Copper Fire will be sending strike team leader Chief Kovacs,
Currently there are 14 fires burning statewide with 20 Office of Emergency Services strike teams deployed and 56 local government strike teams deployed.
This will be the second strike team sent out of Calaveras County. The previous strike team still deployed to the Day Fire in the Lassen Modoc Unit, was sent out 8-2-14. The team included strike team leader Scott Mullin and engines from CalCo, West Point, Mokelumne Hill, San Andreas and Altaville-Melones.
Chief Kovacs assures that all local stations are covered as a formation of a strike team may not deplete local resources.
Coffee Fire Complex:
Coffee Fire Update August 4, 2014 Am
Incident: Coffee WildfireReleased: 5 hrs. ago
Current Situation: Today fire crews will continue work on the southwest portion of the fire in the East Fork of Coffee Creek drainage. They will also be continuing work in the North Fork and scout the northern portion of the fire for containment options. Yesterday, the crews fired out vegetation along the bottom of the drainage with the intent of increasing the width of the line. This created a buffer that protects the fire line from rolling materials and embers that can potentially carry fire across the drainage.Smoke jumpers were able to successfully complete an operation around Hodges cabin. By preparing the area and then burning around the cabin they were able to tie the fire in to the trail along North Fork of Coffee Creek.Several crews have been “spiked out” in the fire area. This means that once they finish their shift on the line they will remain in the Wilderness overnight and logistical supplies are flown in to them. Look-outs from the crews are rotated during the night to keep an eye on the fire while others sleep.With a 60% chance of thunderstorm activity over the area today, firefighters will be watching the weather closely as the storms move in. Although the storms are expected to carry rain with them the crews will be watching for any dry strikes in the area so that new starts can be addressed quickly. Weather: A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the entire area from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Thunderstorms producing abundant lightning are expected over the fire. These storms could produce heavy rains, lightning and outflow winds up to 30 mph. Evacuations: None
Closures: Trail closures are pending. The public is advised not to travel the Forest Service access roads 38N22 and 38N27 to the Stoddard Lake Trailhead off of County Route 3.This is due to the threat of fire movement into the area. It is strongly recommended that the public avoid the East Fork Coffee Creek, Granite Creek, Doe Lake, Stoddard Lake and the North Fork Coffee Creek Trail Systems.Start Date: July 30, 2014 Cause: LightningAcreage: 4487 Containment: 5% Engines: 10 Hand Crews: 5 Water Tenders: 2Copters: 4 Total Personnel: 287Cooperators: Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, CAL FIRE
