WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => In The news => Topic started by: Wrightwood on Jun 17, 15, 09:10:03 PM
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WED JUN 17, 2015, 3:59 PM
VEGETATION FIRE
000 BLOCK OF 9 52 & 116 53 0, BARTON FLATS
417XX JENKS LAKE ROAD CAMP DEBENNEVILLE JENKS LAKE - CROSS STREETS: [GPS] THIS INCIDENT IS UNDER UNIFIED COMMAND BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE AND COUNTY FIRE
INCIDENT NAME: LAKE
NOTE: US FOREST SERVICE HAS BEEN REQUESTED TO RESPOND TO THIS INCIDENT
NOTE: CALFIRE HAS BEEN REQUESTED TO RESPOND TO THIS INCIDENT
UNITS RESPONDING: E98 WT99 FEDCOM CALCOM E99 BE98 BC133 BE282 BE9 BE261 BE552 BE226 BC706 C6-1 C6-2 BE9 MA282A NIFCTAC2 BDFNET VFIRE (SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE )
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WED JUN 17 8:42 PM
AIR ATTACK REPORTING THAT THE PERIMETER OF THE FIRE HAS NOT GROWN MUCH. THE SPOT FIRES ARE MAINLY FILLING IN THE PERIMETER OF THE INCIDENT
SOURCE: SCANNER REPORTER:CRAIG
WED JUN 17 8:14 PM
PER SBNF TWITTER: LAKE FIRE IS AT 50 ACRES AND 15% CONTAINED
SOURCE: SBNF TWITTER REPORTER:CRAIG
http://socalmountains.com/incident/index.php?i=35741 (http://socalmountains.com/incident/index.php?i=35741)
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http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4302/ (http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4302/)
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I bet the fire is human caused. We were in the area Friday when thunderstorms were around. There was little in the way of lightning but there was a surprising amount of activity in the area. As we approached the lake we expected a drought shrunken lake, but were surprised to find full to overflowing lake with lots of people fishing. There was even some patches of snow up on San Gorgonio.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/452/18888939406_e20e40abc2_o.jpg)
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Per Inciweb...
Lake Fire
INCIDENT UPDATED 14 MIN. AGO
The Lake Fire was reported just before 4:00 pm on June 17, 2015. It is burning east of Camp de Benneville Pines south of Jenks Lake Road. Jenks Lake Road is closed. The San Gorgonio Wilderness is closed. Highway 38 is open.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. It is approximately 1000 acres in size and burning in timber. It is currently 5% contained. Structures are threatened.
Evacuations include: 120 people from Camp de Benneville Pines, 1 person from Camp Ta Ta Pochon, 24 people from Camp Alpine Meadows, 23 people from Camp Edwards, and 10 people from Camp Tulakes. Children from the camps were bused to Citrus Valley High School in Redlands to be reunited with their parents.
All Hiking Trails into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area have been closed due to the proximity of the fire to many hiking trails.
Resources include:
11 engines
5 air tankers
5 helicopters (including night-flying)
1 air attack plane
2 crews
2 water tenders
1 dozer
Fire management is under Unified Command with San Bernardino County Fire and San Bernardino County Sheriff. The Incident Command Post is at Barton Flats Visitor Center.
Basic Information
Current as of
?6?/?18?/?2015? ?6?:?31?:?44? ?AM
Incident Type
Wildfire
Cause
Under Investigation
Date of Origin
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 approx. 03:52 PM
Incident Commander
Unified Command
Incident Description
Moderate Rate Of Spread
Current Situation
Total Personnel
100
Size
1,000 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained
5%
Fuels Involved
Timber
Significant Events
Structures are threatened. Camps DeBenneville Pines, Ta Ta Pochon, Alpine Meadows, Edwards, and Tulakes were evacuated. Firefighters continue to work the fire overnight. A night-flying helicopter and a night time air attack are working the fire overnight as well.
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Livecam image: http://www.bensweather.com/benscamsang.php (http://www.bensweather.com/benscamsang.php)
(http://www.bensweather.com/webcams/cam_2.jpg)
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USFS Fire-California ?@R5_Fire_News 10 minutes ago
#LakeFire @SanBernardinoNF Approx 1,500 acres 5% cont'd; mobilizing a federal Incident Mgmt. Team (IMT)
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4302/
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Found this on the VVNG FB page. It is a link to the ARCGIS webpage, with MODIS fire hotspots indicated:
http://www.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=0c12ac1e89c24075a2be145f4db6caf5&extent=-116.9800%2C34.0818%2C-116.6370%2C34.2794
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THU JUN 18 10:26 AM
VLAT (VERY LARGE AIR TANKER) SHOULD BE OVER THE FIRE AT NOON. OTHER TANKERS WILL MAKE 2 MORE PASSES THEN WILL HOLD FOR THE VLAT.
SOURCE: SCANNER REPORTER:SCMALERT
THU JUN 18 10:16 AM
THE EAST PART OF THE FIRE HAS MADE IT OUT TO THE COON CREEK CABIN ACCORDING TO AIR ATTACK.
SOURCE: SCANNER REPORTER:SCMALERT
THU JUN 18 10:15 AM
AIR ATTACK HAS CHECKED THE NORTH SIDE OF THE FIRE AND THUS FAR IT HAS NOT CROSSED HWY 38- THE FIRE IS STILL SOUTH OF HWY 38.
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In the local angle department, courtesy SBDCo Fire FB page:
Among many County resources currently assigned to the ?#?LakeFire?; last night an ALL ?#?SBCoFD? strike team of 5 Brush Engines was sent to assist in the fire fight. Currently assigned to Strike Team 2670C is BE23 from ?#?GrandTerrace?, BE10 from ?#?Phelan?, BE313 from City of ?#?Victorville?, BE25 from ?#?CrestForest?, and BE41 from ?#?YuccaValley?. Units responded immediate need directly to the incident to start work on the line.
https://www.facebook.com/SanBernardinoCountyFire
See pictures on the above link.
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THU JUN 18 11:49 AM
PER SANBERNARDINONF ON TWITTER: LAKE FIRE UPDATE: 7,500 ACRES, STILL 5% CONTAINED.
SOURCE: SCANNER REPORTER:SCMALERT
THU JUN 18 11:47 AM
BIG BEAR AIRPORT IS CLOSED TO GENERAL AVIATION BECAUSE OF THE FIRE.
SOURCE: BIG BEAR AIRPOR REPORTER:SCMALERT
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San Bernardino NF ?@SanBernardinoNF 7 minutes ago
#LakeFire update: 7,500 acres still 5% contained
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More locals on this fire, namely BP14 from Wrightwood, among other vehicles on the Gel Task Force.
