Piute Evening Update for Tuesday, July 8th 9am PDT
Incident: Piute Wildland Fire
Released: 7/8/2008
Tuesday, July 8th @9 PM PDT Evening Update
Acres: 33,152
Contained: 28%
Cost: $13,100,000
Resources:
Crews: 22
Engines: 115
Dozers: 11
Watertenders: 29
Helicopters: 5
Overhead: 269
Total Personnel: 1,359
WHAT'S NEW & EVENTS:
· Current assessments indicate five residences, four out buildings, two vehicles and one private bulldozer were either damaged or destroyed by the fire's run south of King Solomons Ridge.
· Dozer line is being constructed around the communities of Havilah, Bodfish, Squirrel Mountain Valley, South Lake, Bella Vista and tying back into the Kelso Valley to protect the communities from risk.
· Firefighters made good progress constructing line on the western flank and limiting the spread in along King Solomons Ridge.
· The increase in acreage occurred mostly on the northern flank, where the fire is near Dry Meadows.
Fire Status: Crews were successful in building line on the western flank and significantly slowed the spread of the fire near Haight Canyon. Firefighters also made good progress in the Erskine Creek drainage. The fire was active on the northern perimeter and moved into the Dry Meadows and Bob Rabbit Canyon areas. The increase in containment came from the southern flank where crews have worked for over a week. Firefighters were aided throughout the day by slightly higher humidities and light winds. Throughout the night, line construction will continue on the western flank.
Evacuation Shelter: The shelter at the Kern Valley Senior Center, 6409 Lake Isabella Blvd, is back in standby status but can be quickly activated if needed. Individuals who require additional time to evacuate and those who have large animals are urged to consider beginning the evacuation process early.
Existing Closures and Road Status: On July 1, the Forest Service implemented a Piute Fire Area Closure. This area includes all access points west of the Pacific Crest Trail. BLM closures include Nichols Peak, Bright Star Wilderness Area, Cortez Canyon, Dry Canyon, Jawbone Canyon and Lynch Canyon, Piute Mountain Road, Saddle Springs Road, Erskine Creek Road and all routes of travel west of the Pacific Crest Trail, are now closed to off highway vehicles (OHV). Other road closures include McCray Road from the end of the pavement south, and Fawn Drive from the end of the pavement south. Further information may be obtained at 661-391-6005. There is an area closure in effect for the Piute Mountains from Piute Mountain Road at Caliente Creek Road; Saddle Springs Road at Caliente/Bodfish Road; Jawbone Canyon Road south of Piute Mountain Road; Roads 29S02 and 29S03 and Erskine Creek Road at pavement.
Weather: Residents near the fire can expect a morning inversion that will allow smoke to settle in low-lying areas. Temperatures in the fire area will be in the 90s and winds will be light and variable.
Cooperating Agencies & Partners: US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Kern County Fire Department, Kern County Sheriff, and Kern County Office of Emergency Services, CALFIRE, California Highway Patrol and the Kern County Animal Control, and Office of Emergency Services Fire and Rescue.
