There is good news and bad news from the fire lines today. The good news is that the weather is helping the firefighters get lines around the fires. The bad news is that yesterday a firefighter lost his life. Not in the fires, but in a motorcycle accident near the Butte Complex. according to the article from the Chico Enterprise Record Steven E Zinn, 27, who was a firefighter assigned to the Butte Lightning Complex was killed Sunday when he lost control of his motorcycle on the transition ramp from Highway 149 to southbound Highway 70. He was a member of the Feather River Hotshots, operating out of the Feather River Ranger District office in Oroville. He was reportedly off-duty at the time of the accident and witnesses told the California Highway Patrol that Zinn was traveling south on the southbound onramp to Highway 70 at a high rate of speed and passing other vehicles when he lost control on a curve at 2:15 a.m. He was reportedly ejected from the motorcycle and slid several hundred feet before coming to rest in the roadway and then was struck by two oncoming cars whose drivers failed to see him in the roadway.
Here's the update from Cal Fire's 9pm update:
Statewide Fire Overview - Lightning Series
Current Situation: Nearly fifteen hundred fires have been contained due to the endless efforts of firefighters from California, as well as from throughout the nation and Canada. Additional firefighting resources from Australia, Greece, Mexico and New Zealand are in transit to assist California. Isolated thunderstorm activity occurred throughout the Sierra Nevada range this afternoon and included numerous lightning downstrikes. The priority of firefighting is for the protection of life, property and natural resources.
Download the latest fact sheet. (Updated 7/14 at 9 p.m.)
Download the latest statewide map.
Statewide Fire Statistics
Total Fires at Peak: 1,781
Total Fires Contained: 1,493*
Total Active Fires: 288*
Total Acres Burned: 861,385
These numbers are total fires and acres that have occurred from state, local and federal firefighting agencies beginning June 20, 2008.
* Numbers reflect data as of 7/13 at 7:30 a.m.
CAL FIRE StatisticsThese numbers are total fires and acres that have occurred ONLY in CAL FIRE jurisdiction since June 20, 2008.
- Total Fires at Peak: 1,005
- Fires Contained: 849
- Active Fires: 15
- Acres Burned: 257,128
The number of contained and active fires will not equal the total due to some fires merging together.
Statewide Resources Committed
- Personnel Committed: 19,748
- Fire Engines: 1,359
- Hand Crews: 464
- Dozers: 207
- Water Tenders: 373
- Helicopters: 129
Highway closures: State highways, county and local roads are closed throughout California due to wildfire activities. Closures and delays remain in place for State Highways 32, 70 (delays) and 299 (delays). Travelers are advised to seek current information from local law enforcement. Click here for detailed road closures.
Evacuations: Areas of Kern, Monterey, Shasta and Trinity counties are under evacuation orders at this time. Precautionary evacuation orders currently exist in areas in Butte, Kern, Mendocino, Monterey, Plumas, Shasta 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: 7,657 residences, 139 commercial, 2,310 outbuildings.
Destroyed: 100 residences, 1 commercial, 128 outbuildings.
CAL FIRE Summary of Fires by County
Butte: The Butte Lightning Complex has burned 54,000 acres and is 75% contained. The Butte Fire Information Number is (530) 538-7826. Click Here for more information.
Mendocino: The Mendocino Lightning Complex has burned 53,300 acres and is 90% contained. The Mendocino Fire Information Number is (707)-467-6426. Click Here for more information.
Shasta & Trinity: The Shasta and Trinity Lightning has burned 79,375 acres and is 55% contained. The Shasta-Trinity Unit Information Number is (530) 225-2510. Click Here for more information.
Humboldt: The Humboldt Complex burned 1,325 acres and is now 100% contained.
Lassen, Modoc: The Corral Fire burned 12,434 acres and is now 100% contained.
Mariposa: The Oliver Fire burned 2,789 acres and now 100% contained.
Lake: The Walker Fire burned 14,500 acres and is now 100% contained.
Napa & Solano: The Wild Fire burned 40,000 acres and is now 100% contained.
Santa Clara: The Whitehurst and Hummingbird Fires burned a combined 994 acres and are both now 100% contained.
Tehama & Glenn: The Tehama-Glenn Lightning Complex burned 22,907 acres and is now 100% contained.
Major Federal and Local Incidents
For information on major federal incidents click here.
Kern County: The Piute Fire has burned 37,026 acres and is 70% contained. Click Here for more information.
Maps and Links
For incident maps, resources available to fire victims or to volunteer, visit the Maps and Links page.
I'm going to add in some information from the National Interagency Fire Center website this morning. These are just the California fires, there are more in other states. (If anyone reading this blog wants me to "follow" the news on other fires, please leave a comment and let me know.)
American River Complex (Tahoe National Forest): 18,721 acres at 30 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 11 miles northeast of Foresthill. Power lines, watershed, and residences remain threatened.
Information: Call (530) 367-6223 or visit the web site.
Basin Complex (Los Padres National Forest): 119,728 acres at 61 percent contained. This complex is five miles southeast of Big Sur. The mandatory evacuation of cabins in the Santa Lucia Tract remains in effect. Roads in the are are closed.
Information: Call (805) 961-5770 or visit the web site.
Bear Wallow Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 1,200 acres at zero percent contained. This complex of four fires is 13 miles southeast of Happy Camp. Active fire behavior was reported.
Information: Call (707) 457-3879 or visit the web site.
