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Southern California Fire Journal.Com

Monday, September 30, 2013

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Southern California Wildfire Update

Moderate offshore winds with low relative humidity are predicted for Friday night into Saturday. Temperatures may hit 90 degrees in the Santa Clarita area, near red flag conditions for Saturday. 

The Madre fire in Azusa was looking good today with line construction progressing on steep hillsides just west of Highway 39. Warm, dry conditions were a serious concern at the onset of this fire. Super scooper aircraft did a great job knocking down flames on day two of the fire. A DC 10 made several drops as well as a C-130 and an older PTV with retardant. Approximately 500 personnel are working the blaze which has been checked at approximately 200 acres.

Yesterday in San Bernardino another blaze broke out near Highway 15 and Sierra, the last reports I heard was approximately 150 acres. I will try to get more information soon.

Photos Copyright  Jeff Zimmerman, Madre Fire









Sunday, September 22, 2013

Fire Weather Urgent Information: So Cal Interstate 5 Corridor Off Shore Wind Event

...GUSTY NORTH WINDS THROUGH TONIGHT ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND
    SANTA BARBARA SOUTH COAST...

...WEAK OFFSHORE WINDS WITH WARMING AND DRYING CONDITIONS ON MONDAY...

.DISCUSSION...GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS PORTIONS OF
SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA THROUGH TONIGHT. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL REMAIN
FOCUSED ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS (INCLUDING THE SANTA MONICAS) AND SANTA
BARBARA SOUTH COAST...WHERE GUSTS BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MPH WILL BE COMMON.
ISOLATED GUSTS OVER 50 MPH WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE INTERSTATE 5 CORRIDOR
OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS AT TIMES THROUGH THIS EVENING.
THERE WILL BE SOME DOWNSLOPE WARMING AND DRYING TODAY ACROSS THE VALLEYS
AND SANTA BARBARA SOUTH COAST...WITH HUMIDITIES FALLING TO AROUND 20
PERCENT IN DRIEST LOCATIONS.

BY LATE TONIGHT AND MONDAY...WEAK OFFSHORE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA
COUNTIES...AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL COAST. THIS WILL LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT
WARMING AND DRYING ON MONDAY...WITH HUMIDITIES LOWERING TO BETWEEN 10 AND
20 PERCENT ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. AN UPPER TROUGH WILL BRING A RETURN OF
ONSHORE FLOW WITH COOLING TEMPERATURES AND HIGHER HUMIDITIES TUESDAY THROUGH
THURSDAY. THERE IS THEN THE POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER WEAK OFFSHORE WIND EVENT
AT THE END OF THE WEEK WITH A POSSIBLE WARMING AND DRYING TREND.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Wildfire: Hasley Canyon and Burlwood, Los Angeles County


Los Angeles County and United States Forest Service Firefighters worked to quickly extinguish a fast moving brush fire today in the Hasley Canyon area of northern Los Angeles County. The fire broke out late this afternoon in area that looks like it has been used for target shooting at the dead end of Burlwood drive. Air and ground crews were able to halt the fire and beat back flames as it crested the ridge top on a steep south facing slope lined with dense brush. An armada of helicopters and fixed wing super scoopers dropped thousands of gallons of water from the air which helped to quell the flames before the fire could become a major inferno.

 Los Angeles County and Forest Service Fighters worked cooperatively to construct fire line and had the fire contained at approximately 4:30 PM. Please contact los Angeles County Fire Department PIO for further information.
 


 

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Critical Fire Weather for CA Zone 259

CA zone 259 will have dry and gusty wind conditions for Thursday and Friday. Gusty winds and low humidity will almost reach red flag conditions.

 LAFD had a small 4 acre brush fire on Sunday on Sunland Bl., destroying 2 civilian vehicles. LAFD, LA County and USFS units held the fire in check on a steep slope near homes.

At this hour Ventura County Fire has four small spots on the 118 Freeway near Kuehner. LA City has sent 10 engine companies and 2 helicopter for auto aid. Sounds like these fire are getting picked up fairly quickly.




Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Rim Fire, Cause and Origin

Investigators Discover Cause of Rim Fire

Release Date: Sep 5, 2013  

VALLEJO, Calif.—Investigators from the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement & Investigations and Tuolumne County District Attorney's Office have determined the Rim Fire began when a hunter allowed an illegal fire to escape. There is no indication the hunter was involved with illegal marijuana cultivation on public lands and no marijuana cultivation sites were located near the origin of the fire. No arrests have been made at this time and the hunter's name is being withheld pending further investigation.
The Rim Fire began Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, on the Stanislaus National Forest near the area known as Jawbone Ridge. The fire has burned 237,341 acres and is 80 percent contained.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Burned Body Found, Angeles National Forest, Castaic

At approximately 6:12 am Los Angeles County Firefighters were dispatched to a reported brush fire on Lake Hughes Road near Castaic Dam. Upon arrival Los Angeles County Engine 149 reported a small spot of fire and requested Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to respond.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Detectives are processing the area as a crime scene. All week Sheriffs have been searching for 19 year old Bryce Lapisa a missing college student who was en-route to Laguna Nigel from northern California. His vehicle was found over turned with blood stains inside at the Lake entrance.

It is unknown if these two incidents are related or if foul play is involved.

County Sheriffs, Coroner and Special Agents from the Forest Service are investigating the case.