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Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 07/28/2009 03:56 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 07/28/2009 04:05 PM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM
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Current Update for Knight Fire....Currently at 600+ Acres with Firefighters Making Solid Progress~by Jerry Snyder
We just spoke with Jerry Snyder of SNF Command center to get our daily update on the Knight Fire. He informed us that he has not received an update since this morning and this is the current information he has available. "The Knight Fire has grown to as of 600+ acres this morning. 592 people are fighting the fire and they have16 aircraft on scene." This was the last update he received. As soon as he has more information, he will pass it on. Additional information enclosed.....
The South-Central Sierra Type 2 Incident Management Team assumed command of the Knight Fire at 1800 hours yesterday. Allen Johnson is Incident Commander for this fire. Total firefighting and support personnel dedicated to this fire now stands at about 592, including overhead. This number will increase with additional orders for firefighting assets.
Firefighting personnel and equipment include: 16 Type 1 twenty person hand crews (hotshots); 27 fire engines; 2 water tenders; 7 dozers; 6 fixed wing air tankers (4 heavy Forest Service contract tankers out of Stockton, and 2 CAL FIRE mediums out of Columbia Air Attack Base); 4 heavy helitankers; 6 water dropping helicopters, and 69 support personnel and overhead.
The Knight Fire is now estimated at 600+ acres. Firefighters made good progress through the night, strengthening and holding the dozer line along Mount Knight ridge, providing a good measure of protection to the 30 remotely located summer recreation cabins and other structures in the Mount Knight subdivision. Each property and cabin is marked and located so firefighters can quickly identify them.
Conditions today will be a challenge for firefighters, with hot and dry conditions persisting in the Middle Fork Stanislaus River canyon. Temperatures are predicted to be 95 to 100 degrees, with 15% humidity and afternoon winds at 4-9 mph with gusts to 18 mph up canyons and over peaks and ridges. Thunderstorm activity may also occur along the Sierra Nevada crest, increasing the chance of unstable winds.
The fire is well established in the canyon bottom and has burned all the way to the river. Hot shot crews are gathering intelligence and reconning to locate good anchor points where hand constructed fire line can built from the river all the way up to the ridgeline on both the east and west end of the fire. Access is very difficult, and the terrain is steep and rugged with heavy fuels--most of this river canyon country is very steep and completely inaccessible for dozers and fire engines.
Firefighters did and excellent job yesterday, and met the challenge of quickly locating and knocking out numerous spot fires in and around the subdivision yesterday afternoon, as fire behavior became very active. The mornings smoke inversion lifted around 1130 hours and by 1400 fire activity increased with torching and spotting ahead of the fire's perimeter. Crown fire was observed, with all flanks burning actively and multiple spot fires occurring.
Although percent containment figures are not yet available, firefighters are making solid progress, especially with extended dozer fireline construction and strengthening along the ridgeline to protect the subdivision.
Agencies represented on the fire include U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, CAL FIRE, Tuolumne County Emergency personnel, Tuolumne County Fire, and Tuolumne County Sheriff's Department.
Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin Sunday July 26th, 2009 aprox 03:36 PM
Location Middle Fork Stanislaus River Canyon near Mt. Knight
Incident Commander Johnson
Current Situation
Total Personnel 592
Size 600 acres
Fuels Involved
Fire is burning in heavy brush and timer (mixed confier).
Fire Behavior
Very Active fire behavior with torching and spotting up to 1/4 mile. The fire has burned from the river to the ridge top where it meeds dozerline and back burn. This is causing the fire to move across the north facing slop of the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River, both east and west.
Outlook
Growth Potential
Significant growth potential.
Terrain Difficulty
Fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain with difficult access for firefighters.
Remarks
Conditions are extremely dry and forest fire restrictions are in effect for high hazard areas. Fire crews are installing fire line, but a reliable count has not been take as of this morning (728).
Current Weather
Wind Conditions 6-8 mph NE
Temperature 95-100 degrees
Humidity 11-15%
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