Tanker over the Krista fire on Saturday, July 9, 2011
Picture courtesy Daniel Berlant, CAL FIRE.
Krista Fire, Smartsville Diggins on the north side of the Yuba River, north of Hwy 20 at Sicard Flat. Power lines down.
Today firefighters will continue mopping up and putting out any hot spots around the fire. Yesterday, a firing operation occured to secure additional areas around the perimeter and to burn out islands of unburned fuel inside the containment lines.
No homes were threatened by the fire, as it burned mainly in open grass and brush on land owned by the UC Field Research Station. Fire investigators were able to determine that the fire was sparked by a downed powerline.
July 11, 2011 at 7:08 AM Update
Mopup operations continued throughout the night. Today, firefighters will continue to check for any hotspots. Many resources have been released back to their units.
July 10, 2011 at 8:24 AM Update
Firefighters continued their containment efforts throughout the night. Smoke is expected to be heavy in the Smartsville area. Motorists on Hwy 20 should exercise caution.
Full containment is expected by Monday morning 8:00 am.
For public and firefighter safety, please be cautious of fire equipment and personnel in and around the fire area.
No road closures or evacuations are in place. One injury has been reported.
Picture taken on the southside of the Yuba River in Smartsville.
Daniel Berlant
Department Information Officer
CAL FIRE
Tanker over the Krista fire on Saturday, July 9, 2011
July 10, 2011 at 9:38 AM Update from CAL FIRE:
A wildfire that sparked just after 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon, north of Smartsville on the northside of the Yuba River, has now charred 340 acres and is 60% contained. As the winds died down last night, firefighters were able to complete a firing operation to burn out unburned fuel in the path of the fire in order to secure the fire's perimeter. Over 100 firefighters from CAL FIRE, Smartsville Fire, Penn Valley Fire and Foothill Fire battled the blaze throughout the night.
No homes were threatened by the fire, as it burned mainly in open grass and brush on land owned by the UC Field Research Station. Fire investigators were able to determine that the fire was sparked by a downed powerline.
Today, firefighters will be mopping up and putting out any hot spots around the fire. Full containment is expected at 8 a.m. on Monday morning.
Conditions across the region remain dry and as this fire shows, it doesn't take much for a spark or open flame to start a new fire. Residents need to be extra cautious this time of year and help prevent fires from starting.
Smoky! Picture courtesy Daniel Berlant, CAL FIRE.
Unburned islands inside the perimeter continue to burn. Picture courtesy Daniel Berlant, CAL FIRE.
July 10, 2011 at 1:16 PM Update from CAL FIRE:
The Krista Fire in Yuba County is now 400 acres and 60% contained. Firefighters are conducting a firing operation this afternoon to burn of islands of unburned fuel within the fires perimeter and to strengthen and secure the perimeter. Smoke is currently visible from this controlled firing operation.
Today, firefighters will be mopping up and putting out any hot spots around the fire. A firing operation may occur this afternoon to secure additional areas around the perimeter and inside the burned area. Significant smoke may be seen in the area during the controlled operation.
July 10, 2011 at 8:35 PM
Mopup operations will continue throughout the night. The firing operation was completed successfully.
July 9, 2011
The fire is burning actively and spotting, in grass and brush. Numerous resources are on scene. The downed powerlines are affecting the Penn Valley/ Lake Wildwood area.
The fire started near the Frontier Trail, off HWY 20. The cause is under investigation.
6:50 pm Steep terrain, difficult access. No evacuations as of 6:50 pm on Saturday.
Penn Valley Fire and Smartsville Fire are assisting CAL FIRE. Two tankers and three helicopters are assisting firefighters on the ground.
Crews are conducting firing operations to create a containment line. Good progress is being made.
7:35 pm No evacuations, no road closures as of 7:35 pm.
8:35 pm The air tankers will soon reach cutoff time. All ground resources remain on scene and additional resources are arriving.
9:50 pm Crews will continue to work throughout the night to reinforce existing lines and contain the fire.
10:55 pm Resources on scene overnight: 11 CAL FIRE engines, 4 hand crews, 2 dozers. One CDCR inmate was injured.
Many thanks to the Fire Information services for their updates.
