WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => Disaster Awareness & CERT => Topic started by: gus on Nov 18, 06, 11:29:26 PM
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There is a fire near the bridge to nowhere in the east fork of the San Gabriel river. Full response by forest service. More details when they are available
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I thought something was going on in the south. I saw smoke as I was driving into town and helicopters flying around.
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Los Angeles County Fire chopper is now complaining about the lack of organization for air attack between multiple agencies. IC asked they run into the canyon to search for hotspots. While doing so, another agency chopper told them to get out.
IC isn't giving them instructions, nothing seems organized other than bringing crews into the canyon via helos, and multiple tankers and helos on the way.
Freq: 135.9750
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Many initial attacks can appear less then organized. Takes a bit to sort things out and some IC's are more organized then others. This is in the same area that the Narrows Fire started and would probably run into that burn at some point. Could also just retrace the Narrows Fire path burning on the new growth.
Time will tell.
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(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/Bridge/NoWhere1.JPG)
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Isn't this just down canyon from where all the Search and Rescue activity is going on? Possibly related?
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View of fire from Phelan:
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Calindy/IMG_8460-1.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Calindy/IMG_8465-1.jpg)
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Isn't this just down canyon from where all the Search and Rescue activity is going on? Possibly related?
That was my first thought. Maybe the missing hunter started a fire to help rescuers find him?
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Possible. The area is heavily traveled up to the Bridge itself and is very popular on weekends when it is warm....like today. Once you come above the bridge, the canyon gets narrow and steep and most don't continue.
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Isn't this just down canyon from where all the Search and Rescue activity is going on? Possibly related?
That was my first thought. Maybe the missing hunter started a fire to help rescuers find him?
The chances that the hunter is alive after a week with the temperatures being what they were overnight is slim considering the way he was dressed.
Of course, it was said that he was an experienced hiker, and survival in those conditions is entirely possible if you know what you're doing. There is plenty of water and food (berries) in that area. It's the temperatures that are of concern.
Being very familiar with that area, it is VERY rugged with steep slides and canyon walls. It would be easy to take a fall that would prove to be fatal.
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I just returned from viewing the Nowhere Fire and the Lost Hunter CP (Command Post) and the two are not related.
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(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/Bridge/NoWhere2.JPG)
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Los Angeles County Fire chopper is now complaining about the lack of organization for air attack between multiple agencies. IC asked they run into the canyon to search for hotspots. While doing so, another agency chopper told them to get out.
IC isn't giving them instructions, nothing seems organized other than bringing crews into the canyon via helos, and multiple tankers and helos on the way.
Freq: 135.9750
What is it relevance of posting something like this? ::)
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A fire can spread very rapidly and anything that gets in the way of an organized response is very revelent.
If our fires are not handled in an organized manner we need to know about it.
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Thanks for the pics John, they are great. And Calindy... I got up there but it was a bit too dark and I did not have my good camera. I saw John and he said he got some great shots earlier which he did. There are personnel up at Inspiration Point watching the fire....
Great Thanks to all these people who watch over us!!!!
:2thumbsup:
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Los Angeles County Fire chopper is now complaining about the lack of organization for air attack between multiple agencies. IC asked they run into the canyon to search for hotspots. While doing so, another agency chopper told them to get out.
IC isn't giving them instructions, nothing seems organized other than bringing crews into the canyon via helos, and multiple tankers and helos on the way.
Freq: 135.9750
What is it relevance of posting something like this? ::)
Just relaying info as it was happening. I can assure you that I did not intend to give the impression that the response and administration of this fire was being botched or mishandled. As Wildman will attest to, Southern California is the forerunner in multi-agency cooperation when it comes to wildfires. It just seemed rather peculiar to me that the incident happened as it did.
I have a rich history in my family of firefighters and policeman and have nothing but respect for the job they do. I have been monitoring police and fire transmission for over 40 years and I've never heard the type of conversation I posted. It was just interesting to me. It seemed rather peculiar that a Los Angeles County chopper was chased from the scene and ended up returning to base. I'm sorry you were offended by the post or didn't find it intersting. Please just ignore the post, but many of us that monitor the responses find this type of radio traffic intersting.
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OK, I understand your point now.. and appreciate your explanation. I never doubted your intentions from the beginning were good.. I just get a bit bent out of shape sometimes with some dictation of scanner traffic.. and how it sometimes creates problems/misperceptions of what may be going on.. (with the general public and their understanding).
thanks. :)
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The Los Angeles County Fire Chopper that was returning to base was not so much complaining as trying to warn the other County choppers that were responding that they needed to make sure the IC gave them clear instructions. It was getting close to nightfall and the Helos and Tankers would have to get in fast and quick as they would have to suspend their efforts with darkness.
If you have ever listened to these Chopper and Tanker pilots, they are nothing short of proffesional.
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All of the aerial resources on the fire are working for an air tactical group supervisor (ATGS). Beneath the ATGS is a lead plane that serves as the Airtanker coordinator. The aerial resources never contact the IC directly unless there is some sort of safety issue, or they cannot contact the ATGS (often called "Air Attack").
What you heard was not confusion, just a HUGE attack from the air post Esperanza Fire. There was a large number of airtankers and helicopters, one ATGS platform, and one lead plane operating within a very small airspace.... on a relatively small fire.... in the East Fork of San Gabriel Canyon.
