Vegetation Fire I15 - Blue Cut Fire - 2016

[Toolman]

Do you know why they won't be back tonight? Seems odd, if the evacuation orders are still in place.

I won't reveal tactical information due to my confidentiality responsibility, other than they will not be back tonight. They were released by SBCSD command.

[Wrightwood]

Update 3:37 p.m.: Mandatory evacuations lifted for portions of Phelan

Mandatory evacuations have been lifted for residents of areas in southern Phelan. The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department said Friday afternoon that areas west of Baldy Mesa Road to Wilson Ranch Road south of Phelan Road to Mission Street were reopened.

You can see a map of affected areas below

[Toolman]

UPDATE: Fire chief praises strike team; firefighters still concerned about Wrightwood

Any word on when that federal aid will arrive?

[Wrightwood]

Local Assistance Center set up for people affected by #BlueCutFire at SBC Fairgrounds in Victorville.

[Wrightwood]

Facebook
Marshua Dyer shared Marlene Estrada Munoz's video

This was Tuesday, coming up Hwy.138

https://www.facebook.com/marlene.estradamunoz/videos/1437002552981749/

[Toolman]

Here are some photos from a friend 

 https://www.facebook.com/DallasBMX/media_set?set=a.10202088169281271.1073741865.1698550391&type=3&pnref=story

[Joe Schmoe]

Per Air Attack and Ops Radio traffic: 415.400
Drone reported in the area - point of origin and I15 (Div A)
Keeping an eye on where it's going/landing
Not shutting down operations at this time

This is the kind of thing that might be mitigated by good news coverage.  I didn't want to suggest it, but when I said yesterday that keeping the helicopter over the fire and keeping that feed available online the entire time would probably help some of these yahoos keep their drones grounded.  Maybe not, but that's my thinking.

By the way, I bet they are holding back on allowing people back home to wait and see what this change in the weather pattern in the next few days will bring. 

[Jim Wilkins]

This young reporter must have thought she had the human interest story of a lifetime as she talked about this Wrightwood neighborhood that was not going to leave.  All I can say is watch it and make up your own mind.  For those who don't know, this is the structure on the corner of Mountain Spring and Hwy 2.
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/video/category/news/3449330-blue-cut-fire-threatens-wildhorse-canyon-near-wrightwood/

[Wrightwood]

INCIDENT UPDATED 1 MIN. AGO
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4962/

Basic Information
Current as of   8/19/2016, 8:39:17 PM
Incident Type   Wildfire
Cause   Unknown
Date of Origin   Tuesday August 16th, 2016 approx. 10:36 AM
Location   Cajon Pass West of I-15
Incident Commander   USFS In Unified Command With CAL FIRE, San Bernardino County Fire And Other Cooperating Agencies.
Incident Description   Wildfire
Current Situation
Total Personnel   2,684
Size   37,020 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained   40%
Fuels Involved   

Heavy brush
Significant Events   

A Damage Assessment Team working under the Blue Cut Fire Unified Command announced today that a preliminary estimate of 96 single family residences and 213 outbuildings were destroyed by the Blue Cut Fire. This is a preliminary report.
Outlook
Planned Actions   

Provide structure defense. Establish containment lines as opportunities present. Reinforce existing containment lines. Assess for damaged / destroyed structures. Assist with repopulation where possible.
Projected Incident Activity   

Interagency Incident Management Team 4 (Opliger) has assumed command of the fire.
Remarks   

Initially, roughly 34,500 structures were threatened; the

number is updated to approximately 3,198 structures in and around the communities of Wrightwood, Lytle Creek,

and the West Cajon Valley area:

As a result from the initial evacuated population of some

82,649 people, approximately 7,000 civilians remain evacuated.
Current Weather
Weather Concerns   

Moderate fire behavior associated with the northwest portion of the fire. Isolated

interior fire as unburned fuels are consumed.

RED FLAG warning for the area continues through 2100 Friday.

[Wrightwood]

[Joe Schmoe]

Anyone who may have been in or around the area of southbound Interstate 15 between Cleghorn and Kenwood Roads or along Old Cajon Boulevard through this same section on Tuesday, August 16th, between 10:00 am and 11:00 am and believe that they may have seen something suspicious is asked to share that information.

