What map is that screenshot from?
I made it this morning after a resident sent me pictures of the fire. I was an engineer at Nac Engine 16 from 2005-2009. I know this country inside and out. My husband is the FMO for this district. My guess is it’s going up to the Coast Ridge Rd and will slop over down into upper Kirk.
2 Likes
Trying to pull it up on flight radar not showing any aircraft in the area. Spent 20 + days on Kirk.
FR24 and other similar tracking apps require some hobbyist ADSB coverage in the area to feed the data, especially for the lower level altitudes of firefighting aircraft. You can see the aircraft as they come out of Paso Robles, not sure how far they’ll track west to the incident, looks like as they enter the forest at about 5000msl passing the western boundary of Liggett. As stated earlier AFF (satellite coverage) showing five S2’s and two LAT’s, Two T1 copters with more ordered, and then the agency C527 and C406.
2 Likes
Does anyone know about whether they are going to try to transition to type II or have any inside to GACC So-Cal Ordering info?
2 Likes
Does this have the potential to be another Soberanes? Or alot of oak woodland/ grass before it gets into the nasty chaparral & snags of previous fires??
You would have a more direct way to find that out than most of us.
I would think it might be too early for team talk, but after the slop over and it being the LPF, you never know.
It is moving in to a much higher density fuel type. Very heavy brush and continuous timber stands. If it crosses over the ridge, toward Liggett, it is ~very~ steep and unforgiving terrain. It could potentially run toward Junipero Sera and all throughout the wilderness areas. A Team order isn’t a far cry at all, if it hasn’t been done already.
3 Likes
I’m curious what team would get the call. Team 14 and 15 were skipped. Who’s up?
Team 14 is still on 2 hr call until midnight tonight. Then team 15 will be on 2 hr.
2 Likes
If this thing doesn’t get turned in the next couple of hours it will go big. Aircraft are doing their best to hold it in check, but that ends at cutoff. The weather here is similar to the Soberanes ignition conditions with the exception of the drought factor. Tonight will be dry above the marine layer which has been very thin all day.
3 Likes
BC12, that is what I was thinking. Do we have plenty of type I crews from FS? Our concern was the sun going down too and possibly not having enough boots on ground. Hard to know how many crews they have. Also terrain is nasty at night. SOO steep and rocky up top. Injury at night would SUCK big time for you guys.
1 Like
Agreed. Hard to find out if it’s gotten over Cone Peak Rd, or if it’s slopped into Kirk to the north. Can’t run dozers in there even if they let us! FS supervisor has to approve. Any word from anyone if they DID?
1 Like
Fyi,
I’m not LPF BC 12, but I have been involved with many fires here on the Central Coast on the State side…including Soberanes.
1 Like
Don’t worry 
BC 12 on the LPF has been vacant for years!l
7 Likes
I think Team 14 would get the call they are up till midnight. And they also got passed up for the Tucker fire.
1 Like
As you know that district is notorious for active fire behavior at night. As far as crews go, I think they got ever left in South Zone. Not much left. MDF should be able to release a few soon.
1 Like
Yeah husband (Div 1 of MRD-LPF) was supposed to take on MDF but is on Mike Strawn’s Type II team as Op’s Trainee but they got cancelled to MDF. He will take IC of Hill Fire tonight. If Strawn’s team is activated he will go. I think they are holding out tactically to push button on Mill because they can catch it. Fuel moistures are still at 90% live which means they are holding a little before they catch. This means short range spotting even on the ridge tops. We are coming off of a above average year of rainfall and we have a recent fire burn from Chalk 2008. No big fire weather red flags. This isn’t a early season drought year. Our main concern is dead and down and resource availability in really really steep ass terrain (let us not forget the highest elevation gain in lower 48). I fought these fires. I know what they are looking at. Tough obstacles but the climate is not our big concern right now.
4 Likes