Schaeffer Fire Progresses East into Upper Rattlesnake Canyon
July 9, 2017 Morning Update
Acres Burned: 14,342 Structures Threatened: 13
Containment: 11% Injuries: 1 minor
Personnel: 798 Fuel Type:Brush, timber, heavy dead and down
Start Date: June 24
***A Forest closure order for the area of the fire, including all roads and trails has been issued, going into effect today and will remain in effect until the fire is declared out (Forest Order No. 0513-17-20). For details regarding this closure, please go to https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5285
Sunday, July 9th, fire crews will continue improving containment lines on the south and east flanks. As the fire approaches containment lines, strategic firing operations may be used to remove unburned fuel between the containment line and the fire, as conditions allow. Crews continue to prep for structure protection with increased defensible space and strengthening containment lines in the area.
Saturday the fire crept through the McNally fire scar on the north and east flanks of the fire. Firefighters continue to have success with containment efforts as fire backs slowly toward the Kern River to the northwest. The west flank has held for the past 48 hours. Hotshot crews are working in the rugged terrain on the north end of the fire to strengthen the containment line using existing roads and trails to keep it from spreading into the Golden Trout Wilderness.
Fire activity is predicted to be active today. Weather continues to be hot and dry for a few more days, with a chance of thundershowers today. The fire progressed on the south and east edges, and fire crews are doing an outstanding job strengthening the indirect handline on the south edge around Schaeffer Mountain and tying into the forest roads, trails and Sherman Pass Road. This effort can reduce the overall containment area.
Helicopters are making water drops to protect resources in the vicinity, and air tankers will be used to reinforce containment lines when they can be used effectively, and weather conditions permit.
There will be a community meeting is scheduled in Inyokern today at 3:00 PM at Inyokern Fire Station #73 (6919 Monache Mountain Ave).
People with respiratory conditions, young children, and senior citizens may be susceptible to adverse effects. Air District officials urge residents to follow their doctor’s advice. For more information, see https://www.cdc.gov/features/wildfires/index.html or http://valleyair.org/wildfires.htm.
For more information follow #SchaefferFire on Facebook and Twitter or go tohttps://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5285. The Kern River Ranger District can also be reached at 760-376-3781 (ext.635) from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
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California Statewide Fire Summary
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Approximately 5,000 firefighters are battling 14 large wildfires in California.
In the northern region, the high will shift southeast today and allow a Pacific low pressure trough to reach the Northern California Coast and the Pacific Northwest. The trough will move slowly northeast, leaving early in the week. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible in far northern areas today through Tuesday. The trough will also bring a slight cooling trend and stronger winds, with southwest gusts to 30 mph in northern and eastern areas. In the southern region, thunderstorm activity will increase over the mountains and deserts today as moisture increases around high pressure centered over the Southwestern states. A weak disturbance in the flow may bring some shower and thunderstorm activity to the coastal and valley locations of Southern California. Temperatures will then cool a couple degrees each day through Wednesday.
Did you know that embers from a wildfire can travel up to a mile away from the main fire and ignite a new fire? Make sure your home is hardened and ready to defend itself against a wildfire athttp://www.readyforwildfire.org/
Fires of Interest:
**CAL FIRE Incidents**
Wall Fire, Butte County (more info…)
Chinese Wall Rd, 5 miles north of Bangor
· 4,400 acres, 17% contained
· Evacuations remain in effect
Winter Fire, Yolo County (more info…)
Highway 128 at Pleasant View Road, 3 miles southwest of Winters
· 2,269 acres, 75% contained
Fay Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…)
Highway 3 and Fay Lane, 7 miles south of Etna
· 469 acres, 85% contained
Axel Fire, El Dorado County, NEW
Axel Ct. and Barrister Ct., Rescue
- 100 acres brush, 50% containedParkfield Fire, Monterey County, NEW
Vineyard Canyon Rd, 25 miles west of Parkfield
- 1500 acres, 30% containedWillow Fire, Contra Costa County, NEW
Springwood Ct. and California St., Rodeo
- 370 acres grass, 90% containedWest Fire, Yuba County, NEW
Camp Far West Rd and Wichita Way, east of Olivehurst
- 50 acres oak-woodland and brush, 90% containedDeer Complex, Contra Costa County, FINAL
Deer Valley Rd and Marsh Creek Rd, west of Brentwood
· 231 acres brush, 100% containedBanderilla Fire, Mariposa County FINAL
Banderilla Drive at Hildalgo Street, north of Hayward
· 36 acres, 100% containedTower Fire, San Luis Obispo County FINAL
Hwy 101 at Mount Lowe Road
· 58 acres, 100% contained**Unified Command**
Alamo Fire, San Luis Obispo County (more info…)
Highway 166 at Alamo Creek Road, east of Santa Maria
· 23,867 acres, 10% containedBryant Fire, San Bernardino County
Highway 38 at Bryant, west of Yucaipa
· 74 acres, 75% contained**Federal Incidents**
Whittier Fire, Santa Barbara County, NEW (more info…)
Lake Cachuma area, south of Hwy 154
· 7,800 acres, 5% containedIsland Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…)
14 miles west of Etna in the Marble Mountain Wilderness
· 567 acres
Schaeffer Fire, Tulare County (more info…)
17 miles north of Kernville
· 14,342 acres, 11% containedMart Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…)
Highland Ave at Highway 330
· 670 acres, 95% containedSilver Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…)
Silverwood Lake Area
· 13 acres, 60% contained
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