Cascadel Woods Fire (North Fork)

[only1alphafemale]

We have a fire burning up above Cascadel Woods here in North Fork. The last "report" I heard was it was 10 - 15 acres down in a canyon. I walked to the end of my driveway and could see the smoke and the hot orange color of the sky~ :cry:

[only1alphafemale]

I have counted numerous fire trucks and saw 2 dozers heading up to the fire.

CHP has closed the road leading into Cascadel, off of Rd 225, stating that only evacuees can come down, but no one goes up. ( I have NOT heard of ANY evacuations taking place at this time however ).

[Mysteefied]

Oh my gosh! I have been hearing the fire trucks go by.

[Sandman]

from http://www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?p=30114#post30114

Vegetation Fire in the North Fork Area. Cascadel Road and Road 233

First Engine at scene put the initial size up at 5-10 Acres. Engines are having an access problem. Five additional dozers and two strike teams of engines are on order. This incident along with the Best Incident as stripped the MMU Unit.

FKU Battalion Chief 4312 had a visual from Fresno County Side. He put it at 15 acres at 2118 Hours with an up hill run. Per FKU B4312 Fire is in a timber stand on the ground only.

Staging Location is Douglas Ranger Station Road and Road 225. Overhead Meeting at Sierra Forest Service Douglas Ranger Station.

Comms:
CDF Command 4 Tone 3
CDF Tac 7

Overhead:
Battalion 4215 (At Scene)
Battalion 4211
Sierra NF Battalion 12
Captain 4215
Prevention 4224

Madera County Fire:
Engine 11 (At Scene)
Engine 14 (At Scene)
Water Tender 11 (At Scene)

CDF:
Engine 4254 (Staging)
Engine 4262 (Staging)
Engine 4261
Engine 4270
Engine 4271
Engine 4281
Engine 4282 (Staging)
Dozer 4245
Dozer 4242
Engine 4361
Engine 4382
Engine 4391
Engine 4362
Engine 4378

Sierra National Forest:
Engine 14 (Staging)
Engine 53
Captain 18

Units at Staging:
Battalion 4211
Engine 4270
Engine 4378
Engine 4262
SNF Engine 53
Dozer 4242
Dozer 4245
MCFD Engine 15

En-route:
Dozer 4241

Change of Assignment:
Mount Bullion Crew 2 (Out of Service-Mechanical)
Engine 4361 (Covering Rancheria CDF)

[only1alphafemale]

Re: CA-MMU-Cascadel

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Engine 4262 has gained access to the fire. Cascadel Road to Waterfall Lane to Gertrude Creek Road. Engine 4262 requesting one dozer to assist with carving out a road for other equipment. Engine 4254 has been committed to the area also looking for another access.

At 2217 hours, Engine 4262 requesting three type 3 engines for residential structure protection (three houses). Also requesting one at least one hand crew.

Staging:
Engine 4261
Engine 4271
Engine 4281
Sierra NF Battalion 12
Dozer 4340

En-route:
Mecci Dozer (Private Hires)
Mennis Dozer (Private Hires)

Change of Assignment:
None

http://www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?p=30114

[Sandman]

http://www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?p=30114

Per Battalion 4215, tonight will be a unified command with Sierra National Forest (SNF). Resource Orders for tonight are four hand crews. This will be the last Resource Order being placed through Mariposa ECC. The remaining orders will be placed through SNF. Mount Bullion Crews 3 & 5 will be reassigned from CA-MMU-Best Incident to this incident. Hand Crew Strike Team from Baseline and one crew from Miramonte are en-route.

Staging:
Prevention 4224 (Assuming Staging Manager)
Battalion 4211 (Assuming Safety Officer)

Units En-Route:
Engine 4264 (Released from the CA-MMU-Best Incident)
Engine 4275 (Released from the CA-MMU-Best Incident)
Mount Bullion Crew 3 (Released from the CA-MMU-Best Incident)
Mount Bullion Crew 5 (Released from the CA-MMU-Best Incident)

Change of Assignment:
None

[Michelle]

any more news................

[cattledoggiemoon]

oh man.. I am so sorry. I can only empathze. This was so scarry when we saw one so close to our home.

Is this suspicious start too? We have our NW meeting on Monday.

I hope they can get control today.

[bentTree]

Is there any air support? I haven't noticed any helicopters or planes. I can see the plume of smoke and surrounding ridges- I'm near Bass-Fork area.

[only1alphafemale]

Yes, we have air support~ and so far it looks like they have some control over it? ? ? There are still loads of CDF and CAL FIRE and local law enforcement running back and forth.

Lets all be thankfull that those winds we had a few days back have subsided ..:D

[only1alphafemale]

According to channel 47 news, there have been over 100 acres burned, and standby evacuations for approx. 300 people have been given, for the Cascadel / Pekinpah area.

http://www.cbs47.tv/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=84202@video.cbs47.tv

They have "two" video reports posted~

[only1alphafemale]

Fresno, CA, USA (KFSN) -- Evacuation warnings have been issued for Cascadel Woods, Cacadel Heights and Peckinpah Acres residents.
The fire has burned at least 50 acres near waterfall lane and Gurtrude Creek in the Cascadel Woods subdivision.

The Madera County Sheriff's Department did reverse 911 calls this morning, warning residents they may have to evacuate.
160 firefighters have been trying to put out the flames since the fire started Thursday night.


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CASCADEL FIRE RESOURCES
Acres Burned: 100 acres
Cause: Under Investigation
Date Started: September 11, 2008 5:30 p.m.
Injuries: 0
Percent Contained: 0%
Expected Control: Unknown
Crews: 5 Hand Crews
Engines: 18
Dozers: 6
Water Tenders: 1
Air Tankers: 0
Total Assigned: 182 fire personnel
Current Fire Situation
Burning in pine and brush between Whiskey and Gertrude Creeks 2.5 miles north east of the town of North Fork.
Roads and Campgrounds
Road 233 is open to residents only.

Evacuations
Evacuation warnings have been issued thru the reverse 911 system by the Madera County Sheriff's office to residents in the Cascadel Woods, Cacadel Heights and Peckinpah Acres residents.

Cooperating Agencies
United States Forest Service, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Madera County Fire Department, Madera County Sheriff and the California Highway Patrol.
Additional Information
A United States Forest Service Incident Management Team has been ordered and will assume command tomorrow, September 13 at 6:00 am.

[Yosemite Joy]

KMPH mid day news says the fire has doubled, over 100 acres, no evacuations yet. No structures damaged, road closed.

[Sandman]

http://inciweb.org/incident/1538/

Cascadel Incident Wildland Fire

Cascadel Information
Phone: (559) 877-2218

75 acres 0% contained

Fire Behavior is expected to have moderate rates of spread with high potential. This mornings actions are to get firefighting resources in place to begin aggressively fighting the fire and to keep it away from structures at Cascadel Woods. Terrain is step and inaccessible. Access in the area is limited.

[DreamCastle]

We have a home on North Cascadel Drive. We were planning on going up there this weekend, and I'm so worried for our community. Please let me know of any updates.

[BGW]

The fire looked pretty nasty from the dump this morning. I did get a laugh out of all the guys in little boats trying to fish while the choppers were dipping their baskets!!

[only1alphafemale]

Re: CA-MMU-Cascadel

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ICS 209 as of this AM
Latitude and Longitude 37° 14´ 50" 119° 28´ 24"
Ownership: CA-SNF ENE OF NORTH FORK, CA
Size/Area Involved 75 ACRES % Contained 0 Percent
Projected incident movement/spread:
12 hours: WINDS ARE DOWNSLOPE DRIVING THE FIRE INTO THE CASCADEL SUBDIVISION WHICH HAS APPROXIMATELY 50 RESIDENCES. THE FIRE HAS CROSSED TO THE WEST OF WHISKEY CREEK.
24 hours: DAYTIME WINDS MAY MOVE THE FIRE BACK UP OVER THE RIDGETOPS TO THE WEST, NORTH AND EAST CAUSING A FANNED OUT HEAD OR A POSSIBILITY OF MULTIPLE HEADS ON THE FIRE.

Critical Resource Needs (amount, type, kind and number of operational periods () in priority order)
12 hours: TYPE 1 HANDCREWS, TYPE 3 ENGINES, AIRTANKERS, TYPE 2 HELICOPTERS, TYPE 2 CREWS.
24 hours: TYPE 1 HANDCREWS, TYPE 3 ENGINES, AIRTANKERS, TYPE 2 HELICOPTERS, TYPE 2 CREWS.

Major problems and concerns (control problems, social/political/economic concerns or impacts, etc.) Relate critical resources needs identified above to the Incident Action Plan.
AREA IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS. COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SUPPORTING FIRE SUPPRESSION ACTIONS DUE TO HAZARDOUS INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT.
Actions planned for next operational period:
GET RESOURCES IN PLACE TO FLANK THE FIRE. OPEN OLD FIRE ROADS TO PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS. REQUESTING 5 STRIKE TEAMS OF TYPE 3 ENGINES, 6 TYPE 1 HANDCREWS, 2 TYPE 2 HANDCREWS, 4 AIRTANKERS, TYPE 1 HELICOPTER, TYPE 2 HELICOPTER FOR DAY SHIFT TODAY.
Given the current constraints, when will the chosen management strategy succeed?
PROPOSED AFTER RECEIPT OF ORDERED RESOURCES AND 2 FULL OPERATIONAL PERIODS.
CURRENTLY UNDER UNIFIED COMMAND. MAY ORDER TYPE 2 TEAM (ALLEN JOHNSON IC) BY EARLY OR MIDDLE MORNING IF FLANKING THE FIRE TONIGHT DOES NOT ACHIEVE DESIRED RESULTS.


http://www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?p=30130#post30130

[BGW]

JJCheyene lives in or very near Peckinpah Acres. Let's hope she and her dogs stay safe.

[dorseygirl]

You can really see the smoke coming up over the mountains from my view here at Hwy 41 and Hwy 49.

[only1alphafemale]

We have a home on North Cascadel Drive. We were planning on going up there this weekend, and I'm so worried for our community. Please let me know of any updates.

DreamCastle,

Here is a phone number you can call for information regarding Cascadel~

(559) 877-2218

I just spoke with a CSO and was told that its burning up the ridge, and away from the homes and no evacuations have been ordered.

[monkey]

A blurb for the news just said 50 homes are in danger. I hope they get this quick. I passed a BUNCH of fire engines when I was in town a bit ago,

[only1alphafemale]

There has been 1 firefighter injured also. Its unknown as to the extent of the injuries at this time? :no:

[OakhurstGuy]

We are on Taylor Mountain, top of Jean Road. Smoke is looking bad. We just took the boat out on the lake to the dam to see the copters filling. I took some photos but I don't know how to add them to the post :( . When we got home a few minutes ago we lost power, now running of generator. Not sure if it is related to the fire...

[OakhurstGuy]

OK - I guess I did figure out how to add photos, one of them showed up...

[only1alphafemale]

Re: CA-SNF-Cascadel

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Fire is between 150-250 ac. in some very steep country



http://www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?p=30172&highlight=Cascadel#post30172

[only1alphafemale]

Nice pics OakhurstGuy ! I have been watching the large black (?) colored helicopter ( the one in your pics ) , and the orange and white one working endlessly all day long :)

[jakobscalpel]

Re: CA-SNF-Cascadel
Fire is between 150-250 ac. in some very steep country
http://www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?p=30172&highlight=Cascadel#post30172

"Major problems and concerns (control problems, social/political/economic concerns or impacts, etc.) Relate critical resources needs identified above to the Incident Action Plan.
AREA IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS. COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SUPPORTING FIRE SUPPRESSION ACTIONS DUE TO HAZARDOUS INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT."

I found this quote in the link provided by only1alphafemale to be very interesting. Hazardous infrastructure related to the cause? I'll give you all three guesses as to what it was.

[only1alphafemale]

"Major problems and concerns (control problems, social/political/economic concerns or impacts, etc.) Relate critical resources needs identified above to the Incident Action Plan.
AREA IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS. COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SUPPORTING FIRE SUPPRESSION ACTIONS DUE TO HAZARDOUS INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT."

I found this quote in the link provided by only1alphafemale to be very interesting. Hazardous infrastructure related to the cause? I'll give you all three guesses as to what it was.

And you would be right. I had been told yesterday afternoon that there was a pot farm and the cause even though it was still under investigation, was human. ( Loads of deputies up there...) but since I didnt have a "news" source to *quote* I said nothing, until I did heard it stated openly, on one of the news channels last night....... :p

Today, the smoke has settled over us pretty heavy, unlike yesterday, today is much worse~ ( cough cough!) but there isnt nearly as much air support this am going over head.

There was a reported 30% containment as of last eve~

[dorseygirl]

Very smokey - had to close all the windows during the night - located on 426, 2 miles from down.

[only1alphafemale]

Re: CA-SNF-Cascadel

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From South Ops this morning (0800 9/13):

Cascadel (CA-SNF-1493) 3mi. E.NE of North Fork , CA. Allen Johnson's South Central Sierra Incident Management Team is transitioning this morning. The fire has burned 170 acres of heavy brush and mixed light timber and is 30 % percent contained.

