Cottonwood Fire Day 5

GOOOOOOOOD MOORRNNNNNNNNNING IDYLLWILD & all you commuters waiting to retest Highway 74 and rubber neck the burn areas.

The sunrise was more beautiful this morning. The sky is clear, no clouds and no smoke and plenty of traffic.

The Cottonwood Fire is 95 percent contained with little activity last night. Its size remains at 2,409 acres.

To reinforce the view that this fire still a potential danger, the Forest Service is already thinking about all the other SoCal fires, especially the Station Fire where tragedy occurred yesterday and the one in Oak Glen

But just as you thought it was safe to drive the local roads, Cal Trans has begun its work on St. Route 243 (see photo above) south of Idyllwild. From lower Saunders Meadow Road past the turnout toward the entrance to town Drive safely.

As the local deputy ranger told the Integrated Management Team this morning, “The locals like to drive 50 miles per hour and hug your bumper. They drive fast and low.” So be careful and cautious. Fire vehicles will still be on Hwy 74.

Most of today’s work will be mop up and clearing along those highway and control roads. Incident Commander Mike Wakoski described the team’s work. The Task was to put the fire out, the purpose was to protect lives and property and the End Stake was fire suppression and it is occurring.

Team members were told the last camp meal will be Tuesday’s breakfast, but worse, the last shower will be 11 p.m. tonight! No aircraft and a few helicopters, which will mostly shuttle crews to the canyons for some ground work. Patrol the area will be an important task today.

Tomorrow, Fred Espinoza will assume t he Incident Commander post for the final stages of the Cottonwood Fire.

Thanks to all firefighters and Sheriff’s and Highway Patrol and Cal Trans and OES staff who fought stop and suppressed this Fire. Many have said the Cottonwood Fire could have been worse. Idyllwild was fortunate again.

The cost of suppressing and stopping the Cottonwood Fire has reached $1.5 million already.

Cottonwood Fire Day 4

Base Camp this morning.









A car driving west on Highway 74 and no road block, about 6:45 a..m. Sunday, Aug. 30.


10:30 p.m.
The Cottonwood Fire is now 95% contained.

Fire behavior is described as "smoldering in heavy fuels in steep and rocky terrain, coupled with high temperatures and low humidity. The fire is burning in 13-year-old chaparral with a significant dead component. Tomorrow the predicted temperatures are to be slightly lower and relative humidity higher"

8 a.m.
GOOOOOOOOD MOORRNNNNNNNNNING IDYLLWILD and the rest of the world below our alpine hamlet.

The sunrise was beautiful this morning. The sky is clear with no clouds and no smoke. We do have plenty of cattle.

HIGHWAY 74 is OPEN. In case you have doubts, see the photo.

The Cottonwood Fire has been limited to 2,409 acres burned and SoCal Team III has achieved 75 percent containment. Full containment is expected tomorrow, Aug. 31, according to Public Information Officer Marc Peebles. He is with the integrated management team assigned to the Cottonwood Fire.

An important thing to remember: Containment means how much line is around the fire; controlled means how much of the fire is actually out.

However, that statement is quickly changing. Team III is already planning a significant demobilization beginning today. The unified command with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is ending today.

Drivers, as you use Highway 74 to Hemet, please be cautious of fire vehicles. The Cottonwood Fire is not controlled. Some of Team III's biggest concern is the area along the San Jacinto River bottom and preventing the fire from jumping the highway and heading south.

Today’s work will concentrate on mopping up areas and, more importantly, holding the fire lines to prevent any expansion of the fire.

The Station Fire in Los Angeles County is more than 20,000 acres, but according to Incident Meteorologist Rob Balfour, similar weather conditions were experienced here as on the Station Fire.

The initial attack on the Cottonwood did a lot to help prevent further spread.

But the competition for firefighting resources in Southern California is intensifying. Yesterday, Incident Commander Mike Wakoski had four fixed wing aircraft supporting his ground troops. Today, he has no fixed winged and only two helicopters.

Firefighters from Colorado, New Mexico and even Virginia have been shipped to Southern California to help with firefighting. As Waskoski said this morning, Southern California is in a fire siege now and fire season has begun.

