8:00 pm UPDATE – it is always a lot harder to get information on fires being ICd by USFS than it is on CALFIRE fires. Much less information available, and the USFS hasn’t updated inciweb in 10 hours. HOWEVER my sources say that resources seem to be being released, no smoke is visible in areas where it was yesterday, and all indications are that the FFs seem to be getting a handle on this one.
10:00 am – USFS modified the expected containment time to 6 pm, but still on Tuesday, the 24th.
9:30 am – this is now a USFS show, and updates are provided via inciweb, link provided to the right. This morning, LPF issued the following:
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin Saturday August 21st, 2010 approx. 12:34 PM
Location Hwy 58 at Santa Margarita
Incident Commander Dana D’andrea (usfs)
Current Situation
Total Personnel 355
Size 1,263 acres
Percent Contained 5%
Estimated Containment Date Tuesday August 24th, 2010 approx. 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved
6 Dormant Brush, Hardwood Slash Grass/Brush/Oaks
Fire Behavior
Multiple spot fires with rapid rate of spread.
Significant Events
Incident is merging from state to federal command.
Outlook
Planned Actions
Aggressive fire suppression tactics to include direct line construction.
Growth Potential
High.
Terrain Difficulty
Extreme.
4:30 am – I woke to the smell of smoke quite early. I am assuming this is drift from the Pozo Fire. CALFIRE and others are still listing this incident as around 1500 acres. The 2500 acre report last night was a miscalculation. Around midnight last night, containment was given as 5%. I will update with more as I learn more. Now, back to bed.
CALFIRE NEWS reported two hours ago that the fire WAS 2500 acres (but unsure if this is accurate) and 10% contained. Also reporting that Jim Smith’s IMT is taking over management of this fire at 0600 hours this morning. Now, really, am going back to bed.
Is waking to the smell of smoke a common expeperience, bsk?
No, it is not. But it wasn’t strong, so I wasn’t worried. I am used to fire, as I have been through the Wild Fire of 1996; the Kirk/Hare fire of 1999; the Plaskett II fire of 2000; and the three big ones – Indians, Basin, and Chalk Fires, of 2008.
From my perspective that’s a lot of fire experience. One of the hazards of dry season in a natural environment I suppose. Still I would find it very disconcerting to awaken smelling smoke. I hope the fire is contained very soon.
And, meanwhile, up here in Cascade, Idaho is the Hurd Fire. Directly across the lake from us, up on the high ridge of West Mountain (8,000 + feet), we can see huge flames hundreds of feet high, consuming 1-200 foot firs and pines in seconds. Three tankers are bombing it with retardant and several helos are dumping water on it, but high winds are making it rage and run down toward West Mountain Road and threaten many homes. It is a scary one, reminding me of the Chalk and Kirk/Hare fires in sheer intense violence. For now, our cabin is safe. More wind and thunderstorms are predicted for tonight.
I drove to the Las Pilitas site this morning and discovered that it was merely a two acre fire where a car hit a utility pole. It had no connection to the Pozo fire.
This evening I drove the length of Parkhill road and could not see any burned areas. I understand that Black Mountain burned, but I was at least two miles away and couldn’t see any details.
Black Mountain is at least a couple of miles from the fire. Looks like the fire crews made a lot of headway yesterday and may be transistioning into mop-up mode. Hope I’m right.