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Fire at a glance (numbers)

  • Incident Name:
  • State:
  • Lead Agency:
  • Size (acres):
  • Percent Contained:
  • Estimate of Containment:
  • Personnel:
  • Structures Destroyed:

Havila, Central California District, BLM. Two miles south of Havilah, CA. Chaparral and short grass. Moderate fire behavior with short-range spotting. Numerous structures threatened.

August 29, 2016 at 9:07 PM

Some short-range spotting and single tree torching were observed. Suppression efforts were very successful, allowing crews to mop up and contain the fire.

Weather Concern: Winds will be less then 10 mph out of the west gusting to 25 along ride tops until midnight. Relative humidity will only recover to 30 – 45 percent

Projected Incident Activity: No movement or spread.

August 29, 2016 at 8:18 AM

Fire behavior is moderate, with short-range spotting and single tree torching a possibility. Firefighters observed very little fire spread today. There has been a decrees in acreage due to finishing the containment line around the perimeter and more accurate mapping. Suppression efforts were very successful, allowing crews to focus on holding, mopping up and improving containment lines.

Weather Concern: Weather will become slightly warmer and drier. Winds will be light 5-10 mph out of the west gusting to 25 along ride tops in the afternoon Relative humidity will once again be around 10%

Projected Incident Activity: Little movement or spread anticipated.

August 28, 2016 at 10:14 AM

At approximately 2:30 p.m. yesterday, Kern County Fire Department received multiple calls reporting a grass fire at the 100 block of Charity Road in Havila. Fire crews arrived on scene to discover a fast, wind-driven fire that was already well established. Kern County Fire initiated recommended evacuations through ReadyKern (reverse 911) for South Havilah and Caliente-Bodfish Road. The fire was burning on both sides of Caliente-Bodfish Road.

Two Super-Scoopers (CL-215s) en route to drop water on the fire were grounded because a drone was detected and interfered with aerial operations. Eventually, air attack confirmed that the air space was clear and safe, and aerial operations continued. An airtanker dropped retardant on three sides of the mountain to help limit the fire’s forward progress. Approximately 200 firefighters—many from the nearby Cedar and Range Fires—were on scene last night to assist Kern County Fire personnel.

California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 and Kern County Fire Department are in unified command and have been assigned to manage the Havila Fire. Fire crews, working on the ground and using aircraft and helicopters, will seek opportunities to protect nearby communities while suppressing the fire. They are building new containment lines and reinforcing and mopping up existing lines.

Weather and Fire Behavior:

The temperature is predicted to be in the mid-90s today, with the relative humidity dropping as low at 10 percent. Winds will be strong and gusty. The fire is burning primarily in shrubs and grass, with oak and gray pine in some drainages. The fire is expected to be active, and short-range spotting and single-tree torching are possible.

August 27, 2016 at 5:16 PM

The Havilah Fire was reported at 2:30 today, Saturday, August 27, 2016. The fire was reported to be near Charity Road, off the Caliente-Bodfish Road, in Havilah. Havilah is south of Lake Isabella, California, within the Sequoia National Forest.

Breckenridge Fire Lookout reported the smoke to be dark grey and with a moderate rate of spread. First size up by fire personnel on scene: 1/2 acre – spotting 100 feet out and at the top of a ridge. Appears to be no road access in.

Further ground and air resources were immediately ordered, including water tenders and dozers. Law Enforcement was advised with concerns for residents and possible evacuations.

5:00 p.m. Havilah Fire is now 120 acres.

Rapid rate of spread – spotting across Caliente-Bodfish Road. Structures in the area, VLAT tankers on order.