This evening's MODIS map...

July 20, 2008, about 5:45 pm... 

Here's the evening fire snapshot from Jim Kasson!

"By request, I’ve added some roads and landmarks to the map. If you’d like to see your home, place of business, or favorite location on the map, I’m sure we can work something out (extra charges for logos, bright colors, and large fonts)."

"InciWeb was unusually voluble today (thanks to the new management?). It contained a tutorial on fire management, as well as a fairly-detailed description of today’s activity, which was expected to be stepped-up back-burns and application of fire retardants."

"From the satellite’s perspective, things look pretty good:"

• Five new hotspots on Miller Mountain, but no immediate threat to the MM fire line. The firefighters have been and will be applying retardant to bolster the efficacy of that fire line over the next few days.

• One new double hotspot in the Piney Creek area, also away from the fire lines

• No new hotspots in the extreme northern fire, from which we are protected by the GG and LL fire lines. If there were back-burns here, they were too small for the satellite to see them. The firefighters have been and will be applying retardant near these lines also over the next few days.

• One new outbreak in the southern fire, away from the place we don’t want to see fire, which is the southern boundary of that fire.

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Moo-eee Correct-oh, mis señores y señoras!

As Jim mentioned in his commentary above, one might say that InciWeb, that tool for mass communication that could not withstand the onslaught, is now downright garrulous. And, as Jim speculates, and with which, I concur...

Isss godda be the new management! Jeanne Pincha-Tulley knows how to keep you informed!

From InciWeb, the Summary... Check it, yo:

Summary
Firefighter and public safety is the primary concern on the Basin Complex. Portions of the fire are located in areas with very steep or difficult access and inaccessible terrain. Many areas of the fire have extremely dry heavy brush and dead trees from sudden oak death in the Tan Oaks (http://www.suddenoakdeath.org/). One would not expect to see this level of dryness in the area until late summer. This provides for the potential of increased fire activity and behavior.

There is a change in the weather pattern today as a trough of low pressure deepens off the West Coast. Slightly cooler temperatures over the fire are expected with a little increase in moisture. Winds will generally be more southerly today. Fire behavior will be primarily influenced by local and terrain driven winds. Weather will be mostly sunny with periods of smoke and haze.

This fire's history is its tendency to back down from ridge tops, hit creek or river bottoms and then cast embers across the drainage where the fire makes strong runs up to the next ridge. Firefighter efforts and safety are significantly compromised as they try to build fireline with that fire behavior.

To effectively contain the fire, the strategy was to back away from the main fire to more highly defensible ridges well ahead of the main wildfire. Firefighters have then built fireline using dozers and hand crews, clearing fuel along a narrow strip. In some cases, they used old firelines from the 1999 Kirk Fire, and the 1977 Marble Cone Fire.

Once the lines are built, the next step to contain the wildfire is conducting a burnout operation. Using scientific tactics that combine local knowledge and experience in fire behavior, fuel burning characteristics and terrain, the fire fighters can use fire-to-fight fire. By igniting fire, it can be better controlled and it creates a "black line" that is in essence a cleared wide area absent of fuel. The absence of fuel stops the wildfire.

Over the next few days, the burnout technique will be increased now that the dozer and handlines are done. The Hennicksons and Chews Ridge sites will see burnout, as will areas near Carmel Valley Road in the vicinity of Piney Creek and Paloma Creek. Helicopters dropping water or retardant will be very visible at some times. Air tankers may also be used to reduce the possibility of spot fires.

The goal is to use the burnout technique when weather is in our favor, and contain the fire as quickly and effectively as possible. With over 40 days of wildfire on the Los Padres National Forest this year, everyone is hoping for the best in containing another challenging and tough fire.

While wildfire has now burned on the Los Padres National Forest for over 40 days and consumed over 200,000 acres, the skill and knowledge of 4 National Type 1 Interagency Incident Management teams as well as state and local assets have effectively dealt with a very difficult fire situation. The size of these fires, along with the entire northern California fire siege, exemplifies the challenge faced this year in California. California Interagency Incident Management Team 3 is currently in command of the Basin Complex.

Information officers will be available for questions regarding the fire at the following locations in Carmel Valley from noon to 3 pm on July 20th, 2008:

Village Market

Carmel Valley Market

Both Safeway Stores

Additional information officers will be available at Sleepy Hollow from 8 am to 8 pm.

Now if this, me pretties, is not communication, I know not what is!

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