I understand what they are asking, but I think that's the kind of area that you probably DON'T want to look closely at people doing "suspicious" things in the bushes.  They just don't patrol that "alternative people" area anywhere near enough.  From what I understand it's a free for all in there.  I sometimes wonder what kind of things unsuspecting passers by stumble across.

[RennMan]

That may be.  I'm betting that patrols will be stepped up in that area.  There is a lot of traffic on Cajon Blvd/66, much of from people passing through on the way to other places.

[Toolman]

I agree Joe,
When we first got into our place I took some dual sport rides around the area and explored the dirt roads. I was once stopped at the train crossing on Sheep Creek dirt road. I was sitting there waiting and drinking some water when A pair of SBCSD exited their car and approached me. I was thinking what did I do. They asked how is it going and am I alone. Yep, new to the area and riding around a bit. They told me to be careful being by myself and they explained to me what goes on. Really? OK thanks for the tip. So fast forward 11 yrs later and 10 yrs. volunteering with the FS I couldn't believe the chaos that went on in Big Rock Creek. BBq's by the water, fire rings, you name it, it went on. Now, there is no parking signs every where in there and it's much easier to control fire compliance and run them off. While I'm at it, I've been raking cigarette butts out of my yard for 12 yrs now. Pretty stupid. Recently, there was a video posted of a guy filming some fire activity on the east side and he waves his hand past his recording device and he's got a cigarette in his hand. Brilliant. There's a lot that goes on in our local campgrounds and surrounding ridges a lot of people don't see or know about. I've seen a lot of stupid people over the years and it's amazing this has happened sooner.

[Scott]

Hello everyone. My name is Scott and my wife and I just bought a house and moved up to wrightwood in January and we cannot believe how nice the town is and how friendly people are. I am a paramedic and have had access the the areas that are all shut down. I wanted to show you all pictures of the area of lone pine and the 138. This whole area from lone pine to Clyde Ranch is all burnt  and gone. At Clyde ranch there are a few structures that had been lost. After the Ranch heading towards town all of the vegetation was still there on both the North and south sides. The fire fighters have a good handle on the hill to the south east of the town where the fire is smoldering. Here are the pictures. And I'd like to thank all who stayed and looked after the unwanted guests in the town. I would have been right beside you if I didn't have a 2 week old girl at home. Here are the pictures.

[Jim Wilkins]

Here's an article from Press Enterprise about the Blue Cut Fire not qualifying for federal disaster aid.

http://www.pe.com/articles/fire-811151-county-san.html

[Elk]

[lynnc]

I don't know exactly where the fire started, but if the Blue Cut area was burned, then hopefully all that "activity" in that area will have to move some place else. We have lived in Wrightwood for 22 years and I drive Cajon Blvd quite a lot to avoid traffic on the 15. It has always bemused me that the activity down there is ignored by law enforcement (so it is basically condoned).

[Toolman]

Hello everyone. My name is Scott and my wife and I just bought a house and moved up to wrightwood in January and we cannot believe how nice the town is and how friendly people are. I am a paramedic and have had access the the areas that are all shut down. I wanted to show you all pictures of the area of lone pine and the 138. This whole area from lone pine to Clyde Ranch is all burnt  and gone. At Clyde ranch there are a few structures that had been lost. After the Ranch heading towards town all of the vegetation was still there on both the North and south sides. The fire fighters have a good handle on the hill to the south east of the town where the fire is smoldering. Here are the pictures. And I'd like to thank all who stayed and looked after the unwanted guests in the town. I would have been right beside you if I didn't have a 2 week old girl at home. Here are the pictures.

Welcome to town Scott. We were here during the Sheep Fire in 09 and it burned all of the Swarthout Valley up Lone Pine. That was knew growth that burned recently. They were able to save Clyde's Ranch completely then with much more fuels in there at the time. I don't know what went wrong this time. BTW, no pictures were embedded.

[Toolman]

I don't know exactly where the fire started, but if the Blue Cut area was burned, then hopefully all that "activity" in that area will have to move some place else. We have lived in Wrightwood for 22 years and I drive Cajon Blvd quite a lot to avoid traffic on the 15. It has always bemused me that the activity down there is ignored by law enforcement (so it is basically condoned).

I'm betting that road will be closed for a very long time.

[dean.burdi]

Is that article about not getting FIMA funds true?  We are not considered a federal disaster?  I hope that is not true !