Cal Fire & National Fire Updates for 9am, 7/20

The news is looking good from the firelines. The total number of fires around the state has decreased again. It's down to 34 active fires in California. The weather is good here today, but from what they're saying, we could have thunderstorms "wandering" around sometime tomorrow. Hopefully if thunderstorms do happen, they will be wet ones. And I hope that they won't be the gully washers that cause flash floods or mud slides in the burned areas.

Here are the statistics from Cal Fire:

Statewide Fire Overview - Lightning Series

Current Situation: Over two thousand fires have been contained through the endless firefighting efforts of state, local and federal personnel and equipment from California, the rest of the nation and several foreign countries. An upper level low pressure will be gradually deepening offshore on Sunday, before moving onshore sometime Monday. By Monday it may be unstable enough to generate isolated localized thunderstorms in the North. Firefighting priorities are the protection of life, property and natural resources.
Download the latest fact sheet. (Updated 7/20 at 9 a.m.)
Download the latest statewide map.

Statewide Fire Statistics

• Total Fires at Peak: 2,096
• Total Fires Contained: 2,062
• Total Active Fires: 34
• Total Acres Burned: 940,782

These numbers are total fires and acres that have occurred from state, local and federal firefighting agencies beginning June 20, 2008.

CAL FIRE Statistics

• Total Fires at Peak: 1,007
• Fires Contained: 1,004
• Active Fires: 3
• Acres Burned: 289,994

These numbers are total fires and acres that have occurred ONLY in CAL FIRE jurisdiction since June 20, 2008.

Statewide Resources Committed

• Personnel Committed: 16,871
• Fire Engines: 909
• Hand Crews: 427
• Dozers: 154
• Water Tenders: 287
• Helicopters: 90

Highway closures: Travel on state highways, county and local roads remains restricted throughout California due to wildfire and flood activities. All major roads are now open except for periodic closures on State Highway 299. Travelers are advised to seek current information on secondary road closures from local law enforcement. Click here for detailed road closures.

Evacuations: Areas of Humboldt, Shasta, Lake and Mendocino counties are under evacuation orders at this time. Precautionary evacuation orders currently exist in areas in Monterey and Trinity counties. Residents are advised to monitor their local fire situation, check with local law enforcement agencies for information, and be prepared to evacuate when necessary. Click here for detailed evacuation information.

Structures:
Threatened : 5,111 residences, 139 commercial, 2,225 outbuildings.
Destroyed : 123 residences, 1 commercial, 140 outbuildings.

The National Interagency Fire Center has also updated their page with the newest information too. Here's what they have:

July 20, 2008

The large fires in northern California burned actively yesterday, where several communities are still under evacuation orders. Despite these conditions, firefighters are working hard and making progress toward containment goals. Yesterday, 114 new fires were reported across the country, but thanks to the initial attack efforts of firefighters, all of them remained small. Fire managers have prepositioned crews, engines, and aircraft in anticipation of the lightning storms that could hit the western states Monday and Tuesday.

Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are providing 59 fire specialists and managers to assist with fire suppression operations in California. Canada is also providing two crews to California.

Six MAFFS C-130 air tankers are supporting the State of California. All aircraft are based at McClellan Airport in Sacramento, California. The Mission Commander is LTC Mike Barkdull, 153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, Wyoming. One aircraft is provided by the 145th Airlift Wing, Charlotte, North Carolina, three from the 302nd Airlift Wing, Colorado Springs, Colorado and two from the 153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

The following table lists the number of personnel assigned to the wildland fires in California. This information was provided by the U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region and CalFire.

July 20, 2008
Resource	Federal	State	Other	Total
Total Personnel	6,245	4,512	6,114	16,871
Helicopters	40	1	49	90
Hand Crews	175	123	128	426
Engines	246	289	374	909
Dozers	6	10	138	154
Water Tenders	8	2	277	287
NOTE: Total personnel includes all personnel assigned to California. Individuals assigned to resources such as engines, dozers, overhead, etc. are included in the "total personnel" category. The "other" category includes contractors, military, and local government.

Weather Discussion: Most of the West will be hot and dry today. Widely scattered mixed wet and dry thunderstorms are expected over portions of the Great Basin, Wyoming, and Montana. Wet thunderstorms are forecast for the southern Sierra and the southern California mountains and deserts.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center

Current Wildland Fires:

California

American River Complex (Tahoe National Forest): 20,541 acres at 75 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 11 miles northeast of Foresthill. Residences are threatened and evacuations are in effect.
Information: Call (530) 367-6223 or visit the web site.

Basin Complex (Los Padres National Forest): 133,709 acres at 70 percent contained. This complex is five miles southeast of Big Sur. Emergency Passes issued by the Monterey County Sheriffs Department are required for residents and their employees to enter the voluntary evacuation areas along the Carmel Valley Road and Cachagua Road. The passes are available at checkpoints 24 hours a day.
Information: Call (805) 961-5770 or visit the web site.

Bear Wallow Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 2,565 acres at zero percent contained. This complex of two fires is 13 miles southeast of Happy Camp. Visibility and terrain are hampering firefighter containment efforts. Approximately 16 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) has been closed. The trail closure extends from Etna Summit to the intersection of the PCT with the Canyon Creek Trail (#5532).
Information: Call (707) 457-3879 or visit the web site.

