Wildfire Today

Apple Fire near Cherry Valley, California spreads closer to Oak Glen

Bill GabbertAugust 1, 2020August 2, 2020WildfireApple Fire, California19 Comments

Saturday morning the fire was mapped at 1,900 acres

UPDATED at 4:26 p.m. PDT August 1, 2020

The map below shows heat detected on the Apple Fire by a satellite at 12:48 p.m. PDT August 1. On Saturday the fire has been moving to the north and east and by 3:30 p.m. had spread past the Oak Glen Conservation Camp.

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

map Apple Fire Cherry Valley Beaumont California wildfire — The map shows heat detected on the Apple Fire by a satellite at 12:48 p.m. PDT August 1, 2020. The red arrows were added by Wildfire Today.

UPDATED at 3:31 p.m. PDT August 1, 2020

Apple Fire 213 pm August 1, 2020 — Apple Fire at 2:13 p.m. August 1, 2020. Toro Peak looking northeast.

The Apple fire has been very active in the early afternoon Saturday, spreading up the slope at least two miles over the last 12 hours, surrounding CAL FIRE’s Oak Glen Conservation Camp #35. The 40 acre site built in 1949 for housing and training up to seven inmate fire crews is the largest state facility of its kind.

map Apple Fire Oak Glen Cherry Valley California wildfire — The red arrows on the map indicate the spread of the Apple Fire Saturday afternoon, August 1, 2020.

Apple Fire, DC-10 dropping near the Oak Glen Conservation Camp — Apple Fire, DC-10 air tanker dropping near the Oak Glen Conservation Camp. Screenshot from ABC7 video.

CAL FIRE/Riverside County reported at 3 p.m. Saturday the Apple Fire has burned 4,125 acres.

Firefighters have ordered additional large and very large air tankers including two DC-10s and the 747. Additional strike teams of engines, dozers, and crews have also been requested.

The weather conditions are not in favor of the firefighters. At 2:13 p.m. Saturday a weather station at Banning recorded winds out of the west at 10 mph gusting to 22, temperature of 99 degrees, and relative humidity of 9 percent.

(Originally published at 10:32 p.m. PDT August 1, 2020)

3-D Apple Fire map — 3-D map of the Apple, approximate location, based on heat detected by a satellite at 3:06 a.m. PDT Aug 1, 2020. Not to be used for planning purposes.

At about 5 p.m. Friday when firefighters arrived at what is now the Apple Fire north of Beaumont, California in Cherry Valley, they found at least two separate fires burning along Oak Glen Road. Saturday it has grown into a 1,900-acre blaze that has prompted evacuations and has destroyed at least one home and two outbuildings.

CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire is in Unified Command with the U.S. Forest Service, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, and California Highway Patrol.

The fire is burning between Oak Glen Road on the west and Bluff Street on the east. It is about three miles south of Oak Glen.

Apple Fire August 1, 2020. @Captain2500agl

Resources working on the fire Saturday morning include 5 helicopters, 43 fire engines, 10 hand crews, 3 water tenders, and 3 dozers, for a total of 375 personnel. Large and very large air tankers are busy over the fire this morning.

Apple Fire map 306 am PDT Aug 1 — Map showing heat detected on the Apple Fire by a satellite at 3:06 a.m. PDT Aug 1, 2020.

Apple Fire at 9:45 a.m. PDT August 1, 2020 — Apple Fire, from Reche Peak at 9:45 a.m. PDT August 1, 2020.

Wilderness fire: suppress, or manage it?

Bill GabbertJuly 31, 2020August 3, 2021Prescribed Firemanaged fire18 Comments

Wilderness Fire decisions — Screenshot from the video below.

The video below produced by the Northern Rockies Fire Science Network is intended to spark discussion about managing fire for resource benefit on public lands. It features interviews with 22 fire practitioners, most of whom are very well known in the wildland fire community.

