Kern just punched out a response for a fire on bodfish CALIENTE road, approximately 1 mile north of hwy 58
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Reports that the back half of the train traveling eastbound is on fire causing the fires along the track. ECC contacting Union Pacific
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Working on finding out what the cargo is?
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3 separate fires surrounded by roads with two of them being about 10-15 acres each.
Aircraft assigned: AA410, T76, T78, T107, H408
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KCFDF reporting 3 fires. 2 are 10-15 acres each. Didn’t hear report on 3rd. Train is blocking Caliente Bodfish Rd near Caliente so they are taking alt. routes including dirt road in area. Info is per scanner on KCFD Eastern Command. @IMT_Geek really knows this area
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With any luck, the train personnel will see it while they’re go throught the Tehachapi loop. But all bad through there to drag fire.
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AA410 with tankers 76 & 78 in tow almost on scene. The Kern copter is working.
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Tracks are clear now. Did not get the agency who reported.
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BNSF. They also reported rail cars potentially have Haz-mat unknown what kind.
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Heh. That’s like saying it potentially has a locomotive.
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If it is in the “hole” towards Caliente proper its tough for fixed wing. Good dozer and copter area though. That particular area is prime for fires, blowing clinkers out the stacks pulling up the hill or hot brakes going down. If a train blocks the tracks that makes it more fun since it tries to block all of Batt-1 and Batt-4 equipment except gettin there the hard and long way. It’s kind of late in the day for it to do too much, it’s all grass (mod 1) and as the sun sets the fire behavior moderates unless they have winds.
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@JohnHavilah, I know you have recently driven it, have they done the hazard reduction/roadside breaks and burning along the rails and along the Bealville and Cal-Bodfish roads this year?
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I seen them working on it a couple weeks ago
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Was sending a PM and it went out to community. Post deleted. Sorry for my error.
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@IMT_Geek As you know, they used to have problems bow stringing and derailing on the hill. Since then, they’re supposedly more conscious about the weight order of cars and overall length. Recon stopping and starting back up on that hill would test their loadout?
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@IMT_Geek. I saw no clearing done in early July but was heading to 58. Last time I took Bena to town of Edison was in late May or early June. I saw nothing then but maybe to early in year as I don’t know their timing.
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Stopping or starting on that hill will test everything. I don’t remember them stopping too many times unless they threw a shoe or the trucks were messed up and they were dragging. They call it in and are long gone by the time the call makes it’s way to California and then to ECC. There is a chance the train blocking the tracks had nothing to do with it other than being on that section and being nervous of his colorful manifest. Fires there are mostly a pain more than anything because of access from fences, train tracks, and cliffs. The smoke makes it appear that it’s just going to skunk around and look for what little slope it can. Safety is a factor, long shadows and the sun blinding you looking west.
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Alternative view showing via Breckenridge Peak cam for those interested:
https://www.alertwildfire.org/region/sierra/?camera=Axis-BreckenridgePeak2
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