Sawtooth Complex & Millard Complex Fires

[KWBoy]

Glad to hear about the "high tech" helos, I know they've gotten rave reviews and really help with where to drop.

Was talking about this at work today, and someone mentioned whatever happened to the 747 super tankers? Are there any around to rent? I don't imagine the state actually bought any?

A Boeing 747 is too big of an aircraft to get into this area. They can't dive in drop the fire retardant and pull up and clear the mountains like the Grumman S-2 can. The helicopters can get in to even tighter places than the Grumman S-2 can. If the 747 was contracted out it would not be used on any mountain fires because it is just to big of an aircraft. Im sure a 747 wouldn't look good if it hit a mountains. I forget how much clearance a 747 has to have to clear the mountain tops...

ok back to the fire 

[artology]

Great pics, Justa!

[storm]

the situation looks a little better this morning.  we were working on housing and feeding about 170 firefighters, but the fire halted about 2 miles away from camp, so that became unnecessary.  one can see hazy smoke and smell it all around us here, but there's no evacuation in the works thus far.

[Calindy]

Like Justagiglio, I first saw this fire from a passenger plane. These are photos I took on approach to Ontario Airport from Chicago on Wednesday. Scary and sad thing to come home to...

[RobertW]

For a great satellite picture of the fire taken yesterday, click on the following link:  (It is 1.53 Megabytes)

http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/resources/2006194/ca-bdu-007229/crefl2_A2006194210701-2006194211458_250m_ca-bdu-007229_143.jpg

[KWBoy]

Here i go off topic again...
Calindy what kind of camera are you using? Thoes look so chrisp and clear!

[RobertW]

[Wrightwood]

Last Updated:     July 14, 2006 12:00 pm       
Date/Time Started:    July 9, 2006 8:30 am 
Administrative Unit:    CDF San Bernardino Unit
County:    San Bernardino 
Location:    East of Yucca Valley 
Acres Burned:    53,000 
Containment    20% containment 
Structures Destroyed:   45 residences, 118 outbuildings (detached garages & barns), 89 cars and pick-up trucks, & 2 R.V.s 
Threatened:    3,000+ structures continue to be threatened in the fire area. 
Evacuations:    

Mandatory evacuation for residents in a small area of Morongo Valley, west of Juniper and north of Pioneer Drive. Also for Burns Canyon and Rimrock.

Mandatory evacuations have been lifted for residents with identification for Pioneertown, Skyline Ranch, Pipes Canyon and Gamma Gulch. 
Injuries:    6 total - all minor 
Cause:    Lightning
Cooperating Agencies:    CDF, San Bernardino County Fire, U.S. Forest Service, CHP, LA County Fire, CA Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Red Cross & Office of Emergency Services 
Total Fire Personnel:    1,979 (1,914) 
Fire crews:    62 (52 CDF) 
Engines:    181 (67 CDF) 
Airtankers:    10 (9 CDF) 
Helicopters:    13 (2 CDF) 
Dozers:    18 (10 CDF) 
Water tenders:    20 
Costs to date:    $6.1 million 
Major Incident Command Team:    CDF Team #8/Unified Command with U.S Forest Service/San Bernardino County Fire 
Conditions:    

The fire is burning in extremely steep rugged terrain with little access.

No evacuations in the Big Bear Valley at this time. San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies from the Big Bear Station are currently notifying residents of the Lake Williams area and east side of Lake Irwin with a public safety alert regarding the Sawtooth Complex Fire. Residents of these areas are encouraged to stay tuned to their local media outlet for any change in the status of their area.

Evacuation Centers have been set up at the Yucca Valley High School, 7600 Sage Ave,and Big Bear Elementary School, 40940 Pennsylvania (for Burns Canyon residents).

For animal/pet information - 1-800-472-5609 (So. CA only), www.sbcounty.gov/acc
The Millard Fire on the San Bernardino National Forest and the Sawtooth Complex were within 1/2 mile of each other as of 8 a.m. this morning. Millard Fire Information 
Phone Numbers     1 (909) 383-5688 (Sawtooth Fire Information)
Phone Numbers     1 (800) 472-5609 (Animal Evacuation Information, So. CA Only)

[mudslide]

Thank you guys for the pics...amazing!

[angiepoo]

Did anyone else get to see Wildman on the channel 7 news a little while ago?  What a good guy he is.  Out there doing his job!

