New fire south of Idyllwild

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BLUEBLOCR

Social climber
joshua tree
Jul 20, 2013 - 03:17am PT
Alright, cool! That seems pretty cheap.
We're jus trying to understand how the fire is costing 8+ million so far to"fight" the fire..
Ward Trotter

Trad climber
Jul 20, 2013 - 03:31am PT
Recent FS/ googleEarth Fire data updates has the fire getting pretty damn close to Humber Park.
I hope I'm reading it wrong.
It is also moving to the peak that is direct north of Suicide Rock.
This data last updated about 7 pm.

Although I clicked ground data at a leading location and got "July 20" .
The sections just upslope from Humber and directly east of Suicide Rock are color coded bright red.
Dr.Sprock

Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
Jul 20, 2013 - 03:32am PT
con crews also get any weed that they find, however, no buds yet,
BLUEBLOCR

Social climber
joshua tree
Jul 20, 2013 - 03:41am PT
Thanks Ron.
Ward Trotter

Trad climber
Jul 20, 2013 - 04:26am PT
Damn if it doesn't look like some leading edges of this thing might be headed straight for Suicide Rock.
Although It could make an abrupt right turn and head upwards.

Wow.

It seems to be trending along the north end of that valley. The Suicide Rock side.

It is going to be interesting what this thing does around that area over the next several hours.
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Jul 20, 2013 - 04:50am PT
Each one of those DC-10 runs have cost in the neighborhood of $30K. I can't count how many have flown past in the last couple of days...easily several dozen of them.

"Damn if it doesn't look like some leading edges of this thing might be headed straight for Suicide Rock."

No sign of that thusfar. The trend is currently northward towards Wellman's Divide & Hidden Lake. There's a smoke column visible from town, but no active flames anywhere in the valley.
Ward Trotter

Trad climber
Jul 20, 2013 - 05:14am PT

This is the data I am alluding to . It was current at roughly 6-7pm
I'll take your word for it though, I like your version a lot better.
These data streams are often notoriously off. Lets hope so
Suppression efforts could have worked there as well.

In the satellite photo Suicide is formation to the west , about to be pinched by something advancing.

Note: This is a prior photo of that area on a normal day with the current fire data superimposed.

Kudos to all the crews working hard and risking their lives. Lets hope no one gets hurt on this one.
Alois

Trad climber
Idyllwild, California
Jul 20, 2013 - 11:31am PT
This morning is gray with clouds and smoke covering Idyllwild. A few drops of rain fell a while ago, but nothing substantial yet, hoping for some. The highway is full of trucks carrying dozers and trucks with crews. Last night choppers were (possibly) ferrying crews for about 3 hours along the Southridge to/from Lake Hemet fire camp between about 5 and 8 PM. The fire cloud seems to be just a bit farther away from town and NE toward San Jacinto. There is a lot of ash falling, luckily, the ash is not hot. All in all, it looks just a bit better for the town. If the winds don't change drastically...
Alois

Trad climber
Idyllwild, California
Jul 20, 2013 - 11:34am PT
8:30 A.M. UPDATE: The Mountain Fire’s growth was very limited last night. The current size is 27,278, a 99-acre change from Friday evening. Today is beginning much like yesterday, cloud cover and higher humidity.

Fire officials reported that Friday night was relatively quiet. They continued to use the nightflying helicopter especially on the western perimeter of the Fire. Fire lines were established along Southridge yesterday. Many crews are now being staged in Idyllwild in case of a sudden change. But as work on the Southern edge is progressing, more resources are being assigned to the west and north.

Today, two hotshot crews will use the Palm Springs Tramway to enter the backcountry and begin work on the northern tip of the Mountain Fire. These are the first units in the area. They may, if it is safe, establish a “spike camp”, according to Norm Rooker, a team information officer.

The southern perimeter is “Looking good, really, really good” according to the team. And there is not much movement on the eastern perimeter.

The 30 percent of rainfall creates safety concerns for firefighters for several reasons. A sudden very heavy downpour can create flashflood and possible injuries. The erratic wind behavior might affect the fire’s behavior in unexpected and dangerous ways. And finally, the possibility of lightning strikes, late this afternoon, could move the fire into new locations.

