News and opinion about wildland fire
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Wildfire smoke and Red Flag Warnings, August 14, 2018 The map above shows the prediction for the distribution of wildfire smoke at 6 p.m. MDT August 14, 2018. It looks like it is going to be pretty rough today in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and parts of Northern California.
Red Flag Warnings are below.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized4 Comments on Firefighter fatality on Mendocino Complex of Fires (UPDATED at 3:02 p.m. PDT August 14, 2018)
Draper City, Utah has identified the firefighter that was killed August 13 on the Mendocino Complex as Draper Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett. He leaves behind his wife and their 6-year-old son.
Below is a press release that the city issued today.
Press Release 8/14/2018 from Draper City.
1020 East Pioneer Rd.
Draper, UT 84020
Media Release
August 14, 2018
Draper Battalion Chief Dies Fighting Mendocino Fire
DRAPER, Utah. – It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the tragic loss of one of our own. Last night while fighting the Mendocino Complex Wildfire in California, Draper Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett lost his life in the line of duty. Draper deployed five fire fighters to California on August 2nd, and the team has worked tirelessly to protect lives and property. The entire community of Draper is grieving our loss.
Chief Burchett came to Draper City Fire Department in May of this year. Prior to working for Draper, he worked for Unified Fire Authority for the past 20 years. Chief Burchett had extensive experience in wildland and structure fire. Chief Burchett leaves behind a wife and a young son. He was 42 years old.
This is not only a loss for our Draper Fire Department, but a loss for all fire departments in the Nation.
We appreciate all the heartfelt support from the Draper Community, Cal Fire, the State of Utah, and our family of firefighters from across the nation.
At this time, we ask for some privacy for Chief Burchett’s family as they process this tragedy.
In the coming days we will have information about funeral plans, a donation fund for Matt’s family and more details as they become available.
Another release issued by Draper City on August 14 included a statement from the Fire Chief:
Draper City’s Fire Chief Clint Smith is out of the country and he has given us his statement about this tragic event.
“Draper City Fire Department has no words to describe the depth of sorrow we are feeling upon learning of the death of Battalion Chief Matt Burchett while assisting with the devastating California Wildfires. Matt is a true hero who has given the ultimate sacrifice while serving others. Matt is a strong leader and experienced wildland firefighter who always put the safety and needs of his subordinates first, but most of all, Matt was a devoted husband and loving father. His family was his world. We are grateful to those fellow firefighters that were with Matt and for the immediate aid they were able to render. We pray for all firefighters, friend and family affected by this tragic loss. This event has rocked our small department to its very core but we will work to honor Matt’s legacy and sacrifice and care for his family.”
(UPDATED at 8:22 a.m. PDT August 14, 2018)
Officials on the Mendocino Complex of Fires reported Monday night that a Utah firefighter who was working on the incident was killed in an accident. No other details or the identity of the person has been released.
Fact finding is ongoing and notification of next of kin is in progress.
We send out our sincere condolences to the firefighter’s friends, family, and co-workers.
The sender of the tweet below is in Draper City, Utah.
Our hearts are breaking as we announce the loss of one of Draper City’s firefighters in the Mendocino Fire last night. Words cannot explain how it feels to lose a true hero. We sent five of our team members to California to battle these terrible fires. A very sad day in Draper. pic.twitter.com/xwblMVzzJt
— Draper City (@drapercity) August 14, 2018
It has been a tragic summer in California. Five other agency employees or contractors have died in the line of duty in the last month while working on wildfires in the state:
-Andrew Jason Brake, a heavy equipment mechanic, died August 9 on the Carr Fire.
–Don Ray Smith, contract dozer operator, of Pollock Pines, CA, on the Carr Fire July 26.
–Redding fire Inspector Jeremy Stoke, Fire Inspector for the Redding, CA Fire department, on the Carr Fire July 26.
–Brian Hughes, Captain on National Park Service Arrowhead Hotshots, Ferguson Fire, July 29.
–Braden Varney, CAL FIRE Heavy Fire Equipment Operator, July 14, Ferguson Fire.
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom.
Typos or errors, report them HERE.
The Ranch Fire has burned 295,970 acres east of Ukiah
(Originally published at 12:13 p.m. PDT August 13, 2018.)
A few days ago the 295,970-acre Ranch Fire, part of the Mendocino Complex of Fires east of Ukiah, California, became the largest wildfire in the recorded history of the state. It blew past the previous record set by last December’s Thomas Fire near Santa Barbara, exceeding it now by about 14,000 acres.
But the fire is not resting on its achievements — in recent days it has been very active on its north side where it has spread practically unfettered one to two miles farther north over the last seven days, approaching Lake Pillsbury.
(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Mendocino Complex of Fires, including the most recent, click HERE.)
The mapping flight Sunday night did not show any major fire activity on the rest of the fire, or on any of the perimeter of the other fire in the Complex, the River Fire west of Clear Lake.
CAL FIRE reports that 147 residences have been destroyed in the two fires and another 1,025 remain threatened.
