Stagecoach, Kern County

Stagecoach, Central California District, BLM. Transfer of command from IMT 2 (CA Team 15) back to the local unit will occur today. Four miles southwest of Havilah, CA. Timber and brush. Minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering.

August 14, 2020 at 8:32 AM

Mop up continues, focusing on hot spots within the fire perimeter and adjacent to structures. Suppression repair continues in the NW and SE corners of the fire and is expected to be complete this weekend.

August 13, 2020 at 8:10 PM

California Interagency Incident Management Team 15 (CMIIT15) will be transferring the Stagecoach fire to the local Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT). The IMT will be in unified command with Bureau of Land Management CA (BLM CA) and Sequoia National Forest. The transfer will take place at 0700 tomorrow, August 14, 2020.

Drivers are urged to use cation when traveling roads in and near the Fire as firefighters and fire equipment are still working in the area. All road closures and evacuations have been lifted.

August 13, 2020 at 9:42 AM

The Stagecoach Fire has burned 7,760 acres and is 98 percent contained. Minimal fire behavior with some creeping and backing is being observed. Crews continue to mop up hot spots within the fire perimeter and adjacent to structures. The fire is burning Mojave Desert shrub, pinyon juniper and oak trees. Portions of the Stagecoach Fire have burned into the Piute Fire scar.

Weather: hot temperatures with low relative humidity and gusty west winds are expected through Friday afternoon.

Evacuations: All evacuations are lifted and communities continue to repopulate. 

Start: the Stagecoach Fire started Aug. 3, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. The cause is unknown. 

Unified Command is sad to report that Captain Peter Hein, who was serving in a support role on the Type 2 team suffered an accute medical emergency and passed away at a Kern County hospital. Capt. Hein retired after 25 years with the U.S. Forest Service and CalFire, returned to work for the Inyo National Forest and was active with the Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department. His family has requested any remembrance be sent to the Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department. View a memorial video for Captain Hein  at https://www.facebook.com/SequoiaNF/posts/1363818270486737.

We thank the California Interagency Incident Management Team 15 for a great job managing the fire. Management is now transitioning from a Type 2 team to the home unit. Unified Command includes the Bureau of Land Management, the Sequoia National Forest and the Kern County Fire Department. 

August 12, 2020 at 9:39 AM

The Stagecoach Fire Unified Incident Commanders from the United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Kern County Fire Department are deeply saddened to report that a firefighter working in a support role at the Incident Command Post had an acute medical emergency and passed away due to complications while assigned to the Stagecoach Fire.

The Incident Management Team and all personnel working at the Stagecoach Fire extend their deepest sympathies and their thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the Firefighter.

August 11, 2020 at 8:39 AM

Firefighters continue to mop up and secure the fire lines. Crews continue to focus on areas of concern which is the east side of the fire and adjacent to structures. Suppression repair has started with rehabbing control lines in areas that are mopped up and secured. Afternoon winds of 30 mph are expected today and fire crews will be in place in case when the lines are tested. A CalFire structure assessment team assessed 90% of the fire area and is working to finish today.

August 9, 2020 at 1:51 PM

Moderate humidity and light winds assisted the fire fighters holding the fire to a small amount of growth during the evening shift. Crews will continue to work to keep the fire south of King Solomon Ridge, West of Piute Mountain Rd, North of Walker Basin Rd, East of Breckenridge Mountain and Banada Ridge. Mopping up operations will continue around the perimeter of the fire.

Effective 6:00pm on August 8th, the following evacuations are lifted: Area 2A (Piute Meadows) Dailey Road east to the west end of Golden Spur, between the top of Indian Oak Loop south to Williams Road and Williams Road south to Walker Basin Road, between Johns Road east to the east end of Douglas Avenue.

Recommended Evacuations: Area 2B (Thompson Canyon) Caliente Bodfish Road east to Piute Mountain Road, from the area south of School Street to just south of Heritage Way and Area 4 (Valley View) Saddle Springs Road/Piute Mountain Road as it goes near the following areas: Burton Mill, Clear Creek, Cold Spring, Liebel Peak, Piute Peak, Piute Spring, Rocky Point, and Saddle Spring. Evacuations were previously lifted from Area’s 1 & 3.

