FIREFIGHTER DIES AS 23 WILDFIRES BURN ACROSS CA

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

 

 

East County News Service

August 1, 2015 (San Diego) – Governor Brown has called in the National Guard to help battle blazes burning across the state. One firefighter was killed in Northern California, where a red flag is in alert.  Currently firefighters are battling 23 wildfires stateswide. CAL FIRE Captain Kendal Bortisser in San Diego has provided the following update issued Friday night, July 31st:

On behalf of CAL FIRE San Diego Unit and County Fire Chief Tony Mecham, I would like to update you on the Statewide Fire status as of this evening.  Today was another day of extreme fire activity across Northern California, with lightning sparking dozens of new fires. Many of the lightning-sparked fires are being managed as single fire “complexes”. This evening over 8,000 firefighters are battling 23 large fires. The threat of dry thunderstorms continues across much of Northern California through the weekend, resulting in elevated fire danger due to dry lightning and gusty winds. A Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service across the northern part of the state due to the dry thunderstorms and gusty winds.

Sadly, today a US Forest Service firefighter died responding to the Frog Fire in Modoc County. Governor Brown issued the following statement. With the high level of fire activity, CAL FIRE requested assistance from the California National Guard. Today the Guard activated two C130 MAFFS airtankers, following the mobilization on Thursday of nine helicopters to help battle the current wildfires. This activation will provide additional equipment and personnel to augment CAL FIRE’s forces during the high level of fire activity California is experiencing across the state.

Today, Governor Brown declared a State of Emergency in many counties of California due to the wildfires. This weekend many people will choose to enjoy the slightly cooler weather by recreating in the outdoors. CAL FIRE cautions all Californians and visitors to be extra careful outdoors as it doesn’t take much to spark a wildfire. One Less Spark, means One Less Wildfire. Learn more at www.ReadyForWildfire.org.



Fires of Interest:

**CAL FIRE Incidents**

 

Rocky Fire, Lake County (more info…)

East of Lower Lake

* 18,000 acres – 5% contained

* Evacuations in effect

Barker Fire, Trinity County (more info…)

Barker Valley North of Highway 3, 5 miles northeast of Hayfork

* 500 acres

* Evacuations in effect

Mendocino Lightening Fires, Mendocino County

Throughout Mendocino County

*6 fires totaling 50 acres – 80% contained

*All but one contained. 4-2 Cahto Fire is 30 acres – 20% contained

Humboldt Lightening Fires, Humboldt County

Throughout Humboldt County

*71 fires totaling 205 acres – 20% contained



Advance Fire, Tulare County

North of Three Rivers

* 86 acres – 50% contained

Swedes Fire, Butte County (more info…)

North of Bangor

* 400 acres – 80% contained

China Fire, Shasta County (more info…)

China Gulch near Happy Valley, southwest of Redding

*2 fires for a total of 212 acres – 85% contained

Big Creek Fire, Tuolumne County (more info…)

off Hwy 120 and Sprague Rd near Groveland

*204 acres – 45% contained

Lowell Fire, Nevada County (more info…)

You Bet area, west of Alta

*2,303 acres – 75% contained

*Full containment expected on August 3

Wragg Fire, Napa & Solano Counties (more info…)

Off Hwy 128 near Lake Berryessa

*8,051 acres – 92% contained

*Full containment expected on August 3

Queen Fire, Humboldt County (more info…)

Off Hwy 169, 5 miles southeast of Pecwan

*158 acres – 85% contained

Mallard Fire, Shasta County (more info…)

Millville area

*75 acres – 100% contained

Sprig Fire, Shasta County

Millville area – southeast of Redding

* 2 fires totaling 90 acres - 100% contained

 

**Unified Command Incidents**

Willow Fire, Madera County (more info…)

US Forest Service - Shasta-Trinity National Forest / CAL FIRE

Southeast of Bass Lake

*4,394 acres – 30% contained

* Evacuations in effect

Rail Fire, Trinity County NEW

US Forest Service - Sierra National Forest / CAL FIRE

Rail Canyon & Hwy 3, south of Hayfork

*800 acres

* Evacuations in progress



 

**Federal Incidents**

Fork Complex, Trinity County (more info…) NEW

US Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest

South of Hyampom

*2,500 acres

River Complex, Trinity County (more info…) NEW

US Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest

New River Drainage, near Denny

*1,000 acres

Frog Fire, Modoc County (more info…) NEW

US Forest Service – Modoc National Forest

Southwest of Lava Campground

*1,000 acres

Mad River Complex, Trinity County NEW

US Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest

Near Ruth Lake

*400 acres

Etsel Fire, Mendocino County NEW

US Forest Service – Mendocino National Forest

Etsel Ridge, 14 miles east of Covelo

*20 acres

Cabin Fire, Tulare County (more info…)

US Forest Service - Sequoia National Forest

8 miles northeast of Camp Nelson

*2,000 acres

Cutca Fire, San Diego County (more info…)

US Forest Service - Cleveland National Forest

Palomar Mountain

*167 acres – 80% contained

Pines Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)

US Forest Service – Angeles National Forest

Near Big Pines, northwest of Wrightwood

*200 acres – 85% contained

Lake Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…)

US Forest Service – San Bernardino National Forest

south of Big Bear Lake

*31,359 acres – 98% contained

Washington Fire, Alpine County (more info…)

U
S Forest Service – Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

South of Markleeville

*17,790 acres – 99% contained


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.