SIT REP 1: SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2023, 1700 HOURS PT

INCIDENT SUMMARY

A wildfire started from an unknown cause on July 27, 2023, just before 1500 hours PT on Wednesday.

RESOURCES – AVIATION

Aviation Assets assigned to the fire are the following resources:

Air Attack: AA 2CG, 12, 310, 320, 330, 410 and Lead Bravo 77.

Air Tankers: 03, 41, 42, 70, 71, 72, 73, 76, 100, 101, 106, 210, 911 and 914.

Copters: 301, 305, and 538.

Helitankers: 2CH, 37S, 95HT and 8AC.

SEATs: 2.

Fire Mapping Aircraft: OES Intel 24.

FIRE BEHAVIOR

July 27, 2023 – Initial Start Date

It was listed initially as a five-to-ten-acre wildfire with moderate fire behavior and to have a critical rate of spread with a potential for 200 acres. The priority became critical to protect structures to the south and attempt to stop the fire from spreading into the foothills.

The fire quickly spread across the landscape becoming a 120-150 acre fire just after 1730 hours., but would quickly grow into a 225-acre fire one hour later. Crews have been successful up to this point and reaching a 5% containment status, however, fire behavior is drastically increasing with a potential of up to 500 acres in the very near future.

The IC asked Logistics if there were any night flying copters that can help out with operations from above due to extreme fire behavior and increasing acreage burning faster than they are able to contain it.

Just as predicted, the fire explodes into a 500-acre wildfire not even one hour later but would be downgraded by OES Intel 24 to 411 acres due to more accurate mapping just after 2000 PT.

However, there are evacuations that start to be initiated by Fire Officials for the south of Bailey, west of Chapman, north of Running Springs, and east of Bonny Lake.

July 28, 2023 – Day 2

Additional aviation assets were present on this date, where the fire was listed at 600 acres with a 0% containment status and reported it pushing hard northeast and south into the wilderness. Concerns of immediate threats to area structures were on the radar for Fire Officials.

Just after 1000 hours, the fire grew to a whopping 877 acres, as mapped out by OES Intel 24. Spot fires began to occur in Division Lima and the IC moved engines and water tender resources into the area. The fire continued to spread and increase burning up everything in its path to now a 950-plus acres. Those reporting on this fire state this has a potential for becoming a “Major Fire” as California classifies these incidents.

After the fire jumped the Cooper Cienega Truck Trail near Tule Peak Road, the IC continued asking for VLATs to be assigned to the area but they seemed to be delayed or not available. Since one was not available at the time, two more Type 1 Helicopters. VLAT Tanker 914 was finally available to respond to the fire, with this one inbound from Phoenix, Arizona.

Two aviation resources, AT 73 and Copter 301 were reported out of service for the day due to mechanical issues.

Just after noon on this date, the fire exploded into an estimated 1200-1400 acres with a 0% containment status. Air Tanker 914 (VLAT) arrives on the scene with 911 inbound from Medford, Oregon.

At 1700 hours, the fire has now burned approximately 1,940 hours and the pounding of fire suppression efforts are starting to work with a new 5% containment status being reached.

July 29, 2023 – Day 3

Just as they are starting to make progress on the fire, the behavior starts to kick up and two air tankers 210 and 911 are recalled to the fire line for more work to be done.

Today, the fire has burned up to 2,069 acres and the 5% containment status is still being held.

THREATENED

Structure threats were reported at the heel of the fire, while none were located at the head.

CURRENT STATUS

This wildfire continues to burn in California with multiple resources pouring fire suppression efforts from the air to the ground.

PHOTO CREDITS

NOTE: we do not lie claim to these amazing photos taken during this wildfire incident.

(c) 2023 NW Fire Blog

  • AA310, AA330AA 2CG, Lead Bravo 77
  • Tankers 42, 70, 71 72, 73
  • Copters 301, 538
  • Helitankers 37S
  • Two SEATs