More Fires Burning In Southern California

[Chesslike]

A wildfire is approximately 1 mile east of Cranston and 10 miles east of Hemet in the San Jacinto Mountains, currently at 600 acres and a moderate rate of spread. Highway 74 is closed and voluntary evacuations are in place in the vicinity of Bee Canyon.



The Palos Verdes Peninsula fire broke out about 8 p.m. and prompted evacuations around Portuguese Bend and other areas. Television news footage showed it burning through a wildlife area and uphill toward Rolling Hills.  The fire had burned at least 75 acres.

[Updated at 10:35 p.m.: The evacuations were in the neighborhoods on Portuguese Bend Road, Amber Sky Drive and Crest Road, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. More than 250 firefighters, aided by five water-dropping helicopters, are battling the blaze in thick, dry vegetation on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. An evacuation center has been set up at Palos Verdes Verde Peninsula High School, 27118 Silver Spur Road. A center has also been set up for animals at Ernie J. Howlett Park, 2581 Crenshaw Boulevard.]

[wwpt]

Update from late last night on MSN.There's an old familiar name popping up on this national release: 

 1,500 flee as fires chew through dry Calif. brush
Uncontained blaze spurs mandatory evacuations in community south of L.A.

 LOS ANGELES - Wildfires chewed through tinder-dry brush in California on Friday, forcing around 1,500 people to flee ritzy seaside neighborhoods, comfortable foothill suburbs and tiny farming communities.

Most of the evacuations were ordered for the wealthy seaside community of Rancho Palos Verdes. Fire Inspector Frederic Stowers said the mandatory evacuations were ordered until 6 a.m. Friday.

Stowers said an unknown number of structures had been damaged. The wealthy communities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula south of Los Angeles, are in an area known for horse trails, spectacular Pacific views, pricey real estate and exclusive golf clubs, including one owned by Donald Trump.

Helicopters dropped water on the 100-acre blaze, slowing its progression toward homes, but there was no containment early Friday, Stowers said.

The Terrenea Resort, a luxury hotel a couple miles from the fire, opened its door to residents who had to evacuate.

By midnight Friday, only two families took advantage of the offer but several others called to inquire, hotel spokeswoman Wendy Haase said. The resort's usual weeknight rate is $264, but the rooms weren't fully booked so the managers decided to help out, she said.

"I talked to one mom and her child and a dog. They were pretty calm, all things considered," she said. "It's pretty late so everyone's just exhausted and wanted to get some sleep."

Fire works way down San Gabriel mountains
About 500 homes in La Canada Flintridge, a suburb just 12 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, also were ordered evacuated late Thursday as flames made their way slowly down from the San Gabriel Mountains, Forest Service fire spokeswoman Diane Cahir said.

The fire kicked up late Thursday afternoon as the blaze scorched at least 500 acres of heavy brush in steep and narrow canyons.

Weather plagued fire crews across Southern California as temperatures in some areas rose toward triple digits and humidity levels headed downward. For a second day, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning of extreme fire conditions Thursday for many of California's central and southern mountain ranges.

Three days of low humidity and temperatures that hit 99 degrees before noon Thursday in downtown Los Angeles sapped the brush of moisture.

Steep
Another fire in the San Gabriel Mountains spread a lung-burning haze over much of metropolitan Los Angeles, and was 60 percent contained late Thursday after burning across 2,000 acres, or more than 3 square miles, U.S. Forest Service Capt. Jim Wilkins said..

Nearly 1,000 firefighters aided by bulldozers and a fleet of water- and fire retardant-dropping aircraft worked the fire's northeastern edge.

Wilkins said the area is so steep that "it's almost to the point where you need ropes" for firefighters to reach it.
The fire, believed caused by human action began Tuesday near a dam and reservoir in San Gabriel Canyon, six miles above the city of Azusa.

Farther north in Monterey County, 100 homes were evacuated about four miles from the community of Soledad. The fire had burned more than 2,000 acres of steep grasslands, or more than 3 square miles, since it was reported Thursday afternoon, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Capt. James Dellamonica said. The blaze has not been contained.

To the west, in the San Bernardino National Forest in Riverside County, another fire had blackened 600 acres by Thursday evening and prompted authorities to issue a voluntary evacuation of 12 homes in the area near Hemet, Forest Service fire spokeswoman Anabele Cornejo said. She said about five people had left and that the fire was 5 percent contained.

[Wrightwood]

[Wrightwood]

Today's statewide map

[Wrightwood]

INCIDENT UPDATED 28 MIN. AGO
Incident Overview

A wildfire is approximately 1 mile east of Cranston and 10 miles east of Hemet in the San Jacinto Mountains, currently at 1000 acres and a moderate rate of spread. Highway 74 is closed and voluntary evacuations are in place in the vicinity of Bee Canyon.