Temperatures will be lower today, according to Balfour. Instead of 110º, firefighters will enjoy a balmy 102º in the lower areas and only 92º at higher elevations. But up canyon, winds could reach 20 to 25 mph.

The cost of suppressing and stopping the Cottonwood Fire has reached $1.5 million already.

Yesterday’s flare-up, which delayed the Highway 74 opening, was a 15-acre island of vegetation burning. This was very old vegetation.

“This is steep terrain and it takes a while for hand crews to do the work to establish the fire lines,” said Peebles.

We interrupt this program …

So, for a momentary commercial break from Cottonwood — plus I don't want to confuse the fire information with other information — you should, I emphasize "should," go to JP's Blog.

I'd offer a beer, but the tap broke.

Anyway, the first photos from today's Jazz in the Pines are posted there. See what people were doing.

Tomorrow, I'll tell you why people came despite the fire.

Also, I'd like to share someone else's thoughts about the fire and Saturday morning.

Just go to the "dark" side, look to your right and click on "JP's Blog." Go ahead. It will be a safe and wholesome experience. Of course, to my friends of the "L" persuasion — "liberal" — it all depends on the definition of "be" and "and."

Cottonwood Fire Day 3

10:23 p.m.
The U.S. Forest Service is reporting five heat-related injuries on the Cottonwood Fire. Highway 74 is still expected to open at about 8 a.m. Sunday.

Here's some good news. Humidity is now 15 to 25%, temperatures are between 68 and 78 degrees, and the wind is now blowing northwest at 3 to 8 mph with gusts of up to 15 mph.

Resources, besides nearly 700 personnel, now include 34 engines, 20 hand crews, three water tenders, two dozers, four helicopters and two airtankers. 698 personnel.

7:30 p.m.
Highway 74's opening from Borco Road in Valle Vista to Mountain Center has been delayed again until about 8 a.m. Sunday due to another flare-up along the highway, and mop-up crews will be working the area through the night.

The Cottonwood Fire is about 30% contained with full containment expected by 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31. The fire has burned nearly 3,000 acres and is still 4 miles from Hemet. Fire behavior is being described as, "Smoldering with isolated individual bushes torching."

Winds are now blowing in a northeasterly direction at 9 mph with gusts of up to 19 mph. However, the growth potential for this fire has been reduced from high to medium.

Nearly 700 personnel are now assigned to this fire. In addition, resources include 39 engines, 20 hand crews, nine water tenders, two dozers, four helicopters, two airtankers and one Martin Mars Airtanker (7,200-gallon capacity).

The fire's cause has been determined to be power-pole related.

11:56 a.m.

The Cottonwood Fire Incident Command Team will open Highway 74 between Mountain Center and Hemet at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29. That portion of the highway has been closed since Thursday evening when the fire broke out.

The U.S. Forest Service wants you to travel cautiously and carefully from Mountain Center to Hemet.

"Watch your speed closely," they said, but I'm adding "watch the road ahead," too. The reason:
Fire trucks will be crossing Highway 74 and may be working on the roadway.

The Forest Service was very nice to all of us opening Highway 74 24 to 48 hours earlier than initial projections, so please don't be a spoiled sport and ruin it for them. They're doing a great job.

The jazz fest was great, but be careful. With the current deficit we can't afford new fire equipment.


6 a.m.
GOOOOOOOOD MOORRNNNNNNNNNING IDYLLWILD and all of you flatlanders thinking about coming to the mountains to hear some truly great jazz.

The sunrise was beautiful this morning. The sky is clear with few clouds and no smoke.

The Cottonwood Fire is still roughly 2,200 acres burned and 10 percent contained, but those are conservative estimates, according to Public Information Officer Marc Peebles. He is with the Integrated management team assigned to destroy, eliminate and whack the Cottonwood Fire.

There was very little activity last night; the fire didn’t spread. But lots of work remains before the “c” word — “controlled” — will modify the Cottonwood Fire.

Crews worked last night, but the actual number of firefighters was lighter than Thursday. Those guys deserved sleep after more than 24 hours battling the fire in heat and ridges. They were up all Thursday night stopping the fire at the North Fork of the San Jacinto River.

Just as important, Peebles noted that it is extremely dangerous work in the steep and rugged terrain running through the lower canyons.

Today, more people and firefighters are arriving. Total personnel on the Hill attacking this fire will be greater than 500 people: 13 crews including Hot Shots, four helicopters, two fixed-wing aircraft, the Martian MARS (all 7,200 gallons of capacity), 37 engines, dozers and water tenders.

Temperatures will be about the same today — in the 90s at the higher elevations and greater than 100º along the river basin and in the canyon bottoms.

The IC leadership is clearly worried about dehydration on the fire lines. The other concern today is the wind speed will pick up 5 to 10 miles per hour. As several officials said, “This fire has not been wind-tested yet.”

Today, the team will be mopping up along the North Fork and making sure the fire doesn’t breach its eastern boundary. The heavy work will be on the west and north. Establishing strong fire lines will be a major priority during the sunlight hours. (Let’s hope some jazz sounds waft down through the canyons to them.)

Community meeting 2 views: Marshall Smith's

On Friday night, the Forest Service organized and conducted a meeting to discuss the Cottonwood Fire. The meeting started at 6 p.m. at Idyllwild School. Both Marshall Smith and myself attended. Below is his rendition of the session. In the blog below this one is my version.

Friday at 11:45 p.m.

Between 300 and 400 people turned out to hear representatives of the U.S. Forest Service, CalFire, Riverside County Office of Emergency Services (OES), the Sheriff’s Department and Idyllwild Fire Protection District discuss current fire strategies and contingency plans.

Salient points included that although the fire has expanded to 2,200 acres, winds are blowing downslope and in a westerly direction, at a moderate rate of 10 mph, expected to increase to 12 mph tonight (Idyllwild is northeast of the present fire location); the fire is low-burning, moving through dry brush with the greatest expansion of the fire on its westerly edge; weather conditions are not expected to change dramatically over the next couple of days. If anything, temperatures will cool slightly in the next three to four days; fire containment is at 10 percent, up from 5 percent earlier this afternoon; and initial Forest Service firefighters, before being joined by CalFire, were able last night to keep the fire from crossing a critical point at the North Fork of the San Jacinto. Incident commander Mike Wakoski said, “The fire has not really moved much today. Things are looking real good on this fire.”

Riverside County Sheriff Lt. Henry Sawicki reassured attendees that the department, which is responsible for evacuation and notifying residents when to evacuate and the route to take, have 50 deputies standing by and more at the ready should the need arise. Contingency plans, once the fire passes an evacuation “trigger point” set at Fisherman’s Point, should allow deputies six to eight hours to deploy to the Hill, set up evacuation routes and begin evacuating residents.

If the fire behaves in the future as it has today, Sawicki and fire officials do not believe evacuation will be necessary. Of course, all were cautious to state that changes in weather, wind and fire behavior could change all that.

OES Deputy Director Peter Lent, in response to a question from an audience member, said all evacuees are asked to check in at designated shelters, even though they may move on to private homes of friends or relatives or other private accommodations. In response to another question, Lent explained that the county Early Warning Notification System (EWNS) will, at the time the Fisherman’s Point trigger point is crossed, begin sending out calls to all Hill land lines and registered cell phones that evacuation is being ordered. Cell phones, unless already registered, will not be able to be registered in time for this incident. It takes 30 days, once they are entered online, for registration to be in the system.

CalFire/Riverside County Unit Chief John Hawkins, in a rousing affirmation of official determination and organization, said, “Collaboration among all official agencies ensures that anytime any major emergency happens, there will be a unified command, and there will be no Katrina-like screw up of that command.”

Ron Roberts, staff for Riverside County 3rd District Supervisor Jeff Stone, gave a message from the supervisor. “Please tell the people of the mountain we are committed to their public safety and that we will get you out early and safely [if that becomes necessary].”

Forest Service’s Greg Castleberry reminded attendees of the huge amount of clearance that has been done on Idyllwild’s western flank during the last four years. “If that fire goes through those areas that have been cleared, we will now have more options [because of those mosaic-patterned clearances].”

IFPD Chief Steve Kunkle explained “pre-trigger” points he had put in place that should the fire cross them, he would cancel the jazz festival. At this point, neither Kunkle nor other fire officials see that eventuality, but should it happen, the “pre-trigger” point affords officials adequate time to plan how to deal with the glut of festival patrons.

In answer to an audience question, Incident Command Team Public Information Officer Marc Peebles said even though there are many other Southern California fires, resources are prioritized based upon threats to community, power lines and grids, and water sheds. “There is a constant and fluid movement of resources based on exigent priorities.” His point was that adequate resources would be available to fight the Cottonwood Fire.

Community meeting 2 views: JP Crumrine's

On Friday night, the U.S. Forest Service organized and conducted a meeting to discuss the Cottonwood Fire. The meeting started at 6 p.m. at Idyllwild School. Both Marshall Smith and myself attended. Below is my rendition of the session. In the blog above is Marshall's version.

Friday at 11:45 p.m.

The Cottonwood Fire was reported about 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27. At the time, the temperature was 104º and relative humidity was 4 percent.

“Conditions very conducive for a fire,” said Dave Fiorella, San Jacinto Ranger District fire chief. But overnight and throughout the day, with temperatures again in the three-digit level, Forest Service firefighters — joined with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters — jolted this fire.

“The firefighters were excellent firefighters last night,” Fiorella told a crowd of Hill residents exceeding 350 people Friday night. “We wanted to hold the fire to the west side of the North Fork. It finally stalled on the bench near Regina Springs. It was our priority to keep the fire from crossing the North Fork. You’re safe because we accomplished that.”

Fiorella and the rest of the firefighters who arrived in the scene just west of Cranston Guard Station have had three hours os sleep. Yet they withstood temperatures well above 100º in fire protection clothing to protect our community, residents, neighbors and homes.

Friday, the Southern California Integrated Management Team II took command of the Cottonwood Fire. New IC Mike Wakoski said the fire had not moved much Friday. It was pretty stable.

With night approaching, firefighters were hoping they might begin to improve their containment of the fire.

All of this was discussed in the community meeting at Idyllwild School Friday night, starting at 6 p.m. The meeting was only scheduled Friday morning, but hundreds of people — Hill residents — learned of it and took time from dinner, the movies, the weekend, sleep or dates to come and learn more about the Cottonwood Fire.

One important fact was that the fire's start may be related to a power pole, but that is still being investigated, according to John Miller, Forest Service public information officer. Forest Service and CalFire investigators were studying a site adjacent to Highway 74 about three-quarter miles west of the Cranston bridge earlier Friday.

The firefighting managers all expressed guarded optimism that the Cottonwood Fire would succumb to their strategies within several days if the weather cooperates.

In the event the fire escapes and moves east on Idyllwild, the incident team is developing evacuation plans and procedures. Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Henry Sawicki told the people that he had a contingent of more than 50 deputies available to initiate an evacuation. A radio announcement would be available, calls on the county’s Early Warning Notifcation system would be made, sheriff’s deputies would drive through neighborhoods shouting instructions on loud speakers and door-to-door notification would all be used to ensure the populace was alert and averted harm.

Peter Lent of the Riverside County Office of Emergency Services assured everyone that home phones would be called automatically, including unlisted numbers. Cell phones must be registered on the county site. (See an earlier post on this blog site.) This process will need about 30 days for the number to be included in the call list, according to Lent.

Besides the notification systems and the fire’s proximity, many people had questions about the jazz festival. Idyllwild Fire Chief Steve Kunkle explained his thought process and how the fire’s behavior and movement would cause him to pull the permit, thus canceling or closing the event.

But as of Friday night, the festival gates will open at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Before leaving, Wakoski and Fiorella admitted that the other Southern California fires provided competition for firefighting and air attack resources to aid in stopping the Cottonwood Fire’s growth and movement.

Nevertheless, Thursday night was successful and Wakoski indicated that he had received notice that 11 or 12 Hot Shot teams would be arriving overnight and Saturday to aid the tired but gallant initial firefighters.

More forest fire restrictions

Due to fire activity, and to protect public health and safety, effective immediately, San Jacinto Ranger District officials are implementing more fire restrictions — preventing wood and charcoal fires across the entire district, including developed sites.

Also, three forest access roads will be closed in the northwest portion of the district: the San Jacinto Truck Trail (5S07), the Control Road (5S06), and the Indian Mountain Truck Trail (4S21). The road closures prohibit public entry and will last until the current fire conditions subside.

For more information about the closure or fires currently burning on the San Bernardino National Forest, contact the Fire Information Center at (909) 383-5688.