August 4th Update
Incident: Yolla Bolly Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 8/4/2008
Yolla Bolly Complex Fire Update
Resources:
Acres Burned
77,918
Crews
10
Cause
Lightning
Engines
24
Date Started
June 20, 2008
Helicopters
8
Percent Contained
50%
Dozers
9
Expected Containment
August 15, 2008
Water Tenders
6
Total Resources
562
Suppression Strategy: The Forests' intent continues to be confine and containment of all fires within the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness. Private in-holdings within the wilderness boundary will receive priority for resource allocation and protection. Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics (MIST) will be used within the Wilderness. Outside of the wilderness, more aggressive suppression tactics will be considered.
Current Fire Situation: With similar weather conditions anticipated for the next, few days, fire behavior is expected to largely remain as creeping, smoldering surface & ground fire. In areas with concentrations of downed, dead fuels, occasional short-range spotting and isolated torching is likely. The winds influencing fire behavior are mainly terrain-driven, upslope/up valley winds during the day and down-slope/down valley in the evening hours. With the ongoing hot, dry weather conditions, the live fuels (e.g. brush) that previously served as a barrier to fire's spread, are now fully cured & capable of carrying fire.
Today's Objectives: Yesterday's late afternoon to evening burnout operation in the vicinity of "Dead Puppy Ridge" to Wells Butte was extremely successful thanks to weather and operational persistence. The Grouse Fire (3,028 acres, 15% contained) saw some growth yesterday on the south east corner of the fire. Crews will continue to prepare for additional burnout operations between the Grouse Fire and the head of the Vinegar Fire (41,956 acres, 50% contained). Crews will also begin pulling structure protection equipment on the south end of the Yellow Fire (28,248acres, 50% contained) starting today. The Trough Fire (3,686 acres, 100% contained), the northeast & eastern flanks of the Vinegar Fire and, the southwest portion of the Yellow Fire will continue to be monitored. Daily air patrols will keep an "eye in the sky" on the contained, relatively quiet parts of these fires.
Structures and Resources Threatened: The fires in the complex continue to threaten CAL FIRE and BLM areas to the east, and, privately-owned lands adjacent to the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness. Structure protection is in-place on privately-owned lands in the Henthorne Lake area, as well as USFS historic buildings.
Area Closures: Call Caltrans 1-800-427-7623 for information about state highways. For information on Forest road closures, contact the respective national forests listed in this update's letterhead. The Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness is also closed to public use to provide for public safety and facilitate fire fighting efforts. ADVISORY: Please be aware that while driving in the complex area, you may encounter firefighters working on or near roadways. Please be careful.
Additional Fire Information: Please contact the Yolla Bolly Incident Information Center at (530) 833-0357. Summary information, photos, and maps of the incident are also available online at www.inciweb.org
