For those that say the Div assignments are vague, remember Division breakouts happen every shift change briefing to go over the written plan and make changes if needed. Then there’s the tailgate briefing at the line assignment. Then the plan mods on the fly. The written IAP 204’s are an outline sometimes only good at the moment it’s drafted due to rapidly changing fire environment and/or resource allocations.
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Division L northwest of silver lake is the main fire with the big column. In the foreground is leek springs looking from Armstrong which is division m & n that has firing ops going.
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For those that say the Div assignments are vague
Let’s just avoid anyone here second-guessing anything being done out on the lines. We’re not there. Just don’t.
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Any online frequencies available for caldor?
People forget that resource availability is as a minimum. Not the place to arm chair especially right now.
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Dozer line 1-2-3 blades in width, reinforced with high coverage level retardant line and engine support and sometimes even plumbed can’t stand alone without some firing in these conditions. The fuel indicies, the probability of ignition scores and ember casting is just too high and conducive to long range spotting. Conventional line is just not holding. What I’ve experienced this year, firing ops have to be very well supported and deeply grided. Night Ops are more successful than day. Line prep has to be extreme-like overkill. Very resource intensive and we just don’t have the resources.
Post Script: This post was made in response to questions regarding the use of Firing Ops that have since been removed.
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Mod Note: Everyone…We all have differing perspectives on the Caldor however, let’s decist from any further arm chairing this. There a vast number of IFs in everyone’s opinions. I know this area well outside of the main corridors. It is steep nasty overgrown terrain that does not lend itself to rapid line construction especially considering that there are right now 3,600 people assigned to this fire with a large number of WUI structures in the lower altitudes.
Any further arm chair debates with respect to what should have happened, could have happened or might have been the outcomes are going to be deleted.
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Does anyone know if the GACCs were able to fill the IN for the STEN order?
First time I have seen a snow maker being used for Structure Protection!
Sierra-at-Tahoe
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Squaw, Alpine Meadows, and Sugar Bowl all did the same during that epic King Run (12? 14? miles in one day).
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URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Reno NV
1028 AM Mon Aug 30
Greater Lake Tahoe and Truckee Area-
…RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
11 PM PDT WEDNESDAY FOR UNSTABLE CONDITIONS, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW
HUMIDITY FOR THE EASTERN SIERRA AND WESTERN NEVADA…
-
Changes…Extended Red Flag Warning to 11 PM Wednesday.
-
Winds…Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 35 mph.
Gusts may reach 40 mph in some locations Tuesday, especially
along Highway 395. Winds gusts may exceed 50 mph over ridge
** lines in the Sierra late tonight and Tuesday.** -
Humidity…Minimum values 5 to 15 percent.
-
Duration…3 to 6 hours Monday and Tuesday afternoons. Winds
will not subside much for exposed midslopes and ridges during
the overnight periods. -
Impacts…The combination of unstable conditions, gusty winds
and low humidity can cause fire to rapidly grow in size and
intensity.
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Could foam be introduced into this process? Similar to a foam generator used for runways. More effective than water.
Its an ongoing process with this one
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Spent some time on the Dixie and the Caldor. Assignments were like 10’ scrape, 8000’ in 4 hours, drop hazard trees and trees threatening the line. The fuels looked like this:
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I’m surprised they shut down highway 89 north as an evac route so soon.
Scout Peak repeater and microwave site threatened. Fire cutting dozer line around the site.