[Calindy]

Here i go off topic again...
Calindy what kind of camera are you using? Thoes look so chrisp and clear!

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT..8 mp.
Here is what it looks like in Phelan tonight (the smoke came our way this afternoon)
The fire makes for a beautiful sunset, but it's not worth the cost!

I cannot begin to imagine how difficult it is fighting this fire in this heat. My family was evacuated during the "Old Fire", this fire sure brings up all those awful feelings...especially for my kids.
The ones fighting this fire (and all the other fires) are true heroes!!

[ForestGal]

Wow, Calindy,
This tragedy sure was an opportunity for some incredibly beautiful pics! Thanx for sharing.

[RobertW]

[ForestGal]

[KWBoy]

He retired but really he will never fully retire  he worked with the lone pine rx burn now this. This just goes to show how dedicated Jim is! 

[Wildman]

OK--you have ten minutes to stop with all that!  Thanks...I'm having a great time getting back in the saddle...I told one reporter that if I felt any better, I'd pay to be here.  I would rather be doing this then most anything. 

This fire is very challenging...both physically and politically.  Trying to keep all factions informed on a timely basis is a lot of work but we have a wonderful Incident Management Team who  bring much to the plate.
Fire condtions here have been extreme at times but we have  received all of the resources that have been requested and that really makes a difference.  Today we had 22 helicopters and 12 airtankers dropping retardant on the Millard Complex along with the two USFS Fire Watch Cobra helicopters that have live color TV and Forward Looking Infrared Radar that can see smoke.  The Incident Commander used the live picture and FLIR to make the decision Wednesday to pull all the Hot Shots of the fire just ahead of the big blow up.  Great tools!

Hot shots are contending with temps on the ground of 105+....5% humidity and and area that hasn't burned in 100 years in places with SW winds pushing the fire.  Some of the slopes they are working around are over 70 degrees.  We have over 26 miles of open fire line on the Millard Complex....the Sawtooh is much bigger.  It will take a great deal of effort to close those lines.  Maybe we can get some monsoonal rain (without the lightning).

Wish I could find a C-phone batteries that would last.  Twice, my two phones have died while doing live remotes with tv folks.  I spend 90 percent of my 20 hour days talking on phones to reporters and the other ten percent giving interviews.  In between that, I talk with anxious residents.  Just got off the phone with BBC in London.  Very cool accents.

You can go to inciweb.org and click on the Millard Complex to get information and see pictures.  More later.

Wildman

[Wrightwood]

Thanks Wildman and stay safe!

[storm]

here's a link to a map showing where the fire is:

http://www.kbhr933.com/bigbearnews.php

i live just north of the B in Heart Bar State Park, right on the extreme corner of that highway (Hwy 38). 

it's 7:30am and the smoke is pouring into our basin...

[Calindy]

Thanks for the update Wildman! Back in the saddle again!

Today in The "Daily Press", a fire official said had people cleared their brush as they should "we wouldn't have lost a single home"

WOW!! If that does not make people clear the brush from their homes, nothing will!

Keep safe....you all our real heroes!!

[K9luvr]

I went and read the original article.  I find myself both sad and angry.  I'm sad that these people lost their homes, what a devastating event!  But I'm also angry at them at the same time.  You live in a fire adapted community, there are all kinds of advertisements, fire safe council ads, etc. that harp on the necessity of doing just simple clearances.  The reason I'm angry is that firefighting is inherently a high risk job--it gets a heck of a lot worse when you are trying to save a house at the last minute when the homeowner hasn't done their job.  Why should a firefighter risk their life to save a home when the homeowner doesn't seem to care?  (uh oh, there goes my karma... ) 

Let me tell you--the direction on the ANF is no bush, no tree, no house, is worth your life!  Make their job easier, make their risk much less.  These guys could have been out there actually doing things to fight the fire, and from the article, they were doing hazard reduction around individual properties. 

And I practice what I preach.  When the Crown Fire was threatening my house almost 2 years ago, the structure guys parked at my house spent a lot of time feeding my dogs, playing with my dogs, sleeping with my dogs....  (I panicked one morning when I went out and no sign of the hounds--I tiptoe around the guys crashed out on the ground and curled up with two engine crews are all four snuggled up with them snoozing away!) The engines were there in a "just in case" scenario and had quite a vacation!  Too bad I don't have a pool!