Piute Fire Daily Update, 7/13 8:00 AM PDT
Incident: Piute Wildland Fire
Released: 7/13/2008
Piute Fire Morning Update for Sunday, July 13th 8 am
FACTS:
37,026 acres / 46% contained / $20,700,000 costs / 1,598 total personnel
RESOURCES:
Crews: 35 / Engines: 86 / Dozers: 9 / Watertenders: 31 / Helicopters: 7 / Overhead: 348
WHAT'S NEW & EVENTS:
- A total of 59 firefighters were unable to return to the Incident Command Post (ICP) last evening due to a flash flood in Erskine Creek. The firefighters took refuge on higher ground in three separate locations; all personnel are safe and accounted for. Today, the stranded firefighters are working on the damaged road in an effort to return to ICP. The entire fire area remains under a flash flood warning through this evening.
- Primary concerns for firefighter safety include unknown road conditions due to yesterday's flash flood, trees weakened by soil movement due to the flood, and potential thunderstorms and associated erratic winds.
- Today is a transition day between the Pacific Northwest Team 2 (Chris Hoff) and California Team 2 (Bill Molumby). Team counterparts are working closely with one another to facilitate a smooth transition. Kern County (John Hayes) and CALFIRE (Ted VanDevort) Incident Commanders remain in place as part of the Unified Command for the Piute Fire.
- A Student Conservation Association (SCA) fire prevention and education team, sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management and in conjunction with the Forest Service and Piute Fire Unified Command, is providing community education regarding fire prevention and defensible space. The team is stationed in Bodfish at the Ace Hardware store and at James Market between Mt. Mesa and South Lake today. Any homeowner in Kern River Valley who is interested in a Special Home Ignition Zone Assessment may contact CSA team leader Ashley Thrasher at (208)608-6329. The SCA team will remain in place through August.
- For anyone that may need assistance from the Red Cross due to the Piute Fire, please contact them at (661) 324-6427 or (800) 498-4882.
Fire Status: Firefighters will hold and mop up completed line on the southwest and west flanks of the fire. Line construction and burnout operations may take place on the north flank. Crews will continue to hold and mop up fire lines on the east and south flanks. Structure protection remains in place for potentially threatened areas in French Meadows, Thompson Canyon, Claraville, Valley View, Erskine Creek and Red Mountain. Night operations crews continue with mop up, structure protection and patrol.
Evacuation Shelter: The shelter at the Kern Valley Senior Center, 6409 Lake Isabella Blvd, is in standby status at this time.
Existing Closures and Road Status: On July 1, the Forest Service implemented a Piute Fire Area Closure. This area includes all access points west of the Pacific Crest Trail. BLM closures include Nichols Peak, Bright Star Wilderness Area, Cortez Canyon, Dry Canyon, Jawbone Canyon and Lynch Canyon, Piute Mountain Road, Saddle Springs Road, Erskine Creek Road and all routes of travel west of the Pacific Crest Trail, are now closed to off highway vehicles (OHV). Other road closures include McCray Road from the end of the pavement south, and Fawn Drive from the end of the pavement south. There is an area closure in effect for the Piute Mountains from Piute Mountain Road at Caliente Creek Road; Jawbone Canyon Road south of Piute Mountain Road; Roads 29S02 and 29S03 and Erskine Creek Road at pavement.
Weather: Partly cloudy with a chance of showers or thunderstorms (30%) in the afternoon. Temperatures will be 70-80 on the ridges and 90-95 in the valleys with relative humidities up and ranging from 30 to 40%. Ridgetop winds 1-3 mph in the morning, then becoming terrain driven 4-6 mph. Predominant westerly winds delayed until after 2:00 pm.
Cooperating Agencies & Partners: US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Kern County Fire Department, Kern County Sheriff, and Kern County Office of Emergency Services, CALFIRE, California Highway Patrol and the Kern County Animal Control, and Office of Emergency Services Fire and Rescue.
