News & Columns > Michael P. Neufeld > Firefighters Mop-up Flats Incident (Update)

Firefighters Mop-up Flats Incident (Update)

By Michael P. Neufeld
Saturday, September 6, 2008

View Alert

Update - Saturday, 10:57 a.m.

Barton Flats, CA - Firefighters stationed at the Heaps Peak Heliport conducted mop-up operations Saturday morning at the Flats Incident in a wilderness area near Barton Flats.

All other engines, fire crews and aerial support planes were released at 10:42 a.m.

Original Story - 10:10 a.m.

Barton Flats, CA – Firefighters have responded to a wilderness fire near Barton Flats that was first reported at 9:08 a.m. in a very remote area with steep terrain.

Incident commanders have ordered a helicopter and a helitanker. Tankers were released as they arrived on scene. However, Air Attack 12 from San Bernardino Air Tanker Base reports the fire is at about the 8,400-foot level.

The US Forest Service has designated this contract plane as Air Attack 12. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Helicopter 40-King 3 reported the 1/4 acre fire was burning in ground fuels with little or no open flames. The pilot told dispatchers the area would be excellent for rappelling if Helicopter 534 from Heaps Peak was equipped for that type of operation today.

Scanner reports reveal firefighters believe the Flats Incident will be a heavy mop-up and that hand crews have started hiking to the remote area starting at a point on the Foresee Creek Trail.

Engine companies have now been released because they are unable to access the fire.