Soda Complex Update 7-23-08
Incident: Soda Complex: Wildfire
Released: 7/23/2008
Date: July 23, 2008
Phone: 707-275-2017 Fax: 707-275-2028
On the web: http://www.inciweb.org/ E-mail: sodafire1@gmail.com
Unified Incident Commanders: Dave Fiorella-USFS SCIIMT #3, William Bradley-CAL FIRE
Information Officers: Marc Peebles and Pam Bierce
Jurisdiction: Mendocino National Forest Location: Upper Lake High School
Agencies: US Forest Service, CAL FIRE, BIA, Fish Wildlife & Parks, National Park Service, and Private
Acres: 8,652 Percentage Contained: 90%
Personnel: 860 Crews: 24 Engines: 29 Dozers: 3 Water Tenders: 10 Helicopters: 9
Size: The complex contains four fires and they are listed in priority: (1) Mill Fire 3043 acres, 85% contained, est containment 7/26/2008; (2) Monkey Rock Fire 1829 acres, 100% contained; (3) Big Fire 2193 acres, 100% contained; (4) Back Fire 1567 acres, 100% contained.
Current Situation:
Southern California Incident Management Team #3 remains in unified command with CAL FIRE. Yesterday saw the following events: (1) Mill Fire: firefighters made good progress as they continue to find areas where debris has rolled outside the fireline. They are aggressively searching for and mopping up these areas. Crews continued holding operations along steep terrain in the southeast portion of the fire. Seven residences remain under evacuation between Deadmans Flat and Sunset Gap to the east flank of the fire. These evacuations will be lifted when it is deemed safe for returning residents. On the western and southwestern flanks, fire crews continue to hold line and mop up 400 feet in. Multiple aircraft continue to support firefighters on the ground with water drops. (2) The Monkey Rock Fire, the Big and the Back Fires will continue to be patrolled by air. A suppression rehab group has been established for the complex and will begin work on the fireline.
Residents and visitors in and around the area of the Mill fire will continue to see fire and smell smoke as the fire becomes more active during the heat of the day especially in the southeastern portion of the fire.
Special Concerns:
- Archery season began on July 12, 2008 in the fire areas. Hunters are cautioned to be aware of road closures in the area and the presence of fire traffic
- Portions of the M1 road are closed between the intersections of the M1 with the M6 and M61.
- The access road is closed to the Mill Fire, Road 20N04, to provide firefighting personnel safety.
- Please be aware that there may be heavy fire vehicle traffic on many roads on the MNF, even those roads not in the immediate vicinity of the fires.
- Please be very careful with fire and smoking is the area. The fire danger is and will remain, very high.
- Pogie Point and Navy Campgrounds at Lake Pillsbury are closed and being used as sleeping areas for firefighters.
- The Sanhedrin Wilderness remains closed and the southern portion of the Yuki Wilderness in the Upper Lake Ranger District also remains closed.
