September 8, 2008 -- Gulch & Elmore Fires Update
Incident: Gulch Wildland Fire
Released: 9/8/2008
FIRE UPDATE
Update No. FS-SHF-090808-Gulch and Elmore 1 September 08, 2008 @ 9:00 a.m
GULCH AND ELMORE FIRES UPDATE
STATUS: Apx. Acres Burned: 2,280 (Gulch), 450 (Elmore)Apx. Percent Contained: 10% (Gulch), 15% (Elmore)Expected Full Containment: not estimatedCause: Both under investigation Date Started: September 7, 2008Structures Threatened: 30 residences, 2 commercial (Gulch), 40 residences, 2 commercial (Elmore)RESOURCES:Crews: 5 (Gulch), 5 (Elmore)Engines: 12 (Gulch), 10 (Elmore)Helicopters: 4 (Gulch), 2 (Elmore)Dozers: 3(Gulch), 2 (Elmore)Water Tenders: 1 (Gulch)Total Resources Assigned: 197 (Gulch), 168 (Elmore)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Current Fire Situation: Gulch Fire: Three miles west of Platina, California on Highway 36. This fire burned actively during the night and is expected to remain active today. Continued movement toward the communities of Platina and Harrison Gulch is expected. Elmore Fire: Five miles southeast of Lakehead, California. Fire was active during the night and is expected to move to the northeast today. Impacts to traffic on Interstate 5 are expected today as the fire reaches the freeway. A major north/south railway line is threatened.
Today's Objectives: Firefighters will continue direct attack on both fires using hand crews, dozers, engines and aerial resources. Due to the increasing complexity, Type II Incident Management Teams will be assigned to both fires today. Additional crews and equipment have been ordered for both fires.
Area Closures: A Closure Order is in place by the Shasta-Trinity National Forest prohibiting public use of National Forest System lands north and south of Highway 299. A detailed closure map and description may be found at: www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/conditions.Evacuations: There is a mandatory evacuation order in place for the Salt Creek, Gregory Creek and Gilman Road areas on the Elmore Fire. Residents near the Gulch Fire should remain alert to fire behavior and the continuing threat from this fire. Highway 36 is closed and impacts to Interstate 5 are expected. For up to the minute road information call Caltrans at 1-800-427-7623 or www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/.
Remarks: We encourage forest visitors to be cautious when recreating on their National Forest lands, it is hot, dry and fire danger is very high.
Additional Information: Recorded fire information for Shasta-Trinity National Forest is available at (530) 226-2500 (press 2) Additional fire information is also available online at www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity or http://www.inciweb.org/.
