Incident Commander Paul Summerfelt briefing reporters on July 9 at Yuba Gap. Photo: YubaNet
YUBA GAP Calif. July 9, 2008 - On Wednesday afternoon, Incident Commander Paul Summerfelt, head of the Rocky Mountain Area Incident Management Type I Team, briefed reporters on the progress made on the American River Complex fires.
The 10,211-acre American River Complex ignited as a result of the lightning strikes on June 21 and two major fires are still burning: the Government Springs fire (6,513 acres and 10% contained) located in the Government Springs area approximately 17 miles north-northeast from Foresthill, and the Westville fire (3,146 acres and 15 percent contained) approximately 16 miles north-northeast from Foresthill, on the North Fork of the American River.
Summerfelt and his team have been battling these fires for almost three weeks and contained eight other fires in the complex. Holding the Government Springs fire at Sawtooth Ridge is a priority for the 700+ firefighters. Blue Canyon, Highway 80 and railroad infrastructure, not to mention homes and habitat are at stake. Extreme temperatures and smoke, combined with very steep terrain, make attacking the fires very difficult.
The two fires have joined in some spots in the North Fork of the American River canyon, Summerfelt said. With the resources assigned to the complex, he will be revisiting the expected containment date. Currently, the estimated containment date is set for October 1. Summerfelt indicated that with the new staffing and progress made, and barring any major changes, his team will be moving the date up to August 1.
This will come as welcome news to foothill and Sacramento Valley residents, whose air quality oscillates between unhealthy and hazardous. "Smoke flows like water, it goes downhill," Summerfelt said.
More crews arriving
Yesterday, the complex was in the top spot on the state's priority list and additional resources have been assigned to the complex, Summerfelt said. Today, the complex is in second position, with the Butte Lightning Complex being the number one priority.
Four additional crews arrived yesterday and will replace crews that are now on the required two-day rest after working 14 days. Several more crews are expected to arrive today, according to the morning update released by the team's information officers.
Resources are allocated by the regional coordination center according to the needs of the teams and the values at risk, such as threat to life, property and infrastructure and firefighter safety.
These new crews filled critical needs and the implementation of the revised strategy, focusing on the northwest corner on the Government fire and on the eastern side of the Westville fire and is proceeding according to plan.
Only one injury has been reported, highlighting an excellent safety record. Summerfelt is pleased with the overall progress and says his first priority for the firefighters is safety and sufficient resources. "I ask two questions frequently while talking to the people on the [fire]line or in the spike camps. 'Do you have everything you need?' and 'Do you understand what our objective is?'" he stated.
While relief crews are arriving, the incident management team is preparing to transition command of the fire to another Type 1 team. Their three-week rotation will be completed on Sunday and the fire will be managed by Rowdy Muir and his Great Basin
National Incident Management Team.
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