Northern CA fires

[Wrightwood]

http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current

[Wrightwood]

California Statewide Fire Map
http://www.fire.ca.gov/general/firemaps.php

[Wrightwood]

State of emergency declared for Northern California counties hit by fires

http://q13fox.com/2014/09/18/state-of-emergency-declared-for-northern-california-counties-hit-by-fires/

[Wrightwood]

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[Wrightwood]

[Wrightwood]

San Bernardino County Fire Engineer Jonathan Sorensen highlighted in this interview with local news media on the Kings Fire

https://stringwire.com/video/f910

[Jim Wilkins]

We have encouraged our firefighters on the fires to engage with reporters and share what they know or have seen.  Big change from policies in the past where most would not speak with reporters at all or simply go the other way.  He did a great interview that was enlightening and personal.

[Elk]

These pictures are of the King Fire in the Lake Tahoe area. From facebook... https://www.facebook.com/WFFoundation

[Elk]

Picture from the Boles Fire in Weed, CA.

[Jim Wilkins]

The VLAT's (Very Large Air Tanker) have been doing a remarkable job.  That DC-10 is at tree top level and made a critical difference in structure protection in that fire storm.  There were many who said they would not be able to get low enough to be effective and others who said that they could not fly in the mountains.  The aircraft and the pilots have clearly demonstrated that they can not only supply close air support but they excel at it.  They also have a quick turn around with their higher speeds.  Once they get back on scene, they have a low enough maneuvering speed that the distribution of either retardant or water is effective.  Here is a video of Tanker 912....the newest ship of the three flying...on the Silverado Fire in Orange County.  The pilot told me that they have 40% power in reserve even with a full load of retardant.   Another tool in the tool box.....


http://m.liveleak.com/view?i=a97_1410721875

This is another video that illustrates how the lead plane works with the VLAT.  Note the smaller twin engine aircraft that marks the drop air with three puffs of smoke from a smoke generator.  He is in radio contact with Air Attack (the person flying over the fire at ten thousand feet and directing/controlling all the air assets). In this case,the pilot is extending the retardant line he has already dropped.  Retardant is used 90% of the time to lay a line ahead of where the fire is burning that will stop or slow down the fire's progress so firefighters can put in the fire line.  Retardant alone is never considered or relied upon to be "fire line" until a proper fire line is scraped in the dirt by firefighters.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ddb_1410906202

While our Incident Management Team was staged at McClellan Air Park (former Air Force Base in Sacramento) we were invited to tour Tanker 911 who was staged there as well.  Pretty impressive. 

[Wrightwood]

Incredible video

[tcaarabians]

Just want to add that I thought that Jonathan Sorenson with SBD County fire did a bang-up job in that interview. You could see how tired he was and covered in smoke smudge. Here's hoping he can go home to his family soon.
cheryl o7o

[Wrightwood]

California Statewide Summary
9/20/14
Last updated: 4:20 PM
 
Over 7,800 firefighters continue to battle 7 major wildfires burning in California. Overnight crews made progress on several fires including full containment on the destructive Boles Fire in Siskiyou County and the Silverado Fire in Orange County. Firefighters continue to mop up on several other fires with full containment expected this weekend for the Courtney Fire in Madera County, the June Fire in Mono County and the Meadow Fire in Yosemite National Park.

In Northern California gusty north winds could fan the active wildfires and will heighten the fire danger as conditions rapidly dry out. Gusts of 20-30 mph are likely. Firefighters are concerned on the King Fire that this may shift the direction of the fire pushing it back to the South. By Monday conditions should cool down though. In Southern California most areas should experience relatively cooler temperatures and higher humidity, which will help lower the fire risk.
 
This weekend CAL FIRE is asking residents to be extra careful in the outdoors in order to prevent sparking a wildfire. One less spark means one less wildfire. Learn more at ReadyForWildfire.org

http://calfireinformation.weebly.com/

[Elk]