Road Closure: Thompson Canyon Road east of the cattle guard, approximately 1/4 mile east of Gossip Rock. A Temporary Evacuation Point continues to be available at the parking lot of the former K-Mart at 710 West Tehachapi Blvd in Tehachapi, CA or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767)

August 8, 2020 at 7:58 PM

Crews are progressing into more rugged and logistically difficult terrain with assistance from aircraft. Firefighters continue to construct line along the eastern and northern edges of the fire to improve existing lines, and prep structures. Mop-up operations are taking place along the western portion of the fire. A CalFire structure assessment team is assigned to the incident and they are conducting a survey of the affected area over the next few days.

Effective 6:00pm tonight, August 8th, the following evacuations are lifted: Area 2A (Piute Meadows) Dailey Road east to the west end of Golden Spur, between the top of Indian Oak Loop south to Williams Road and Williams Road south to Walker Basin Road, between Johns Road east to the east end of Douglas Avenue.

Recommended Evacuations: Area 2B (Thompson Canyon) Caliente Bodfish Road east to Piute Mountain Road, from the area south of School Street to just south of Heritage Way and Area 4 (Valley View) Saddle Springs Road/Piute Mountain Road as it goes near the following areas: Burton Mill, Clear Creek, Cold Spring, Liebel Peak, Piute Peak, Piute Spring, Rocky Point, and Saddle Spring. Evacuations were previously lifted from Area’s 1 & 3.

Road Closure: Thompson Canyon Road east of the cattle guard, approximately 1/4 mile east of Gossip Rock. A Temporary Evacuation Point continues to be available at the parking lot of the former K-Mart at 710 West Tehachapi Blvd in Tehachapi, CA or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767)

August 8, 2020 at 10:24 AM

Moderate fire behavior with backing, creeping, and smoldering
Fire has moved into timber litter and understory
Structures remain threatened in the Piute Basin and Valley View communities
The Piute Meadows Ranches Community on the west side of the fire is repopulating
Road and trail closures in the area
CA IMT2 Team 15 (Harris) in command
Unified Command with USFS, BLM and Kern County Fire
Federal air and ground resources assigned

August 7, 2020 at 11:13 AM

Favorable weather conditions allowed firefighters to gain more ground on the fire overnight. The plan today accounts for less favorable weather and includes direct line construction on the east side of the fire utilizing hotshot crews and dozers where terrain permits. Our goal is to keep the fire south of King Solomon Ridge, west of Piute Mountain Road, north of Walker Basin Road, and east of Breckenridge Mountain and Banada Ridge. Fire crews continue to prep around structures, improve egress routes, and mop up along the west and south lines of the fire.

Road closures: Include Saddle springs Rd 27502 from Cal-Bodfish Rd to the intersection with Piute Mtn. Piute Mtn from Walker Basin to the intersection with Jawbone Canyon Road. Trails within this area have also been closed. Recommended Evacuations: 1. The area west of Old Ox Road east to Caliente Bodfish Road, between Quail Canyon Road south to Foxtail Canyon Road. 2. Caliente Bodfish Road east to Piute Mountain Road, from the area south of School Street to Walker Basin Road.

Precautionary Evacuations: The west end of Owls Clover Road/Malivan Road east to the east end of Kendall Road, between Erdle Drive south to Piute Meadows Road. A Temporary Evacuation Point continues to be available at the parking lot of the former K-Mart at 710 West Tehachapi Blvd. in Tehachapi or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767

• Moderate flanking, backing and smoldering.
• Good RH recovery observed overnight
• Fire has moved into timber litter and understory
• Structures remain threatened in the Piute Basin and Valley View communities
• Evacuations for the Valley View Community
• Trail closures in the area
• Strong winds will continue to push fire to the north and the east
• CA IMT2 Team 15 (Harris) in command
• Unified Command with USFS, BLM and Kern County Fire
• Federal air and ground resources assigned

August 5, 2020 at 8:38 PM

Continued active fire behavior with running and spotting.

• Structures remain threatened
• CA IMT2 Team 15 (Harris) in command
• Unified Command BLM and Kern County Fire
• Federal air and ground resources assigned