CalFire Defensible Space inspections - does your home have defensible space?

Since April, the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit of CAL FIRE has conducted thousands of defensible space inspections in the unincorporated areas of both Tuolumne and Calaveras counties.

Defensible space clearance around structures has been required since the 1960’s. California's Public Resourcs Code 4291 requires 100 feet of clearance around all structures, or to the property line, whichever is closest. This clearance must be maintained every year when flammable conditions exist - whether or not you receive an inspection notice.

Many people believe that if they don't get an inspection notice, their property is in compliance with PRC 4291. But with 60,000-80,000 properties in the two counties, we cannot inspect every property every year.  Therefore, it's every property owner's responsibility to make sure that their property is in compliance EVERY year, whether or not they get an inspection notice. 

Reed Fire 100% contained

Reed Fire:
Name:	Reed Fire
County:	Calaveras County
Location:	off George Reed Drive and Pool Station Road, San Andreas
Administrative Unit:	CAL FIRE Tuolumne Calaveras Unit
Acres Burned - Containment	120 acres - 100% contained
Date Started:	June 20, 2014 3:27 pm
Last update:	June 21, 2014 7:00 pm

Reed Fire Pool Station 120 acres 75% contained all evacs lifted

Name:	Reed Fire
County:	Calaveras County
Location:	off George Reed Drive and Pool Station Road, San Andreas
Administrative Unit:	CAL FIRE Tuolumne Calaveras Unit
Acres Burned - Containment	120 acres - 75% containedAll evacuations and road closures lifted
Date Started:	June 20, 2014 3:27 pm
Last update:	June 20, 2014 9:00 pm

Haigh Fire in Mariposa 111 acres 20% contained

Haigh Fire: more info...
Name:	Haigh Fire
County:	Mariposa County
Location:	Highway 49 and Haigh Rd., north of Coulterville
Administrative Unit:	CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit
Acres Burned - Containment	111 acres - 20% contained
Date Started:	June 10, 2014 3:11 pm
Last update:	June 11, 2014 7:30 am

Vegetation fire Moccasin at Priest Grade Road

3 pm 6-8-14 Cal Fire now reports the blaze has grown from 5 acres to 30 to 40 in size and still no structures are threatened at this time.  Three additional engines and two strike teams have been called to the fire.

source mymotherlode.com

Valley Fire Mariposa 90 acres 15% contained - update 50% contained

Update: Valley Fire: more info... Name: Valley Fire County: Mariposa County  Location: off Hunters Valley Road near the southeast shore of Lake McClure.     Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit Acres Burned - Containment 90 acres - 50% contained  Date Started: June 6, 2014 5:29 pm  Last update: June 7, 2014 10:45 am  Valley Fire:
Name:	Valley Fire
County:	Mariposa County
Location:	off Hunters Valley Road near the southeast shore of Lake McClure.    Click here for evacuation information
Administrative Unit:	CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit
Acres Burned - Containment	90 acres - 15% contained
Date Started:	June 6, 2014 5:29 pm
Last update:	June 6, 2014 11:15 pm

Valley Fire Mariposa 35 acres 0% containment

Valley Fire:
Name:	Valley Fire
County:	Mariposa County
Location:	off Hunters Valley Road near the southeast shore of Lake McClure
Administrative Unit:	CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit
Acres Burned - Containment	35 acres
Date Started:	June 6, 2014 5:29 pm
Last update:	June 6, 2014 7:45 pm

Wildland fire in Hunters Valley Mariposa evacuation orders in effect

There is a fire in the Hunters Valley area. An evacuation Order is in effect from the 7900 Block of Hunters Valley Rd to Bear Valley Rd.  Bear Valley Rd from Hunters Valley Rd to the 4400 block / Top of the Ridge of Bear Valley Rd.
Evacuation Advisement is in effect from the 4500 block of Bear Valley Rd to Hwy 49 N.
Road Closures: Hunters Valley Rd at Bear Valley Rd & Hunters Valley Access Rd at Bear Valley Rd.
Red Cross Evacuation Center is located at 4565 Cornetts Entrance Rd Cathey’s Valley Baptist Church.
Further information can be found at www.mariposacounty.org
Recorded Emergency Information Line: 209-966-1133

 View from Jamestown by Julie Guyton

West's record wildfires raise questions about development

Will wildfires grow ever bigger, more frequent — and deadlier? Those who live in the rugged West are enduring another summer of scorched-earth devastation.
Colorado this year saw the most devastating wildfire in its history, a blaze that killed two people and destroyed 16,000 acres and more than 500 buildings. Arizona is still mourning the deaths of 19 elite firefighters who died in the worst wildfire tragedy the state has ever seen. Californians have fought 43 percent more fires this year than the past four years.