"Along with our ALL ?#?SBCoFD? type 3 strike team a specialized gel task force was requested early on to protect structures in the path of the fire. These specialty apparatus have worked through out the night on the ?#?LakeFire?. Units assigned Task Force 6274 are BC148, BP2 from ?#?Devore?, BP14 from the town of ?#?Wrightwood?, BP315 from the City of ?#?Victorville?, BP91 from ?#?Arrowhead?, and WT78 From ?#?Fontana?.
The Gel Task Force consists of five brush patrol engines, with 20 firefighters and a task force leader. Brush Patrol engines are smaller in build and can navigate the narrow, treacherous roads and terrain.
Firefighters carry a 5-gallon backpack pump containing Thermo Gel, allowing for easier access around the home and ensuring better application of the gel to the home. Firefighters are able to spray the home to protect it and then move to safety until the fire passes.
Thermo Gel gives firefighters a fighting chance when it comes to saving homes. This task force can cover about 15 average size homes an hour. Once applied, the gel protects the home anywhere from 8 to 12 hours depending on the temperature. After which, the gel reactivates with just a light spray of water and the environmentally safe gel can be easily removed from the home using a pressure washer. Thermo Gel has been credited in the past for saving numerous homes during the Sheep Fire in 2009 that burned near the community of Wrightwood and the 2008 Sleepy Hollow Fire in Carbon Canyon near Chino Hills. The fire amazingly burned around the homes with little to no damage sustained to the treated home.
Submitted by: Captain Jeremy Kern:"
See pictures on the link below
In the local angle department, courtesy SBDCo Fire FB page:
Among many County resources currently assigned to the ?#?LakeFire?; last night an ALL ?#?SBCoFD? strike team of 5 Brush Engines was sent to assist in the fire fight. Currently assigned to Strike Team 2670C is BE23 from ?#?GrandTerrace?, BE10 from ?#?Phelan?, BE313 from City of ?#?Victorville?, BE25 from ?#?CrestForest?, and BE41 from ?#?YuccaValley?. Units responded immediate need directly to the incident to start work on the line.
https://www.facebook.com/SanBernardinoCountyFire
See pictures on the above link.
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According to ABC7 - Air attack has just raised the acreage to 8,000 to 10,000 acres.
http://abc7.com/news/lake-fire-continues-to-spread-in-san-bernardino-national-forest/792189/ (http://abc7.com/news/lake-fire-continues-to-spread-in-san-bernardino-national-forest/792189/)
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Another livecam: San Jacinto
http://www.fsvisimages.com/fstemplate.aspx?site=saja1 (http://www.fsvisimages.com/fstemplate.aspx?site=saja1)
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Weather cam viewing the Lake fire. There's a link at the bottom to a time lapse video.
http://www.bensweather.com/benscamsang.php
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Alex Tardy Skiwxman ?@SanDiegoWCMwx
#lake #wildfire on satellite
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHymbQwUkAAnQQC.png:large)
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http://firetracker.scpr.org/lake-fire-san-bernardino-county-2015/ (http://firetracker.scpr.org/lake-fire-san-bernardino-county-2015/)
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Photos: Firefighters Take on Lake Fire in San Bernardino Mountains
https://storify.com/CactusHugs/lake-fire (https://storify.com/CactusHugs/lake-fire)
https://storify.com/CGullTweets/lakefire-photos (https://storify.com/CGullTweets/lakefire-photos)
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Sheriff's Aviation rescues a 74 year old Dana Point hiker just east of the Lake Fire burning in the SB Mountains
DATE/TIME: 6-18-2015/Thursday
INCIDENT: Rescued Hiker
LOCATION: Dry Lake- area of San Gorgonio Mountain
SUSPECT(S): None
VICTIM(S): Stanley Reese, age 74, of Dana Point
SUMMARY:
On June 18, 2015 at approximately 10:30 a.m., Sheriff's dispatch was contacted by the State of California Office of Emergency Services regarding a SPOT device activation from a hiker in the San Gorgonio Wilderness area. The SPOT location was just east of the Lake Fire burning in the Jenks Lake area of the San Bernardino Mountains. Sheriff's Aviation was dispatched to the call due to the remote location and inaccessible terrain.
The crew of sheriff's helicopter 40King5 responded to the area and began looking for the victim. The located was reported as Dry Lake. Upon going on scene, the victim was located in the middle of Dry Lake and appeared to be uninjured. Helicopter 40King5 landed on the dry lake bed and contacted Stanley Reese. He explained that he was on a 3 day backpacking trip that originated from the South fork campground, the area from which the fire originated. Mr. Reese first noticed smoke on Wednesday evening, but was originally unconcerned due to the distance between him and the showing smoke.
On Thursday morning, Mr. Reese noticed that the fire was becoming larger and also noticed it was heading in his direction. At approximately 10:30 a.m., Mr. Reese activated his SPOT beacon to call for help.
Once Mr. Reese was loaded onto 40King5 and leaving the area, the fire had made its way to within 1/4 of a mile of Dry Lake and was continuing to close the distance.
Mr. Reese was transported to Sheriff's Aviation where he was picked up by family members.
Aircraft- 40King5
Pilot- Deputy D. Borgerd
TFO- Deputy J. Scalise
Refer: J. Scalise
Station: Aviation-40
Phone No. (909)252-4100
Case No. YU151690013
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CH0KE8xUEAA4qDK.jpg)
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(http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CABDF/2015-06-17-1915-Lake-Fire/picts/2015_06_18-17.36.32.453-CDT.jpeg)
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(http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CABDF/2015-06-17-1915-Lake-Fire/picts/2015_06_18-18.26.27.661-CDT.jpeg)
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This is a real bummer. It was refreshing to spend time in a forest that didn't have obvious signs of having burned recently. But I also remarked to my significant other that parts of it looked overly dense and not what I understand to be "healthy". It was reminiscent of the north side of the ridge near Mt. Waterman off Hwy 2 before the big fire there. There were no obvious signs of bark beetle or drought dying trees...unlike what we saw around Wrightwood last week.
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(http://www.wrightwoodfsc.com/fires/LakeFire/Jun19_Lake_IR.jpg)
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Time Lapse
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5v6CgXgDHeOUkRaVm1VZXFDX1E/edit (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5v6CgXgDHeOUkRaVm1VZXFDX1E/edit)
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SBSD - Headquarters
Advisory: Barton Flats - San Gorgonio Wilderness - #LakeFire - Updated Friday, June 19th 10:00 a.m.
DATE: Wednesday, June 17, 2015/4:33 p.m.
