California has been dealing with the devastation from the ongoing fires. Not only with the local fires such as the Valley Fire and the Holy Fire but also all over California from San Diego to the Carr Fire up in Northern California. It has been a difficult time for the communities affected by the fires but it has also brought many communities together.
Here are just a few of the fires that have hit California recently:
Cranston Fire:
- Start date: July 25, 2018, 11:41 am
- Location of Origin: Hwy 74 near Strawberry Creek Bridge
- Size: Approximately 13,139 acres
- Percent Contained: 100 percent
- Cause: Human-caused (arson)
- Containment Date: August 10th, 2018 approx. 12:00 AM
- Planned Actions: Continue to hold, and patrol all perimeter lines. Suppress all heat sources located within 200' of perimeter containment lines. Continue to identify suppression repair components and complete suppression repairs.
- Projected Incident Activity: Crews will continue to patrol and mop-up until full control is achieved.
Valley Fire:
- Date of Origin: Friday July 06th, 2018 approx. 01:30 PM
- Location: Forest Falls, CA
- Size: 1,350 Acres
- Percent of Perimeter Contained: 56%
- Cause: Under Investigation
- Estimated Containment Date: November 01st, 2018 approx. 12:00 AM
- Planned Actions: Helicopter water drops will continue as needed while an engine and patrols remain assigned 24 hours a day.
- Contingency lines have been combined with existing fuels reduction projects to provide added security for communities. Approximately 70% of the fire's perimeter is steep, rocky, and inaccessible to firefighters. Aircraft will be utilized to accomplish full suppression in the areas without direct line.
Carr Fire:
- Start Date: July 23, 2018 1:15 pm
- Location: Hwy 299 and Carr Powerhouse Rd, Whiskeytown
- Acres Burned : 207,162 acres
- Containment: 65% contained
- Structures Threatened: 113
- Structures Destroyed: 1,077 residences, 22 commercial structures, 500 outbuildings destroyed, 191 residences, 26 commercial structures, and 65 outbuildings damaged
- Injuries: 3 firefighter fatalities
- Cause: Mechanical Failure of Vehicle
- Total Fire Personnel: 4,334
- Conditions: Smoke over the fire area has moderated fire activity throughout the evening. Fire spread is primarily fuels and topography driven with potential for rollout and spot fires. Dense timber, dry vegetation, and terrain driven winds have challenged firefighting efforts. Firefighters continued to expand containment lines throughout the evening and in less active areas of the fire, mop-up efforts continued.
Holy Fire:
- Start Date: August 06th, 2018 approx. 01:30 PM
- Location: Holy Jim/Trabuco Canyon
- Size: 22,986 Acres
- Containment: 59%
- Cause: Human
- Total Personnel: 1,399
- Estimated Containment Date: August 17th, 2018 approx. 12:00 AM
- Significant Events: Fire continues to burn inside of the fire perimeter in Bixby and Coldwater Canyon near South Trilogy as well as the upper portion of Bell Canyon. This fire activity will be visible to residents.
- Planned Actions : Structural defense continues in areas threatened by fire. Hand crews with the assistance of dozers will continue to build fire line to the north and east from the point of origin. Crews are looking for places to anchor and go direct on the fire while additional resources build contingency lines. Suppression repair for the fire area has begun.
- Projected Incident Activity: Islands of unburned fuel and green stringers will continue to burn in the north end of the fire. Air support with helicopters will continue to assist fire crews in the Bell Canyon area. Heavy equipment has placed direct line to the limits on most parts of the fire leaving the remainder to be completed by hand.
- Remarks: Damage assessment teams will continue working through the fire area to assess and collect impacts from the fire. South Trilogy remains on voluntary evacuation.
(All information is accurate as of 8/14/18)
Communities have come together to help out the affected communities. Donations have been made to fire departments and evacuation shelters. So much so that they have become overwhelmed by the items donated and the kindness of others. From local diners to local churches, everyone has done something to contribute to these events.
From donating bottled water to making sure firefighting crews are being fed. Fire stations received countless donations that included bottled water, sports drinks, granola bars, and trail mixes. Aircrafts flying through the skies has become a sound that some are now accustomed to hearing. Going from one point to another to either drop water or fire retardant in the effort to contain the fires.
Fire crews are working around the clock to contain each fire and protect all the communities. Hundreds of thousands of acres of land have been burned. Hundreds of homes and buildings destroyed, but the communities hearts? Only stronger and will get stronger as they begin to re build what was lost.