d n News-caloes-STATE_OES_DE 08/14 335 STATE OES DEPLOYS 11 NEW STRIKE TEAMS TO FIRE LINES

From: Governor's Office of Emergency Services

SACRAMENTO - This evening, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services has dispatched 11 new strike teams (55 engines) to fires burning throughout Northern California. This includes 35 local government and State OES engines that were dispatched to the Emigrant

Gap fire on an 'immediate need.' Additionally, State OES has activated its Inland Region Emergency Operations Center and State Operations Center in Sacramento to coordinate response to the Northern California fires. Each strike team consists of five fire engines - with three to four firefighters per engine - and a strike team leader. The latest strike teams are being dispatched from the following locations.

EMIGRANT GAP FIRE 1 OES Strike Team

1 OES Satellite Communication Trailer

Local Government Engines Colusa County Stanislaus County (2) San Joaquin County Nevada County Tahoe Basin

MODOC COMPLEX FIRE Local Government Engines Alameda County Tahoe Basin

BLUE FIRE 1 OES Strike Team

Local Government Engines Shasta County

Throughout Northern California and Nevada, eight fires have burned upwards of 100,000 acres so far. In addition to the recent group of 11 strike teams, OES has also deployed 99 other State OES and local government fire engines, two state-of-the-art OES satellite communication trailers, and numerous fire and telecommunications staff to the Northern California fire lines.

The local and state-owned equipment has been dispatched through California's Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System, administered by OES, to assist the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and federal wildland fire

agencies, and local departments. The system is designed to ensure that additional resources are provided to local jurisdictions whenever their own resources are committed or insufficient for a specific fire.

-OES-

For more information contact: OES Public Affairs (916) 262-1843

EDIS-08-14-01 0035 PDT

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

Answers

Wildfires spread across California and Northwest 8,500 called in to battle blazes -- evacuations in High Sierra

Chuck Squatriglia, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, August 14, 2001

More than 8,500 firefighters braved stinging wasps, rugged terrain and searing heat yesterday as they battled scores of wildfires burning throughout Northern California, Nevada and the Pacific Northwest.

Six major fires, including a whopper that has blackened 55,000 acres in Lassen County, were burning in the Golden State. The blazes destroyed 10 homes in Colusa County, prompted evacuations in the High Sierra and forced the California Highway Patrol to escort motorists along Interstate 80 at the Nevada border.

"It's been a busy day," said Karen Terrill, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry. "Our resources are stretched thin. It has the potential to be a really long week."

Things were worse in Nevada, where seven fires raged out of control, including a blaze that has torched more than 82,000 acres in the high desert about 200 miles northeast of Reno.

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber declared a state of emergency so the National Guard could join firefighters battling about 40 fires there. Among them was a 4,300-acre blaze 10 miles southwest of Ashland near the California border.

That fire destroyed two homes. Although it was moving away from the city, it was encroaching on the Ashland watershed and threatening the city's water supply.

Meanwhile, crews in Washington had their hands full fighting fires.

Most of the fires raging in the West were sparked last week by lightning and authorities said few will be contained soon. Firefighters have been so busy that they've had to leave dozens of smaller fires untended.

The situation was so serious that the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, declared "Level Four" (out of five) preparedness status for the first time this year. The move allows fire authorities to call in the armed services to help, but there are no immediate plans to do so, said agency spokeswoman Cherry Ascherfeld.

Firefighters won't get any help from Mother Nature in the coming days and forecasters said the situation could worsen later this week.

"We're going to have hot weather for another couple days at least," said fire spokeswoman Paula Martinez. "We don't expect a cool-down until maybe Thursday and that's a problem."

More than 89,000 acres were ablaze in California yesterday, mostly in remote pockets of vast federal forests.

The worst of the fires raged east of Ravendale (Lassen County), where a blaze sparked Thursday by a lightning strike has blackened 55,000 acres.

More than 900 firefighters had the fire 31 percent contained yesterday. They struggled against 90-degree heat, dry wind and rugged territory as the fire threatened 13 homes near the Nevada border.

"The past few days have been difficult," said Jeff Fontana, a spokesman for the Susanville Interagency Fire Center. "It's rough terrain, tough to get around."

Farther south, more than 350 firefighters fought a 1,900-acre blaze in Emigrant Gap, a historic Sierra spot about 70 miles northeast of Sacramento.

The fire forced the evacuation of a Boy Scout camp and authorities urged other campers to clear out. Thick smoke from the fire prompted officials to close Interstate 80, Highway 20 and a handful of smaller highways in the area for about four hours yesterday. The CHP continued to escort motorists in groups of 300 through the area last night.

The Emigrant Gap fire was about 20 percent contained yesterday and officials said firefighters hope to have it contained by 6 p.m. today.

A 12,086-acre fire in Mendocino National Forest of Glenn and Colusa counties has destroyed 10 homes and six outbuildings just four miles west of Stonyford.

More than 1,500 firefighters had that blaze 51 percent contained last night.

Ten firefighters have suffered minor injuries, including wasp stings, heat exhaustion and sprained limbs.

Meanwhile, a 16,000-acre fire spread largely unabated 13 miles east of Likely (Lassen County) near Blue Lake. More than 1,200 firefighters braving triple-digit temperatures contained 10 percent of the fire yesterday.

"Because of extreme drought, erratic winds and fire behavior, it's been really cooking," said fire spokeswoman Nancy Gardner.

The fire forced the evacuation of the 48-unit Blue Lake campground and destroyed one building.

Along the California-Nevada state line northwest of Reno, air tankers and bulldozers fought to protect about 25 homes from a 19,300-acre fire in the Sierra Nevada. The blaze, about 10 miles east of Doyle (Lassen County), moved away from the homes yesterday but destroyed five outbuildings, fire officials said.

Also yesterday, more than three dozen smokejumpers parachuted into the South Warner Wilderness in Modoc County, while others battled a blaze on the outskirts of Cedarville.

As the blazes raged yesterday, Western governors and Cabinet secretaries meeting in Idaho during the annual meeting of the Western Governors' Association agreed to implement a sweeping national fire plan intended to prevent the wildfires that beset the region each summer.

The 10-year plan calls for improved prevention and suppression efforts, particularly near populated areas, by, among other things, clearing brush and debris that can fuel catastrophic blazes.

[snip] Chronicle staff writer Larry D. Hatfield and the Associated Press contributed to this report. / E-mail Chuck Squatriglia at csquatriglia@sfchronicle.com.

©2001 San Francisco Chronicle Page A - 1 Chronicle SectionsDatebookCommentarySportsNewsBusiness

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001