Blue 2 (Six Rivers National Forest): 3,796 acres at 15 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles east of Klamath. Cultural and heritage resources are threatened.
Information: Call (707) 457-3879 or visit the web site.
BTU Lightning Complex (Butte Unit, Cal Fire): 53,000 acres at 70 percent contained. This complex of four fires is 27 miles north of Yuba City. Fire activity was minimal.
Information: Call (530) 538-7826 or visit the web site.
Canyon Complex (Plumas National Forest): 30,812 acres at 60 percent contained. This complex of eight fires is 16 miles northeast of Paradise. Residences and archeological sites are threatened. Precautionary and advisory evacuations for the community of Belden remain in effect.
Information: Call (530) 283-7882 or visit the web site.
Clover (Sequoia National Forest): 15,924 acres at 76 percent contained. This fire is 32 miles north of Weldon. The fire received some rain yesterday.
Information: Call (760) 376-3781 ext. 625 or visit the web site .
Cub Complex (Lassen National Forest): 15,300 acres at 83 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 16 miles southwest of Chester. A precautionary evacuation order was issued for the communities of Butte Meadows and Jonesville including the Lassen Boy Scout Camp. Humboldt Road remains closed at the point that the paved portion of the road ends, just past of Jonesville. Due to falling tree snags, and rocks, State Highway 32 remains closed through Deer Creek Canyon from the junction of Highway 36, south towards Chico.
Information: Call (530) 258-3932 or visit the web site.
Gap (Los Padres National Forest): 9,443 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is located six miles northwest of Santa Barbara. A mandatory evacuation continues for West Camino Cielo Road west of the Windermere Ranch to the actual fire area. West Camino Cielo Road from Highway 154 to Windermere Ranch is open to residents only. West Camino Cielo Road from Highway 154 to Refugio Road is closed to the public.
Information: Call (805) 961-5770 or visit the web site.
Hell's Half Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 7,858 acres at 29 percent contained. This complex of two fires is eight miles southwest of Burnt Ranch. Communities are threatened. Evacuation orders have been issued for the Big Slide and Hyampom West areas.
Information: Call (530) 629-2184 or visit the web site.
Humboldt Complex (Humboldt-Del Norte Unit, Cal Fire): 1,325 acres at 95 percent contained. This complex is in Humboldt county. Fire activity was minimal.
Information: Call (707) 726-1225 or visit the web site.
Iron and Alps Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 42,667 acres at 44 percent contained. This complex of 11 fires is one mile north of Junction City. Mandatory evacuation in effect for Cedar Flat. Advisory evacuations in effect for Corral Bottom, haglund, Trinity Village, Hawkins Bar and Fisher Ranch, a community on Fisher Road, east of the Colony.
Information: Call (530) 623-6415 or visit the web site.
Lime Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 76,663 acres at 58 percent contained. This complex of 40 fires is 14 miles west of Hayfork. Communities, ranches, and youth camps are threatened. Reduction in acreage is due to transferring some fires to Cal Fire incident management staff.
Information: Call (530) 226-2500 ext. 2 or visit the web site.
MEU Lightning Complex (Mendocino Unit, Cal Fire): 53,300 acres at 85 percent contained. This complex of seven fires is in Mendocino county. Evacuation warning for the community of Rockport has been lifted. Mountain View Road between Signal Ridge and Mile Post 14.04 has been reopened.
Information: Call 707-467-6426 or visit the web site.
Piute (Sequoia National Forest): 37,026 acres at 64 percent contained. This fire is 17 miles northeast of Caliente. Fire activity moderated due to favorable weather conditions. Firefighters made good progress on line construction.
Information: Call (760) 549-0213 or the web site .
SHU Lightning Complex (Shasta-Trinity Unit, Cal Fire): 77,510 acres at 55 percent contained. This complex of three fires is in Shasta and Trinity counties. Several evacuations orders are in place. Visit the web site for the most current information.
Information: Call (530) 225-2510 or visit the web site.
Siskiyou Complex (Klamath National Forest): 35,400 acres at 16 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 18 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Historic and cultural resources are threatened. Active fire behavior was reported.
Information: Call (530) 493-1518 or visit the web site.
Soda Complex (Mendocino National Forest): 7,567 acres at 66 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 15 miles northwest of Upper Lake. Crews made excellent progress on line construction around the Mill and Monkey fires.
Information: Call (707) 275-2017 or visit the web site.
Ukonom Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 22,176 acres at 20 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 10 miles east of Orleans. Structures are threatened and area closures near the fire were issued.
Information: Call (530) 627-3291 or visit the web site.
Yuba River Complex (Tahoe National Forest): 3,819 acres at 97 percent contained. This complex is 13 miles northeast of Nevada City. Several communities, hydroelectric facilities, and recreation sites are threatened. All roads are open except those that are west of the Bowman Road in the immediate vicinity of the fire.
Information: Call (530) 478-6107 or visit the web site.
Whiskeytown Complex (Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, National Park Service): This fire was 100 percent contained at 6,240 acres.
Information: Call 530-242-3438 or visit the web site.
Other News
It wasn't a big surprise that Earnest Rex Archer pleaded not guilty to seven child-molestation charges Monday at his arraignment in Yuba County Superior Court. Judge Julia Scrogin set a Dec. 2 jury trial for Archer. Archer, 70, allegedly molested two girls under the age of 10 when they were foster children in his Linda home.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment