Map showing the location of the Blue River Fire at 9:52 a.m. June 8, 2020. Data from the incident management team.
The Blue River Fire has burned 18,602 acres 6 miles northeast of San Carlos, Arizona since it started from a lightning strike June 5. The fire is being managed by the Arizona Central West Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team.
It is burning in desert grass and brush with Ponderosa pine at the higher elevations.
The team is working to ensure all fire resources are meeting the requirements of the Centers for Disease Control as well as the standards set by the San Carlos Apache Tribe Emergency Response Commission related to COVID-19. All firefighters and team members are temperature tested before entering tribal lands. Firefighters will be “spiked-out”, camping in designated remote areas safely adjacent to the fires.
Blue River Fire northeast of San Carlos, Arizona, June 7, 2020. Photo: SCA Forestry.
The team members assisting with incident support will be working remotely from Globe, 22 air miles to the west-southwest. Firefighters will be fed and supported at their remote spike camps by local drivers that meet the tribal COVID-19 testing requirements, delivering food and supplies several times a day.
The fire has been spreading north-northeast pushed by strong, gusty winds. Smoke has been settling into the San Carlos area at night and during the day has been affecting the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.
Smoke generated by three wildfires in southeast Arizona, June 8, 2020. NOAA Hazard Mapping System.
The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings for June 8 in areas of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Most of the areas will experience strong winds and low humidities, resulting in enhanced wildfire danger.
(Red Flag Warnings can be modified throughout the day as NWS offices around the country update and revise their weather forecasts.)
The Quail Fire southwest of Winters, California has been mapped at 1,837 acres. CAL FIRE reports that mandatory residential evacuations have been lifted.
The number of structures destroyed remains at three.
(UPDATED at 9:25 a.m. PDT June 7, 2020)
CAL FIRE reported at 8 a.m. Sunday that the Quail Fire southwest of Winters, California has burned 1,400 acres with three structures destroyed and 100 structures still threatened. They also report that it is 10 percent contained, however for many agencies containment numbers are extremely subjective and may or may not accurately reflect the percent of the fire perimeter that is contained.
Evacuations are still in effect.
Resources assigned include 30 engines, 7 hand crews, and 9 dozers for a total of 600 personnel.
(UPDATED at 6:21 a.m. PDT June 7, 2020)
Map showing heat detected on the Quail Fire by satellites at 2:48 a.m. PDT June 7, 2020.
The spread of the fire slowed considerably overnight.
At 6:50 a.m. Sunday at a weather station south of the fire it was 53 degrees, 56 percent relative humidity, and the wind was out of the west-northwest at 7 mph gusting to 16.
NOAA predicts the smoke will continue to spread to the east toward Sacramento.
Smoke forecast. Product from NOAA’s Hazard Mapping System Fire and Smoke analysis for 7:58 p.m. PDT June 6, 2020.
(12:22 a.m. PDT June 7, 2020)
Map showing the approximate locations of heat detected on the Quail Fire by satellites at 9:02 p.m. PDT June 6, 2020.
The Quail Fire that started Saturday afternoon southwest of Winters, California has burned about 1,200 acres west of Davis according to a 9 p.m. PDT update from CAL FIRE. Evacuations are in progress.
It was initially reported near the intersection of Quail Canyon Road and Pleasants Valley Road south of Highway 128 approximately 9 miles north of Vacaville and 13 miles west of Davis.
The Quail Fire looking northeast from Mt. Vaca at 8:41 p.m. PDT June 6, 2020. PGE/Axis camera.
An evacuation Center is located at 3 Oaks Community Center, 1100 Alamo Dr., Vacaville, CA 95687.
At 9:45 p.m. MDT the Incident Commander requested an additional four strike teams (5 engines each) of any type of engines, immediate need. Approximately 100 structures were threatened, according to CAL FIRE.
Smoke from the Quail and other fires in the North Bay area is predicted to spread to the east affecting residents in Davis, Sacramento, Fairfield, Elk Grove, and Concord.
Product from NOAA’s Hazard Mapping System Fire and Smoke analysis for 7:58 p.m. PDT June 6, 2020.
The wind in the fire area is predicted to be out of the west-northwest Saturday night at 16 gusting to 23 mph at 10 p.m., decreasing to 9 mph by sunrise. The maximum relative humidity overnight will be 65 percent, then will drop into the low 20s by Sunday afternoon, with an air temperature of 75 degrees.
Aircraft operating near the Quail Fire west of Davis, California at 8:04 p.m. PDT June 6, 2020. FlightAware/Wildfire Today.
Photo of the Lakeville Fire southeast of Petaluma, California, June 5, 2020. Photo by CAL FIRE.
Yesterday the Lakeville Fire southeast of Petaluma, California burned about 141 acres before being suppressed by firefighters assisted by air tankers. The origin of the fire was near the 4500 block of Lakeville Highway.
Map showing the location of the Lakeville Fire southeast of Petaluma, California, June 5, 2020. Wildfire Today/Google Earth.
If the firefighters in the photo below (at top/right) are carrying drip torches as it appears, they may be burning out from a retardant line to consume the fuel between the retardant and an already burned area.
Recent drone photos of the remains of a tree lookout in Oregon
Lookout tree, photo by Steve Stenkamp
Years ago, in order to detect new ignitions of wildfires, land management agencies occasionally took advantage of tall trees on hilltops, building platforms near the top with ladders or other climbing aids below.
Using his Phantom 3 Pro drone, Steven Stenkamp shot photos of a what remains of a tree lookout on the Deschutes National forest in Central Oregon. Pumice Springs lookout was built in 1930 and used for less than 10 years, Mr. Stenkap said.
Lookout tree, photo by Steve Stenkamp
“The Pumice Springs Lookout had a ladder for about 20 feet, then 2 x 4s for about another 10,” Mr. Stenkap told us. “From there, the lookout used branches until he (or she) was about 10 feet from the platform where there was, and still is, another section of ladder. According to the data from the drone the platform is at 81 feet. The lookout was also known as Sand Springs lookout. The tree is just about equal distance from each of those springs.”
Lookout tree, photo by Steve StenkampLookout tree, photo by Steve StenkampLookout tree, photo by Steve Stenkamp
Before he retired, Mr. Stenkap’s duties at the Bend Fire Department in Oregon included flying a DJI Phantom 3 Pro drone.