Blue 2 (Six Rivers National Forest): 4,465 acres at 22 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles east of Klamath. Cultural resources are threatened.
Information: Call (707) 457-3879 or visit the web site.

BTU Lightning Complex (Butte Unit, Cal Fire): 55,240 acres at 90 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 27 miles north of Yuba City. Fire activity was minimal yesterday.
Information: Call (530) 538-7826 or visit the web site.

Canyon Complex (Plumas National Forest): 35,105 acres at 71 percent contained. This complex of six fires is 16 miles northeast of Paradise. Communities and archeological sites are threatened.
Information: Call (530) 283-7882 or visit the web site.

Cub Complex (Lassen National Forest): 19,718 acres at 95 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 16 miles southwest of Chester. Traffic flow is restricted on Highway 32.
Information: Call (530) 258-3932 or visit the web site.

Gap (Los Padres National Forest): 9,443 acres at 97 percent contained. This fire is located six miles northwest of Santa Barbara. Structures are threatened.
Information: Call (805) 961-5770 or visit the web site.

Hell's Half Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 11,414 acres at 60 percent contained. This complex of two fires is eight miles southwest of Burnt Ranch. Communities are threatened. Mandatory evacuation of the Dry Lake area is in effect. Evacuations continue for 56 residences south of the fire.
Information: Call (530) 629-2184 or visit the web site.

Iron and Alps Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 55,545 acres at 49 percent contained. This complex of seven fires is one mile north of Junction City. Mandatory evacuations are still in effect for Corral Bottom and the following ares of Junction City: Red Hill, Cooper's Bar, Dutch Creek, Evan's Bar, and Soldier Creek.
Information: Call (530) 623-6415 or visit the web site.

Lime Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 89,823 acres at 67 percent contained. This complex of 11 fires is 14 miles west of Hayfork. Residences, ranches, camps, and private lands around Hyampom, Indian Valley, Hayfork Bally Lookout, Wildwood, Buck Camp, Saddle Camp; and Tomhead Lookout, South Mountain Road area, and communications towers are threatened. Cultural sites south of the Yellow fire, in the Yolla Bolly Wilderness are also threatened.
Information: Call (530) 226-2500 ext. 2 or visit the web site.

SHU Lightning Complex (Shasta-Trinity Unit, Cal Fire): 84,988 acres at 75 percent contained. This complex of two fires is in Shasta and Trinity counties. Residences are threatened and road closures are in effect.
Information: Call (530) 225-2510 or visit the web site.

Siskiyou Complex (Klamath National Forest): 48,000 acres at 20 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 18 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Steep, inaccessible terrain and rolling material continues to hamper containment efforts. Smoke trapped by inversions has hampered air operations. Significant Karuk and Yurok Tribal cultural and religious sites continue to be at risk. Structure protection is in effect along Highway 96, in cooperation with the Ukonom Complex.
Information: Call (530) 493-1518 or visit the web site.

Soda Complex (Mendocino National Forest): 8,581 acres at 79 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 15 miles northwest of Upper Lake. Active fire behavior was reported. Seven residences were evacuated between Deadmans Flat and Sunset Gap.
Information: Call (707) 275-2017 or visit the web site.

Ukonom Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 25,155 acres at 22 percent contained. This complex is 10 miles east of Orleans. Structures are threatened and road closures are in effect.
Information: Call (530) 627-3291 or visit the web site.

Colorado

Grand Complex (Grand Mesa National Forest): 1,632 acres at an unknown percent contained. This complex of two fires is 20 miles southeast of Grand Junction. It includes the Coal Creek fire. Fire activity was minimal.

Louisiana

Range (Kisatchie National Forest): 482 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is 11 miles southwest of Alexandria. No new information was provided.

Nevada

NEW Callaghan (Battle Mountain Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 630 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 14 miles northeast of Austin. Extreme fire behavior was reported. Structures are threatened.

North Carolina

Evans Road (North Carolina Division of Forest Resources): 41,553 acres at 75 percent contained. This fire is located seven miles south of Creswell. Fire activity was minimal. Residences are threatened.
Information: Call 919-218-3179.

Texas

NEW Well 35 (Texas Forest Service): 1,200 acres at zero percent contained. This fire started on private land 26 miles west of Mineral Wells. Residences are threatened.

NEW Miller (Texas Forest Service): 482 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire started on private land two miles northeast of Memphis. Residences are threatened.

Virginia

South One (Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Reserve): 4,664 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is located 12 miles southeast of Suffolk. No new information was provided.

Washington

Cold Spring (Gifford Pinchot National Forest): 7,956 acres at 60 percent contained. This fire is 40 miles northwest of Goldendale. Minimal fire behavior was reported. Cultural sites are threatened.

Spokane Valley (Washington Department of Natural Resources): 1,006 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is four miles west of Spokane Valley. Fire activity was minimal. Residences are threatened.
Information: Call (123) 456-7890 or visit the web site.

I think I'll close with a funny... lol, Not a cat this time, but it does mention the feline types...

see more dog pictures