Alps Complex Update July 8, 2008
Incident: Alps Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 7/8/2008
Trinity Alps Wilderness
Current Fire Situation: The Granite and Carey fires within the Alps Complex will be more active today with temperatures rising and the humidity decreasing. Concerns with the north end of the Granite Fire remain as the fire made a short run and consumed another 20 acres. Containment on the Granite is holding at 75 percent. Crews worked hard today hiking 14 miles into the Carey fire. After reviewing options and safety practices, the incident management team decided to choose another access route to the south of the Carey fire which isn't as rigorous or exhausting. Before the New River trail can be used it will have to be cleared of numerous dead and down trees to provide access not only for crews but for supply pack strings.
Planned Actions: Both fires are within the Trinity Alps wilderness. The crews working on the Granite and Carey fires continue to using Minimum Impact Suppression Techniques (MIST). Today, Crews on the Granite Fire will continue to secure the perimeters along Bear Creek and Canyon Creek Trail and to increase containment. Crews on the Carey fire will continue to extinguish hot spots along the fire edge, while additional crews will be working on opening the trail to the southeast. Heavy downfall and steep terrain continue to face the crews today on Carey.
Safety: With the temperatures increasing and crews working in tough conditions, an advisory has been relayed to the crews to pay extra attention to safety. Crews need to maintain hydration and watch out for hazardous conditions on the fires such as rolling debris, falling snags, and unstable footing.
Weather: The Weather Service has issued a red flag weather warning due to low relative humidity and potential for gusty winds. Weather today will be hot and smoky with temperatures ranging from the high 90s to triple digits. The weather is predicted to get warmer and dryer over the next few days.
Alps Complex Status
Location: In the Trinity Alps Wilderness
Cause: Lightning
Estimated Number of Fires: 11
Granite - 551 acres
Carey - 208 acres
Willow - 38 acres, contained
Devils - 6 acres, contained
Pony - 3 acres, contained
Bacon - 2 acres UTL
Gorge - 1 acre UTL
Gwin - 7 acres UTL
North Fork - 8 acres UTL
Soldier - 2 acres UTL
Thurston - 2 acres UTL·
·Unable to Locate
Total estimated acreage: 826 acres
Percent contained: 75%
Resources Committed: Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team, 3 crews, 3 engines and 8 smokejumpers
Changes in fire status: The status of the following six fires, Soldier, North Fork, Bacon, Gorge, Thurston and Gwin, is being changed to Unable to Locate (UTL). These locations will continue to be monitored throughout the summer or until it can be verified on the ground that the fires are out.
For further information: call the Shasta-Trinity National Forest recorded fire information hotline at (530) 226-2500 selection 2 or Shasta-Trinity National Forest fire information (530) 226-2368 between 8 AM to 8 PM.
