American River Complex Fire Update 07/12/2008
Incident: American River Complex Wildfire
Released: 7/12/2008
Tahoe National Forest
American River Complex
Fire Update
Saturday, July 12, 2008, 10:00 a.m.
For further Information visit:
www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe or http://www.inciweb.org/
Info Center (530) 367-6223, 6224, or 6226
Hours of Operation: 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
By the Numbers
Complex
18,408 acres; 20% contained;
884 personnel: 18 crews; 8
helicopters; 53 engines; 8
dozers; 24 water tenders
Estimated Containment Date:
August 1, 2008
Fires
Government Springs/
Westville Fire
17,856 acres; 10% contained
Peavine - 552; 100 % contained
Placer County, CA - Firefighters took advantage of lower temperatures and reduced fire activity on Friday to construct and bolster firelines on the north, west, and south sides of the Government Springs-Westville Fire. The east end of the fire continues to burn actively in rugged terrain.
On the west end of the 10-mile long fire, work to protect the residents of Blue Canyon, the Interstate 80 corridor, and the Union-Pacific railroad line continues. 20-person hand crews improved yesterday's initial line from Sawtooth Ridge into the North Fork American River canyon from the north, and dug initial line west and north from Humbug Ridge into the canyon on the south side on the river. During the night, crews began direct attack on the western edge of the fire in American River Canyon north of the river. Crews and engines also controlled slop-overs and held the fire line along Foresthill Road on the south flank. Further east, the fire reached across New York Canyon at Sailor Flat Spring by late Friday afternoon.
On the northeast part of the fire, firefighters started constructing indirect line north along the 19 Road. This work will continue today. The fire, which is burning in Big Valley Canyon, has been slowed by limited fuel and rocks. On the southeast flank, the fire is expected to move eastward through nearly continuous fuels, and firefighters are constructing an indirect line along the Soda Springs road.
Although heavy smoke prevented air operations until early afternoon on Friday, helicopters were able to deliver 17,000 gallons of retardant and 4,000 gallons of water to hotspots on the west end and south side of the fire before dusk.
Weather and smoke conditions on Saturday should be similar to Friday's conditions, with variable winds in the morning and up-canyon breezes in the afternoon. Fire activity will again be limited by an inversion which should remain in place until early afternoon.
The Government Springs and Westville fires were started by lightning strikes on June 21. Smoke from the fire will continue to affect I-80 corridor communities from Auburn to Sacramento and east to Truckee, California and Reno, Nevada.
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Several road, trail and area closures remain in effect. Please see http://www.inciweb.org/ or http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/fire/index.shtml for the complete listing of closures.