Here is a sample from the 12-minute film, spoken by Dick Bahr, National Park Service Program Lead for Fire Science and Ecology:

We have really good modeling now. … If you’re not comfortable with where it’s going to get or you’re concerned about what it’s going to burn up — do you take on the fire, or do you take on protection of what you’re going to do? And now the big shift is, we have now the opportunity, go put the money and the effort into protecting that point you’re worried about losing and let the fire do what it’s supposed to do…

You’re going to win a few, you’re going to lose a few. And it’s OK to lose, but you’ve got to learn from them.

One of the speakers mentions firefighter fatality statistics. Our article “Wildfire Fatality Trends” (January 15, 2016) addressed that topic.

Two pilots killed in mid-air collision while battling wildfire in Nevada

Bill GabbertJuly 31, 2020July 31, 2020Uncategorizedlodd, Nevada, SEAT

UPDATED at 10:15 p.m. MDT July 30, 2020

(This article was first published at FireAviation.com)

Two air tankers collided July 30 while working on the Bishop Fire in southeast Nevada.

The Air Tractor Single Engine Air Tankers, SEATs, were involved in a mid-air collision Thursday afternoon according to Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Claire Morville. There was one person on board each aircraft.

At 10 p.m. MDT July 30 a spokesperson for the Bureau of Land Management, Chris Hanefeld, confirmed that the collision occurred earlier in the day at about 12:55 p.m. He said both pilots were killed in the crash. Recovery operations are currently underway and initial notifications are still being made.

“We offer our sincere condolences to the families of the two pilots and to all those working with the BLM Nevada Ely District,” said BLM Nevada State Director Jon Raby.

map Bishop Fire — Map showing heat detected by satellites on the Bishop fire as late as 3 a.m. MDT July 30, 2020.

The Bishop fire, reported July 29, has burned 500 acres 14 miles south-southwest of Caliente, Nevada.

The accident occurred near the intersection of Kane Springs Road and Riggs Road, Ms. Morville said.

The fire is on land managed by the BLM. The two privately owned aircraft were under contract to the agency.

SEATs are small airplanes used to support wildland firefighters on the ground. They can deliver up to 800 gallons of fire retardant and operate in areas where larger airtankers cannot.

The names of the pilots have not been released.

Our sincere condolences go out to the pilots’ family, friends, and coworkers.

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

Caldwell Fire burns through Lava Beds National Monument in northern California

Bill GabbertJuly 27, 2020July 29, 2020WildfireCaldwell Fire, California7 Comments

UPDATED at 1:25 p.m. PDT July 29, 2020

Caldwell Fire Lassen Volcanic Highway — Caldwell Fire, on Lassen Volcanic Highway July 28, 2020. Inciweb photo.

The Caldwell Fire in northeast California was not as active Tuesday as it had been in recent days. It added an additional 1,508 acres which brought the total up to 69,297. Most of the growth was on the northwest side within or west of Lava Beds National Monument.

The area is under a Red Flag Warning Wednesday from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m.

From the Incident Management Team, July 29, 2020:

“[Tuesday] crews conducted burning operations to even out the fire’s edge and fill in unburned areas. On the west side of the fire, the 49 road is holding well. Firefighters were able to begin direct control line construction on the south side of the fire, working from the 49 road eastward. Additionally, crews are still creating secondary control lines south of the fire perimeter.

“On the southeast corner, dozers and firefighters succeeded in creating solid control line, and this allowed the residents of Tionesta to return to their homes. On the east side, fire held well along the 120 road, and fire crews built control line all around the fire area that had crossed over the railroad tracks. On the north, fire flanked into the marsh and the tule is receptive to burning, however, fire is holding well at the 120 road.”

UPDATED at 7:49 a.m. PDT July 28, 2020

Caldwell Fire wildfire Lava Beds National Monument — Caldwell Fire. USFS photo.

