Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Today marks two years since the loss of nineteen Granite Mountain Hotshots on the Yarnell Hill Fire.
The Lake Fire has now burned 31,359 acres. 1,886 acres of which were BLM-managed lands. 237 acres of the BLM land burned was within the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area.
The BAER team, including Noel, met this morning to begin an assessment of the potential impacts from the fire.
Lake Fire Update June 30, 2015 0800
Date Started: 6/17/2015 1552
|
Size: 31,359 acres
|
Containment: 60 percent
|
Cause: under investigation
|
Estimated Cost to Date: $32.5 million
|
Injuries: 4
|
Total Personnel: 1,936
|
Residences Burned: 1
|
Committed Resources: 53 crews, 75 engines, 2 dozers, 16 water tenders, 20 helicopters, 1 air attack
| |
Current Fire Situation
Yesterday crews worked on extinguishing hot spots near the perimeter of the fire where accessible. Crews that camped overnight near the eastern fireline made good progress working north and south of Pipes Canyon Road. Perimeter in the wilderness remained unstaffed due to the potential threat of thunderstorms. Most of the hot spots along State Route (SR) 38 have been extinguished.
Today crews will continue to patrol the fireline along the SR 38 corridor and in sections near Heartbreak Ridge. Additional crews will join the crews currently working the east side of the fire near the Pipes Canyon Road. Firefighters in this area will be extinguishing hot spots from the fire perimeter to an interior depth of at least 100 feet. Crews will be reinserted into the previously unstaffed wilderness areas. Firefighters will remain in the wilderness for three to four days to reduce travel time to and from the fire line. Suppression repair crews working along the SR 38 corridor will progress eastward using chippers, excavators, and other heavy equipment.
The damage assessment team continues to evaluate the fire area for further structure and infrastructure damage. The team has reported the loss of a residence and three outbuildings in the Burns Canyon area.
Weather & Fire Behavior
The chance of isolated thunderstorms is still a threat over all areas of the fire. The rise in relative humidity helps firefighting efforts; however, thunderstorms can produce strong erratic winds, which could increase fire activity. The fire acreage increased due to the inclusion of unburned islands near the wilderness fire perimeter, but no perimeter growth was reported. Fire behavior analysts predict a potential increase in fire activity on the southern perimeter during the hotter, drier time of day. Temperatures will be slightly warmer than yesterday, ranging from 77 to 87 degrees with relative humidity between 25 and 35 percent.
Traffic Safety
Motorists may observe suppression repair crews and movement of heavy equipment along SR 38. Please be alert while traveling on the highway and yield the right-of-way to emergency personnel and vehicles.
Monday, June 29, 2015
1,868 acres of BLM-managed lands have burned.
Lake Fire Update June 29, 2015 0800
Current Fire Situation
Lake Fire Update June 29, 2015 0800
| Date Started: 6/17/2015 1552 |
Size: 30,726 acres
|
Containment: 60 percent
|
Cause: under investigation
|
Estimated Cost to Date: $30.2 million
|
Injuries: 4
|
Total Personnel: 2,236
|
Residences Burned: 1
|
Committed Resources: 65 crews, 94 engines, 7
dozers, 37 water tenders, 20 helicopters, 2 air attacks
|
|
Night operations experienced little fire behavior. Firefighters
worked in the Onyx Peak area, finding and extinguishing logs and stump holes
that were still holding heat. Today firefighters will continue to grid for hot
spots along the containment lines. Crews working north of the Three Sisters
Peaks will be constructing fire line where it is safe in steep,
difficult-to-access terrain. Firefighters will be assessing the possibility of
working the fire line south of Three Sisters Peaks and into the South Fork
drainage. If weather permits, crews will be flown into the wilderness to
construct line along the southwest portion of the fire. Aerial resources
continue to assist firefighters in all active fire areas. Crews will be using
heavy equipment in areas where there is no longer fire activity to begin
suppression repair. The damage assessment team continues to evaluate the fire
area for further damage. The team has reported the loss of a residence and
three out buildings in the Burns Canyon area.
Weather & Fire Behavior
The monsoonal trend will continue to bring showers and
thunderstorms to the fire area for the next few days. Crews can expect
localized rainfall and gusty, erratic winds from the storms. Fire behavior has
diminished significantly; however, there is still heat along the perimeter in
most areas of the fire. Pockets of unburned fuel continue to burn especially in
areas that did not burn in the 2006 Sawtooth and Millard fires. Motorists along
Interstate 10 near Palm Springs may continue to see smoke from the Ten Thousand
Foot Ridge in the San Gorgonio Wilderness.
Special Notice
State Route 38 is open to through traffic. Motorists
may observe suppression repair crews and movement of heavy equipment along the
highway. Please be alert while traveling on State Route 38 and yield the
right-of-way to emergency personnel and vehicles.
