Tag: Los Padres

White Fire

8:30 pm – @KSBY: The #WhiteFire has now burned 1,000 acres. An estimated 4,000-6,000 people evacuated in Paradise Canyon.

8:00 pm – Wind Warning overnight …

“The conditions near the “White fire” off the 154 in Santa Barbara county look challenging overnight, the area is under a wind warning:

Low temp 47-51 deg, Max RH 70-75% then falling to 50-55% after midnight, North wind gusts up to 55 mph.” Dave Hovde, Meterologist

20130527-191806.jpg

Here is a photo posted by Cal Fire PIO, unknown photographer.

7:00 pm – already up to 700 acres. Fixed wing from Santa Maria ordered grounded due to erratic winds – the most dangerous conditions, along with low humidity.

IC just ordered “four additional heavy helicopters” for tomorrow.

Also, SB Fire Department reporting one USFS outbuilding and two vehicles – one USFS, one private – destroyed.
Also 6 AT’s to be over the fire at 0800

6:30 pm – There is a 500 acre fire down on Paradise Rd in Rural Santa Barbara and the Los Padres National Forest that I have been following this afternoon, and it looks like it is taking off. Reports are three structures burned, two vehicles, one private, one USFS. 50 structures threatened. White Rock Campground has been evacuated.

Upcoming storm system

This is what is expected for Tuesday, per NOAA:

BY TUESDAY A COLD WEATHER SYSTEM ORIGINATING IN THE GULF OF ALASKA
WILL SPREAD MORE COLD AIR ACROSS THE REGION…AS WELL AS
BENEFICIAL PRECIPITATION. RAIN MAY BEGIN TO FALL ACROSS THE
REGION IN TIME FOR THE TUESDAY MORNING COMMUTE…BUT IT NOW APPEARS
THAT MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL FALL FROM LATE TUESDAY MORNING
THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO
CAUSE FLOODING. MOST AREAS ARE FORECAST TO RECEIVE BETWEEN A TENTH
AND A HALF INCH…EXCEPT IN COASTAL MOUNTAINS WHERE LOCALLY HIGHER
AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE. HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR
IN THE SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS OF MONTEREY COUNTY.

AS MUCH COLDER AIR ARRIVES WITH THIS SYSTEM…SNOW LEVELS WILL
DROP TO AS LOW AS 2000 FEET BY LATE TUESDAY. LIGHT SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS ARE LIKELY AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA…WITH PERHAPS A FEW INCHES POSSIBLE ACROSS THE
HIGHER PEAKS OF THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS AND DIABLO RANGE. FARTHER
SOUTH…SNOW ACCUMULATION WILL PROBABLY BE GREATER WITH UP TO SIX
INCHES OF SNOW POSSIBLE ABOVE 2500 FEET IN THE SANTA LUCIA RANGE
OF MONTEREY COUNTY AND IN THE LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST. THIS
WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS WINTRY DRIVING CONDITIONS AT THE HIGHEST
ELEVATIONS TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT.

PERSONS WITH OUTDOOR PLANS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST
FORECASTS TO ADJUST THEIR PLANS ACCORDINGLY.

USFS Los Padres District enters high response mode

Guess it is time to change over from my winter weather watch to summer fire watch links on the right. Will try to get to that ASAP, but hard to think fire at the moment, unless it is a fire in my wood stove! (It was in the 30’s last night)

Date: May 23, 2012 Los Padres National Forest
6755 Hollister Ave. #150
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Goleta, CA 93117
CONTACT: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759 http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf

Los Padres Implements High Response for Declared Fire Season

GOLETA, CA…Los Padres National Forest officials announced that wildland firefighters will transition into a “high response” posture beginning May 25 in conjunction with the declared start to fire season. This action is based on low plant moisture levels and increasingly dry conditions across the Central Coast and inland regions. The Forest Service is adopting this heightened posture along with fire departments throughout the local area.

“This past winter and spring saw below average rainfall, and with a hot summer ahead of us we need to take precautions against wildfire starts,” said Los Padres Forest Supervisor Peggy Hernandez. “Our fire staff is shifting to high response and we’ll be prepared for whatever the (fire) season brings.”

As seasonal fire staff report for duty, suppression resources will reach full capacity. The Reload Base at Santa Maria Airport will have full-time staffing throughout fire season. Although Santa Maria is not a Tanker Base, the Forest Service will request air tanker support through national federal emergency managers in the event of a large fire. Full staffing at the Reload Base will ensure that whenever national or Cal Fire air assets are available, the Forest Service will ensure retardant is efficiently reloaded onto the aircraft.

“The Reload Base at Santa Maria is a force multiplier for the Forest and the community,” said Los Padres Fire & Aviation Chief Anthony Escobar. “The retardant loading operation is based on a quick turnaround. It’s ready to go whenever it’s needed and tankers are on-site.”

Forest officials estimate that Level II fire restrictions will take effect next month, and visitors are reminded to exercise caution when enjoying recreation activities in Los Padres.

For more information, visit the Forest website at http://www.usda.gov/lpnf.

Big Sur quiet, La Brea continues

The Ponderosa Fire area is still closed, as of this morning. That means Nacimiento Rd is closed and the South Coast Ridge Rd. is closed. I have been informed that mop-up is pretty much finished, so I expect the roads to open soon.

What I can’t believe is that the smoke is this heavy from the La Brea Fire. I can only imagine how much worse it must be down south. I have scoured my sources to make sure there isn’t anything closer, but can find nothing to explain the smoke other than La Brea, one county south.

Inciweb had this to report this morning, and the press release issued at 9 am mirrors this inciweb post:

08/10/2009 @0600
The La Brea Fire, which started on Saturday, August 8 at 2:50 pm, continues to burn in an area of the San Rafael Wilderness that is very steep and difficult to reach on the ground.
Heavy 87 year old fuels (vegetation), long range spotting and moderate to rapid rates of spread have continued to hamper fire fighters in their efforts to contain the fire. Extreme fire behavior has been observed since the fire began. Flames from the fire could be seen on the Sierra Madre ridgeline from areas along SR-166 yesterday afternoon and evening. Last night fire behavior was moderate due to increased relative humidity and no major runs or spotting were observed.
The portion of the forest from the intersection of SR-166 and Sierra Madre Road east to McPherson Peak, south to the Sisquoc and west to the forest boundary is currently closed due to the fire emergency. Campgrounds in the area have been evacuated.
###

Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin Saturday August 08th, 2009 approx 02:50 PM
Location 26 Miles east of Santa Maria
Incident Commander Jeanne Pincha – Tulley
Current Situation
Total Personnel 580
Size 10,500 acres
Fuels Involved
Chaparral (6 feet)
Fire Behavior
Fire behavior was moderate last night due to increased relative humidity. No major runs or spotting was observed.
Significant Events
A closure of the forest in and around the area of the fire is in place. Evacuations of hunters and campers in front of and adjacent to the fire were made.
Outlook
Planned Actions
Continue direct attack on the southern and east perimeter of the fire. Crews will also continue constructing contingency lines outside of the wilderness.
Growth Potential
Extreme
Terrain Difficulty
Extreme
Remarks
CIIMT Team-3 (Pincha-Tulley) assumed command of the fire this morning at 0600.