Fire Updates are Looking Good!

The weather is fair this morning, cool but no breeze. The sky looks a little hazy this morning, but it's sort of blue when I look straight up. This morning's fire update isn't on the Cal Fire website yet (They seem to be getting slower and slower about updating lately.. lol), but I can post the update from 9pm last night.

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. A weak low pressure system will enter northern California beginning Saturday with only widely scattered showers predicted in the mountains. Southern California may see a potential of thunderstorms on Monday as monsoonal moisture attempts to surge back into the region. Firefighting priorities are the protection of life, property and natural resources.
Download the latest fact sheet. (Updated 7/18 at 9 p.m.)
Download the latest statewide map.

Statewide Fire Statistics

• Total Fires at Peak: 2,093
• Total Fires Contained: 2,055
• Total Active Fires: 38
• Total Acres Burned: 920,075

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: 1,000
• Active Fires: 7
• Acres Burned: 265,011

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

Statewide Resources Committed

• Personnel Committed: 17,381
• Fire Engines: 1,029
• Hand Crews: 424
• Dozers: 170
• Water Tenders: 304
• Helicopters: 100

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 with potential delays on State Highways 32, 70 and 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 and Trinity counties are under evacuation orders at this time. Precautionary evacuation orders currently exist in areas in Kern (flood hazard), 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 : 5,183 residences, 97 commercial, 1,979 outbuildings.
Destroyed : 102 residences, 1 commercial, 139 outbuildings.

And here are the statistics from the National Interagency Fire Center:

July 19, 2008

Firefighters continue to make good progress on the large fires in California, a few are expected to be contained over the weekend. Yesterday, 163 new fires were reported, 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 this weekend.

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 19, 2008
Resource	Federal	State	Other	Total
Total Personnel	6,205	4,976	6,462	17,463
Helicopters	57	1	44	102
Hand Crews	175	124	129	428
Engines	239	374	412	1,025
Dozers	7	16	144	167
Water Tenders	8	7	291	306
Overhead	1,423	892	1,035	3,350
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: Chance of a few thunderstorms over northern California, southern Oregon and the Great Basin today. Otherwise, hot and dry over much of the West. Gusty winds are expected in Montana, Wyoming and parts of the Great Basin.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center

Below, I'm adding the list of fires from the National Interagency Fire Center for all the active fires, not just the ones in California.

California

American River Complex (Tahoe National Forest): 19,992 acres at 65 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 11 miles northeast of Foresthill. Residences are threatened and road closures are in effect. Two hundred members of the California National Guard will begin a three-day training exercise today in fire suppression techniques on the fire's southern flank.
Information: Call (530) 367-6223 or visit the web site.

Basin Complex (Los Padres National Forest): 129,840 acres at 70 percent contained. This complex is five miles southeast of Big Sur. Mandatory evacuation for cabins in the Santa Lucia Tract remains in effect.
Information: Call (805) 961-5770 or visit the web site.

Bear Wallow Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 2,320 acres at zero percent contained. This complex of two fires is 13 miles southeast of Happy Camp. Minimal fire behavior was reported.
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 85 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 27 miles north of Yuba City. Fire activity increased yesterday.
Information: Call (530) 538-7826 or visit the web site.

Canyon Complex (Plumas National Forest): 34,139 acres at 64 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 90 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): 10,917 acres at 50 percent contained. This complex of two fires is eight miles southwest of Burnt Ranch. Communities are threatened. Evacuation orders are in effect for the Big Slide and Hyampom West areas.
Information: Call (530) 629-2184 or visit the web site.

Iron and Alps Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 52,161 acres at 45 percent contained. This complex of seven fires is one mile north of Junction City. Mandatory evacuations are in effect for Corral Bottom, 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): 86,964 acres at 65 percent contained. This complex of 11 fires is 14 miles west of Hayfork. Communities, ranches, and youth camps are threatened.
Information: Call (530) 226-2500 ext. 2 or visit the web site.

Piute (Sequoia National Forest): 37,026 acres at 97 percent contained. This fire is 17 miles northeast of Caliente. This will be the last report unless significant activity occurs.
Information: Call (760) 549-0213 or the web site.

SHU Lightning Complex (Shasta-Trinity Unit, Cal Fire): 84,988 acres at 65 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): 45,100 acres at 20 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 18 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Residences and cultural sites are threatened. Forest road, campground and trail closures in effect.
Information: Call (530) 493-1518 or visit the web site.

Soda Complex (Mendocino National Forest): 8,360 acres at 79 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 15 miles northwest of Upper Lake. Active fire behavior was reported. Residences are threatened.
Information: Call (707) 275-2017 or visit the web site.

Ukonom Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 24,593 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. Fire behavior was minimal.

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.

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. Minimal fire activity was reported.

Washington

Badger Mountain (Washington Department of Natural Resources): 15,023 acres at 98 percent contained. The fire is eight miles north of East Wenatchee. This will be the last report unless significant activity occurs.
Information: Call (509) 888-1364 or visit the web site.

Cold Spring (Gifford Pinchot National Forest): 7,956 acres at 50 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 90 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.

The Modis Rapid Response System website hasn't had any satellite photos of California in a few days now, but some of the other ones they've been posting in the gallery are pretty interesting. A while back, I posted one of fires in Russia, so I'm posting another one from Russia today. It looks like the same area that I posted before. Just lots more smoke and fires, it looks like.
I surfed through the images on the "Real Time" link on the Modis page and found one of the images that shows California. I downloaded it and cropped the image to show just the part I wanted, but it does show the fires and the smoke as of yesterday.