Visitors to Idyllwild - use Interstate 10 to State Highway 243

Basic Information
Incident Type   Wildfire
Cause   Under Investigation
Date of Origin   Thursday August 27th, 2009 approx 05:13 PM
Location   East of Hemet
Incident Commander   Fiorella
Current Situation
Total Personnel   320
Size   1,000 acres
Percent Contained   5%
Fuels Involved   

Brush and grass.
Fire Behavior   

Growth overnight on the West and North West edge of the fire-- away from Idyllwild.
Significant Events   

The Cottonwood Fire is approximately 1 mile east of Cranston and 10 miles east of Hemet in the San Jacinto Mountains and is currently at 1000 acres. Overnight, the fire grew in the north and northwest corners. The Big Bear Hotshots completed a successful firing operation on the eastern flank of the fire, which is holding, preventing growth toward Idyllwild. Additionally, crews worked throughout the night with dozers and firing operations to reduce the risk to the homes along Highway 74. The western flank of the fire is showing the most activity, burning in 11-year-old fuel type with a lot of dead component. Firefighters face the challenge of very rocky and steep terrain.
Outlook
Planned Actions   

Mandatory Evacuations--for Willow Brook Rd. in the Val Vista Area east of Hemet. Voluntary Evacuations--A dozen homes (five people) were evacuated under voluntary evacuation in Bee Canyon Thursday.
Terrain Difficulty   

Steep and rocky terrain.
Remarks   

Moderate rate of spread, moving north. Current resources assigned: 20 engines, 9 hand crews, 3 water tenders, and 1 dozer.
Current Weather
Wind Conditions   3 mph E
Temperature   81 degrees
Humidity   25%

[Calindy]

I have NOT seen the DC-10, wonder why??

[Wrightwood]

Last I heard was that it was up north but let me check and see what I can find.

[Calindy]

That may be, normally I can watch it take off and land, and I have not seen it at all since the fires started.

[Nolena]

I have NOT seen the DC-10, wonder why??

A DC10 is a big airplane that flies fast. It can be useful for fires in large, relatively flat areas.
Often, the smaller, more maneuverable planes (or helicopters) are of more use in canyons and smaller spaces.
Small space, little aircraft. The big stuff doesn't fit.

[Wrightwood]

[Calindy]

Thanks WW, Great contract to cancel prior to a bad fire season, no surprise however...

[Wrightwood]

http://www.cbs2.com/video/?id=112787@kcbs.dayport.com   

[Wrightwood]

[Wrightwood]

[Wrightwood]

The DC10 was just requested for the Station Fire

[superMom]

I just came up from 395 and the plume (or now plumes) of smoke from what I would guess is the Station fire has at least doubled in just the last hour we were driving home.  The smoke is blowing out over our side of the desert and was really thick- any news?  Just checked tv but being Sat afternoon there is nothing but golf, football and infomercials. 

[Wrightwood]

Try these feed for now:
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/livenow?id=6989473

[Wrightwood]

This animation shows the smoke plume headed North

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/scripts/animate.php?root=sat_1km&list=VIS1LAX.GIF.3.jpg,VIS1LAX.GIF.4.jpg,VIS1LAX.GIF.5.jpg,VIS1LAX.GIF.6.jpg,VIS1LAX.GIF.7.jpg,VIS1LAX.GIF.8.jpg

[Wrightwood]

Cottonwood Fire Update


Saturday, August 29, 2009 8:00pm


San Bernardino National Forest Fire Information Center:  (909) 383-5688
On-scene contact Marc Peebles, PIO (909) 855-7794

On The Web: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1865


Fire location:  Approximately 1 mile east of Cranston and 10 miles east of Hemet in the San Jacinto Mtns
Date/time started:  August 27, 2009, 5:13pm            Total acres burned:  2,290
Percent contained:  30%                Fireline to be constructed:  unknown
Expected containment:  August 31, 2009                 Expected control:  not determined
Suppression costs to date:  under analysis                Structures damaged/destroyed: 0
Cause:  Power pole related-investigation ongoing        Injuries: 5- heat related

Staffing:    Engines    Crews    Dozers    Air Tankers    Helicopters        Water Tenders
                       34            20            2                  2              4           3

Total Personnel:  698

Terrain/vegetation/difficulties:  Moderate rate of spread in brush and grass type fuels in steep and rocky terrain, coupled with high temperatures and low humidity. Areas of the western flank is burning in 11-year-old chaparral with a significant dead component.

Current situation: Helicopters, engines and crews continue to build and improve containment line, mop-up and attack flare-ups. A 15-acre flare-up in the Cranston area near Hwy 74 within the containment lines delayed the full opening of State Hwy 74 until 8:00am tomorrow August 30, 2009.

Evacuations:  All residents evacuated in the Cranston area have been allowed to return to their homes.

Closures and road status:  Highway 74 is open to residents only, with full opening expected at 8:00AM  tomorrow. Additionally, three forest access roads are closed in the northwest portion of the district, including the San Jacinto Truck Trail (5S07), the Control Road (5S06), and the Indian Mountain Truck Trail (4S21).  The road closures prohibit public entry and will last until the current fire conditions subside.  Wood and charcoal fires are currently prohibited across the entire district, including developed sites. 

Incident Commander:  Southern California Team 3 (Wakoski) assumed command of the incident on
August 28, 2009. Incident is in Unified Command with Cal Fire (Ritchey).

Incident Command Post:  Base camp is located off Hwy 74 in Garner Valley east of Lake Hemet.                                                       


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Valerie E. Baca
Public Affairs Officer
San Bernardino National Forest
602 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA  92408
Phone:  909-382-2711
E-mail:  vbaca@fs.fed.us

[Wrightwood]