Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Mountain Fire: Central Zone Strike Team in a Tough Fight

San Bernardino National Forest-

On July 15th, 2013, at 1:43 PM, a wildfire in the community of Mountain Center ignited in the area of Highway 243. The fire quickly spreads in light fuels where it eventually jumps the highway and spreads into the steep foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains. On that first day the fire grew from an initial 5 acres to an astounding 4,700 acres. Fire equipment from throughout the Southland was quickly mobilized to control this blaze that was now burning in pristine forest land.

The Mountain Fire on the first day photographed from Hemet. The circle of lights above the fire is an air attack plane coordinating night helicopter drops.
In the predawn hours of July 16th the Heartland Communications Center received a request to dispatch a strike team of brush engines to the fire. Apparatus from Lakeside, Santee, Barona, Alpine, and Viejas quickly assembled and started the northward trek to Riverside County.

Upon arriving at the fire the crew was committed to an 8000' hose lay in Coldwater Canyon. Control of the fire in the area is essential to keep it from burning towards the community of Idyllwild. Crews were working in extreme terrain with ambient temperatures in the mid-90's.  This assignment would occupy the bulk of there first 24 hours on the fire line.

The Mountain Fire makes a hard run upslope near the community of Garner Valley.
The fire is burning in heavy fuels in steep conditions east of the community of Garner Valley.
As of this posting the fire is approaching 15,000 acres, and has spread towards the community of Palm Springs. Unfortunately dwellings have been lost in the early hours of the fire, but crews have managed to safely evacuate multiple camps in the area.

An engine company from Corona stages near Palm Canyon in Palm Springs. Temperatures on this day were near 107 degrees with poor air quality. 
Fire burns in Andreas Canyon near Palm Canyon. Palm Springs is coated in a layer of ash falling like snow.
Palm Springs spent most of the day in darkness under the smoke column.
Strike Team 6440c could be committed to this incident for 14 days, but that will depend on the ability to control this fire burning in irreplaceable forest.

The video below is raw footage of the fire. It's provided to give our readers an opportunity to see the conditions firefighters are dealing with. It tends to be a little long so feel free to "fast forward" through some of the coverage.


We will update you as information becomes available. Tonight we have received information that Idyllwild is to be evacuated. The fire has grown to about 20,000 acres.

7/18/13 Update: The strike team has been assigned to Branch I, Division D. This is the perimeter area south of the town of Idyllwild. The crew will continue containment/mop-up operations. The strike team is working with hand crews that are cutting line between the fire and the town.

The bulk of the fire appears to have moved into the high country around the San Jacinto Wilderness. Some fire continues to work it's way down towards the desert floor.

Fire on the ridge line above Palm Springs. Fire planners have crews in the area should the fire make a downhill run.
USFS has an information booth on Palm Canyon to keep locals informed.

7/19/13 Update: Strike Team 6440C was not utilized today as the fire has moved to the high country above the Idyllwild area. Evacuation orders were issued in Idyllwild yesterday, and the community of Pine Cove is on a "evacuation stand-by." Containment of the fire is about 15%. Captain Scott Culkin reports all is well with the strike team members. Current fire size is 27,179 acres.

Strike Team 6440C staged at base camp today. (Photo By: Engineer Chris Downing)
Incident Map (Photo By: Captain Scott Culkin)
Example of the beautiful forest that is being consumed by this fire. (Photo By: Probationary Firefighter Corey Palmore)
Brush 1 working on the division assignment. (Photo By: Probationary Firefighter Corey Palmore)
DC-10 on it's final approach over 6440C's division. (Photo By: Probationary Firefighter Corey Palmore)
Lakeside Fire Captain Scott Culkin looks over some of the devastation of the Mountain Fire.
 (Photo By: Probationary Firefighter Corey Palmore)
Mountain Fire from the staging area. (Photo By: Probationary Firefighter Corey Palmore)
Members of Strike Team 6440C (Photo By: Probationary Firefighter Corey Palmore)
Mountain Fire on the evening of July 19th. (http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/cameras/L/tp-w-mobo-c.jpg)

7/20/13 Update: Strike Team 6440C has been assigned to Branch III, Division V. For the next 24 hours they will be supporting line construction as containment efforts continue. 

7/21/13 Update: Strike Team 6440C completed their 24 hours on Division V. At about 4:00 AM the strike team was pulled back off of the division due to lightning and heavy rains. Currently the crews are resting in anticipation of demobilization and returning home.

Strike Team 6440C at base camp after a night of lightning and rain.
 
Video and Photography By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District
Photography By: Fire Captain Scott Culkin, Fire Engineer Chris Downing, Probationary Firefighter-Paramedic Corey Palmore.


1 comment:

  1. praying for all involved please be safe

    ReplyDelete