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Cal Fire Crews Join Battle Against Washington Fire

  •  Ed Joyce 
Wednesday, June 24, 2015 | Sacramento, CA
Inciweb
 

Inciweb

  • InciWeb Updates: Washington Fire
  • Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center: Washington Fire

6:15 p.m. - The Washington Fire south of Markleeville has grown to 17,205 acres and is 10 percent contained. More than 900 firefighters are working the lightning-caused wildfire in Alpine County.

Fire managers are concerned about warmer temperatures that are in the weather forecast through Saturday.  Record high temperatures are likely starting Thursday and there is the possibility of thunderstorms.

Simtable / YubaNet.com

1:00 p.m. - Firefighters from Cal Fire are now helping crews battle the 16,544 acre Washington Fire, burning about three miles south of Markleeville in Alpine County. The current containment now is 5 percent.

Jose Acosta with the U.S. Forest Service said Wednesday that, with the added help, there are 681 firefighters working to contain the wildfire.

"With light winds, today is a good day for the firefighter, not the fire," said Acosta. "We're looking at sustaining the fire lines between the fire and Markleeville. On the north side we're starting to tamp the fire down and, firefighters are working to set up a better perimeter on the southeast side down toward Wolf Creek."

Acosta said dry lightning in the forecast starting late Thursday is a concern. He said crews are taking advantage of light winds Wednesday to perform controlled brush burns on the far east side of the fire.

"The low wind blowing from the west means they're able to safely do those brush burns, and burn out the area in front of the fire, take away the fuel source, so that it doesn't spread later on in case the wind picks up," said Acosta.

He said there are approximately 12 helicopters, eight air tankers (including two DC-10's available in the area), 19 engines, 10 water tenders and 19 crews assigned to the fire.

Acosta said the fire is burning in hazardous and inaccessible terrain. And, "the vegetation is feeling the stress from more than three years of drought and historically low snowpack in the mountains this past winter."

"Because of the drought there are some tremendously dry fuels, what we call the '100-year variety,'" said Acosta. "Once they start to burn - heavy timber - they continue to burn, and they burn deep down into the ground."

Several campgrounds along Highway 4 to the north end of Markleeville have been evacuated. The Turtle Rock and Indian Creek campgrounds are closed. As a precaution, Markleeville residences have been advised to prepare for an evacuation but no mandatory evacuations are in effect for Markleeville.

"The Forest Service has two new 'short-lift' helicopters for emergency evacuations of personnel or lifting in supplies, and one of those, from the Bridger-Teton National Forest, is here in case we need to remove people from the northern side of the fire," said Acosta.

He said Highways 4 and 89 in the Monitor Pass area are expected to remain closed at least through the weekend.

Acosta said no structures have been burned and protection of cultural and historical sites within and near the fire area is a priority, along with preventing the fire from reaching Markleeville.

The lightning-caused fire started Friday, June 19.


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  • U.S. Forest Service InciWeb

    All Roads Reopen As Crews Make Progress On Washington Fire

    Tuesday, June 30, 2015
    All highways through the burn area of the Washington Fire have reopened as favorable weather conditions have aided firefighters' construction of containment lines.
  • U.S. Forest Service InciWeb

    Weather A Concern For Crews Battling Washington Fire

    Saturday, June 27, 2015
    UPDATE: Crews continue to strengthen the perimeter line around the Washington Fire as weather forecasters are calling for increased chances of dry lightning, thunderstorms and gusty winds. Containment was at 37 percent Saturday night.
  • Eddie Sanderson Photography / AP / File

    Firefighters Continue To Make Progress On Washington Fire

    Friday, June 26, 2015
    UPDATED: 6:45 p.m. - Containment has grown to 29 percent, and acreage burned to 17,622. Crews on the Washington Fire, three miles south of Markleeville, took advantage of light winds to increase containment.
  • Sierra Front Wildfire Cooperators / Facebook

    Dry Lightning: Cal Fire Increases Staffing

    Friday, June 26, 2015
    CAL FIRE increases staffing as the forecast of dry lightning and thunderstorms raises wildfire risk in northern California and western Nevada.
  • Richard Harvey

    Washington Fire Makes For Anxious Week In Markleeville

    Friday, June 26, 2015
    The Washington Fire has burned within about three miles of the small town of Markleeville in Alpine County. But crews have made protecting the community a priority.
  • Richard Harvey

    Washington Fire Spreads Away From Markleeville

    Thursday, June 25, 2015
    UPDATE 6:40 P.M. - Firefighters continue to make progress on the Washington Fire. As of late Thursday afternoon, containment stood at 15 percent. Crews remain focused on keeping the fire away from the community of Markleeville.
  • Photo courtesy of Alpine County Sheriff's Office Deputy Magdaleno / YubaNet.com

    Firefighters Making Progress On Washington Fire

    Tuesday, June 23, 2015
    UPDATED 10:25 p.m. - A blaze near the Sierra Nevada town of Markleeville has burned 16,553 acres and is 5 percent contained. Residents of the Markleeville are under an evacuation advisory. No mandatory evacuations have been ordered.
  • NASA Worldview / earthdata.nasa.gov

    Washington Fire Threatening Homes In Sierra Nevada Town Of Markleeville

    Monday, June 22, 2015
    UPDATE -- 11:25 p.m. The Washington Fire grew to nearly 15,000 acres by late Monday. Highways 89 and 4 remain closed until further notice.

 droughtcaliforniawildfireswildfireUS Forest Servicecal fireDrought 2015Washington FireMarkleeville

Ed Joyce

Former All Things Considered Anchor & Reporter

Ed Joyce is a former reporter and All Things Considered news anchor at Capital Public Radio. Ed is a veteran journalist with experience in a variety of news positions across all media platforms, including radio, television, web and print.   Read Full Bio 

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