INCIDENT: Lake Fire
LOCATION: Jenks Lake Road, Barton Flats
San Gorgonio Wilderness
UPDATE - Friday, June 19th 10:00 a.m.:
The Lake Fire was reported just before 4:00 pm on June 17, 2015. It is burning east of Camp de Benneville Pines south of Jenks Lake Road. Highway 38 is closed between Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams. Evacuations include: Areas east of Angelus Oaks, Onyx Summit, Barton Flats, Seven Oaks, Heart Bar and homes off of Rainbow Lane. All Hiking Trails into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area have been closed due to the proximity of the fire to many hiking trails. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Summit.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. It is approximately 11,000 acres in size and burning in timber. It is currently 10% contained. There are approximately 150 structures threatened, however no structures are believed to be damaged or destroyed at this time.
Yesterday and overnight, the fire pushed further east into the Heart Bar Area and Coon Creek Area, and also moved farther South into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area in the Ten Thousand Foot Ridge Area. Due to turbulent winds above and near ridge lines, helicopters have been more effective than air tankers in slowing the fire. A Contingency Division has been established for the Morongo and Pioneertown Areas, HOWEVER THERE ARE NO EVACUATION ORDERS FOR THE MORONGO OR PIONEERTOWN AREA.
Heavy smoke is reaching the Morongo Valley and Coachella Valley areas, and the Southern California Air Quality Management District has issued a Smoke Advisory for those areas. Click on the link for additional information: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4302/25151/
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FRI JUN 19 7:51 AM
HELICOPTERS WILL BE BRINGING WATER TO THE FIRE FROM BIG BEAR LAKE THIS MORNING AS THE VISIBILITY IS TOO BAD AROUND JENKS LAKE DUE TO THICK SMOKE LAYING DOWN IN THAT AREA.
SOURCE: SCANNER REPORTER:SCMALERT
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(http://www.wrightwoodfsc.com/fires/LakeFire/6.19.15.b.jpg)
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INCIDENT UPDATED 18 MIN. AGO
Incident Overview
The Lake Fire was reported just before 4:00 pm on June 17, 2015. It is burning in the Barton Flats area and in the northeastern portion of the San Gorgonio Wilderness. Highway 38 is closed between Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams. Evacuations include: Areas east of Angelus Oaks, Onyx Summit, Barton Flats, Seven Oaks, Heart Bar and homes off of Rainbow Lane. All Hiking Trails into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area have been closed due to the proximity of the fire to these trails. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Summit.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. It is approximately 13,000 acres in size and burning in timber. It is currently 10% contained. There are approximately 500 structures threatened, however no structures are believed to be damaged or destroyed at this time.
Yesterday and overnight, the fire pushed further east into the Heart Bar Area and Coon Creek Area, and also moved farther South into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area in the Ten Thousand Foot Ridge Area. Due to turbulent winds above and near ridge lines, helicopters have been more effective than air tankers in slowing the fire. A Contingency Division has been established for the Morongo and Pioneertown Areas, HOWEVER THERE ARE NO EVACUATION ORDERS FOR THE MORONGO OR PIONEERTOWN AREA.
Heavy smoke is reaching the Morongo Valley and Coachella Valley areas, and the Southern California Air Quality Management District has issued a Smoke Advisory for those areas. Click on the link for additional information: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4302/25151/
Resources on scene include:
90 engines
4 air tanker
14 helicopters (including night-flying)
1 air attack plane
31 crews
6 water tenders
5 dozer
Additional resources have been ordered and will be arriving on the fire over the coming days.
Fire management is under Unified Command with, Cal Fire, San Bernardino County Fire and San Bernardino County Sheriff. The Incident Command Post has been moved to the Big Bear High school.
Ben's Weather Webcam has updated images of the fire every 30 seconds
Basic Information
Current as of 6/19/2015, 6:43:28 PM
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin Wednesday June 17th, 2015 approx. 03:52 PM
Incident Commander Walker
Incident Description Moderate Rate Of Spread With Active Torching And Crown Fire Runs.
Current Situation
Total Personnel 1,224
Size 13,000 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 10%
Fuels Involved
Timber with Grass and Understory.
Significant Events
Highway 38 is closed from the east side of Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams, Hiking Trails into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area closed. Pacific Crest Trail closed from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Peak.
Outlook
Remarks
A Type 2 Incident Management Team has assumed command of the fire
Current Weather
Weather Concerns
Weather will remain warm and dry
Unit Information
USFS Shield
San Bernardino National Forest
U.S. Forest Service
602 S. Tippecanoe Avenue
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Incident Contact
Fire Information Center
Phone: 909-383-5688
Recent Articles
Morning Fire Update for 6/19/2015
News - 9 hrs. ago
Smoke Advisory for Areas Affected By The Lake Fire.
News - 10 hrs. ago
Lake Fire Grows to 10,000 Acres
News - 23 hrs. ago
Evacuation Center Update
News - 1 day ago
Related Incident Links
San Bernardino Cnty Reverse 911
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Couple more webcams:
Yucaipa
http://www.wunderground.com/webcams/norcalengineer/2/show.html (http://www.wunderground.com/webcams/norcalengineer/2/show.html)
Palm Springs
http://www.wunderground.com/webcams/cadot1/1002/show.html (http://www.wunderground.com/webcams/cadot1/1002/show.html)
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Southern California interagency
Incident Management Team 1
Lake Fire Update
8:00 PM
Acres Burned: 13,000 Structures Threatened: 500
Containment: 10% Structures Destroyed: 0
Fire Started: June 17, 2015 Injuries: 0
Cause: Under Investigation
Engines: 90 Crews: 29
Helicopters: 14 (6-T1/8-T2/1-T3) Fixed Wing:(1 lead plane, 3P2V and 1 VLAT) 6
Water Tenders: 6 Dozers: 5
Total personnel assigned to the Fire: 1335 Estimated Cost: $950,000
Big Bear, Calif., June 19, 2015 -The Lake Fire, located in the eastern San Bernardino Mountains near the San Gorgonio Wilderness, is burning in dense old-growth timber on steep slopes and is now at 13,000 acres with current containment at 10 percent.
Today the fire moved to the east into the Heart Bar drainage and also south to 10,000 Foot Ridge in the San Gorgonio Wilderness.
Firefighters conducted a burn-out operation along Highway 38. The slow-moving fire gently backed down to the highway to the burned-out area in a controlled manner creating a wide, unburnable buffer for Highway 38.
The winds blew smoke to the east and southeast of the fire. Residents affected by the smoke can view air quality information at www.aqmd.gov or www.mdaqmd.ca.gov
Highway 38 remains closed from Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams. Jenks Lake Road is closed. Evacuations include: Areas east of Angelus Oaks including: Barton Flats, Seven Oaks, Rainbow Lane, Heart Bar, and all cabins and campgrounds in the South Fork area. The American Red Cross has a standby location to address any future sheltering or evacuation center needs.
