Meeting Report

BRIEFING WITH CALFIRE - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2008

With only a one hour notification, a large group of ranchers came to a meeting called by Ukiah CalFire Battalion Chief Mark Tolbert for an update on the situation. Joining him later in the meeting was Mike Manyard who is the Incident Commander for the fire on Greenfield, which is now being called the “Jack Smith Fire.” (Mike was previously known to us as “Fred & Phyllis’s kid,” sorry Mike)

This is a report of information from that meeting, not actual “minutes.”

An EVACUATION WARNING, which is an ALERT of a Potential Threat has just been issued for all of Greenfield Ranch. Chief Mark explained that means they want everyone to be prepared for a possible Evacuation Order. which would require everyone to leave the ranch.

He explained that he could not be sure that the fire will spread and require an Evacuation Order, but the potential is there and he wants everyone prepared. He noted we have a sleeping dragon on the hill which no one is sure can be stopped if it wakes. It could spread slowly or quickly.

An “Evacuation Order” would require residents to leave in an orderly but timely manner. They would not be allow to return until the fire is mitigated.

If asked to “Shelter in Place” residents are required to stay secure in their present location. It is an option if the road(s) were blocked. However, he explained that safety cannot be assured if residents remain.

If possible CalFire will designate a “Safe Refuse Spot” to hold evacuees safe until clogged roads are open.

THE JACK SMITH FIRE:

The Jack Smith Fire is actually 2 fires that have, or are about to join. Previously the western side of it was called the “Singley Fire.”

CalFire currently has two engines watching sections of the fire. They consider the Jack Smith Fire one of the two most serious fires in the area.

Bob Dress reported that the west section of the fire started at the end of Redwood Canyon, which is a box canyon. The fire is now on the east side of that canyon, called the “dragonhead” and has burned the top of the ridge up into the canyon. across from Bob and Lynn’s and up on Singley Ranch. It turned at a fire break before Bob & Lynn’s border and CalFire wants to contain it at there.

Luckily Redwood Canyon is moist and has been able to repel the fire so far. That has held the fire on the north side of the canyon.

Another section of the fire started above the Jack Smith drainage probably on land owned by Mendocino Redwoods. It burned up near the top of Radical Mountain/Ridge then went over the top on the Commonland to Redwood Canyon. On Radical Ridge it is now a few thousand feet from Jerry & Soren’s structure on Parcel 4 (formally Schlomo’s/then Lief Pallasen’s parcel) with another edge just as close to Emrys’s parcel (N-NE of the saddle, down toward the creek.)

The highest danger now is at the Redwood Creak area. Moving down that drainage it could enter the Eldridge Creek Drainage. Fire wants to move up hillsides so the spread rate/speed could increase if is travels in the drainages. Right now the fire is NOT moving aggressively, but the weather is a key component to fire’s spread. Strong winds that align with the fire and low humidity could push it.

At this point the CalFire strategy is to box in the fire and hold it at those lines. The box lines will be adjusted as determined by the fire. If it jumps a line the box will expand, if possible it will be condensed. They have, when possible, aided folks in creating a defensive space around their land.

One edge of the box is the fire break before Bob & Lynn’s, another is hoped to be created down from Courtney’s, to Eldridge Creek, and up to the Main road through Scott & Paul’s. I believe this projected Radical Ridge line route is not definite or complete at this time.

Fire tends to go to sleep at night when it is cooler, moister, and, usually, and there is usually an inversion layer. When it is dark can we see it more clearly but it is tends to move slowly. In the day as it warms and the wind picks up it often flares back up and moves quicker.

The fire is going to be with us for days and perhaps weeks. There are simply not enough air & land equipment, and personnel available to put out the fire. CalFire can only observe, watch the lines, and let it burn in the middle.

Mike and Mark agreed that the RanchHouse is not defendable if this fire reaches it. Steps can be taken now, however, to improve it’s survival chances from embers and hot ash in case the fire doesn’t reach it. It definitely would not be safe to try to defend the RanchHouse if fire approaches.

Of concern is the fact that there is a chance of thunderstorms again, possibly starting on Friday.

FACTS: MENDOCINO COUNTY:

• Mendocino County had 130 fires. This is the most unprecedented fire event that has happened in any of our lifetimes. The only living beings who could have experienced this before are the ancient redwoods in Montgomery Woods .
• 19,200 acres have burned. 5% are contained.
• There are now 107 fires since some of them have joined, increasing in size.
• There are 80 engines, 17 crews of 17 firefighters each, 7 helicopters, 18 water trucks, 26 bulldozers (plus others working privately), and a total of 815 personal in the County working.
• There is a daily briefing at the fairgrounds that maps out that days plan of action, the public is welcome to attend.
• The phone number to reach CalFire is 467-6426
• To date these fires have cost $3,100,000 (opps, I’m not sure if that’s county or state, probably county. Seq.)
• So far only 2 houses have been destroyed.
• There are many fires burning in the Orr Springs area. Overall it is called the “Orr Series.” The Running Springs Fire is at the back of houses on the west side of the area. They have evacuated.
• There have been 120 days without measurable rainfall. We are in historic drought conditions.

FACTS: FIRE

• Mike said Do Not Attempt To Fight the Fire . To do so you need training, fire resistant clothing, super thick soled lug boots, communication, etc. If you don’t have all this you put yourself in jeopardy.
• When someone is in physical danger from a fire, CalFire has to stop fighting the fire and expend it’s resources on rescue. Fire fighters have lost their lives trying to save folks who were in the way or wouldn’t leave the fire area.
• Fire follows the path of least resistance, so does water. Creeks have created paths of least resistance. Fire has a tendency to burn upslope.
• When the humidity is under 25% there is a greater chance for embers to cause spot fires.

Report by Sequoia