Evacuations
As a result of the efforts on the fire, San Bernardino County
Sheriff, in conjunction with unified command, has lifted the evacuation order
for Burns Canyon residents.
For detailed information, please visit the following websites:
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Lake Fire Update June 28, 2015 0800
| Date Started: 6/17/ 2015 1552 |
Size: 30,716 acres
|
|
Containment: 50 percent
|
Cause: under investigation
|
|
Estimated Cost to Date: $27 million
|
Injuries: 4
|
|
Total Personnel: 2,291
|
Residences Burned: 1
|
|
Committed Resources: 70 crews, 98 engines,
10 dozers, 29 water tenders, 21 helicopters, 2 air attacks
|
|
Fire growth was very minimal last night. The growth that did
occur was in the San Gorgonio Wilderness on the southern side of the fire.
Night operations continued to monitor and secure the lines east of Onyx Peak.
Firefighters working the Three Sisters Peaks area yesterday had success in
securing a section of the perimeter.
Today fire officials anticipate containment percentage to
increase as work progresses north and east of Onyx Peak. Firefighters will be
flown back into the wilderness today if weather conditions permit.
Suppression-repair crews will begin to rehabilitate the fire line. Travelers on
State Route 38 may observe heavy equipment on the western end of the fire due
to their activity. Resources will return to Three Sisters Peaks today and continue
to secure the eastern perimeter.
The damage assessment team reported the loss of a residence and
three out buildings in the Burns Canyon area. The team will continue to
evaluate the fire area for further damage.
Weather & Fire Behavior
The weather is expected to remain the same as yesterday with
cloud cover and relative humidity of 20 to 30 percent. The incident
meteorologist predicts a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms over the
fire area today. There will continue to be a threat of thunderstorms over the
fire area throughout the week. Localized heavy rainfall and strong erratic
winds could be associated with the thunderstorms.
Fire behavior was minimal through the night and is expected to
be minimal today. Pockets of fuel continue to burn in the interior of the
fire.
Special Notice
State Route 38 is open to through traffic. Access off of State
Route 38 will continue to be restricted to camp staff and recreation residence
owners only.
Evacuations
With the exception of Burns Canyon, which remains under
mandatory evacuation, all evacuations have been lifted. All US Forest Service
lands within the affected fire area remain closed for recreation purposes. The
camps in the area will be accessible for staff only to conduct maintenance. For
detailed information, please visit the following websites:
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Last night's map is still the most current. No significant activity on the fire yesterday that would impact BLM-managed lands.The line on the BLM portions was reconnoitered yesterday with minimal heat found in the area.
Lake Fire Update, June 27, 2015 0800
Date Started: June 17, 2015 1552
|
Size: 30,526 acres
|
Containment: 40 percent
|
Cause: under investigation
|
Estimated Cost to Date: $21.9 mil
|
Injuries: 4
|
Total Personnel: 2,098
| |
Committed Resources: 52 crews, 155 engines, 8 dozers, 19 water tenders, 18 helicopters, 9 air tankers
| |
Current Fire Situation
Crews working through the night had a productive and safe shift. They continued to patrol the contained fire perimeter on the northwest side, south of Highway 38. Crews on the northeast part of the fire—from the Rainbow area north to Onyx Peak—installed approximately 3,000 feet of hose and cached supplies for today’s crews to use as they construct direct line near the fire perimeter. Previous retardant drops held the fire overnight on the southwest perimeter in the San Gorgonio Wilderness.
Today crews will continue to patrol and mop up the containment line on the northwest fire perimeter. On the uncontained northeast and eastern areas of the fire, crews will continue to build direct and indirect line where safe to do so. Approximately 120 firefighters have been working and camping in the wilderness. They will be flown out by this evening due to the increased likelihood of thunderstorms. When the threat of thunderstorms decreases, crews will continue their suppression efforts.
Weather & Fire Behavior
Clear skies today will result in warmer and drier conditions than yesterday. High temperatures are expected to be in the low to mid-80s with the relative humidity at 18 to 28 percent. There is a slight chance isolated thunderstorms will pass over the fire area this afternoon. Fire behavior analysts do not anticipate significant growth or activity on the fire today. The fire is active on the east side as unburned fuel between the Lake Fire and the 2006 Sawtooth Fire is consumed. Smoke will continue to be visible south of the wilderness and east of the Three Sisters Peaks.
Special Notice
In coordination with fire officials, the San Bernardino County Sheriff, and CHP, Highway 38 reopened this morning at 0800.
