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

Current Fire Situation

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:

http://cms.sbcounty.gov/sheriff/MediaCenter/SheriffPressReleases.aspx

http://caltrans8.info

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ (Lake Fire)

 

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://cms.sbcounty.gov/sheriff/MediaCenter/SheriffPressReleases.aspx

http://caltrans8.info

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ (Lake Fire)

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 29,813 acres as of 0800 this morning with containment at 19 percent.

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. 

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.

Lake Fire Update  June 23, 2015 0800

 

Acres Burned:	17,405	Structures Threatened:	500
Containment:	30%	Structures Destroyed:	0
Fire Started:	June 17, 2015	Injuries:	3
Cause:	Under Investigation
Engines:	128	Crews:	54
Helicopters:	18  (7-T1/9-T2/2-T3)	Fixed Wing:(4 airtankers, 4 guide planes)	8
Water Tenders:	18	Dozers:	11
Total personnel assigned to the Fire: 1979		Estimated Cost:                     $7,000,000

 

 

Firefighters had a calm night on the 17,405 acre Lake Fire in the San Bernardino mountains with containment increasing to 30 percent.

 

The fire did not spread in the problematic northeastern perimeter last night and firefighters were able to make progress in fire-line construction.  Coon Creek Campground and the historic Coon Creek cabin remain unburned and north of the fire perimeter.

 

State Highway 38 remains closed, however plans are being made to open it to the public in the near future.  Firefighters and equipment are still moving through the area.

 

No smoke was observed along the southern fire perimeter, however several monitoring crews are patrolling the air.             

The fire perimeter is 6 air miles from Big Bear, 11 air miles from Pioneertown and 9 air miles from Morongo Valley.

Today’s weather will be warm and dry.  Temperatures in the fire-line may reach 85 degrees today with relative humidity at 10 percent.  Winds continue to come out of the south-southwest at 6 mph with 15 mph gusts possible in the afternoon.

 

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

-       Pacific Crest Trail from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Summit 

 

Evacuations remain in effect in 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.

Lake Fire Update  June 21, 2015

0800

 

Acres Burned:	16,136	Structures Threatened:	500
Containment:	15%	Structures Destroyed:	0
Fire Started:	June 17, 2015	Injuries:	0
Cause:	Under Investigation
Engines:	121	Crews:	47
Helicopters:	16  (7-T1/7-T2/2-T3)	Fixed Wing:(3 lead plane, 5P2V and 1 VLAT)	9
Water Tenders:	14	Dozers:	7
Total personnel assigned to the Fire: 1875		Estimated Cost:                     $3,200,000

16,136 acres and 15% contained.

 

Highway 38 is the northern perimeter of the fire.  Most of the fire-line has been built along the highway and crews are making good progress in the Heart Bar area.  Cabins and organizational camps in the Barton Flats area remain intact.

 

The southern perimeter of the Lake fire is in the high peaks of the San Gorgonio Wilderness. Fire within the wilderness is low intensity allowing hand crews to be flown into Anderson Peak. Inserting crews into this area will provide for hand-line construction in very difficult terrain.

 

The Pacific Crest Trail is the eastern perimeter of the fire.  The fire has not moved beyond the Pacific Crest Trail. The fire is moving very little in the area of Hell For Sure Canyon.

 

High Temperatures and westerly winds will continue to push smoke towards the east, impacting residents in the surrounding areas.

 

The San Bernardino Mountains are currently under a heat advisory until 7 p.m. today. Smoke continues to impact the surrounding areas.  Residents affected by the smoke can check air quality information atwww.aqmd.gov or www.mdaqmd.ca.gov

 

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

-       Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Summit.

 

Evacuations remain in effect: 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.