A very large army of firefighters are still battling the two fires, including 256 fire engines, 58 fire crews, 20 helicopters, 76 dozers, and 79 water tenders, for a total of 3,221 personnel.
CAL FIRE’s information about the Ranch Fire on August 13 included this:
I need to learn how they do that.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized4 Comments on Wildfire activity increases in Washington The state has 18 wildfires with varying levels of evacuations in effect
Firefighters in Washington state have been very busy recently, especially Saturday when 68 new fires were detected, primarily in the eastern part of the state. Abundant lightning accompanied by strong winds and very dry fuels created critical fire conditions.
They currently have 18 fires with varying levels of evacuations in effect.
One of the largest is the 45,000-acre Grass Valley Fire that started August 11 west of Grand Coulee Dam. Firefighters report extreme fire behavior with running and spotting. Evacuations and road closures are in effect.
The Cougar Creek Fire has burned 18,890 acres 25 mi west of Chelan, WA. The fire is exhibiting extreme fire behavior. Evacuations are in effect.
The 15,975-acre Crescent Mountain Fire is 16 miles west of Winthrop, WA.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized2 Comments on Vineyard Fire at Hot Springs, SD grows to 468 acres Above: The Vineyard Fire near Hot Springs, South Dakota, August 11, 2018. Photo by Kathleen Ryan Anderson.
(UPDATED at 4:08 p.m. MDT August 13, 2018)
The incident management team has lifted all evacuations on the Vineyard Fire at Hot Springs, South Dakota, including all pre-evacuation notices.
The outlook for the fire has improved so much that the order for the higher level incident management team, the Type 2 team, has been cancelled.
Updated mapping shows that today, August 13, the fire has burned 560 acres. Fire officials estimate it will be fully contained on Friday, August 17.
No injuries have been recorded and no structures have been destroyed.
Firefighters have been taking advantage of cooler temperatures and higher humidities to slow the spread of the fire. In addition to the dozers that are constructing fire line, the team is waiting for additional hand crews to arrive so they can put in line where the dozers can’t work.
(UPDATED at 8 p.m. MDT August 12, 2018)
With the Vineyard Fire spreading further to the north and closer to dense residential areas, Sunday afternoon fire officials issued a “pre-evacuation notice” for homes on the east side of Hot Springs, SD affecting 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th streets all the way north to the Veterans Administration Hospital. Then minutes later it was upgraded to a full mandatory evacuation. About two hours after that at 6:45 p.m. all mandatory evacuation notices were lifted by Incident Commander Ray Bubb, including not only the most recents ones on 3rd through 6th streets, but all of the others along Fall River Road. As of Sunday evening the areas have been downgraded to a pre-evacuation notice status, fire spokesperson Joe Johndreau told us at 7:40 p.m. Sunday.
The Fall River Sheriff’s Office wrote on their Facebook page:
The Evacuation Order has been lifted for all residences including those in city limits as well as the Eagle Valley area. Please keep your bags at the ready incase there are any changes.
It can happen, but it is unusual for an area near a fire to go, within a three-hour period, from no evacuation, to pre-evacuation, to full evacuation, and back to pre-evacuation status. We asked Mr. Johndreau about the reason for the changes. He said Incident Commander Ray Bubb said that the firefighters had a very good day Sunday and accomplished so much that it became safe for the residents to return to their homes.
Mr. Johndreau said Air Attack, who spent hours circling over the fire in a fixed wing aircraft, estimated Sunday evening that the fire has grown to 468 acres.
In addition to the Air Attack ship, other fixed wing aircraft on the fire Sunday included two Single Engine Air Tankers (SEAT) and one four-engine jet, Tanker 41, a BAe-146 operated by Neptune Aviation. There was also at least one Air National Guard Blackhawk helicopter and, Mr. Johndreau said, possibly other helicopters.
On Sunday the fire was managed by a Type 3 Incident Management Team, but a higher-qualified Type 2 Team has been ordered. The main differences between the teams is that the members of a Type 2 team have more experience and have to meet more stringent qualification requirements. The Type 2 Team is also larger by a factor of two or three and will arrive with more overhead personnel than the Type 3 Team had. They don’t come with firefighters or firefighting equipment, except for the organization structure of managers in the Operations Section, including Division Supervisors, Operations Section Chiefs, and aviation managers. The actual on-the-ground-firefighters will need to be ordered with the same process the Type 3 Team was using. The next level up is a Type 1 Team — a Type 2 Team on steroids.
(UPDATED at 12:42 p.m. MDT August 12, 2018)
The Vineyard Fire southeast of Hot Springs, SD grew by about 50 acres Saturday night, primarily on the east side, to bring the total to about 180 burned acres. More firefighting resources are expected to be available Sunday.
The areas under evacuation orders are listed at the Fall River County website.
Fall River Road (Hwy 18/385) is open but fire officials are asking residents to avoid the area if possible.
