Jeff Zimmerman Archives - Wildfire Today

Wyrick Fire grows rapidly northwest of Heber, AZ

Bill GabbertJune 20, 2021June 22, 2021WildfireArizona, Jeff Zimmerman, Wyrick Fire7 Comments

Updated at 8:12 p.m. MDT June 21, 2021

map Wyrick Fire Arizona — The red dots on the map represent heat detected on the Wyrick Fire by satellites at 3 p.m. MDT June 21, 2021. The other colors were detected earlier.

On Monday during a 3 p.m. satellite overflight the Wyrick Fire was about 2 miles north of Highways 260 and 277 at the closest points, and was three miles from the intersection of the two highways. Most of the spread of the fire on Monday was on the southeast side toward Heber.

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

From the Incident Management team at about 6 p.m. Monday:

“The Wyrick Fire has advanced toward Heber, and reached a starting point for setting evacuations into motion in Heber and Overgaard. Current status as of 3 pm:

“Areas in READY Status: Overgaard south of Highway 260 High Country Pines in Heber Kendall Ranch / Camp Ponderosa.

“Areas in SET Status: Areas in Heber not identified as Ready or Go status Chevelon Ranches and Retreat Communities in Overgaard south of Highway 277 and North of Highway 260.

“Areas in GO Status (leave now): Antelope Valley Despain Ranch Heber and Overgaard North of 260 AND 277.”

Originally published at 9:56 p.m. MDT June 20, 2021.

During the first four hours after it was reported at 2 p.m. Saturday June 19, the Wyrick Fire in east-central Arizona was mapped at 173 acres. But Sunday the lightning-caused fire grew substantially while being pushed by outflow winds from thunderstorms. Based on heat detected by satellites, by 3:18 p.m. MDT it had grown to at least 450 acres.

An advisory from the Incident Management Team Sunday afternoon said it was 1.5 miles from 95A and was spreading in all directions.

Late in the afternoon it was producing a very large smoke column topped by a pyrocumulus cloud and causing spot fires up to one-quarter mile ahead. It is burning in pinyon-juniper and grass.

At 3:18 p.m. Sunday the fire was in the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest 5 miles northwest of Heber, 3 miles north of Highway 260, and 48 miles east of the Backbone Fire. (See the map below.)

Wyrick Fire map — The red dots represent heat detected by satellites on the Wyrick Fire at 3:18 p.m. MDT June 20, 2020.

Firefighters assist disabled woman at Tick Fire

Bill GabbertOctober 25, 2019December 7, 2019WildfireCalifornia, Jeff Zimmerman, Tick Fire2 Comments

Long time fire photographer Jeff Zimmerman sent us these photos he shot Thursday at the Tick Fire near Santa Clarita in southern California.

Here is his description:

“As flames swept out of Tick Canyon into the Shadow Pines neighborhood in Los Angeles County, it became a race against time to evacuate a disabled woman who was trying to save her home. Barefoot and with a walker, we found this woman frantically trying to save her home with a garden hose. We pulled out our booster line from our volunteer fire patrol to stop spot fires on neighboring property as ash and soot were raining down on her vehicle. We had just minutes to get her shoes, her dog and get her loaded into her vehicle. She was crying hysterically but we were able to get her to safety as fire swept down the street.

“At great personal risk Volunteer Denise Shippy went inside her home to retrieve car keys, shoes and the family dog as I was able to hold back spot fires. Flames erupted across the street in Italian Cypress trees as this woman left to safety. Helping a neighbor in distress is what volunteering is all about.”

Intense fire along Interstate 5

Bill GabbertAugust 4, 2019August 5, 2019UncategorizedCalifornia, Jeff Zimmerman1 Comment

Jeff Zimmerman fire southern California — Wildfire along Interstate 5 in Southern California August 3, 2019, 10 miles north of Castaic. Photo by Jeff Zimmerman.

Jeff Zimmerman got this shot of engine crews from Los Angeles County FD arriving at an intensely burning wildfire along Interstate 5 yesterday, August 3. It was on the east side of Interstate 5 in Southern California 10 miles north of Castaic.

Here is what Jeff said about the fire:

With hot dry weather and lower humidity we saw more energy release than previous wildfires last month. 100 acres along Interstate 5 north of Templin Highway burned with good fuel consumption. Increased fire behavior and increased energy release components are predicted through early next week.

Thanks Jeff!

Photos of firefighters at a brush fire in Newhall, California

Bill GabbertJuly 31, 2018July 31, 2018UncategorizedCalifornia, Jeff Zimmerman

Above: A Los Angeles County Fire Department Captain collects hose so that he can move it further up the hill.

Fire photographer Jeff Zimmerman shot these photos July 30 at a vegetation fire in Newhall, California. Here is what he wrote in an email:

A 10-acre brush fire damaged two apartment buildings yesterday in Newhall along Valle Del Oro and Alder that were above a steep canyon. In sweltering heat firefighters knocked down the blaze in just over an hour. Trying to battle traffic in 100-degree heat, the fire was contained on my arrival so I decided to take to the burnt hillside and grab some portraits of people at the fire. My favorite is a young girl trying to stay cool near the fire hydrant along Valle Del Oro.

A Los Angeles County Fire Department Captain collects hose so that he can move it further up the hill. — Jeff Rankin Superintendent of fire camp 11 takes a knee for a quick break while watching his crew put in fire line.

Two fires in Southern California you didn’t hear about

Bill GabbertJuly 9, 2018UncategorizedCalifornia, Jeff Zimmerman4 Comments

Long time fire photographer Jeff Zimmerman sent us these photos he shot at two recent Southern California fires that you did not hear about. Like many, many others, they were successfully attacked by firefighters and contained before growing into major conflagrations.

The photo above as well as the next three, were from the July 6 Hunter Fire off Sylvan road near Lake Hughes. Jeff got some quick shots with a camera phone of U.S. Forest Service and Los Angeles County personnel working at a vehicle fire that got into the brush at 5:20 a.m. during Red Flag Warning conditions. It burned one acre in addition to the vehicle.

Hunter Fire California Lake Hughes — Hunter Fire at Lake Hughes. Photo by Jeff Zimmerman.

On July 8 Jeff was at a fire in Lebec, California as firefighters from Kern County, BLM, USFS and LA County battled a stubborn vegetation fire. It was reported at 1:35 p.m. along Lebec and Lebec Oaks Road which brought a large response including fixed wing aircraft. No structures were damaged but several rural homes had to have structure protection put in place and large animals were evacuated. Firefighters stopped it at 62 acres. Jeff said extremely high temperatures and very low relative humidity have been a big factor in spawning wildfires across the State this week.

The next four photos are of the fire in Lebec:

wildfire Lebec, California — Fire at Lebec, California. Photo by Jeff Zimmerman.

Jeff Zimmerman photographs fires and writes about them, usually from Southern California.

Prescribed fire at Holiday Lake

Bill GabbertMarch 1, 2018March 1, 2018UncategorizedCalifornia, Jeff Zimmerman, prescribed fire

One of the objectives of the project is to restore the habitat of the Tricolored Blackbird.

Above: Prescribed fire at Holiday Lake. Photo: Jeff Zimmerman

(Originally published at 7:39 p.m. MT March 1, 2018)

Jeff Zimmerman sent us these prescribed fire photos and the article below. Thanks Jeff.

By Jeff Zimmerman

The Los Angeles County Fire Department conducted a prescribed fire at Holiday Lake Thursday near Neenach in Southern California. The area is critical habitat for the endangered Tricolored Blackbirds that nest early in the spring at the lake. Since it last burned four years ago the bulrush and cattails have choked out the nesting areas for the birds.

Tricolored Blackbird. Photo credit: California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Thursday approximately 100 firefighters from the County Fire Department burned about 15 acres of land operated by the West Valley County Water District to restore the habitat.

I have been following the nesting habits of the birds with Don Groeschel of the Audubon Society. We have noticed a decline in the number of birds nesting in the area and asked for the area to be burned some time ago. Finally, taking advantage of the dry winter, the area was burned today under very controlled conditions.

The lake (map) is now dry and hopefully rain will finish putting out all hot spots overnight. Neenach has very strong winds so it is crucial to not allow the fire to escape control lines, while trying to generate enough heat to get rid of the dead fuel. With low winds and relative humidity at 30 percent this morning the lake was baptized with fire. New reeds will grow rapidly in the nitrogen rich soil now to make better habitat for the birds. Nesting season is quickly upon us so it is crucial to get this burn completed in a very narrow window of time.

Prescribed fire Holiday Lake — Prescribed fire at Holiday Lake. Photo: Jeff Zimmerman

The lake was dry during the migration period of Canada Geese this fall. Hopefully the water master will allow the lake to fill again to restore the habitat.

Of course this dry winter is very concerning, bringing the possibility of an early fire season.