Update: Soda IC Cal Fire, Contained at 200 acres of brush.
Last Updated: February 25, 2012 8:30 am
Date/Time Started: February 23, 2012 12:32 pm
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit
County: Napa County
Location: 3200 block of Soda Canyon Road, north of Silverado Trail, northeast of Napa City
Acres Burned: 200 acres
Containment 200 acres - 100% Contained
Evacuations: No evacuations in place
Injuries: 2 minor injuries
Cause: Escaped agricultural debris burn pile
Cooperating Agencies: CAL FIRE, Napa County Fire Dept. (FD), Calistoga FD, Napa City FD, St. Helena FD, American Canyon FP District, Napa County Sheriff Dept. and California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Total Fire Personnel: 95 firefighters
Monday, February 27, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wildfire, Lake Napa, Cal Fire
Initial attack wildfire, 35 acres, CAL Fire Silverado and Soda Canyon Rd.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Wildfire Dangers
Sobering Future of Wildfire Dangers in U.S. West, Researchers Predict
ScienceDaily (Feb. 14, 2012) — The American West has seen a recent increase in large wildfires due to droughts, the build-up of combustible fuel, or biomass, in forests, a spread of fire-prone species and increased tree mortality from insects and heat.
In a paper appearing online Feb. 14 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a 12-member research team warns that these conditions may be "a perfect storm" for more fires.
While grazing and fire suppression have kept incidents of wildfires unusually low for most of the last century, the amounts of combustible biomass, temperatures and drought are all rising. "Consequently, a fire deficit now exists and has been growing throughout the 20th century, pushing fire regimes into disequilibrium with climate," the team concludes.
"The last two centuries have seen dramatic changes in wildfire across the American West, with a peak in wildfires in the 1800s giving way to much less burning over the past 100 years," said lead author Jennifer R. Marlon, now a National Science Foundation Earth Science Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. "The decline was mostly caused by the influx of explorers and settlers and by their subsequent suppression of wildfires, both intentionally and accidentally."
Marlon earned her doctorate at the University of Oregon, where she studied with co-authors Patrick J. Bartlein and Daniel G. Gavin, professors of geography, as well as with former UO professor Cathy Whitlock, professor of earth sciences at Montana State University. Five other co-authors also hold doctoral degrees from the UO but are now affiliated with other institutions.
Wildfires have been debated for years as either a destructive force of nature that should be eradicated or natural disturbance that keep ecosystems healthy. For nearly 100 years, national policy, as administered by the U.S. Forest Service, had been to respond rapidly to suppress all wildfires, but in recent years, local forest managers have been given more latitude to evaluate which fires to suppress, while ensuring public safety.
In their analysis, Marlon and colleagues used existing records on charcoal deposits in lakebed sediments to establish a baseline of fire activity for the past 3,000 years. They compared that with independent fire-history data drawn from historical records and fire scars on the landscape.
Their key findings:
• Comparing charcoal records and climate data, as expected, showed warm, dry intervals, such as the "Medieval Climate Anomaly" between 1,000 and 700 years ago, which had more burning, and cool, moist intervals, such as the "Little Ice Age" between 500 and 300 years ago, had fewer fires. Short-term peaks in fires were associated with abrupt climate changes -- warming or cooling.
• Wildfires during most of the 20th century were almost as infrequent as they were during the Little Ice Age, about 400 years ago. However, only a century ago, fires were as frequent as they were about 800 years ago, during the warm and dry Medieval Climate Anomaly. "In other words, humans caused fires to shift from their 1,000-year maximum to their 1,000-year minimum in less than 100 years," Gavin said.
• Climate and humans acted synergistically -- by the end of the 18th century and early 19th century -- to increase fire events that were often sparked by agricultural practices, clearing of forests, logging activity and railroading.
"We can use the relationship between climate and fire," Marlon said, "to answer the question: What would the natural level of fire be like today if we didn't work so hard to suppress or eliminate fires? The answer is that because of climate change and the buildup of fuels across the western U.S., levels of burning would be higher than at any time over the past 3,000 years, including the peak in burning during the Medieval Climate Anomaly."
The long-term perspectives gained through these studies demonstrate how strongly climate and people affect the present-day landscapes and forests of the American West, and how they may change in the future, Bartlein said.
"Policymakers and others need to re-evaluate how we think of the past century to allow us to adjust and prepare for the future," he said. "Recent catastrophic wildfires in the West are indicators of a fire deficit between actual levels of burning and that which we should expect given current and coming climate conditions. Policies of fire suppression that do not account for this unusual environmental situation are unsustainable."
The five other co-authors previously at the UO are: Colin J. Long, now at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh; Christy E. Briles, now at Monash University in Australia; Daniele Colombaroli, now at the University of Bern in Switzerland; Mitchell J. Power, now at the University of Utah; and Megan K. Walsh, now at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash. The remaining four co-authors are R. Scott Anderson of Northern Arizona University, Kendrick J. Brown of the Canadian Forest Service, Douglas J. Hallett of the University of Calgary and Elizabeth A. Scharf of the University of North Dakota.
"This collaboration of researchers with UO roots provides potentially important information that may be useful in guiding policies to protect the environment," said Kimberly Andrews Espy, vice president for research and innovation. "It is gratifying to see that the impact of graduate study at the UO extends well beyond students' time on our campus. Working together is a hallmark of UO graduate study and reflects well on our nationally ranked geography department."
Charcoal records used in the research were obtained from the Global Charcoal Database of the Global Palaeofire Working Group. Marlon, Bartlein and Power serve on the organization's scientific steering group.
________________________________________
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Oregon.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
________________________________________
Journal Reference:
1. Jennifer R. Marlon, Patrick J. Bartlein, Daniel G. Gavin, Colin J. Long, R. Scott Anderson, Christy E. Briles, Kendrick J. Brown, Daniele Colombaroli, Douglas J. Hallett, Mitchell J. Power, Elizabeth A. Scharf, and Megan K. Walsh. Long-term perspective on wildfires in the western USA. PNAS, February 14, 2012 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1112839109
University of Oregon (2012, February 14). Sobering future of wildfire dangers in U.S. west, researchers predict. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 16, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2012/02/120214134936.htm
--
ScienceDaily (Feb. 14, 2012) — The American West has seen a recent increase in large wildfires due to droughts, the build-up of combustible fuel, or biomass, in forests, a spread of fire-prone species and increased tree mortality from insects and heat.
In a paper appearing online Feb. 14 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a 12-member research team warns that these conditions may be "a perfect storm" for more fires.
While grazing and fire suppression have kept incidents of wildfires unusually low for most of the last century, the amounts of combustible biomass, temperatures and drought are all rising. "Consequently, a fire deficit now exists and has been growing throughout the 20th century, pushing fire regimes into disequilibrium with climate," the team concludes.
"The last two centuries have seen dramatic changes in wildfire across the American West, with a peak in wildfires in the 1800s giving way to much less burning over the past 100 years," said lead author Jennifer R. Marlon, now a National Science Foundation Earth Science Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. "The decline was mostly caused by the influx of explorers and settlers and by their subsequent suppression of wildfires, both intentionally and accidentally."
Marlon earned her doctorate at the University of Oregon, where she studied with co-authors Patrick J. Bartlein and Daniel G. Gavin, professors of geography, as well as with former UO professor Cathy Whitlock, professor of earth sciences at Montana State University. Five other co-authors also hold doctoral degrees from the UO but are now affiliated with other institutions.
Wildfires have been debated for years as either a destructive force of nature that should be eradicated or natural disturbance that keep ecosystems healthy. For nearly 100 years, national policy, as administered by the U.S. Forest Service, had been to respond rapidly to suppress all wildfires, but in recent years, local forest managers have been given more latitude to evaluate which fires to suppress, while ensuring public safety.
In their analysis, Marlon and colleagues used existing records on charcoal deposits in lakebed sediments to establish a baseline of fire activity for the past 3,000 years. They compared that with independent fire-history data drawn from historical records and fire scars on the landscape.
Their key findings:
• Comparing charcoal records and climate data, as expected, showed warm, dry intervals, such as the "Medieval Climate Anomaly" between 1,000 and 700 years ago, which had more burning, and cool, moist intervals, such as the "Little Ice Age" between 500 and 300 years ago, had fewer fires. Short-term peaks in fires were associated with abrupt climate changes -- warming or cooling.
• Wildfires during most of the 20th century were almost as infrequent as they were during the Little Ice Age, about 400 years ago. However, only a century ago, fires were as frequent as they were about 800 years ago, during the warm and dry Medieval Climate Anomaly. "In other words, humans caused fires to shift from their 1,000-year maximum to their 1,000-year minimum in less than 100 years," Gavin said.
• Climate and humans acted synergistically -- by the end of the 18th century and early 19th century -- to increase fire events that were often sparked by agricultural practices, clearing of forests, logging activity and railroading.
"We can use the relationship between climate and fire," Marlon said, "to answer the question: What would the natural level of fire be like today if we didn't work so hard to suppress or eliminate fires? The answer is that because of climate change and the buildup of fuels across the western U.S., levels of burning would be higher than at any time over the past 3,000 years, including the peak in burning during the Medieval Climate Anomaly."
The long-term perspectives gained through these studies demonstrate how strongly climate and people affect the present-day landscapes and forests of the American West, and how they may change in the future, Bartlein said.
"Policymakers and others need to re-evaluate how we think of the past century to allow us to adjust and prepare for the future," he said. "Recent catastrophic wildfires in the West are indicators of a fire deficit between actual levels of burning and that which we should expect given current and coming climate conditions. Policies of fire suppression that do not account for this unusual environmental situation are unsustainable."
The five other co-authors previously at the UO are: Colin J. Long, now at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh; Christy E. Briles, now at Monash University in Australia; Daniele Colombaroli, now at the University of Bern in Switzerland; Mitchell J. Power, now at the University of Utah; and Megan K. Walsh, now at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash. The remaining four co-authors are R. Scott Anderson of Northern Arizona University, Kendrick J. Brown of the Canadian Forest Service, Douglas J. Hallett of the University of Calgary and Elizabeth A. Scharf of the University of North Dakota.
"This collaboration of researchers with UO roots provides potentially important information that may be useful in guiding policies to protect the environment," said Kimberly Andrews Espy, vice president for research and innovation. "It is gratifying to see that the impact of graduate study at the UO extends well beyond students' time on our campus. Working together is a hallmark of UO graduate study and reflects well on our nationally ranked geography department."
Charcoal records used in the research were obtained from the Global Charcoal Database of the Global Palaeofire Working Group. Marlon, Bartlein and Power serve on the organization's scientific steering group.
________________________________________
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Oregon.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
________________________________________
Journal Reference:
1. Jennifer R. Marlon, Patrick J. Bartlein, Daniel G. Gavin, Colin J. Long, R. Scott Anderson, Christy E. Briles, Kendrick J. Brown, Daniele Colombaroli, Douglas J. Hallett, Mitchell J. Power, Elizabeth A. Scharf, and Megan K. Walsh. Long-term perspective on wildfires in the western USA. PNAS, February 14, 2012 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1112839109
University of Oregon (2012, February 14). Sobering future of wildfire dangers in U.S. west, researchers predict. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 16, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2012/02/120214134936.htm
--
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
NOAA Wind Event
GUSTY WINDS TO AFFECT COASTAL AREAS ON WEDNESDAY... ...STRONG SANTA AND WINDS POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY... .A STRONG SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL CREATE GUSTY SUNDOWNER WINDS ACROSS SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY THIS EVENING. THEN... A COLD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH CALIFORNIA ON WEDNESDAY AND GENERATE GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS OVER THE REGION... FOCUSED OVER THE COASTAL AREAS. AS THE SYSTEM MOVES INTO BAJA CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY NIGHT...THE WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHEAST AND STRENGTHEN INTO A SANTA ANA WIND EVENT OVER MUCH OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS... WHERE POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AROUND 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. COASTAL AND VALLEY AREAS WILL LIKELY NEED WIND ADVISORIES THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AS WELL. ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM PST WEDNESDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY FOR THE SANTA BARBARA SOUTH COAST. THIS ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING. A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM PST WEDNESDAY. * WINDS... AREAS OF WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING...THEN DIMINISH. NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH WILL DEVELOP ON WEDNESDAY BEHIND A COLD FRONT. * TIMING...STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING THEN DIMINISH. THE WINDS WILL REDEVELOP WEDNESDAY MORNING...PEAK IN THE AFTERNOON...THEN QUICKLY WEAKEN BY EVENING. * IMPACTS...WINDS THIS STRONG CAN BREAK SMALL BRANCHES OFF OF TREES AND MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. HIGHWAYS 101 AND 154 WILL LIKELY BE IMPACTED. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... &&
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Cal Fire Budget Cuts
Word that budget cuts will soon hit valley residents in fire prone areas right where they live.
CAL FIRE is closing the Air Attack base at the Fresno Airport. That's where a tanker is based that drops fire retardant on wildfires, especially in areas that are hard to reach.
The cuts are part of CAL FIRE's plan to cut $80-million from their budget.
They take effect July 1, 2012.
For 57 years, fire fighting planes have flown into the foothills and mountains out of Fresno.
But this summer that will change.
CAL FIRE is closing the base that's home to a tanker and an attack plane that directs the tanker where to drop fire retardant.
"We did a very deliberative and thoughtful study to figure out which one would have the minimal impact statewide to our initial attack firefighting capability," said Daniel Berlant with CAL FIRE.
Mountain communities like Yosemite Lakes near Coarsegold rely on those tankers to keep fire from their homes.
"Fires up here take off very, very fast and if no one's there to take care of them, this place is just gonna go," said Sherry Guest Baumbach who lives near Coarsegold.
The tanker from Fresno is moving to Porterville. In the future, if there's a fire in Fresno County, CAL FIRE says it could take an extra ten minutes for the tanker to arrive.
In Madera County, a tanker may be sent from Tuolumne County to cover.
"It absolutely makes you nervous that we won't get the quick response that we would have gotten out of Fresno," said Beth Villanueva who lives near Coarsegold.
The cuts come at a time when we haven't had much rain. The area is dry. And that could mean a very busy fire season.
"Even though we've had a few storm systems, conditions across the state have been very dry. That's lead to an increase of fire activity throughout the state," said Berlant.
The Air Attack base has seven employees. Two will be reassigned. The five others are seasonal employees and those positions will not be filled.
The state is imposing an additional $150 per year for each home that's protected by CAL FIRE or state resources. Those are homes in rural areas. Those bills should start to arrive in mailboxes this summer, just as the fire fighting resources are reduced.
CAL FIRE is closing the Air Attack base at the Fresno Airport. That's where a tanker is based that drops fire retardant on wildfires, especially in areas that are hard to reach.
The cuts are part of CAL FIRE's plan to cut $80-million from their budget.
They take effect July 1, 2012.
For 57 years, fire fighting planes have flown into the foothills and mountains out of Fresno.
But this summer that will change.
CAL FIRE is closing the base that's home to a tanker and an attack plane that directs the tanker where to drop fire retardant.
"We did a very deliberative and thoughtful study to figure out which one would have the minimal impact statewide to our initial attack firefighting capability," said Daniel Berlant with CAL FIRE.
Mountain communities like Yosemite Lakes near Coarsegold rely on those tankers to keep fire from their homes.
"Fires up here take off very, very fast and if no one's there to take care of them, this place is just gonna go," said Sherry Guest Baumbach who lives near Coarsegold.
The tanker from Fresno is moving to Porterville. In the future, if there's a fire in Fresno County, CAL FIRE says it could take an extra ten minutes for the tanker to arrive.
In Madera County, a tanker may be sent from Tuolumne County to cover.
"It absolutely makes you nervous that we won't get the quick response that we would have gotten out of Fresno," said Beth Villanueva who lives near Coarsegold.
The cuts come at a time when we haven't had much rain. The area is dry. And that could mean a very busy fire season.
"Even though we've had a few storm systems, conditions across the state have been very dry. That's lead to an increase of fire activity throughout the state," said Berlant.
The Air Attack base has seven employees. Two will be reassigned. The five others are seasonal employees and those positions will not be filled.
The state is imposing an additional $150 per year for each home that's protected by CAL FIRE or state resources. Those are homes in rural areas. Those bills should start to arrive in mailboxes this summer, just as the fire fighting resources are reduced.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Western Weather, Snow, Ice and Wildfires All In One Forecast
Flooding, heavy snow, ice storm, and fires hit the Western U.S.
By Dr. Jeff Masters
Published: 12:39 PM GMT on January 20, 2012
A state of emergency has been declared in Oregon and Washington, where a powerful winter storm brought deadly floods, heavy snows of up to 4 feet, a severe ice storm, and damaging winds Wednesday and Thursday. Heavy rains of 3 - 8 inches have fallen over a wide swath of Western Oregon since Monday, causing major to record flooding on multiple rivers and creeks. In Albany, Oregon, a family of four drove out of a supermarket parking lot and into a flooded Perwinkle Creek Wednesday night, and were swept away. Two people were rescued, but a 20-month-old boy and his mother drowned. The Marys River in Philomath rose to its highest flood on record yesterday, and will remain at major flood stage today before gradually receding tonight. The rains have tapered off over much of the region today, but renewed rains are expected later today and intermittently into early next week. The storm also brought strong winds to Reno, Nevada, fanning a brush fire that tore through the Reno area, destroying more than 20 homes and forcing thousands to evacuate. Reno experienced sustained winds of 44 mph, gusting to 70 mph, during the afternoon Thursday. The city didn't get any precipitation, and has received just 0.03" of precipitation this year. That fell on Monday, breaking a 56-day streak with no precipitation--the longest wintertime dry streak in city history. Strong winds gusting to 55 mph are expected during the day today, keeping the fire danger high, but heavy rain is expected tonight, which should ease the fire danger. The storm also brought a significant freezing rain event to northern Oregon and Western Washington yesterday, and up to an inch of ice accumulated in some areas, contributing to power outages that affected at least 275,000 people.
By Dr. Jeff Masters
Published: 12:39 PM GMT on January 20, 2012
A state of emergency has been declared in Oregon and Washington, where a powerful winter storm brought deadly floods, heavy snows of up to 4 feet, a severe ice storm, and damaging winds Wednesday and Thursday. Heavy rains of 3 - 8 inches have fallen over a wide swath of Western Oregon since Monday, causing major to record flooding on multiple rivers and creeks. In Albany, Oregon, a family of four drove out of a supermarket parking lot and into a flooded Perwinkle Creek Wednesday night, and were swept away. Two people were rescued, but a 20-month-old boy and his mother drowned. The Marys River in Philomath rose to its highest flood on record yesterday, and will remain at major flood stage today before gradually receding tonight. The rains have tapered off over much of the region today, but renewed rains are expected later today and intermittently into early next week. The storm also brought strong winds to Reno, Nevada, fanning a brush fire that tore through the Reno area, destroying more than 20 homes and forcing thousands to evacuate. Reno experienced sustained winds of 44 mph, gusting to 70 mph, during the afternoon Thursday. The city didn't get any precipitation, and has received just 0.03" of precipitation this year. That fell on Monday, breaking a 56-day streak with no precipitation--the longest wintertime dry streak in city history. Strong winds gusting to 55 mph are expected during the day today, keeping the fire danger high, but heavy rain is expected tonight, which should ease the fire danger. The storm also brought a significant freezing rain event to northern Oregon and Western Washington yesterday, and up to an inch of ice accumulated in some areas, contributing to power outages that affected at least 275,000 people.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wildfire Washoe County NV 26 Homes Destroyed
We are getting preliminary reports of a wind driven wildfire in Washoe County, NV, approximately 3,000 acres, with possible structure threat and structural loss. We will update more as more information comes in.
We are recieivng reports of strructural loss on this fire. Galena High School Evacuated. Washoe Drive at Highway 395. Rain should slow fire by late night fall. Power lines down in fire area. Galena area hit hard by fire.
Livestock may be sent to livestock event center. Fire on both sides of Highway 395. 10,000 people evacuated. Reports of 20 homes destroyed, unconfirmed at this time. Rain and possibly snow may come in soon to slow fire.
Fulton IHC committed to Western Great Basin Pre-position. Enroute to Carson City. St.James Villiage near Mt. Rose is being evacuated. Bear Divide IHC committed to Western Great Basin Support. Enroute to Carson City. Resources responding to the Jacks Valley Fire near Genoa Lakes. The Reno Sparks Livestock Event Center has been activated as an evacuation center for horses and other livestock being evacuated.
Evacuations in the Galena area are now in effect. Evacuations are now in effect for Pleasant Valley and the Pleasant Valley school has been evacuated. The Reno Weather Service has extended the Red Flag Warning for zone 450 untill 2200 tonight. 60 mph gusts reported on the Washoe Valley Fire.
Washoe City to Pleasant Valley on both sides of U.S. 395; 10 miles south of Reno (Lat. 39 19 33 Long. 119 48 31)
01/19/2012
12:45 p.m.
3,700 acres (as reported by Reno Fire)
Fire Perimeter Map in pdf (as of 7:20 p.m. on 1/19)
Brush & grass
Unified command with Reno Fire, Sierra Fire Protection District, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management & Nevada Division of Forestry
Lyon County, Tahoe-Douglas, Mineral County, Storey County, Carson City Fire, East Fork FPD, North Lyon County Fire, Washoe County Sheriff's Dept., Nevada Highway Patrol, Nevada Army National Guard, NV Energy, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
http://emergencystream.com/video_streams/NV/Reno3.html
...STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING...
STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING AHEAD OF A WINTER STORM APPROACHING THE SIERRA. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE THROUGH THIS EVENING AS THE ATMOSPHERE MOISTENS AHEAD OF THE STORM. STRONG WINDS COMBINED WITH UNSEASONABLY DRY FUELS WILL CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH 10 PM.
26 Homes Lost in Reno Fire, 2,000 Evacuated
BY MARTIN GRIFFITH
Associated Press
The forecast of rain and snow would help douse the flames but also increase the chance of flooding on the charred land, authorities said.
Created: January 20, 2012
RecommendTwitterShareEmail Print 0 Comments AP Photo/Cathleen Allison
Firefighters battle a fast-moving brush fire in Pleasant Valley, south of Reno, Nev., on Jan. 19.
Firefighters battle a fast-moving brush fire in Pleasant Valley, south of Reno, Nev., on Jan. 19.
Firefighters wait for water before attacking an outbuilding adjacent to a home Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 in Pleasant Valley, Nev. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire south...
Firefighters wait for water before attacking an outbuilding adjacent to a home Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 in Pleasant Valley, Nev. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire south of Reno out of control on Thursday as it burned several...
Firefighters battle a fast-moving brush fire burns in Pleasant Valley, south of Reno, Nev., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire through a valley...
Firefighters battle a fast-moving brush fire burns in Pleasant Valley, south of Reno, Nev., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire through a valley south of Reno on Thursday, burning several homes...
A house burns just south of the Old 395 Gas Station Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 in Washoe Valley, Nev. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire south of Reno out of control on...A house burns just south of the Old 395 Gas Station Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 in Washoe Valley, Nev. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire south of Reno out of control on Thursday as it burned several homes, threatened dozens more...
Editor’s note: Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez will be the keynote at Firehouse World next month in San Diego. He will address his agency’s response back-to-back responses to the Reno Air Race disaster and the Caughlin Fire.
RENO, Nev. -- Firefighters worked to hold the line Friday on a fast-moving brush fire that tore through the Reno area, destroyed 26 houses and forced thousands of residents to flee. The forecast of rain and snow would help douse the flames but also increase the chance of flooding on the charred land, authorities said.
The blaze started shortly after noon Thursday and, fueled by wind gusts reaching 82 mph, mushroomed to more than 6 square miles before firefighters stopped its surge toward Reno.
"The fire moved very, very fast," Washoe County Sheriff Mike Haley said Friday at a briefing. "Firefighters did an enormously good job of holding the number of structures down to 26."
The fire's cause isn't known. It started in a valley along U.S. Highway 395, which remained closed because of power lines on the road, said Chris Perry, director, Department of Public Safety.
At one point, the flames got within 100 yards of Galena High School, where Vice President Joe Biden spoke earlier Thursday. Three nearby schools were closed Friday and about 200 customers were without electricity.
The fire held steady at about 3,900 acres and was 50 percent contained. More than 10,000 people were told to leave their homes during the height of the blaze, and about 2,000 of them remained under evacuation orders.
At least 700 people were expected to fight the blaze Friday, including law enforcement, crews from the National Guard and firefighters from California.
By nightfall Thursday, the fire had burned to Reno's southern outskirts. Flames were visible from the downtown casino district, about 10 miles away.
Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez said there was one fatality in the fire area but declined to provide more details, saying an autopsy would be needed to determine the cause of death.
The blaze was "almost a carbon copy" of a huge wild fire on the edge of the Sierra foothills that destroyed 30 homes in southwest Reno in November, the fire chief said. It burned about 3 square miles and also forced the evacuation of 10,000 people.
"It's inconceivable that this community has been struck by tragedy again," said Gov. Brian Sandoval, who declared a state of emergency Thursday afternoon.
The flames, up to 40 feet high, raced through sage brush, grass and pines in an area where small neighborhoods are dispersed among an otherwise rural landscape.
"The area burned is absolutely devastated," Haley said.
About 300 elementary school students were taken to an evacuation center, and deputies went door to door asking people to leave their homes in Pleasant Valley, Old Washoe Valley and Saint James Village, Washoe County sheriff's Deputy Armando Avina said.
Erika Minnberry, 28, said she didn't become concerned at first because smoke from the fire appeared far enough away.
"Probably 30 minutes later, it was up to our house because of the high winds," she said. "I felt pure survival adrenaline. When we drove away, the smoke was so thick, we could barely see ahead of us. Now I feel anxiety. I couldn't find my two cats at the time and I hope they're OK."
With the smell of smoke in the air, Biden was about 25 minutes into his address when aides summoned him off stage. He told the audience he would have to move onto a question-and-answer period before officials "made me get out of here."
As with the November fire, which was sparked by downed power lines, strong winds and dry conditions helped fuel the latest blaze. The Reno area had gone a winter-record 56 days without any precipitation until light snow fell earlier this week.
___
Associated Press writers Michelle Rindels in Las Vegas, Martin Griffith in Reno and Sandra Chereb in Carson City contributed to this report.
We are recieivng reports of strructural loss on this fire. Galena High School Evacuated. Washoe Drive at Highway 395. Rain should slow fire by late night fall. Power lines down in fire area. Galena area hit hard by fire.
Livestock may be sent to livestock event center. Fire on both sides of Highway 395. 10,000 people evacuated. Reports of 20 homes destroyed, unconfirmed at this time. Rain and possibly snow may come in soon to slow fire.
Fulton IHC committed to Western Great Basin Pre-position. Enroute to Carson City. St.James Villiage near Mt. Rose is being evacuated. Bear Divide IHC committed to Western Great Basin Support. Enroute to Carson City. Resources responding to the Jacks Valley Fire near Genoa Lakes. The Reno Sparks Livestock Event Center has been activated as an evacuation center for horses and other livestock being evacuated.
Evacuations in the Galena area are now in effect. Evacuations are now in effect for Pleasant Valley and the Pleasant Valley school has been evacuated. The Reno Weather Service has extended the Red Flag Warning for zone 450 untill 2200 tonight. 60 mph gusts reported on the Washoe Valley Fire.
Washoe City to Pleasant Valley on both sides of U.S. 395; 10 miles south of Reno (Lat. 39 19 33 Long. 119 48 31)
01/19/2012
12:45 p.m.
3,700 acres (as reported by Reno Fire)
Fire Perimeter Map in pdf (as of 7:20 p.m. on 1/19)
Brush & grass
Unified command with Reno Fire, Sierra Fire Protection District, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management & Nevada Division of Forestry
Lyon County, Tahoe-Douglas, Mineral County, Storey County, Carson City Fire, East Fork FPD, North Lyon County Fire, Washoe County Sheriff's Dept., Nevada Highway Patrol, Nevada Army National Guard, NV Energy, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
http://emergencystream.com/video_streams/NV/Reno3.html
...STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING...
STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING AHEAD OF A WINTER STORM APPROACHING THE SIERRA. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE THROUGH THIS EVENING AS THE ATMOSPHERE MOISTENS AHEAD OF THE STORM. STRONG WINDS COMBINED WITH UNSEASONABLY DRY FUELS WILL CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH 10 PM.
26 Homes Lost in Reno Fire, 2,000 Evacuated
BY MARTIN GRIFFITH
Associated Press
The forecast of rain and snow would help douse the flames but also increase the chance of flooding on the charred land, authorities said.
Created: January 20, 2012
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Firefighters battle a fast-moving brush fire in Pleasant Valley, south of Reno, Nev., on Jan. 19.
Firefighters battle a fast-moving brush fire in Pleasant Valley, south of Reno, Nev., on Jan. 19.
Firefighters wait for water before attacking an outbuilding adjacent to a home Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 in Pleasant Valley, Nev. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire south...
Firefighters wait for water before attacking an outbuilding adjacent to a home Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 in Pleasant Valley, Nev. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire south of Reno out of control on Thursday as it burned several...
Firefighters battle a fast-moving brush fire burns in Pleasant Valley, south of Reno, Nev., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire through a valley...
Firefighters battle a fast-moving brush fire burns in Pleasant Valley, south of Reno, Nev., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire through a valley south of Reno on Thursday, burning several homes...
A house burns just south of the Old 395 Gas Station Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 in Washoe Valley, Nev. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire south of Reno out of control on...A house burns just south of the Old 395 Gas Station Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 in Washoe Valley, Nev. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire south of Reno out of control on Thursday as it burned several homes, threatened dozens more...
Editor’s note: Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez will be the keynote at Firehouse World next month in San Diego. He will address his agency’s response back-to-back responses to the Reno Air Race disaster and the Caughlin Fire.
RENO, Nev. -- Firefighters worked to hold the line Friday on a fast-moving brush fire that tore through the Reno area, destroyed 26 houses and forced thousands of residents to flee. The forecast of rain and snow would help douse the flames but also increase the chance of flooding on the charred land, authorities said.
The blaze started shortly after noon Thursday and, fueled by wind gusts reaching 82 mph, mushroomed to more than 6 square miles before firefighters stopped its surge toward Reno.
"The fire moved very, very fast," Washoe County Sheriff Mike Haley said Friday at a briefing. "Firefighters did an enormously good job of holding the number of structures down to 26."
The fire's cause isn't known. It started in a valley along U.S. Highway 395, which remained closed because of power lines on the road, said Chris Perry, director, Department of Public Safety.
At one point, the flames got within 100 yards of Galena High School, where Vice President Joe Biden spoke earlier Thursday. Three nearby schools were closed Friday and about 200 customers were without electricity.
The fire held steady at about 3,900 acres and was 50 percent contained. More than 10,000 people were told to leave their homes during the height of the blaze, and about 2,000 of them remained under evacuation orders.
At least 700 people were expected to fight the blaze Friday, including law enforcement, crews from the National Guard and firefighters from California.
By nightfall Thursday, the fire had burned to Reno's southern outskirts. Flames were visible from the downtown casino district, about 10 miles away.
Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez said there was one fatality in the fire area but declined to provide more details, saying an autopsy would be needed to determine the cause of death.
The blaze was "almost a carbon copy" of a huge wild fire on the edge of the Sierra foothills that destroyed 30 homes in southwest Reno in November, the fire chief said. It burned about 3 square miles and also forced the evacuation of 10,000 people.
"It's inconceivable that this community has been struck by tragedy again," said Gov. Brian Sandoval, who declared a state of emergency Thursday afternoon.
The flames, up to 40 feet high, raced through sage brush, grass and pines in an area where small neighborhoods are dispersed among an otherwise rural landscape.
"The area burned is absolutely devastated," Haley said.
About 300 elementary school students were taken to an evacuation center, and deputies went door to door asking people to leave their homes in Pleasant Valley, Old Washoe Valley and Saint James Village, Washoe County sheriff's Deputy Armando Avina said.
Erika Minnberry, 28, said she didn't become concerned at first because smoke from the fire appeared far enough away.
"Probably 30 minutes later, it was up to our house because of the high winds," she said. "I felt pure survival adrenaline. When we drove away, the smoke was so thick, we could barely see ahead of us. Now I feel anxiety. I couldn't find my two cats at the time and I hope they're OK."
With the smell of smoke in the air, Biden was about 25 minutes into his address when aides summoned him off stage. He told the audience he would have to move onto a question-and-answer period before officials "made me get out of here."
As with the November fire, which was sparked by downed power lines, strong winds and dry conditions helped fuel the latest blaze. The Reno area had gone a winter-record 56 days without any precipitation until light snow fell earlier this week.
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Associated Press writers Michelle Rindels in Las Vegas, Martin Griffith in Reno and Sandra Chereb in Carson City contributed to this report.
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