Crews were successful in conducting burnout operations along Highway 180 through Cherry Gap into the northern section of Grants Grove. Containment lines reached 400 to 500 feet wide in some places.
Burnout operations will continue from the northwest portion of Grants Grove west towards McKenzie Ridge. These actions will help reduce the risk of unwanted fire spread towards Hwy 180 to the south.
Crews are also constructing containment lines north of Grants Grove continuing west and tying into existing lines at McKenzie Ridge.
Air resources will continue to drop retardant on the western edge of Verplank Ridge and provide support where needed. Smoke may limit air support.
Fire spread will continue west down Kings River and south/southwest up the Mill Creek drainage towards Sampson Flats. Dry fuels, beetle killed trees, high temperatures, and low relative humidity are contributing to active fire behavior. These conditions exist in steep inaccessible terrain with numerous snags that are making suppression efforts challenging while causing safety concerns for firefighters.
Fire behavior has moderated in the southeast portion of the fire, allowing available resources to be reassigned to more active areas on the fire.
North Zone fire crews are reopening and adding contingency lines north of the Kings River. A hand crew opened up a contingency line just north of Kirch Flat along the 12S002 Road. A dozer crew is starting to build contingency line on a ridge just south of Fence Meadow lookout that will connect with 11S002A Road below Balch Camp. A third contingency line is being scouted between Fence Meadow lookout and Indian Rock.
The North Zone Incident Commander and Sierra National Forest officials are considering additional forest closure orders on the west side of the fire.
A night shift will be added tonight for fire crews working along the Kings River. Two engine strike teams (10 engines) and a 40-person hand crew are some of the resources being added to this division.
Basic Information
| Current as of | 9/11/2015, 8:09:54 AM |
|---|---|
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning/natural |
| Date of Origin | Friday July 31st, 2015 approx. 07:00 PM |
| Location | 2.5 miles to the southwest of Spanish Mountain and 5 miles North of Hume Lake |
| Incident Commander | Todd Pechota Commanding Rocky Mountain IMT1 John Goss Commanding Sierra NF Type 3 |
| Incident Description | Wildfire |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 2,229 |
|---|---|
| Size | 119,069 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 29% |
| Fuels Involved | Timber (Litter and Understory) Chaparral (6 feet) Tall Grass (2.5 feet) |
| Significant Events | Active, flanking, backing, isolated torching |
| Current Weather |
| Weather Concerns | High pressure remains over Nevada and the Sierras with a weakening low pressure system over the southern California coast. A gradual cooling trend starting Saturday, with slowly rising relative humidity values. Poor to very poor relative humidity recovery will continue through the weekend. Winds remain terrain and diurnally driven. Inversion and thermal belt will form overnight trapping smoke, otherwise mostly clear. Highs 77 to 102. Minimum relative humidity 12 to 25 percent. |
|---|
CAL FIRE 20 Largest California Wildfires through October 2014