But the Incident Management Commander Jeanne Pincha-Tulley, stressed to unit leaders to “… take care of crews because the cloud cover would make access difficult in case of injury.” To clarify her point, she added be sure of safety because a rainstorm could quickly become ‘Camp Mud’.

The number of personnel fighting the Mountain Fire remains at 3,478. The cost of the Fire is now $12.2 million.
Spufi

Trad climber
DeLusion, Ca
Jul 20, 2013 - 12:04pm PT
Thanks for the updates.
Sending good vibes your way this morning!
Manny

Social climber
tempe
Jul 20, 2013 - 12:22pm PT
Praying for rain and more humidity.
Ward Trotter

Trad climber
Jul 20, 2013 - 12:38pm PT
Here is some UFS/ Google Earth data from the last 2 hrs.
The red is the most active north/ northwest remaining elements of this fire. The green icon at top is the top of San Jacinto ( tramway top) This is where they are currently dispatching crews
via tramway as Alois mentioned in the update.
The red blocks at lower left is the area in the valley and ridges just short of Tahquitz/ Suicide. This area seems to have remained significantly unchanged over the last 12+ hrs..

BLUEBLOCR

Social climber
joshua tree
Jul 20, 2013 - 12:40pm PT
Hey I saw Clark on tv this morning. The local news was interviewing residents
asking what they would do if the fire got close? Clark said he was ready to boogie!

I bet he would prolly just go climb the Vampire and wait for the fire to go by.

The ants aren't out this morning. It must be gonna rain. I'm gonna go wash my car
Alois

Trad climber
Idyllwild, California
Jul 20, 2013 - 12:50pm PT
The map above seem to show the fire moving away from Idyllwild and Tahquitz Rock. I drew where I think both formations are on the above map, and if true, would show some progress in keeping the fire from the town.

Ward Trotter

Trad climber
Jul 20, 2013 - 01:01pm PT
Alois:
You are right about the locations.
I think at this stage in order for the town to be significantly threatened it would require a relatively sudden heat-up with the winds shifting dramatically around strongly coming from the east/ north ,as you might see from a Santa Ana heat-up.
The monsoonal system that Ron mentioned could be a problem as well.
I think if that system affects things negatively it would more likely push the fire in a N and NW direction toward Fuller Ridge ,Black Mountain, and San Jacinto.
Hopefully it will lower temps and dump some water and the tramway crews will have a strong shot at stemming the north/west advance.
Alois

Trad climber
Idyllwild, California
Jul 20, 2013 - 01:11pm PT
I hear you guys, not out of trouble yet, by any means. If the wind starts fron NE/E later today and is significant, both Pine Cove and Idyllwild could be in the path of the fire again. Hoping it doesn't go that way.
Ward Trotter

Trad climber
Jul 20, 2013 - 02:00pm PT
A bit of a broader overview.
The little square at top is San Jacinto. The other green icons at top are Fuller Ridge and Black Mt.

apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Jul 20, 2013 - 02:55pm PT
People are getting pretty antsy in town...there's buzz that the evac order won't be lifted until Monday or Tuesday, and frustration that it was called when it was. The natives are getting restless...

A 'soft evacuation' order was issued for Pine Cove yesterday, on the basis of smoke and health impacts to residents. The highways are still essentially closed, and the only open businesses are the Chevron, Gary's Deli, and the Red Kettle. The grocery & liquor stores were ordered to close- there is a feeling that there is an attempt to 'starve' the remaining 5% of those who didn't evacuate off the Hill.

Maybe a little conspiratorial, but it does make sense that they'd want to keep the streets clear so that the many various resources in the area can move about freely. If the order was lifted, there'd be a huge influx of traffic, which would make response very messy.

Personally, we're doing just fine. Had a great 'block party' last night on the porch with several neighbors & family, venting a lot of the stress that's been building up over the last few days. We gathered again this morning for a waffle breakfast on the porch. Suffering in style!
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Jul 20, 2013 - 02:59pm PT
Ward Trotter

Trad climber
Jul 20, 2013 - 03:08pm PT
They are afraid of the unpredictability of this monsoonal system coming in. It's influence will last until Monday or Tuesday, hence the talk of keeping things status quo until then.
Messages 121 - 140 of total 237 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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