Morris Fire - ANF 8-25-09

[Bob C]

Looks like another larger fire in progress now, ANF, near Azuza.

[Surfer_Dude]

Here is the Azusa fire:

http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~obs/towercam.htm

From the Mount Wilson Observatory, Mt. Wilson, California.
Elevation: 5,700 ft., Location: N 34.224 - W 118.058
(Image will automatically refresh every 2 minutes in most web browsers.)

[Wrightwood]

A vegetation fire is burning in the Angeles National Forest, San Gabriel Canyon in the area of Morris Dam along Highway 39.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1852/

Incident Overview
Morris Fire started at 4:27 pm and is burning in San Gabriel Canyon near Morris Dam on the Los Angeles River Ranger District.

Basic Information
Incident Type   Wildfire
Cause   Under Investigation
Date of Origin   Tuesday August 25th, 2009 approx 02:27 PM
Location   Hwy 39 MM20 and MM21
Incident Commander   Loring Buchwald
Current Situation
Total Personnel   600
Size   275 acres
Percent Contained   10%
Fuels Involved   

Medium Brush and Chaparral
Outlook
Terrain Difficulty   

Steep
Current Weather
Wind Conditions   3 - 5 mph NW
Temperature   74 degrees

[Wrightwood]

[Wrightwood]

 Ventura county mountains / los padres national forest-
los angeles county mountains / angeles national forest-
330 pm pdt tue aug 25 2009

...red flag warning in effect from 6 am wednesday to 9 pm pdt
friday due to low humdities and hot temperatures...

.tonight...
Sky/weather.........clear.
Min temperature.....58-70 low elevations to 40-50 in high valleys
and peaks.
24 hr trend......little change.
Max humidity........15-35 percent.
24 hr trend......down 5.
20-foot winds.......
Valleys/lwr slopes...south to west 10 to 15 mph in the evening becoming
variable 3 to 8 mph.
Ridges/upr slopes....southwest 10 to 15 mph in the evening becoming
variable 3 to 8 mph.
Marine layer........none.
Lal.................1.
Cwr (>0.10 in)......0 percent. [/size]

.wednesday...
Sky/weather.........sunny.
Max temperature.....91-101 low elevations to 80-90 higher peaks.
24 hr trend......up 4.
Min humidity........5-10 percent.
24 hr trend......down 3.
20-foot winds.......
Valleys/lwr slopes...variable 3 to 8 mph becoming south to west 10 to 15 mph
with gusts to 22 mph in the afternoon.
Ridges/upr slopes....variable 3 to 8 mph becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph
with gusts to 22 mph in the afternoon.
Marine layer........none.
Lal.................1.
Cwr (>0.10 in)......0 percent.
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[Wrightwood]

Here's a live feed from Fox that is currently covering the Morris Fire.

http://mfile.akamai.com/23073/live/reflector:34089.asx

[Wrightwood]

NWS satellite animation view, smoke plume:

http://sat.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/loopsat.php?wfo=lox&area=west&type=vis&size=1

Current weather at Santa Fe Dam
92 degrees, 14% RH, Wind 6-10 SSE w/gust to 18

[Wrightwood]

The Morris Fire started at 4:27 pm on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 and is burning in San Gabriel Canyon near Morris Dam on the Los Angeles River Ranger District. Southern California Incident Management Team #2 assumed command of the fire at 0600 hrs on August 26. Highway 39 and Glendora Mountain Roads are closed to the public. The San Gabriel Canyon is closed to all dispersed recreation and a voluntary evacutation is in place for permitees/permit holders.

Basic Information
Incident Type   Wildfire
Cause   Under Investigation
Date of Origin   Tuesday August 25th, 2009 approx 02:27 PM
Location   Hwy 39 MM20 and MM21
Incident Commander   Ron Woychak
Current Situation
Total Personnel   822
Size   600 acres
Percent Contained   10%
Fuels Involved   

Medium Brush and Chaparral
Fire Behavior   

Flame lengths in excess of 30 feet, running, spotting, fire whirls with rapid rates of spread
Significant Events   

Highway 39 and Glendora Mountain Road are closed. Power loss in canyon, evacuation of public
Outlook
Planned Actions   

Perimeter control, line construction and improve existing dozer lines
Growth Potential   

Extreme
Terrain Difficulty   

Extreme
Remarks   

Incident Command to transition to So Cal IMT 2 at 0600, monitor retardant drops separation from waterways
Current Weather
Wind Conditions   15 mph SW
Temperature   99 degrees
Humidity   9%

[Wrightwood]

Estimated size is currently at 750 acres

[Wrightwood]

[Wrightwood]

Just spoke with Jim Wilkins who is working as a PIO for the Morris Fire:

1,000 Firefighters working the fire
1,700 acres & 10% contained
Extremely steep & rugged terrain
Fire has jumped Hwy 39 and burning extremely hot to the NE



Martin Mars aircraft now working the fire




 

[Wrightwood]

Fire Behavior   
Flame lengths in excess of 30 to 50 ft, spotting, fire whirls with rapid rates of spread. Moderate runs when in alignment with slope

Significant Events   
Highway 39 and Glendora Mountain Road are closed. Power loss in canyon, evacuation of public extended to Camp Williams and Camp Fellows. Evacuation center established at El Robley Intermediate School, 665 No. Mt. Ave., Claremont,CA

[Wrightwood]

Current Situation
Total Personnel   579
Size   2,168 acres
Percent Contained   95%
Estimated Containment Date   Monday August 31st, 2009 approx 12:00 AM

Beginning demob and reassignment of resources to other incidents

[Chesslike]

Per Inciweb:

Basic Information
Incident Type   Wildfire
Cause   Under Investigation
Date of Origin   Tuesday August 25th, 2009 approx 02:27 PM
Location   5 miles north of Azusa, CA on Hwy 39
Incident Commander   Ron Woychak
Current Situation
Total Personnel   351
Size   2,168 acres
Percent Contained   95%
Estimated Containment Date   Wednesday September 02nd, 2009 approx 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved   

Medium Brush and Chaparral
Fire Behavior   

smoldering
Significant Events   

Crews to continue to mop up and rehab lines. Fireline repair work is a high priority as crews attempt to reduce the amount of soil exposed to help prevent soil erosion.
Outlook
Planned Actions   

Continue to improve line construction, mop up and rehab.
Growth Potential   

Low
Terrain Difficulty   

Extreme
Remarks   

BAER team assessing and advising on rehab
Current Weather
Wind Conditions   15 mph NE
Temperature   75 degrees
Humidity   30%

[Wrightwood]

Boy, 13, could be charged in smaller L.A. fire
Wed., Sept . 16, 2009

LOS ANGELES - Authorities believe a 13-year-old boy set a 2,100-acre wildfire last month in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. David Infante said his department asked prosecutors Wednesday to charge the boy with arson for the fire that started Aug. 25 in the Angeles National Forest and was contained Sept. 3 with no homes were damaged.

Infante didn't have the boy's name or other details. He said the teen is not in custody.
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District attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said charges will likely be filed Thursday.

The fire was dwarfed by another arson blaze in the Angeles National Forest that destroyed 89 homes. The 251-square-mile blaze started a day after the smaller one and is 91 percent contained.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32881943/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

[Wrightwood]