Approximate Location
Incident Overview
· On Saturday, June 21, after predictive models and the behavior of a small test fire indicated that conditions were appropriate to burn, ignition operations on the Walla Valley Prescribed Burn began with blacklining to secure the perimeter of the burn unit.
· Ignition operations were suspended on June 22, after several spot fires occurred at distances farther from the blackline than anticipated, and after fire management officials determined that fire behavior was not within acceptable parameters to continue. All spot fires were suppressed, and firefighters began to focus their efforts on holding the fire within the burn unit and on checking the spread of a portion of the fire that was active below the rim.
· While holding efforts were successful, the fire's edge began to approach thicker, denser fuels where it would have become much more difficult for firefighters to continue successful holding operations. As a result, on June 25, fire managers made the decision to convert the Walla Valley Prescribed Burn to a wildfire.
· Firefighters have completed a fireline from the canyon rim to the Kanabownits Cabin and out to Galahad Point, creating a containment line. As needed, the containment line was secured by igniting vegetation between the line and the leading edge of the fire. These burnout operations were implemented in the evening when the potential for active fire behavior was less. There has been no significant change in the perimeter of the fire since the afternoon of June 28. No additional burnout activities are anticipated unless the southern flank of the fire starts to advance again.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Prescribed Fire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Blacklining Operations Securing The Perimeter Of The Burn Unit |
| Date of Origin | Saturday June 21st, 2008 approx. 06:21 PM |
| Location | North Rim: about 9mi west of developed area; in vicinity of Walla Valley and Point Sublime |
| Incident Commander | Chris Marks |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 125 |
|---|---|
| Size | 433 acres |
| Percent Contained | 100% |
| Fuels Involved | The burn unit is comprised of a ponderosa pine dominated mixed conifer forest on the northern portion of the burn unit and a more pure ponderosa pine forest on the middle and southern portions of the unit. A small amount of pinon and juniper occur close to the rim edge; and gamble oak dominates the vegetation directly below the rim. |
| Significant Events | * June 21: Blacklining operations were initiated after predictive models and the behavior of a small test fire indicated that conditions were appropriate to burn. * June 22: Ignition operations were suspended after several spot fires occurred at distances further than anticipated from the blackline and fire management officials determined fire behavior was not within acceptable parameters to continue. * June 25: Fire management officials made the decision to convert the fire from a prescribed burn to a wildfire and begin active suppression of the fire when it began approaching denser fuels where it would have been much more difficult to continue successful holding operations. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Today, firefighters will build on the rpogress made yesterday holding the fire in its current position and reinforcing containment line. Helicopters will be utilized when necessary to secure fire lines. There has been no significant change in the perimeter of the fire since the afternoon of June 28. No additional burnout activities to secure the containment line are anticipated unless the southern flank of the fire starts to advance again. |
|---|---|
| Terrain Difficulty | Moderate |