All hiking trails into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area have been closed due to the proximity of the fire to them. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Summit.
Contact: Fire Information (909) 383-5688
Information is also available at inciweb.nwcg.gov reference Lake Fire
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Lake Fire Update
Basic Information
Current as of
?6?/?20?/?2015? ?7?:?15?:?07? ?AM
Incident Type
Wildfire
Cause
Under Investigation
Date of Origin
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 approx. 03:52 PM
Incident Commander
Walker
Incident Description
Moderate Rate Of Spread With Active Torching And Crown Fire Runs.
Current Situation
Total Personnel
1,343
Size
15,000 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained
10%
Fuels Involved
Timber with Grass and Understory.
Significant Events
Highway 38 is closed from the east side of Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams, Hiking Trails into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area closed. Pacific Crest Trail closed from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Peak.
Outlook
Remarks
A Type 2 Incident Management Team has assumed command of the fire
Current Weather
Weather Concerns
Weather will remain warm and dry
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(http://www.wrightwoodfsc.com/fires/LakeFire/Jun19.22000_Lake_Aerial_Map.jpg)
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CH9k33OUAAA8h7F.jpg:large)
Click here for larger map: (http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CABDF/2015-06-17-1915-Lake-Fire/picts/2015_06_20-13.02.35.682-CDT.jpeg)
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Snow Valley live webcam (http://www.snow-valley.com/current_conditions/live_webcams.html)
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(http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CABDF/2015-06-17-1915-Lake-Fire/picts/2015_06_20-14.43.30.457-CDT.jpeg)
(http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CABDF/2015-06-17-1915-Lake-Fire/picts/2015_06_20-14.41.44.786-CDT.jpeg)
(http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CABDF/2015-06-17-1915-Lake-Fire/picts/2015_06_19-17.59.41.527-CDT.jpeg)
(http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CABDF/2015-06-17-1915-Lake-Fire/picts/2015_06_19-17.56.51.110-CDT.jpeg)
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INCIDENT UPDATED 30 MIN. AGO
The Lake Fire was reported just before 4:00 pm on June 17, 2015. It is burning in the Barton Flats area and in the northeastern portion of the San Gorgonio Wilderness. Highway 38 is closed between Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams. Evacuations include: Areas east of Angelus Oaks, Onyx Summit, Barton Flats, Seven Oaks, Heart Bar and homes off of Rainbow Lane. All Hiking Trails into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area have been closed due to the proximity of the fire to these trails. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Summit.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. It is approximately 16,000 acres in size and burning in timber. It is currently 15% contained. There are approximately 400 structures threatened, however no structures are believed to be damaged or destroyed at this time.
The fire has moved further south into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area. Due to turbulent winds above and near ridge lines, helicopters have been more effective than air tankers in slowing the fire. A Contingency Division has been established for the Morongo and Pioneertown Areas, HOWEVER THERE ARE NO EVACUATION ORDERS FOR THE MORONGO OR PIONEERTOWN AREA.
Heavy smoke is reaching the Morongo Valley and Coachella Valley areas, and the Southern California Air Quality Management District has issued a Smoke Advisory for those areas. Click on the link for additional information: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4302/25151/
Resources on scene include:
91 engines
4 air tankers
16 helicopters (including night-flying)
1 air attack plane
31 crews
6 water tenders
5 dozers
Additional resources have been ordered and will be arriving on the fire over the coming days.
Fire management is under Unified Command with, Cal Fire, San Bernardino County Fire and San Bernardino County Sheriff. The Incident Command Post has been moved to the Big Bear High school.
Ben's Weather Webcam has updated images of the fire every 30 seconds
Basic Information
Current as of 6/20/2015, 6:21:40 PM
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin Wednesday June 17th, 2015 approx. 03:52 PM
Incident Commander Walker
Incident Description Moderate Rate Of Spread With Active Torching And Crown Fire Runs.
Current Situation
Total Personnel 1,875
Size 16,000 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 15%
Fuels Involved
Timber with Grass and Understory.
Significant Events
Highway 38 is closed from the east side of Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams, Hiking Trails into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area closed. Pacific Crest Trail closed from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Peak.
Outlook
Remarks
A Type 2 Incident Management Team has assumed command of the fire
Current Weather
Weather Concerns
Weather will remain warm and dry
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Lake Fire
INCIDENT UPDATED 13 MIN. AGO
Incident Overview
The Lake Fire was reported just before 4:00 pm on June 17, 2015. It is burning in the Barton Flats area and in the northern portion of the San Gorgonio Wilderness. Highway 38 is closed between Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams. Evacuations include: Areas east of Angelus Oaks, Onyx Summit, Barton Flats, Seven Oaks, Heart Bar and homes off of Rainbow Lane. All Hiking Trails into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area have been closed due to the proximity of the fire to these trails. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Summit.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. It is approximately 17,050 acres in size and burning in timber. It is currently 19% contained. There are approximately 500 structures threatened, however no structures are believed to be damaged or destroyed at this time.
The Morongo Valley and Pioneertown Areas have receive smoke from this fire. THERE ARE NO EVACUATION ORDERS FOR THESE AREAS AT THIS TIME. Heavy smoke remains in the area and the Southern California Air Quality Management District has issued a Smoke Advisory for those areas. Click on the link for additional information: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4302/25151/
Fire within the wilderness is low intensity allowing the firefighters to gain safe ground to effectively attack the fire. Overall the growth of the fire has slowed. Additional efforts include hose lays and retardant and water drops from aircraft. Hot Shot Crews have been working the extreme terrain of the northern portion San Gorgonio Wilderness constructing fire line.
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.
High Temperatures and westerly winds will continue to push smoke towards the east, impacting residents in the surrounding areas.
Resources on scene include:
121 engines
5 air tankers
16 helicopters (including night-flying)
2 air attack plane
50 crews
16 water tenders
7 dozers
Fire management is under Unified Command with, Cal Fire, San Bernardino County Fire and San Bernardino County Sheriff. The Incident Command Post is located at Big Bear High school.
Ben's Weather Webcam has updated images of the fire every 30 seconds
Basic Information
Current as of
?6?/?21?/?2015? ?6?:?24?:?27? ?PM
Incident Type
Wildfire
Cause
Under Investigation
Date of Origin
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 approx. 03:52 PM
Incident Commander
Walker
Incident Description
Moderate Rate Of Spread With Active Torching And Crown Fire Runs.
Current Situation
Total Personnel
1,986
Size
17,050 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained
19%
Fuels Involved
Timber with Grass and Understory.
Significant Events
Highway 38 is closed from the east side of Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams, Hiking Trails into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area closed. Pacific Crest Trail closed from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Peak.
Outlook
Planned Actions
Continue to hold the fire south of Hwy 38 and North of 10,000'ridge.
Remarks
A Type 2 Incident Management Team has assumed command of the fire
Current Weather
Weather Concerns
Weather will remain warm and dry over the fire with gusty west winds over the next few days. Temperatures will slowly cool over next several days with an increase in relative humidity.
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VIDEO LINK - Overnight the Lake Fire / Big Bear - Jenks Lake RAW FOOTAGE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2k0U6VjPJY&feature=youtu.be
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Nearly 11 million dollars
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Great video that shows how tough the work is...
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Lake Fire Timelapse from start Wed 6/17 through Sun 6/21 @ 6pm
A timelapse of the Lake Fire taken from Ben Brissey's (Bensweather.com) Cam located at the top of Chair 9 at Bear Mountain. The timelapse covers the period from the initial start of the fire on Wed 6/17 through Sunday 6/21 @ 6pm. Visit Socalmountains.com and BensWeather.com for the latest on the Lake Fire.
http://www.youtube.com/v/5YYFhW6HOdg&showsearch=0&rel=0&fs=1&autoplay=0&ap=%2526fmt%3D18
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Type 1 Team is being activated - California IMT 5 (Minton)
The fire appears to be making a pretty good run to the east.
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This one isn't close to being over yet...
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Those with Google Earth
Lake Fire Heat Perimeter kmz file (early this morning) (http://www.wrightwoodfsc.com/fires/LakeFire/20150623_2341PDT_Lake_Heat_Perimeter.kmz)
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Sounds like one of the aircraft spotted a red drone in the area
Air attack has suspended air operations until the drone situation can be rectified.
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San Bernardino NF ?@SanBernardinoNF 27 minutes ago
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OR DRONES ARE NOT PERMITTED ANYWHERE NEAR AN ACTIVE FIRE - DO NOT HAMPER FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CITqu9CWIAEsUbR.jpg)
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SB County Fire ?@SBCOUNTYFIRE 42 minutes ago
#LakeFire the fire skirted around the Rainbow Lane area no structure damage or loss. County Dozer 2 assisted in structure defense.
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Lake Fire Timelapse from start Wed 6/17 through Sun 6/21 @ 6pm
A timelapse of the Lake Fire taken from Ben Brissey's (Bensweather.com) Cam located at the top of Chair 9 at Bear Mountain. The timelapse covers the period from the initial start of the fire on Wed 6/17 through Sunday 6/21 @ 6pm. Visit Socalmountains.com and BensWeather.com for the latest on the Lake Fire.
Sad.
As an aside, if anyone happens to be in contact with people in the back country, there is some weird looking terrain in one of the canyons that I can't really discern. According to the maps it was burned over. There are patches of similar looking terrain in that immediate vicinity but I have no idea what I'm looking at there.
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0966824,-116.7928395,101a,20y,270h/data=!3m1!1e3
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Evacuations for Burns Canyon, Rim Rock, and Pioneertown
Incident: Lake Fire Wildfire
Released: 9 hrs. ago
The San Bernardino County Sheriff Department has initiated a mandatory evacuation for the Burns Canyon and Rimrock areas.
Pioneertown is now under a voluntary evacuation.
There is a shelter for evacuees at Copper Mountain College 6162 Rotary Way, Yucca Valley, CA 92252
Small animals may be taken to the Town of Yucca Valley Animal Shelter 4755 Malin Way Yucca Valley CA
Large animals may be taken to the Yucca Valley Equestrian Center 7429 Avalon Ave. Yucca Valley, CA
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INCIDENT UPDATED 1:02 HRS. AGO
Incident Overview
Update: The San Bernardino County Sheriff Department has initiated a mandatory evacuation for the Burns Canyon and Rimrock areas. Pioneertown is now under a voluntary evacuation. There is a shelter for evacuees at Copper Mountain College located at 6162 Rotary Way, Yucca Valley, CA 92252. Small animals may be taken to the Town of Yucca Valley Animal Shelter 4755 Malin Way Yucca Valley. Large animals may be taken to the Yucca Valley Equestrian Center 7429 Avalon Ave. Yucca Valley.
The Lake Fire was reported just before 4:00 pm on June 17, 2015. The cause of the fire is under investigation. It is approximately 23,199 acres in size and burning in timber. It is currently 21% contained.
Mandatory evacuations include: Areas along Hwy 38 east of Angelus Oaks to Onyx Summit, Barton Flats, Seven Oaks, South Fork, Heart Bar, Rainbow Lane, Burns Canyon, and Rimrock. There is a voluntary evacuation in place for Pioneertown..
State Highway 38 is closed between Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams. It will remain closed indefinitely due to reduced visibility and firefighting operations
All Hiking Trails into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area have been closed due to the proximity of the fire to these trails. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Summit.
The fire remains active in the northeast. Yesterday the fire made a push northwards toward the Rainbow Lane Area but at this time no structures have been lost.
Approximately 360 campers were safely evacuated from the Camp Oakes in the Lake Williams Area on June 24th at about 2:00 pm. This was a precautionary evacuation due to the large number of campers.
The south side of the fire continues to burn in steep and rocky terrain with minor growth downhill hitting areas of unburned trees and grass that ignite and then burn again downhill. Additional crews have been inserted into the Ten Thousand Foot Ridge and will proceed toward the eastern Forest Boundary.
Resources on scene include:
103 engines
3 air tankers
2 DC-10 VLAT (Very Large Air Tankers)
18 helicopters
4 support planes
54 crews
16 water tenders
8 dozers
1894 personnel assigned to the fire
There have been four firefighter injuries.
Fire management is under Unified Command with Cal Fire, San Bernardino County Sheriff, San Bernardino County Fire, Big Bear Fire Department and California Highway Patrol. The Incident Command Post is located at Big Bear High School.
There are Smoke Advisories for nearby areas. Click here for the San Bernardino Mountains smoke information and click here for the Mojave Desert area smoke information
Ben's Weather Webcam has updated images of the fire area every 30 seconds
Basic Information
Current as of 6/25/2015, 7:25:25 AM
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin Wednesday June 17th, 2015 approx. 03:52 PM
Incident Commander Walker
Incident Description Yesterday The Northeast Corner Of The Fire Made A Push Northward Into The Rainbow Lane Area But At This Time No Structures Have Been Lost. Last Night The Fire Grew Northwards Towards The Upper Pipes Canyon Area.
Current Situation
Total Personnel 1,894
Size 23,199 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 21%
Fuels Involved
Timber with Grass and Understory
Significant Events
The communities of Burns Canyon and Rim Rock are under a mandatory evacuation. Pioneertown is under a voluntary evacuation. All aircraft on the incident were forced to land after an unmanned aircraft systems (drone) was spotted in the area of Onyx Summit just before 6:00 pm. Hwy 38 remains closed from east of Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams.
Outlook
Planned Actions
Continue to hold the fire south and east of Hwy 38 and North of Whitewater.
Remarks
A Type 2 Incident Management Team is in command of the fire
Current Weather
Weather Concerns
Weather will remain warm and dry over the fire with gusty west winds over the next few days. Temperatures will slowly cool over next several days with an increase in relative humidity. Possibility of monsoonal moisture for the weekend.
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(http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CABDF/2015-06-17-1915-Lake-Fire/picts/2015_06_25-08.41.14.643-CDT.jpeg)
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San Bernardino NF ?@SanBernardinoNF 27 minutes ago
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OR DRONES ARE NOT PERMITTED ANYWHERE NEAR AN ACTIVE FIRE - DO NOT HAMPER FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CITqu9CWIAEsUbR.jpg)
Sounds like they need a way to shoot them down!!! Better than landing fire fighting aircraft.
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(http://www.wrightwoodfsc.com/fires/LakeFire/6.25.15a.jpg)
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Another livecam image: http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/cameras/L/tp-n-mobo-c.jpg (http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/cameras/L/tp-n-mobo-c.jpg)
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The U.S. Forest Service will hold a news conference regarding the Lake Fire at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, June 25, 2015. (There is a delay of about 2 minutes between our livestream and our television broadcast.)
http://abc7.com/live/ (http://abc7.com/live/)
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Per press conference
Drone that shut down yesterday's air attack was a fixed wing, 3-4 ft wing span, red or orange in color and was flying at 800-1,000 feet off the ground.
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Per press conference
Drone that shut down yesterday's air attack was a fixed wing, 3-4 ft wing span, red or orange in color and was flying at 800-1,000 feet off the ground.
What are the dangers posed by drones to fire fighters and the aerial aircraft over wildfires?
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What are the dangers posed by drones to fire fighters and the aerial aircraft over wildfires?
The biggest danger is called FOD, which stands for Foreign Object Debris/Destruction.
Think of a bug hitting your windshield at 60 MPH. Now think of a small drone or UAV, 3-6 feet across (with the associated greater mass and weight), hitting an airplane or helicopter at 100-300 MPH, while they are trying to do a water or retardant drop.
IF the pilot of the helicopter or aircraft is lucky, they will be able to set their vehicle down on the ground. If they are not lucky, destruction ensues.
Drones don't belong in fire zones.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/near-collisions-between-drones-airliners-surge-new-faa-reports-show/2014/11/26/9a8c1716-758c-11e4-bd1b-03009bd3e984_story.html
BTW, the online video of a drone hitting a Southwest Airlines plane, is faked. Yes, damage like that could occur, but that particular video is a simulation.
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Fire Teams coordinate with the FAA to setup a restricted air space near a wildfire.
This enables the fire air attack a clear sky area to coordinate their complex management of aircraft working the fire. Having a drone or any aircraft flying within that restricted space is a crash hazard.
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Thanks to the drones, the fire got bigger. Those drone pilots need a real big fine for that.
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It should be noted that a drone could be flown by anyone and not necessarily a hobbyist as suggested at the news conference.
The drone could be flown by the DEA looking for pot grows, it could have been a news team, local - State or Federal government agency, foreign government or a hundred other possibilities.
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The statement about drones used by foreign governments is a distinct possibility especially if they want to invade our airspace. I hope theyre working on this at the Pentagon.
And I hope the fire folks are back up there fighting the fire by now. Eventually I could see drones fighting the fire but for now its the choppers and fixed wings.
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The biggest danger is called FOD, which stands for Foreign Object Debris/Destruction.
Think of a bug hitting your windshield at 60 MPH. Now think of a small drone or UAV, 3-6 feet across (with the associated greater mass and weight), hitting an airplane or helicopter at 100-300 MPH, while they are trying to do a water or retardant drop.
IF the pilot of the helicopter or aircraft is lucky, they will be able to set their vehicle down on the ground. If they are not lucky, destruction ensues.
Drones don't belong in fire zones.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/near-collisions-between-drones-airliners-surge-new-faa-reports-show/2014/11/26/9a8c1716-758c-11e4-bd1b-03009bd3e984_story.html
BTW, the online video of a drone hitting a Southwest Airlines plane, is faked. Yes, damage like that could occur, but that particular video is a simulation.
If a bird can take down a passenger plane, a drone strike could take down anyone of the aircraft fighting the fire. It was a goose or two into the engines of US Airways Flight 1549 that put that aircraft in the Hudson River.
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It should be noted that a drone could be flown by anyone and not necessarily a hobbyist as suggested at the news conference.
The drone could be flown by the DEA looking for pot grows, it could have been a news team, local - State or Federal government agency, foreign government or a hundred other possibilities.
I'm guessing it wasn't a hobbyist, since one of them was 11K feet up. Can hobby drones even go that high? That was one of them, I haven't heard much about the second one.
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There was some confusion when I listened to the press conference. I'm fairly certain the USFS spokesman said 11K feet up he was refereeing to feet above sea level. Later in the press conference he said it was 800-1,000 feet above the ground and pointed out that hobbyist must stay below 400 feet above the ground.
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If a bird can take down a passenger plane, a drone strike could take down anyone of the aircraft fighting the fire. It was a goose or two into the engines of US Airways Flight 1549 that put that aircraft in the Hudson River.
That's exactly right. Most commercial aircraft can withstand a birdstrike or ingesting a bird through an engine, and keep flying. US Airways 1549 was multiple geese, into both engines at the same time. The worst possible scenario, and Sully did exactly what he should have done.
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Per air attack radio traffic: they expect fire to run thru the Antelope (Creek) drainage tonight.
Antelope Creek is north of Onyx Peak.
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INCIDENT UPDATED 1 MIN. AGO
Update: The San Bernardino County Sheriff Department has issued a message in order to give residents in the areas of Lake Williams, Erwin Lake, and Lake Baldwin advance noticed to prepare for evacuation, in the event it becomes necessary. As of 8:00 am today the Lake Fire is approximately 1.5 miles east of the first trigger point that affects Lake Williams. If the Lake Fire reaches the pre-designated trigger points, residents in these areas will be notified to evacuate. Residents in the affected areas, particularly those with live stock that may need to be moved, are encouraged to make arrangements now for relocation of their animals.