The map below shows the APPROXIMATE location of the Vineyard Fire, based on satellite data from 3:13 a.m. August 12. The fire could have spread through light vegetation on the top of the hill, such as grass, and then cooled making it impossible for the heat sensors on the satellite to detect the fire at those locations. The satellite is on a polar orbit and passes over twice a day.
Weather forecasters have added the southern Black Hills to Sunday’s Red Flag Warnings, for hot, dry, and breezy conditions. The forecast for the fire area on Sunday predicts 93 degrees, 18 percent relative humidity, and 19 mph south winds gusting to 27. These conditions could result in fire behavior that challenges firefighters.
(We initially received incorrect information about who took the photo at the top of this article. We now know it was taken by Kathleen Ryan Anderson. We apologize for the confusion.)
(UPDATED at 10:55 p.m. MDT August 11, 2018)
By 8 p.m. Saturday the Vineyard Fire southeast of Hot Springs, SD had burned approximately 130 acres and was spreading north.
Late in the afternoon a second single engine air tanker and a large air tanker joined the fight, making retardant drops to assist firefighters on the ground who were protecting structures. Fire officials expect to have a helicopter and a Type 3 Incident Management Team working on the fire Sunday.
The Fall River County Sheriff’s Office is requesting evacuees to go to the Mueller Center in Hot Springs.
The high temperature at Wind Cave National Park north of Hot Springs on Saturday was 93, the relative humidity reached 21 percent, and the winds were 8 to 12 mph out of the south with gusts to 22. The forecast for the fire area calls for Saturday night temperatures to get down to 63 with 52 percent relative humidity and 10 mph south to southwest winds gusting to 14. On Sunday forecasters expect 95 degrees, 16 percent humidity, and south winds of 16 mph gusting to 25. Much of northwest South Dakota is in a Red Flag Warning area on Sunday, but most of the Black Hills, including the fire area, are outside the warning area.
(Updated at 6:48 p.m. MDT August 11, 2018)
A wildfire half a mile southeast of Hot Springs, South Dakota started at about 3:45 p.m. MDT August 11 and spread rapidly up slope above Fall River Road. It was attacked by local, state, and federal firefighters and a single engine air tanker that responded from Chadron, Nebraska.
Firefighters estimate it has burned approximately 80 acres and is threatening 70 structures. They have requested
It has been a rather quiet wildland fire season so far this year in South Dakota. Until today.
Resa Ru shot this video of the Vineyard Fire along Fall River Road about half a mile southeast of Hot Springs, South Dakota, August 11, 2018. Used with permission.
We will update this article when more information is available.
Thanks Resa, Kathleen, and Wendee!
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Firefighters conducting very large backfiring operation at the Carr Fire The Carr Fire has burned over 186,000 acres west and northwest of Redding, California
Above: Map of the Carr Fire, August 11, 2018.
(Originally published at noon PDT August 11, 2018)
Firefighters have decided to use a bold tactic to stop the northern spread of the Carr Fire in California. Since it started from a burning vehicle near Redding on July 23 it has burned over 186,000 acres in an area about 27 miles long by 19 miles wide.
(To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Carr Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.)
The tactic they selected a couple of days ago was to go approximately five miles north of the fire and backfire, igniting ahead of the main fire hoping that eliminating burnable fuel will stop the main fire when it reaches the backfire. This is taking place along a 12-mile stretch at the northwest part of Shasta Lake near Moist Cove working to the northwest, roughly following Road N7601 and dozer lines they are constructing. Then they make a left turn south for another five miles to tie in with the main fire east of Trinity Lake.
If crews can get the backfire to consume the fuel for at least several hundred yards (more is better) toward the main fire, they will have a pretty good chance of success.
Backing off from the fire, WAY OFF, and removing the fuel by burning it, usually from a ridge, has often worked very well. Sometimes firefighters ignite a backfire from the next ridge ahead of the fire, which may not provide enough time to complete it to the point where it will be effective. The late Rick Gale, who over several decades fought some of the largest wildland fires as a Type 1 Incident Commander and Area Commander, would say, “Don’t choose the NEXT RIDGE, choose the BEST RIDGE”, even if it is miles away.
If the north end does not move any further, the backfire would encompass approximately 40,000 acres, roughly 12 miles by 5 miles in size.
The Carr Fire has been spreading more slowly in recent days. It has been fairly quiet around Redding, but has continued to grow on the northeast and southwest sides.
Resources assigned to the fire include 335 fire engines, 76 hand crews, 12 helicopters, 112 dozers, and 125 water tenders for a total of 4,665 personnel.
According to CAL FIRE, 1,077 residences and 22 commercial structures have been destroyed in the fire. Three people working on the fire have been killed, including two firefighters and one CAL FIRE heavy equipment mechanic.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect Saturday for high temperatures, low humidity, and gusty winds.
Below: The California Air National Guard shot this video from the cockpit of one of their Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) C-130’s as it dropped retardant on the Carr Fire in Northern California July 31, 2018.