To read more by Jim Malewitz, USA Today CLICK HERE

Extended evacuation RIM fire

An Advisory Evacuation has been issued to the following areas: San Jose Family Camp, Yosemite Riverside Inn, Spinning Wheel, Rainbow Pool, Buck Meadow, Yosimite Vista Estates, Ferretti Rd. to Clements, Camp Tawonga, Berkeley Family Camp, Harden Flat, Naco West, Yosemite Lakes RV Pakrs, Evergreen Lodge, and Pine Mt. Lake.
Evacuations Center is located at Mother Lode Fairgrounds in Sonora.

Advisory evacuation for Pine Mountain Lake

Advisory Evacuation for Pine Mountain Lake

Incident: Rim Fire Wildfire
Released: 1:40 hrs. ago
An Advisory Evacuation for all of Pine Mountain Lake has been issued.

RIM Fire at 16,226 acres 5% contained

Current Situation

Total Personnel	858
Size	16,228 acres
Percent Contained	5%
Fuels Involved	Brush, Oaks, and Pine
Fire Behavior	Active fire continued to move up Tuolumne River above Lumsden Bridge and the Gravel Range. There are a few areas the fire has encroached and crossed Highway 120 and has moved into timbered areas.
Significant Events	Highway 120 is closed four miles west of Groveland Ranger Station and four miles east of Buck Meadows. Ferretti Road was closed yesterday. Access to the fire is still a concern for fire crews and equipment

Outlook

Planned Actions	Continued fixed wing air support.
Growth Potential	Extreme
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Remarks	Two residences and seven outbuildings were lost along Packard Canyon Road on the eastward push of the fire. Approximately 2,500 structures are threatened to the west of the fire along Ferretti Road north of Highway 120. Due to inaccessible, steep terrain and active fire behavior a combination of direct and indirect attack will be used on this incident. Preparations were completed to secure fire camp if the fire were to threaten the Incident Command Post. Column induced weather preceded the fire front yesterday and rain halted the fires spread in the direction of camp. Other areas of the fire continued to burn actively with a southeasterly spread of the fire over Highway 120.

Current Weather

Wind Conditions	4-9 mph S
Temperature	59-66 degrees
Humidity	52-67%

RIM fire update 8-20-13 7:54 am, 10, 170 acres

Update 3:00 pm 8-20-13

0% containment

Current Situation

Total Personnel	455
Size	10,170 acres
Fuels Involved	Brush, Oaks, and Pine
Fire Behavior	Fire continued to move up both sides of Jawbone Ridge and cross the Tuolumne River below the Groveland Ranger Station and community of Buck Meadows. There are a few areas the fire has encroached and crossed Highway 120 and has moved into timbered areas. Evacuation and structure defense is in progress for the community of Buck Meadows.
Significant Events	Highway 120 is closed four miles west of Groveland Ranger Station and four miles east of Buck Meadows. Access to the fire is still a concern for fire crews and equipment The communities along Ferretti Road are being evacuated. The Ferretti Road is also closed at Highway 120. Evacuation centers have been opened at Sonora Fairgrounds and Greely Hill Community Center. The evacuation center at Tiago High School has been closed.

RIM Fire outside of Groveland at 4400 acres, section of 120 closed, evacuations of Buck Meadows underway

Highway 120 is closed from Smith Station to the west and four miles east of Buck Meadows. No west bound traffic is being allowed out of Yosemite National Park.
The north end of the fire has crossed the Clavey River and is burning in remote and steep terrain. The north end is not threatening any structures at this time.
Due to inaccessible, steep terrain and active fire behavior a combination of direct and indirect attack will be used on this incident. The fire burned actively with a southward spread of the fire over Highway 120. Direct line suppression efforts are impeded by difficult access and steep inaccessible terrain. A combination of direct and indirect attack will be used on this incident. Active fire behavior today raises safety concerns for crews adjacent to the fire’s edge. Smoke exposure within the deep drainage of the Clavey River will be an issue for fire crews as well.
There is a red flag warning for lightning today through Wednesday.
The South Central Sierra Interagency Incident Management Team is managing the Fire as of August 18, 2013 at 6:00 P.M.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Under Investigation
Date of Origin	Saturday August 17th, 2013 approx. 03:15 PM
Location	Groveland Range District, Stanislaus NF
Incident Commander	David Cooper

Current Situation

Total Personnel	285
Size	4,400 acres
Fuels Involved	Brush, Oaks, and Pine
Fire Behavior	Fire continued to move up both sides of Jawbone Ridge and cross the Tuolumne River below the Groveland Ranger Station and community of Buck Meadows. There are a few areas the fire has encroached and crossed Highway 120 and has moved into timbered areas. Evacuation and structure defense is in progress for the community of Buck Meadows.
Significant Events	Highway 120 is closed four miles west of Groveland Ranger Station and four miles east of Buck Meadows.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Continued fixed wing air support.
Growth Potential	extreme
Terrain Difficulty	Very difficult, Extremely Steep Terrain
Remarks	Due to inaccessible, steep terrain and active fire behavior a combination of direct and indirect attack will be used on this incident. Fire camp was believed to be in direct line of the fire spread, preparations were made to secure camp if the fire did in fact threaten camp. Dozer lines were established and equipment secured. Column induced weather preceded the fire front and rain halted the fires spread in the direction of camp. Other areas of the fire burn actively with a southward spread of the fire over Highway 120.

Current Weather

Wind Conditions	4-10 mph SW
Temperature	64-72 degrees
Humidity	51-66%

Parrots Ferry fire 60 acres 355 contained

Parrott's Ferry Rd. N. of bridge, near Vallecito (Calaveras Co) is 60 acres and 35% contained as of 7 am 8-18-13

Power Fire Tuolumne 1,060 acres 85% contained

Current Situation

Total Personnel	468
Size	1,060 acres
Percent Contained	85%
Estimated Containment Date	Tuesday August 13th, 2013 approx. 06:00 PM
Fuels Involved	Brush and Timber
Fire Behavior	Moderate growth

Power Fire Tuolumne 1050 acres 75% contained

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Under Investigation
Date of Origin	Monday August 05th, 2013 approx. 06:00 AM
Location	Near Beardsley Reservoir east of Hells Half Acre Rd.
Incident Commander	Don Garwood

Current Situation

Total Personnel	570
Size	1,050 acres
Percent Contained	75%
Estimated Containment Date	Tuesday August 13th, 2013 approx. 06:00 PM
Fuels Involved	Brush and Timber
Fire Behavior	Moderate growth

Power Fire in Tuolumne 40% contained 565 acres

Current Situation

Total Personnel	565
Size	925 acres
Percent Contained	40%
Estimated Containment Date	Tuesday August 13th, 2013 approx. 06:00 PM

Power Fire 32% contained 881 acres

Summary: Last night, fire crews continued to hold and make good progress constructing additional line and reinforcing existing lines on the fire. The Power Fire was reported on August 5, 2013 at 5:38 a.m. The fire is located in the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River, 4 miles northwest of the community of Pinecrest. This is very steep and rugged terrain with critically dry vegetation, hardwood slash, brush and timber. Crews are contending with material rolling out and loose rocks and trees falling downhill. Dozers are continuing to put in line and tying into roads along ridgetops. Hand crews will continue constructing containment lines. Firefighter and public safety are primary objectives
All roads, (with the exception of forest road 5N95 at Beardsley Road), local businesses and recreation areas remain OPEN.
The management of the Power Fire transitioned from the Stanislaus National Forest to the Southern California Incident Management Team 2 on Aug. 6, 2013.
Road & Trail Closures / Evacuations: The team is asking the public to avoid forest road 5N95 at Beardsley Road due to fire apparatus traffic. There are no evacuations in place for the fire area. However, as with any incident, the public should be prepared to leave on short notice.
Structure Information; There are 100 residences threatened which are located in the communities of Bumblebee, Leland Creek and Cow Creek. There have been no structures damaged or destroyed.
Predicted Weather: The forecast for today calls for mostly clear with temperatures between 72 and 76 degrees. Maximum humidity expected between 28-33 percent. Winds will be out of the southeast with peak gusts at 15mph.

Power Fire at 881 acres 32% contained

Location: 4 miles NW of Pinecrest, Calif.
Date Started: August 5, 2013
Stanislaus National Forest
Injuries: 2
Percent Contained: 32%
Cause: Under Investigation
Acres Burned: 881
Resources:
Hand crews 15 Engines 34
Helicopters 5
Water Tenders 8 Dozers 3
Total personnel assigned to fire: 447