The Lake Fire was reported just before 4:00 pm on June 17, 2015. The cause of the fire is under investigation. It is approximately 23,199 acres in size and burning in timber. It is currently 21% contained.
Mandatory evacuations include: Areas along Hwy 38 east of Angelus Oaks to Onyx Summit, Barton Flats, Seven Oaks, South Fork, Heart Bar, Rainbow Lane, Burns Canyon, and Rimrock. There is a voluntary evacuation in place for Pioneertown. There is a shelter for evacuees at Copper Mountain College located at 6162 Rotary Way, in Joshua Tree, CA 92252. Small animals may be taken to the Town of Yucca Valley Animal Shelter 4755 Malin Way Yucca Valley. Large animals may be taken to the Yucca Valley Equestrian Center 7429 Avalon Ave. Yucca Valley.
State Highway 38 is closed between Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams. It will remain closed indefinitely due to reduced visibility and firefighting operations
All Hiking Trails into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area have been closed due to the proximity of the fire to these trails. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from Whitewater Preserve to Onyx Summit.
The fire remains active in the northeast. Yesterday the fire made a push northwards toward the Rainbow Lane Area but at this time no structures have been lost.
The south side of the fire continues to burn in steep and rocky terrain with minor growth downhill hitting areas of unburned trees and grass that ignite and then burn again downhill. Additional crews have been inserted into the Ten Thousand Foot Ridge and will proceed toward the eastern Forest Boundary.
Resources on scene include:
103 engines
4 air tankers
2 DC-10 VLAT (Very Large Air Tankers)
18 helicopters
4 support planes
54 crews
16 water tenders
8 dozers
1894 personnel assigned to the fire
There have been four firefighter injuries.
Fire management is under Unified Command with Cal Fire, San Bernardino County Sheriff, San Bernardino County Fire, Big Bear Fire Department and California Highway Patrol. The Incident Command Post is located at Big Bear High School.
There are Smoke Advisories for nearby areas. Click here for the San Bernardino Mountains smoke information and click here for the Mojave Desert area smoke information
Ben's Weather Webcam has updated images of the fire area every 30 seconds
Basic Information
Current as of 6/25/2015, 9:41:45 AM
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin Wednesday June 17th, 2015 approx. 03:52 PM
Incident Commander Walker
Incident Description Yesterday The Northeast Corner Of The Fire Made A Push Northward Into The Rainbow Lane Area But At This Time No Structures Have Been Lost. Last Night The Fire Grew Northwards Towards The Upper Pipes Canyon Area.
Current Situation
Total Personnel 1,894
Size 23,199 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 21%
Fuels Involved
Timber with Grass and Understory
Significant Events
The communities of Burns Canyon and Rim Rock are under a mandatory evacuation. Pioneertown is under a voluntary evacuation. Advanced notice was given to residents of Lake Williams, Erwin Lake, and Lake Baldwin to prepare for evacuation, in the event it becomes necessary. Hwy 38 remains closed from east of Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams.
Outlook
Planned Actions
Continue to hold the fire south and east of Hwy 38 and North of Whitewater.
Remarks
A Type 2 Incident Management Team is in command of the fire
Current Weather
Weather Concerns
Weather will remain warm and dry over the fire with gusty west winds over the next few days. Temperatures will slowly cool over next several days with an increase in relative humidity. Possibility of monsoonal moisture for the weekend.
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SB County Fire ?@SBCOUNTYFIRE 18 seconds ago
#LakeFire evening update 25,599 acres, 19% contained
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Driving up from Pomona/Walnut tonight, there is a lot of drift smoke over the Inland Empire. Tough to tell if it is from the Lake incident, or the Sterling incident, but I wouldn't be surprised to see drift smoke in our mountains, and certainly in the Victor Valley...
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Can someone help me understand how this got away from firefighters? It seems like people saw the smoke early and in the time lapse, if you frame by frame step though it you can see the early retardant drops before it was big. It was also in a somewhat accessible area with paved roads nearby. So, what happened? Or what didn't happen? Or was this a scenario where there was no chance to put it out regardless of cash outlay or personnel/vehicle placement?
The timing and location of it all sure seems intentional.
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THU JUN 25 5:21 PM
SCANNER TRAFFIC OVER THE PAST FEW HOURS HAS BEEN LARGELY EFFORTS TO BUILD CONTAINMENT LINES BETWEEN THE BIG BEAR VALLEY AND THE FIRE. SOUNDS LIKE FIREFIGHTERS ARE USING EVERYTHING THEY HAVE IN THEIR ARSENAL: DOZERS, HAND CREWS, AIRCRAFT, AND EVEN BACKFIRING OPERATIONS.
SOURCE: SCANNER REPORTER:SCMALERT
http://socalmountains.com/incident/index.php?i=35741 (http://socalmountains.com/incident/index.php?i=35741)
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Southern California Interagency
Incident Management Team 1
Lake Fire Update June 25, 2015
8:00 PM
Acres Burned: 25,599
Containment: 19%
Structures Threatened: 7,390
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Can someone help me understand how this got away from firefighters? It seems like people saw the smoke early and in the time lapse, if you frame by frame step though it you can see the early retardant drops before it was big. It was also in a somewhat accessible area with paved roads nearby. So, what happened? Or what didn't happen? Or was this a scenario where there was no chance to put it out regardless of cash outlay or personnel/vehicle placement?
The timing and location of it all sure seems intentional.
Joe-Pretty simple really....multiple starts meant the fire had a running start on firefighters. Remember, even with full staffing, the start location is a long ways from anything. Aircraft take time to get rolling and in the air. The fire is burning in an area that has little or no fire history.....the fuels are dry or dead with bark beetle trees throughout. The aircraft dropping retardant are laying a line down ahead of the fire with the goal of holding the fire until the crews can get in and build a fire line. When a fire is raging as this one was in the beginning, the fire frequently just mows right over the line (or spots several miles ahead....starting a new fire) Temperatures were in the nineties....terrain was steep and rugged and winds were gusting to 30mph. It was not an accessible area for the most part and firefighters had to access it on foot. Once the fire was established, the energy created and the terrain it was burning in dictated that you can't always put the human next to the fire line. Flame lengths in excess of 100 feet as trees torched are not conducive to approaching the fire directly. Several times, a Pyro-cumulus cloud formed from the incredible energy and rose to 20,000 feet. You have to pick and choose where you can make a stand. The Incident Commander on the Lake Fire is a thirty veteran of the San Bernardino National Forest fire fighting operation and is familiar with the area fire history. His command staff are all seasoned wildland firefighters. I can tell you from personal experience that no IC wants a single firefighter or civilian to be killed on his watch. In addition to the planning for the fire fight, planning for the safety of those living in the fire area is a constant thing. Calling for an evacuation is not taken lightly. So you rely on your Division Group Supervisors and your Ops folks to make good tactical decisions but not at the cost of putting crews in jeopardy. You try and anticipate what the fire might do based on your knowledge of fire behavior and conditions. You look for the places where you might make a stand (ridge tops....washes...etc). This is a major wild fire that is burning during a record breaking drought in steep rugged terrain pushed by wind and slope and in some areas that have not burned for eighty years. It will continue to burn until the combination of lack of fuel, wind, slope and terrain can be overwhelmed by the resources available for extinguishment. Did they do a good job? Of course they did and still are. I've never worked on a wildland fire where the Command Team and the firefighters didn't give 110%. My Incident Command Team is next up for assignment and the process will start over for us....somewhere in the West. Hope that is helpful.