Active fire behavior was observed through the night, However Fire continues to hold on north flank.

320 Residences surrounding the community of Cascadel Woods remain threatened. No structures have been damaged or destroyed.

This area is difficult to access, with County Law Enforcement supporting fire suppression actions due to hazards related to the cause of the incident.

http://www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?p=30180&highlight=Cascadel#post30180

[only1alphafemale]

http://inciweb.org/incident/1538/

Basic Information
Incident Type Wildland Fire
Cause Human Caused
Date of Origin Thursday September 11th, 2008 aprox 09:21 PM
Location 3 miles east and northeast of North Fork
Incident Commander Alan Johnson

Current Situation
Total Personnel 434
Size 175 acres
Percent Contained 30%
Estimated Containment Date Tuesday September 16th, 2008 aprox 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved Dense Brush and timber

Fire Behavior Fire Behavior is expected to have moderate rates of spread with high potential

Significant Events Not available


Outlook
Planed Actions Firefighters continue to flank the fire between Whiskey and Gertrude drainages and hold the fire south of Benedict Meadow.

Growth Potential High

Terrain Difficulty Terrain is step and inaccessible. Access in the area is limited.

Remarks A Forest Service overhead team will take over the fire today.


Weather
Current Wind Conditions 5-7 mph SW
Current Temperature 90 degrees
Current Humidity 15 %

[only1alphafemale]

http://inciweb.org/incident/announcements/article/1538/8183/

Community Meeting for Cascadel Woods Residents

Incident: Cascadel Incident Wildland Fire
Released: 5 hrs. ago


Their will be a community meeting for the residents of the Cascadel Woods area on Sunday, September 14 at 12 noon at the Clubhouse. Incident Commander Alan Johnson and District Ranger Dave Martin will provide an overview of the fire situation and address any concerns residents may have.

[only1alphafemale]

http://inciweb.org/incident/1538/

Basic Information
Incident Type Wildland Fire
Cause Human Caused
Date of Origin Thursday September 11th, 2008 aprox 09:21 PM
Location 3 miles east and northeast of North Fork
Incident Commander Alan Johnson

Current Situation
Total Personnel 645
Size 250 acres
Percent Contained 60%
Estimated Containment Date Tuesday September 16th, 2008 aprox 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved Heavy brush and mixed light timber

Fire Behavior Mostly creeping and ground activity, with some interior torching observed.

Significant Events Road guards remain in place.


Outlook
Planed Actions Firefighters have completed a fire line around the fire. Firefighters will work today to improve established line and do mop-up. Some crews will be released today to other incidents.

Growth Potential High

Terrain Difficulty Terrain is step and inaccessible. Access in the area is limited.

[jjcheyenne]

JJCheyene lives in or very near Peckinpah Acres. Let's hope she and her dogs stay safe.


Hello, we are ok. I was worried there for awhile. It was a little too close for comfort! I was ready to pack up the dogs and go. But, thanks to all those hard working fire fighters, we made it through!!

[BGW]

Hello, we are ok. I was worried there for awhile. It was a little too close for comfort! I was ready to pack up the dogs and go. But, thanks to all those hard working fire fighters, we made it through!!

YAY!!!!!!!

[only1alphafemale]

Last update 6 hrs ago ~

Basic Information
Incident Type Wildland Fire
Cause Human Caused
Date of Origin Thursday September 11th, 2008 aprox 09:21 PM
Location 3 miles east and northeast of North Fork
Incident Commander Allen Johnson

Current Situation
Total Personnel 475
Size 280 acres
Percent Contained 80%
Estimated Containment Date Wednesday September 17th, 2008 aprox 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved Heavy brush and mixed light timber

Fire Behavior Fire was uneventful last night with creeping and smoldering behavior observed.

Significant Events Not available


Outlook
Planed Actions Continued line improvement and mop-up on all divisions. Fire supression rehabilitation will begin. Road guards will continue to be in place.

Growth Potential High

Terrain Difficulty Terrain is step and inaccessible. Access in the area is limited.

Remarks Threat of isolated dry lighting is predicted for today.


Weather
Current Wind Conditions 3-7 mph SW
Current Temperature 62 degrees
Current Humidity 39 %

[jjcheyenne]

I wish there was a way to say thank you to all the firefighters who worked on this fire. They did such a great job keeping it away from peoples homes. We are so lucky to have them!