American River Complex July 19, 2008 Update
Incident: American River Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 7/19/2008
For further Information visit: www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe or http://www.inciweb.org/
Info Center: (530) 367-6223, 6224, or 6226 - Hours of Operation: 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
By the Numbers
Complex
19,992 acres; 65% contained;
762 personnel: 14 crews; 8
helicopters; 34 engines; 5
dozers; 31 water tenders
Estimated Containment Date:
August 1, 2008
Fires
Government Springs/
Westville Fire
19,371 acres; 65% contained
Peavine - 551; 100 % contained
Placer County, CA - Firefighters continued to make gains Friday on the 30-square-mile Government Springs/Westville fire centered in the rugged American River Canyon about 75 miles northeast of Sacramento.Crews are extinguishing remaining hot spots 200 feet into the burned area and continuing rehabilitation of fire control lines on the western fire perimeter on both sides of the American River.
Tough work remains to contain the fire's northeast flank. Crews worked deep into the canyon on Friday, supported by helicopter water drops. Helicopters are dropping up to 200,000 gallons of water on the fire daily.
North of the river, the fire lurked in the steep and rocky reaches of Big Valley Canyon, west of Sugar Pine Point. Three miles upstream, on the south side of the river, crews began a burnout operation late Thursday night on the ridge between New York and Sailor Canyons. After burning north to the river, they started mopping up on Friday and will continue burning west along the river on Saturday to keep the fire from crossing to the north side into Big Granite Creek.
Firefighters continued to mop up and strengthen existing control lines where needed and rehabilitate constructed line, according to Tahoe National Forest guidelines. Smoke from the Government Springs/Westville fire reached eastward past Truckee on Friday.
On Saturday, 200 members of the California National Guard will begin a three-day training exercise in fire suppression techniques on the fire's southern flank.
Incident commander Rowdy Muir spoke this week to more than 150 local residents at fire information meetings at Soda Springs, Foresthill and Alta.
Fire restrictions remain in effect within the Tahoe National Forest. More information on fire restrictions is available at www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe.
Several road, trail and area closures remain in effect. Please see http://www.inciweb.org/ or www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/fire/index.shtml for the complete listing of closures.
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