News & Columns > News Staff Member > Grass Valley Fire 100 Percent Contained, Slide Fire 92 Percent

Grass Valley Fire 100 Percent Contained, Slide Fire 92 Percent

By News Staff Member
Monday, October 29, 2007

Full containment of the fire perimeter was reached Monday the 1,247-acre Grass Valley Fire. However, interior hot spots remain. Fire crews will continue to mop-up hot spots around structures and within the interior of the fire line. Difficult terrain on the west side of the fire break is slowing mop-up progress. Incident personnel are continuing to work with cooperating agencies and utility companies to facilitate re-entry into the mandatory evacuation area. Three hundred thirty-six personnel remain assigned to the fire.

The Slide Fire is 92% contained as of 8:00 pm Monday and remains at 12,789 acres. Firefighters continue making good progress mopping up hot spots within the perimeter of the Slide Fire. Higher humidities and lower temperatures are helping their efforts.

Structure protection, mop up and patrol continues in residential areas. As estimated 2,500 structures remain threatened and 1,688 personnel are assigned.

BAER teams and post-suppression rehabilitation teams are continuing their surveys of the burned areas. Emergency stabilization (BAER) teams are focused on protection of life and property and critical natural and heritage resource values from post fire watershed effects. BAER assessment and planning will likely last a few weeks and implementation of treatments will be done within one year.

The areas that suffered extensive fire damage in the Grass Valley Fire will remain under a mandatory evacuation order with road closures along Brentwood Drive at four intersections and at San Benito Drive @ Pinehurst Drive. Residents and property owners of Grass Valley in the mandatory evacuation area will be given an opportunity to view their homes and properties and salvage any belongings during an organized visit on Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those interested in viewing their property must check in at Mary Putnam Henck Intermediate School between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. For details view the related press release at [http://www.sbcounty.gov// or call (909) 387-5412.

Mandatory evacuations remain in effect until further notice from Heaps Peak Transfer Station east to Big Bear dam (Running Springs, Arrowbear and Green Valley Lake communities).

A closure order remains in effect for the San Bernardino National Forest. Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area reopened on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007, at 7:00 a.m. The Miller Canyon Day Use and Grove area will remain closed. Until further notice, the park will remain closed. For additional information, call: 760-389-2303

National Orange Show Fair Grounds in the City of San Bernardino (enter through Gate 9) is still open for evacuees. The Victorville Fair Grounds evacuation center was closed on Sunday.

The County Assessor's Office has released damage reports.

• Lake Arrowhead
• Green Valley Lake
• Running Springs, Enchanted Forest, Smiley Park, Crab Flats

Source: http://www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us/assessor/

Monday, October 29, 8:00 am report

Fire crews are facing difficult terrain in the west side of the Grass Valley Fire that is hampering efforts for full containment. The fire remains at 95% contained as of 8:00 am Monday. Crews to make effective progress mopping up hot spots are using evening infrared flight information. Incident personnel are continuing to work with cooperating agencies and utility companies to facilitate re-entry into the mandatory evacuation area. Those areas for the Grass Valley Fire include:

• Brentwood Drive @ Sonoma Drive
• San Benito Drive @ Pinehurst Drive
• Brentwood Drive @ Pinehurst Drive
• Brentwood Drive @ Oakmont Drive
• Brentwood Drive @ Grass Valley Drive

(Photo by US Forest Service.)

For larger map, visit Inciweb. Map

Transition is occurring today with the California Type-1 Incident Command Team 1 assuming command of the Grass Valley Fire at 6:00 am Tuesday, October 30, 2007.

Meanwhile on the Slide Fire, continuing mild weather conditions have contributed to significant progress on fire perimeter containment that is now 90% with no increase in acreage. Overnight crews worked on hot spots revealed from infrared flight information. Structure protection for the 2,500 homes still threatened and mop up continue in and around residential areas. Utility companies are getting services restored. Current management strategy is proving to be successful, with the fire having been contained within objective lines.

Today, gusty winds up to 25 mph may cause an increase in smoke coming from within the fire perimeters. Crews are monitoring both fires.

Weather will play a pivotal role this week as crews continue to contain and mop up the fires. This afternoon and tonight, a weak low pressure system will bring a slight chance for some showers and sprinkles. Breezy weather will return on Tuesday and Wednesday as cooler weather settles in. However, this cooler weather may be short-lived as forecasters are hinting at a possible weak to moderate Santa Ana wind event beginning Friday. "The details still need to be worked out," said Mark Moede, Lead Forecaster from the National Weather Service in San Diego, "but it appears to be a good bet another offshore flow episode will develop toward this weekend. Dry offshore winds will not be terribly strong, not nearly as strong as the event that started and pushed the fires, but not weak either."

BAER rehabilitation teams and post-suppression activities are making plans for work to be done after fire containment lines make the burn areas safe to reenter on federal lands.

The mandatory evacuation order for the communities of Twin Peaks, Rim Forest, Blue Jay, Agua Fria, Deer Lodge Park, Sky Forest, Cedar Glen and the majority of Lake Arrowhead has been reduced to a voluntary evacuation. The area opened Sunday at noon to residents and re-entry passes were not required.

In addition to the areas under mandatory evacuation for the Grass Valley Fire, mandatory evacuations remain in effect until further notice from Heaps Peak Transfer Station east to Big Bear dam, including the communities of Running Springs, Arrowbear and Green Valley Lake.

A closure order remains in effect for the San Bernardino National Forest. Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area reopened on Sunday, October 28, 2007, at 7:00 a.m. The Miller Canyon Day Use and Grove area will remain closed. Until further notice, the park will remain closed.

The Grass Valley Fire is being managed under Unified Command with the US Forest Service and the San Bernardino County Fire and Sheriff departments. The Slide Fire is being managed under Unified Command with the US Forest Service, the San Bernardino County Fire and Sheriff's departments, CAL FIRE, and Running Springs FD. Other cooperators and partners include CA CHP, CalTrans, CA-OES, and Crest Forest FPD.