The USFS and the LACoFd work together on fires year-round.
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Thanks for the clarification.
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I am not sure if anyone has mentioned but there were helicopters in the air during this time in realtion to the missing hunter incident..... So they were exercising caution with other air traffic.
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Any new information on this fire?
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I found this information :)
A forest fire north of Azusa charred 75 acres Saturday and continues to burn uncontrollably.
The fire was reported at about 2:20 p.m. in the vicinity of the Bridge to Nowhere and Sheep Mountain Wilderness, near East Fork Road and Highway 39 in San Gabriel Canyon, said Dee Bechert of the U.S. Forest Service.
About 160 firefighters either hiked or were flown into the area deep in the Angeles National Forest to fight the flames.
No injuries or structural damage were reported. The cause of the fire was not immediately known, she said.
Reports from the scene indicated that sheriff's deputies were helping to evacuate a large number of hikers and other recreation enthusiasts in the area.
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The Nowhere Fire (ie "Bridge to Nowhere") began at approximately 2:40pm on Saturday and has burned 75 acres in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness in the vicinity of Devil's Gulch (just west of Airplane Flat) on the San Gabriel River RD. There is no containment, however 4 airtankers, 2 helicopters and several crews and engines are assigned to the fire (approx. 200 firefighters total). There are no structures threatened and no evacuations other than recreationists. There was no major smoke showing this morning , but ash may continue to fall over parts of SG Canyon and the SG Valley throughout the day. Temperatures are expected to be above normal but winds should be light, helping containment efforts.
The East Fork of SG Canyon is closed above the turnoff to Glendora Mountain Road. Everything below this point remains open (for instance, the Oaks picnic area). Hikers leaving from off of the Angeles Crest Highway heading south should also be aware that the area of the fire is closed. This would include Inspiration Point / Blue Ridge and any other areas west of Wrightwood that provides access to the Sheep Mtn. Wilderness.
Stanton Florea
Fire Information / Public Affairs
Angeles National Forest
Arcadia, CA
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any updates?
I am also curious just how far is this fire from Wrightwood?
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A small blaze continues to burn in a remote area of the Angeles National Forest Sunday and has now charred about 200 acres.
About 200 firefighters were airlifted in to an isolated area to fight the Nowhere Fire, reported Saturday afternoon near the Bridge to Nowhere in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness.
The area is accessible only by foot.
About 170 firefighters will work all night to knock down the Nowhere Fire, which is only about 35 percent contained.
On Saturday, deputies from the San Dimas station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department escorted about a half-dozen hikers from the area. Another man and his dog were located early Sunday after they didn't return as planned Saturday night.
No evacuations have been ordered and there are no homes in the area of the fire, which is burning on private and public lands within Los Angeles County near the San Bernardino County line.
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any updates?
I am also curious just how far is this fire from Wrightwood?
It would take a heck of alot of burned acres to come close to wrightwood. ;)
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As of 1800 hours 11-19-06
240 acres, 30% contained
Critical Resource Needs:
(1) HELCO, (1) Spike Camp Mgr., (2) Paramedics
Major problems and concerns:
Accessibility due to Wilderness Area and the predicted hot, dry weather.
Resources threatened:
East Fork San Gabriel River Watershed, Sheep Mountain Wilderness Habitat, Big Horn Sheep, and Santa Ana Sucker.
Current Weather Conditions
Wind Speed: 3-6 G10 mph
Temperature: 78-83
Wind Direction: NE
Relative Humidity: 16-23%
Fuels/Materials Involved: 4 Chaparral (6 Feet); 4 year old foothill mixed chaparral
Today's observed fire behavior: Today's fire behavior was light with some roll out that threatens containment lines in Division A.
Significant events today: Closure of East Fork Road continues at Glendora Mountain Road. Transition to USFS Type II IMT (Kerr) to occur at 1800 hrs. 11-19-06. Due to extreme terrain and travel times spiking of crews has been necessitated.
OUTLOOK
Tomorrow's Forecasted Weather
Wind Speed: 10-15G30 mph
Temperature: 82-86
Wind Direction: NE-SW
Relative Humidity: 10-15
Actions planned for next operational period:
Continue containment line construction and mop-up
Projected incident movement/spread during next operational period:
Moderate rate of spread to the West into Devil's Gulch.
For fire incidents, describe resistance to control in terms of:
1. Growth Potential - Medium
2. Difficulty of Terrain - Extreme
Remarks: Transition to USFS Type II IMT (Kerr) to occur at 1800 hrs. on 11-19-06
COMMITTED RESOURCES (SR=Single Resource; ST=Strike Team)
CREWS 5 type1 SR; 4 type1 ST
HELICOPTERS 3 heli2; 1 heli3
ENGINES 2 SR
DOZERS 0
WATERTENDERS 1 SR
OVERHEAD 41
231 personnel total
HELTK 2 SR
FIXEDWING 2 SR
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I've hiked all the way through from Highway 2 to the Bridge to Nowhere. It is extremly steep, rugged and would be very tough to fight a fire in there. Lots of brush, and very, very steep slopes.
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230 acres and 90% contained
No observed fire behavior during this operational period (last night).
No expected movement during the next operational period (today).
Demob of excess ressources will continue today with preparations underway to transition back to local forest tomorrow morning at 0600.