The Caldwell Fire in northeast California burned across Lava Beds National Monument Monday, adding another 24,040 acres to bring the total up to 67,789 acres. This is 26 percent of the 259,823 acres burned in California wildfires in 2019.

Map of the Caldwell Fire wildfire California Lava Beds — Map of the Caldwell Fire. The red line was the perimeter at 11:17 p.m. PDT July 27, 2020. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours before. “VC” is the location of the Visitors Center at Lava Beds National Monument.

As of Monday evening the mandatory evacuation of Tionesta ordered by the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office was still in effect.

There is no Red Flag Warning in effect for the fire area. The forecast for Tuesday calls for 87 degrees, 19 percent relative humidity, and 2 to 7 mph winds out of the southeast in the morning and west in the afternoon. On Wednesday the winds will be out of the south and stronger, 7 to 13 mph gusting up to 20 with 12 percent relative humidity.

Originally published at 2:39 p.m. PDT July 27, 2020

Map Caldwell Fire 12:24 am PDT July 27, 2020 — Map of the Caldwell Fire. The red line was the perimeter at 12:24 am PDT July 27, 2020. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours before.

Outflow winds from a thunderstorm Sunday caused the Caldwell Fire to spread seven miles to the north, more than doubling in size. Early Sunday morning the fire was 13,125 acres, but at 12:20 a.m. Monday a fixed wing aircraft mapped it at 43,749 acres, an increase of 30,624.

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

As of 6:45 a.m. Monday one structure and three outbuildings were confirmed as destroyed. The fire threatened the community of Tulelake, prompting evacuations in that area. The fire has spread to approximately one mile south of County Road 120. Firefighting resources attacking the new growth included 20 engines, 5 water tenders, and 3 20-person hand crews. On the east side firefighters stopped the fire along 6 miles of a railroad, however there was one slop-over.

Firefighters conducted burn-out operations around the Lava Beds National Monument Visitor Center and around some residences in order to protect the facilities.

Additional evacuations were ordered by the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office.

The area is under a Red Flag Warning Monday for gusty winds and low humidity.

On Monday firefighters on the north side of the fire will prioritize protecting structures in the Tulelake area and construct both direct and indirect containment line. Crews west of the fire will continue work on the secondary containment lines between the fire and the Medicine Lake area. There are 16 helicopters available to assist with suppression efforts Monday.

The story of Australia’s million-hectare fire

Bill GabbertJuly 27, 2020July 27, 2020WildfireAustralia, megafire

In 2019 five wildfires in New South Wales merged and ultimately burned 1,071,740 hectares (2,648,323 acres)

bushfires New South Wales map — Map of bushfires in New South Wales, showing projected spread and ember attack, Dec. 21, 2019.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC, has put together the story of the largest bushfire in the recorded history of the continent. When the spread of the Gospers Mountain Fire finally halted during the 2019-2020 bushfire season, it had merged with four other large blazes to ultimately burn 1,071,740 hectares (2,648,323 acres).

Sometimes in the United States we call a fire that reaches 100,000 acres a “megafire”, but the prefix “mega” means a million (10⁶). Last bushfire season the Aussies had a legitimate megafire.

The article at ABC is well researched and interesting. It includes details that previously were not widely known — such as the fact that firefighters were worried that the fire could burn into the northern suburbs of Sydney, the state capital of New South Wales.

Below are excerpts. You can read the entire story here.

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

Karen Fire burns 277 acres near Fontana, California

Bill GabbertJuly 27, 2020WildfireCalifornia

San Bernardino County

Air Tanker 131 C-130Q (N130FF) fire wildfire — Air Tanker 131, a C-130Q (N130FF) on the Karen Fire in San Bernardino County, CA July 26, 2020. Photo credit: CAL FIRE Riverside Co FD.

CAL FIRE and local fire departments made quick work of the Karen Fire that burned 277 acres Sunday near Fontana in southern California. It was first reported off Sierra Avenue and Karen Lane and when it was contained of the burned area was in San Bernardino County.

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