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(http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CABDF/2015-06-17-1915-Lake-Fire/picts/2015_06_26-08.42.19.812-CDT.jpeg)
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Here is a progression map for the Lake Fire http://arcg.is/1GxaR7h (http://arcg.is/1GxaR7h)
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Joe-Pretty simple really....Hope that is helpful.
Yes it is, and thanks for the response. Do they staff based on geographic fire potential? And by that I mean, now that a large portion of the area covered by the fire stations in that area has burned, I imagine the potential for fire in that coverage area will be greatly reduced for quite some time. Once the fire has been mopped up will they shift staff and equipment away from there and to places with continued high fire danger/unburned forest and bring them back as the forest comes back?
What about Fire Station placement? There's a long stretch of highway and a lot of forest with no fire station - 27 road miles between the two stations that bookend the stretch of road the fire started near. If they were coming from Angelus Oaks, I imagine it would have taken 30 minutes to get there, maybe, based on Google Maps. Based on how it played out, would it have even mattered if there was a station halfway between those two and people on foot got there in about half that time?
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Fire stations are fixed assets that are very expensive. The stations will stay where they are because not everything is burned. Many areas are hop scotched with unburned. The Angelus Oaks station is a Paid/Call SB County fire station that staffs with local residents when they are available. The federal stations will remain where they are and continue to respond to any number of emergency responses including medical aids and traffic collisions. Unlike municipal stations, they are not staffed 24/7. The crews go home each night unless conditions warrant staying open until 8 or 10 pm. If a wild fire starts when the crews are off duty, they are recalled to the station.
Putting a staffed fire station between the two existing ones would be cost prohibitive. Would a single engine crew have been able to stop the Lake fire in the beginning.....based on what I am hearing, no. There was too much fire and too much fuels available that were ready to immediately burn. The fire was crowning in some pretty big timber and spotting 1/2 mile ahead. Because of the extreme conditions, US Forest Service dispatch had a heavy initial dispatch, including Air Attack, fixed wing and helicopters as well as bull dozers, hand crews and engines. Remember....this is not their first fire season on the San Bernardino. If you would like a glimpse of what fighting one of these fires is like, take a look at a PBS Documentary I did on the Panorama Fire in 1980. At the time it was the largest fire on the San Bernardino NF and will give you a good picture of just how chaotic and crazy these things can get...especially in the wildland urban interface.
Panorama...San Bernardino under Siege https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABTulYftHkw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABTulYftHkw)
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If you would like a glimpse of what fighting one of these fires is like, take a look at a PBS Documentary I did on the Panorama Fire in 1980. At the time it was the largest fire on the San Bernardino NF and will give you a good picture of just how chaotic and crazy these things can get...especially in the wildland urban interface.
Panorama...San Bernardino under Siege https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABTulYftHkw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABTulYftHkw)
I've watched the video and was telling a friend about it the other day. It was very good. I guess it sounds like there wasn't much that could have been done. It's a pity - it was a flawless looking piece of forest.
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With the news that the Sterling Fire near Del Rosa in San Bernardino was Arson, you get an idea of just how big the problem is. It's not enough that we are in the midst of a record drought and that Bark Beetles are killing trees in record numbers across the West but terrorists are now lighting fires with the full knowledge of the devastation and destruction that their match unleashes. Fires start with regularity from accidental causes and lightning. Next thing to worry about is 4th of July and the knuckleheads that will be firing off fireworks in spite of the obvious danger.
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Found the following article on the SBCO Fire Facebook page. This is an article about the Gel Taskforce, and includes interviews with Capt. Steve Roeber and Engineer Jeff Allen (both from WW Station 14 I believe).
http://www.hidesertstar.com/news/article_ed0da186-1c5c-11e5-91ca-6bc9c611f690.html#.VY4kBfTtCxA.facebook
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SAT JUN 27 1:27 PM
PER AIR ATTACK - LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS ARE FALLING ON THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE LAKE FIRE
SOURCE: SCANNER REPORTER:SCMALERT
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Lake Fire Update, June 28, 2015, 8:00 AM
Fire Information: (909) 383-5688
Date Started: June 17, 2015, 3:52 PM
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. 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)
Carol Underhill
Visitor Information Assistant &
Public Information Officer
Forest Service
San Bernardino National Forest,
Front Country Ranger District
p: 909-382-2909
c: 909-286-0815
f: 909-887-3989
cunderhill@fs.fed.us
1209 Lytle Creek Road
Lytle Creek, CA 92358
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Lake Fire Update, June 29, 2015, 8:00 AM
Fire Information: (909) 383-5688
Date Started: June 17, 2015, 3:52 PM 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
Current Fire Situation
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 tactics. 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.
Beginning with this update, only one Lake Fire update will be released per day.
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-ofway
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:
http://cms.sbcounty.gov/sheriff/MediaCenter/SheriffPressReleases.aspx
http://caltrans8.info
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ (Lake Fire)
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Dealing with these kinds of folks is a regular occurrence any more. On first glance, they look legit but 30 seconds into a conversation allows you to see the deception. Glad this scumbag is behind bars.
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I hope they checked the trunk for a drone ;)
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This might mean a considerable increase in the use of the forest areas around Wrightwood over the 4th of July weekend, since they have fewer options in the San Bernardinos.
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If you think we have it bad, look at Alaska on Inciweb.
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
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After Years of Drought, Wildfires Rage in California
By Haeyoun Park, Damien Cave and Wilson Andrews July 15, 2015
Photographs by Zackary Canepari for The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/07/15/us/california-fire-season-drought.html?_r=2 (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/07/15/us/california-fire-season-drought.html?_r=2)