Lake Fire

Update as of 6/18/2015 1524

BLM DISTRICT, FIELD OFFICE, and DPA: CDD PFSO BLM involved is CAL FIRE DPA	DESCRIPTIVE LOCATION: Barton Flats burning east into San Gorgonio Wilderness
START DATE and TIME: 6/17/2015 1552	CAUSE OF FIRE: Under investigation
SIZE OF FIRE: 7,500 acres	BLM ACRES INVOLVED: unknown
BLM EQUIPMENT COMMITED TO INCIDENT: None at this time	BLM PERSONNEL COMMITED TO INCIDENT: ARCH George Kline, Rep Jacob Gear
% OF CONTAINMENT: 5%	ESTIMATED CONTAINMENT DATE:
COST TO DATE:	BLM COST APPORTIONMENT: 0
SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE , RESOURCE, AND SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS: The San Gorgonio Wilderness Area is impacted by the fire. The Pacific Crest Trail is closed between the Whitewater Preserve and Onyx Summit. Triple-ribbed milk-vetch (Astragalus tricarinatus), desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), and least Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) have the potential to be impacted by the fire.  The fire is burning toward the community of Morongo Valley, the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, the Whitewater ACEC, and the Big Morongo Canyon ACEC.
BLM SPECIFIC RESOURCE CONCERNS OR NEEDS: Populations of triple-ribbed milk-vetch, desert tortoise, desert bighorn sheep, and least Bell’s vireo and their habitat are or will be impacted.
NARRATIVE (SHORT DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT OR PLANNED ACTION OR ADDITIONAL PERTINENT INFO): The fire is five percent contained. Direct line construction is underway with aerial assets working the fire. A type 2 incident management team will take over the fire later today.   The Palm Springs Field Office Archaeologist is assigned to help alleviate impacts to cultural resources.   The fire is burning toward the Sawtooth Fire of 2006. During the Sawtooth Fire, dozer line was constructed at the edge of the Wilderness Area and the community of Morongo Valley.   Dozer use is likely if the fire continues its present spread toward Morongo Valley.