced to a voluntary evacuation.

Dozer constructing fireline 1148 Fire in Texas — Dozer constructing fireline on north side of the 1148 Fire. Posted on InciWeb July 20, 2022. Credit, J. Smith, Texas Forest Service.

Firefighters working to put out the Possum Kingdom Lake wildfire with Water Scooper Aircraft.?? #tx #possumkingdomlake #wildfire pic.twitter.com/vHEXWm3f95

— Tyler George (@TyGe86) July 18, 2022

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: