Rim Fire

[~mikey b]

Pushing 150,000.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3660/

try 160,980 acres - 20% contained

they are putting in indirect lines well in advance of any expansion towards Hwy 108

AND

today was another big day with spotting over established lines and big crown runs towards Hwy 108

evac advisories now extend to Pinecrest on the S side of Hwy 108 - Dodge Ridge is now in play

[LightRanger]

Well actually it does happen every year, just not to this size and extent. If it were for 100+ years of fire suppression it wouldn't be this bad. Still a fire of this extent is bad on several fronts, mostly as a risk to the men and women on the lines...stay safe.

Not to the Sierra. This fire is unprecedented in terms of the speed of its spread and size for the Sierra. Significantly different fuel load than SD/OC/LA chaparral--and even more significant because there aren't Santa Ana winds driving it like most of the other megafires in state history. Sizable difference between the Tuolumne River canyon and Santiago Canyon/Trabuco Canyon. If you look at the list, all the big ones (with one or two exceptions) were either Santa Ana-driven, or way out in Trinity County and didn't have as many resources devoted to them.

Don't disagree with you on the suppression issues, but I don't think you can make a blanket statement like that. We just had the driest spring on record in the Sierra, following another incredibly dry year. That has at least as much to do with it as suppression tactics. And that'll likely be a relatively larger reason for large fires as time goes on with a changing climate. We didn't have 100+ years of suppression prior to the Big Blowup of 1910, but that didn't stop it from being that bad: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Fire_of_1910

Now at 160,000+ and 10th in size in state history, at only 20% contained. Edit: Oops, was writing this when Mike posted.

Fires happen... Its a natural cycle... Obvioulsy no one wants anyone hurt but before humans fires would happen, keeps the forests more open.

Thank you for that primer. We learned a lot.

[Meadow Skipper]

The Google Earth map for 8/26 on Inciweb shows a big-ass spot fire just above Hetch Hetchy. Kind of a monster.

[~mikey b]

not my friends

a day or two old


_____


anyone know where the DC10's are flying out of? certainly not PML or Columbia

[spanghew]

good post. And there have been decades of controlled burns all over that area, especially around Yosemite, not to mention innumerable thinning projects throughout the Stanislaus forest. Previous big fires have left thousands of acres of manzanita (and poison oak) on steep hillsides that burns hot and fast; there have been decades of efforts to control that, too, with big brush chippers and plastic covering stumps to reduce regrowth, among other things. My friend's ranch got burned over for the third time in 20 years up at the head of the Clavey drainage; they were prepped enough not to lose too much, and didn't have to evacuate . . . the ranch is 150 years old, most of the buildings still standing even though it's n the middle of a forest.

[From_the_NEK]

not my friends

a day or two old


_____


anyone know where the DC10's are flying out of? certainly not PML or Columbia

Looks like the vicinity of the Pine Mtn Lake Airport.
According to the maps for Google Earth that you can download here (http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/googleearth.php), the area around the Big Oak Flat Entrance into Yosemite is burning and approaching the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. The fire looks to be more contained on the NW side (route 108).

[supermodel159]

^^ Aussies make everything sound cooler.

[FrankZappa]

Yikes! Another big run over the last day.
Stay safe & more good luck!

http://wildfiretoday.com/2013/08/21/...f-yosemite-np/

The spokesperson also told us at 9 a.m. today that the fire has burned 179,481 acres (280 square miles), which is an increase of about 30,000 acres from yesterday morning.

[Meadow Skipper]

Anyone know where the DC10's are flying out of? certainly not PML or Columbia

I'd hazard an uninformed guess that it's either McClellen or Fresno. Both have big ramps with reload capabilities...or they did recently.

[DJSapp]

I'd hazard an uninformed guess that it's either McClellen or Fresno. Both have big ramps with reload capabilities...or they did recently.

Not Fresno, I asked my brother over the weekend (he lives in the Fresno departure path). Those birds are noisy and he would have noticed.

We speculated about Castle, but I didn't think they had the reload capabilities. Good location.

[Meadow Skipper]

Not Fresno, I asked my brother over the weekend (he lives in the Fresno departure path). Those birds are noisy and he would have noticed.

We speculated about Castle, but I didn't think they had the reload capabilities. Good location.

I don't track these things any more, but they have portable/temporary retardant set-ups (mixers, tanks, pumps). I've wondered if a portable retardant base could produce enough mud for a VLAT.

[char]

There is also the issue of a ramp built to hold the load. That is certainly another limiting factor on where they can fly the VLAT from.

In CA they can reload at MCC or SBD.

[ill-advised strategy]

I don't have anything important to add. I just hope everyone plays it smart and you get a few good bounces as this thing unfolds.

[DJSapp]

There is also the issue of a ramp built to hold the load. That is certainly another limiting factor on where they can fly the VLAT from.

In CA they can reload at MCC or SBD.

Well, Castle was home to the 93rd bomber wing (B-52's). I'd imagine if it could handle a squad of B-52's it could handle the VLAT, but I'm not an aviation guy.

Also, I have no idea what happened to Castle since it closed, and if it could be re-commissioned quickly or if it's open for civilian use.

[Hugh Conway]

Also, I have no idea what happened to Castle since it closed, and if it could be re-commissioned quickly or if it's open for civilian use.

MER is open for civilian use. But I don't think it's being used:
http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/logistics/a...Bases_2013.pdf

[char]

Probably doesn't make sense for the VLAT since they can fly 500 mph. Tanker bases tend to be fixed since they require oversight and a significant amount of equipment to run. Not saying it isn't possible.

[frorider]

Appreciate the info/updates in this thread.

On another note:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...al-media-avoid

[LightRanger]

Some good chatter from locals on Supertopo:
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/th...2206574&tn=420

Now the 6th largest fire in state history...

[userA]

just returned from boise and the rim fire smoke was filling the treasure valley.
good luck mike stay wet
bF

[FrankZappa]

Map is a couple days old but gives some background on some of what's been going on and I imagine Divisions are close to same.

http://yubanet.com/Briefing_Day_Esiz...857_150dpi.pdf


Couple audio channels:
Tuolumne County Sheriff, Fire
http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/3465/web

a little bit of air ops
Mother Lode Fire Agencies
http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/964/web

[Meadow Skipper]

A bit of thread drift.

Here come the Canucks! Well, to OR, ID, MT anyway:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/08...n_3797462.html

Appreciate the help, eh?

[LightRanger]

A bit of thread drift.

Here come the Canucks! Well, to OR, ID, MT anyway:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/08...n_3797462.html

Appreciate the help, eh?

Next time tell 'em to bring this thing: http://www.martinmars.com/ I'd pay serious money to see that thing dipping out of Hetch Hetchy...

[Meadow Skipper]

Next time tell 'em to bring this thing: http://www.martinmars.com/ I'd pay serious money to see that thing dipping out of Hetch Hetchy...

I know, right? I've never seen one IRL, but I'd like to. Massive, floatable, and 4 radial engines...

[FrankZappa]

from wlfhotlist on where DC-10's op from + 3 more maffs coming in

Aircraft on order:
MAFFS 2 ETA 1500
MAFFS 5 ETA 1700
MAFFS 9 ETA 1200

T910 and T911 both assigned to the fire, operating out of McClellan. Lead C1 is working with the DC-10s, also out of KMCC
T07 operating out of Stockton.
MAFFS 4 and 6 have been operating out of Fresno.

Haven't heard anything regarding any other aircraft. If anyone has access to ROSS, that would help fill in the list.

MAFFS 2, 5, and 9 will come out of BOI.

edit to add:

Castle Airport is now open as an air tanker base, capable of handling the VLAT. This should reduce the sortie times for the heavies by 10-20 minutes.

(Yes, I said Castle...)

[LightRanger]

Crane Flat cam is fucking scary right now: