End Of A Slow Fire Season

The crew finished up the 2009 Fire Season today. We will post the crew stats shortly although not very impressive compared to last year. This was an extremely slow year for us fire wise however, the crew accomplished treating 560 acres of hazard fuel reduction and removed over 200+ dead/hazard Oak Trees from trails and campgrounds on the forest.

The crew will celebrate the end of season, tomorrow night at the Old Spaghetti Factory in San Diego.

Red Flag Warning

Weather Discussion:
A dry cold front will rapidly sweep through the area today, leading to strong north winds and much cooler weather for the next couple of days. The front will quickly drop into southern California this morning, and winds behind the front will quickly become strong by the mid to late morning hours. Sustained winds of 50-60 mph are likely this afternoon and evening in the mountains with some gusts to 70 mph possible in the passes and canyons. The winds will be especially strong along the I-5 corridor across the Grapevine, the San Marco Pass above Santa Barbara and other areas prone to north wind channeling. In the valleys, north winds of 35-45 mph will be possible. Additionally, widespread winds of 40-50 mph can be expected in the deserts, resulting in blowing dust and sand. Temperatures will be 20-25 degrees cooler today, which will keep the relative humidity above 20% this afternoon over most areas. Some light showers will be possible in the eastern Sierras, but otherwise skies will be sunny across the district. The strongest winds during this event are expected to occur this afternoon through Wednesday morning before winds taper off somewhat Wednesday afternoon. A brief period of light northeasterly offshore winds may occur late Wednesday night into Thursday morning, but will end altogether by Thursday afternoon. Warmer weather with less wind is expected to return Friday which will last into next week.

Laguna Hotshots 1st Annual 1/2 Marathon

The crew conducted their first 1/2 marathon (20K or 13 miles) yesterday. This was actually suppose to happen last year but the crew was on fires. Squad Leader Jamie Miller was the coordinator for this run and named it the "Boulder Creek 1/2 Marathon". The marathon was optional and included most of the crew, Descanso Prevention Staff and Engine 41.

Click on map to see route

Survivors of the 1/2 Marathon

Honorable Mentions: 1st Place-Dan Mason, 2nd Place-Eddie Sanchez, 3rd Place-Angel Preciado

UPDATE

The season has been incredibly slow. The crew has been working on hazard tree removal in Pine Valley (Deer Park). This project requires the removal of dead hazard trees that threaten a community trail that is widely used. They have also been working on the Corte Madera Rx burn site. This projects has been on going and the crew has been cutting holding lines in preparation of burning this winter/spring. The next following weeks we typically get the Santa Ana (east) winds so thing could pick up. The crew last day for the season will be Nov. 19th...

Back Home

The crew has been home from the Sheep Fire since Thursday. The crew pulled one shift of line construction and one shift of mop-up.

Enroute to the BDF-Sheep Fire

The crew has been ordered up for the Sheep Fire near Lytle Creek on the San Bernardino National Forest. http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1910/

Back Home

The crew pulled one shift on the Guiberson fire and is currently back in station. The east winds died off and the local west/south west winds took over. This caused a little activity on the east end of the fire (the back door) but for the most part caused the fire to burn back into itself causing it to go out in the light grass fuels.

Guiberson Fire

The crew has been ordered for the Guiberson Fire in Ventura County. More fire info at http://fire.countyofventura.org/

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Ryan Truett, Eddie Sanchez and Jorge Chavarri in being selected as Wildland Firefighter Apprentices, the next step as a career employee.

Pic's from the Station Fire Assignment

Smoke column of the Station Fire 70 miles away.

Smoke column from fire camp.

DC-10 dropping altitude to make retardent drop on fire.

Fire crossing Hwy. 2

Other side of Hwy. 2 (Three Points)

R. Truett celebrates his 21st B-Day with a danish w/21 matches.

Fire heats up in Squaw Cyn, as crew heads down with line cinstruction.

Fire comes out of Squaw Cyn.

Air Tankers try to hold fire on ridge.

Helicopter cools edge as crew starts line cinstruction.

La Brea Fire (Photo's)

Pics from the La Brea Fire assignment.

Tanker pre-treating for firing operations.

Crew firing on line.

Squad Boss Miller tells FF Burt where to drop fire.

Some assistance from the Heli-Torch on the interior section of our firing operations.

The crew observes the firing operations.

Header fro the main fire.

Crew cutting direct line.

Crew tying in with Sierra Hotshots.

Crew Picture

Missing: D. Naylor (Inj.), G. Szalay (Inj.), S. Vigil (Hides from camera)

Headed Home

The crew is currently in the demob process and will be headed home. ETA home late afternoon.

Back to Division Hotel Hotel tomorrow

The crew has been spiked out since Friday in the Chilao campground area. They were working in the Squaw Caynon area. They are going direct attack now on Winston Ridge. The fire has been active and plans change daily about how to attack it. The air support has been crucial on this piece of line. The crew came in to base camp to take care of some business, tonight. Tomorrow they will again return to Division Hotel Hotel to continue their direct handline. The plan is to corral the fire on the Northeast corner for tomorrow.