Evacuations
With the exception of Burns Canyon, which remains under mandatory evacuation, all evacuations have been lifted. All US Forest Service lands within the affected fire area remain closed for recreation purposes. The camps in the area will be accessible for staff only to conduct maintenance. For detailed information, please visit the following websites:
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ (Lake Fire)
Friday, June 26, 2015
Lake Fire Update June
26, 2015 0800
|
Acres
Burned:
|
29,813
|
Structures
Threatened:
|
7,390
|
|
Containment:
|
19%
|
Structures
Destroyed:
|
0
|
|
Fire
Started:
|
June
17, 2015
|
Injuries:
|
4
|
|
Cause:
|
Under
Investigation
|
|
|
|
Engines:
|
153
|
Crews:
|
54
|
|
Helicopters:
|
18
(T1-7,T2-9,T3-2)
|
Air
Tankers:
|
9
|
|
Water
Tenders:
|
16
|
Dozers:
|
8
|
|
Total
personnel assigned to the Fire: 2116
|
Estimated
Cost:
$17,600,000
|
||
The fire was less active overnight allowing the continued development of contingency lines particularly along the northeast portion of the fire. The northwest area of the fire in the Heartbreak ridge area was the most active last night due to the southeast wind influence but held within contingency lines. Fire activity will continue in the Rainbow and West Pipes Canyon areas today. The Lake fire will continue to be influenced by topography and wind primarily.
Today’s weather will continue to warm and dry with temperatures
89 to 94 degrees with a relative humidity 9-14 percent. The winds will be south
2-4 mph.
Mandatory evacuations remain in place for the communities of
Burns Canyon and Rimrock. A voluntary evacuation is still in place for
Pioneertown. The community of Lake Williams is under an alert for possible
evacuations. Lake Erwin and Lake Baldwin communities were also added to the
alert.
California Team Incident Command Team 5 (Minton) assumed command of the fire at 0600 today. The second camp is in place at Big Bear Mountain Ski Resort in Big Bear.
Closures:
Highway 38 from Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams, Jenks Lake
Road and Maple Lane in Big Bear Lake
All hiking trails into the San Gorgonio
Wilderness and Pacific Crest Trail from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Summit
Campgrounds: Barton Flats, San Gorgonio, South Fork,
Skyline, Council, Heart Bar, Oso, Lobo, Heart Bar Equestrian, Wildhorse
Equestrian, Coon Creek Cabin, Coon Creek Yellow-post Sites, and Mission Springs
PCT Trail Camp.
Evacuations:
All areas east of Angelus Oaks including: Barton Flats,
Seven Oaks, Rainbow Lane, Heart Bar, and all cabins and campgrounds in the
South Fork area and to the east, Burns Canyon and Rimrock.
Pioneertown is under a voluntary evacuation. Lake
Williams, Lake Irwin, and Lake Baldwin communities are under an alert.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Lake Fire Update June 23, 2015 2000
Acres Burned:
|
17,525
|
Structures Threatened:
|
500
|
Containment:
|
33%
|
Structures Destroyed:
|
0
|
Fire Started:
|
June 17, 2015
|
Injuries:
|
3
|
Cause:
|
Under Investigation
| ||
Engines:
|
113
|
Crews:
|
44
|
Helicopters:
|
18 (7-T1/9-T2/2-T3)
|
Fixed Wing:(3 airtankers, 4 support planes)
|
9
|
Water Tenders:
|
18
|
Dozers:
|
11
|
Total personnel assigned to the Fire: 1922
|
Estimated Cost: $10,800,000
| ||
17,525 acres, 33 percent contained
Good progress was made within the northeastern portion of fire today, although the fire remained active and continued spotting to the east. With the steep ridgelines in the area, burning material rolled down into the headwaters of Little Morongo Creek. This was the eastern most point of spread as of the end of day shift today. Helicopters dropped retardant in this area to halt the progress as the terrain is inaccessible to ground crews.
Pockets of dense vegetation burned inside the fire perimeter and were visible from the southern side. The fire did spread into the headwaters of the North Fork of Whitewater and may burn northwest from there. If the fire continues to burn in this direction, it will be visible to residents of Forest Falls. Tonight, firefighters will be working in this area constructing fireline.
State Highway 38 remains closed. Forest and Fire Team leadership re-evaluate this each evening; the decision to open the road is dependent on how much firefighting equipment – including helicopters with buckets full of water – need to work in the area. We ask that everyone is patient and help keep our firefighters safe by respecting the State Highway 38 closure.
The Barton Flats area remains closed. This means that all organizational camps in the area remain closed until further notice. Camp Managers need to contact Heather Mobley at the Mountaintop Ranger District office for status updates.
Tonight’s weather will continue to be warm and dry. Clear skies are expected with lows in the mid 40s. Relative humidity will increase to a maximum of 30 percent. Winds continue to come out of the west with 5-7mph on slopes and 10-12 mph on the ridge tops.
Closures:
- Highway 38 from Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams
- Jenks Lake Road
- Maple Lane in Big Bear Lake (for fire equipment movement)
- All hiking trails into the San Gorgonio Wilderness including the Pacific Crest Trail from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Summit
Evacuations remain in effect for all areas east of Angelus Oaks including: Barton Flats, Seven Oaks, Rainbow Lane, Heart Bar, and all cabins and campgrounds in the South Fork area.
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