Bagley Fire Update 9 PM August 31, 2012
Incident: Bagley Wildfire
Released: 8/31/2012
Fire Facts:
Date started: August 18, 2012 at 10 am
Number of Personnel: 1,875
Location: Fire started 7 miles west of Big Bend, CA
Hand Crews: 61
Size: 37,582 acres (58 square miles)
Engines: 93
Percent Contained: 30%
Dozers: 29
Estimated Containment Date: September 15, 2012
Water Tenders: 29
Cause: Lightning
Helicopters: 10
Cost to Date: $14,200,000
Air Tankers: Available when needed and conditions allow
Structures Threatened: 27 Structures and regional power transmission lines
Injuries to Date: 1
Today's Update:
Firefighters fully engaged the fire today as the relative humidity dropped and afternoon winds increased fire activity testing their containment lines. Intensified fire activity along the west flank of the fire prompted the use of air tankers to drop retardant in an effort to restrain the fire within existing containment lines. Helicopters were also called upon to cool flare-ups near containment line in an effort to prevent spotting across the lines.
Crews will continue to work through the night to hold the fire within the containment line, and strengthen these containment lines by burning unburned fuels next to them. Given today's fire activity, firefighters will remain alert for any spotfires outside the containment lines; responding aggressively to any new spot fires.
Visitors are encouraged to use caution when travelling on Forest Road 11 to and from McCloud Reservoir due to heavy fire traffic, particularly over the holiday weekend.
Fire Behavior and Smoke:
Winds are expected to remain light this morning. The forecast calls for increasing winds from the southwest throughout the afternoon with gusts up to 20 mph along ridgetops. The winds will push smoke northeast of the fire area into communities including McCloud.
Public Safety:
Smoke will continue to pose health concerns. Local air quality conditions and forecasts are available at http://airnow.gov/index.cfm action=airnow.main. For smoke conditions in McCloud, visit the Forest Service real time smoke monitor site at http://tinyurl.com/92xqbzn. Residents are encouraged to visit the "Protect Yourself from Smoke" website for smoke protection information at http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Wildfires/.
In the interest of firefighter and public safety, the Shasta-Trinity National Forest has issued emergency closure areas. These closures will remain in place until the area is safe for the public. Please see the Forest Orders and closure maps on InciWeb (address above).
Community Meeting:
A community meeting was held tonight at McCloud Elemetery School, located at 332 Hamilton Way, McCloud, CA. Incident Management Team members from the Unified Command provided an update on firefighting efforts and answered questions.
