Piute Fire Daily Update 7/15 1:00 PM PDT
Incident: Piute Wildland Fire
Released: 7/15/2008
Fire Information Update
Tuesday July 15th 1:30 PM
SUMMARY:
Acres: 37,026 Containment: 70% Cost: $23,000,000
RESOURCES:
Crews: 32 Engines: 41 Dozers: 4 Watertenders: 15 Helicopters: 5 Personnel: 994
WHAT'S NEW & EVENTS:
- Severe thunderstorm and flash flood activity continued over the Piute Fire limiting fire crew access to fire control lines. Mud and debris flows in Erskine Canyon were less severe then the previous two events. No flood rescues were required and Lake Isabella Road was reopened shortly after the flood event.
- An infrared flight of the fire indicated minimal hotspots exist in upper Bob Rabbit and Erskine Canyons. Crews will be working to mop up these limited hot spots today. Rehabilitation of fire line has been initiated on all controlled sections of the fire.
- 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.
- For anyone that may need assistance from the Red Cross due to the Piute Fire and associated flood events, please contact them at (661) 324-6427 or (800) 498-4882.
Fire Status: Between 1 and 3 inches of rain fell across the Piute Fire area yesterday. As a result, fire activity has been minimal. Fire crews will be assessing roads for access into the fire today following yesterdays flash flood event.
Evacuation Shelter: The shelter at the Kern Valley Senior Center, 6409 Lake Isabella Blvd, is closed 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: The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for Kern County Mountains from 1 PM this afternoon to 10 PM tonight. Partly cloudy with a 40% chance of showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon. Locally heavy rain and flash flood warnings will be possible again today. Temperatures range from 75-85 on the ridge tops to 90-95 in the valleys. Relative humidity will be 30 to 40% across the area. Valley winds will be 1-3 mph becoming slope driven 4-6 mph in the afternoon. Ridge top winds will be east to southeast 4-8 mph becoming northwest late in the afternoon.
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.
