PLACERVILLE, Calif. October 12, 2016 – The lighting-ignited Salt Fire is burning on the Amador Ranger District north of Salt Springs Reservoir in the Mokelumne Wilderness. It was detected on October 3 at 1/10th of an acre and is now approximately 20 acres in size. The Salt Fire is burning in rocky terrain through snags (standing dead trees), and immature brush within the footprint of the 2004 Power Fire. The Salt Fire is expected to grow up to 50-100 acres over the next few days before a wet weather event that is forecasted to arrive late Thursday.
The Salt Fire poses very little threat to the public, private property or surrounding infrastructure, and is being managed under a confine/contain fire suppression strategy. “I don’t want to expose firefighters to a sea of unstable snags left over from the Power Fire to fight a fire that isn’t currently a threat. This is a good example of putting life first to minimize risk exposure for firefighters,” said Matt Brown, Incident Commander for the Salt Fire.
The confine/contain strategy will take advantage of natural rock barriers to the north and east of the fire. Direct attack on the ground would present high risk to firefighter safety due to the rough terrain, difficult access and the threat of falling snags. Prevailing winds from the south and southwest, are moving the fire slowly north and east into pockets of brush and dead trees from the 2004 Power Fire with fire spread potential limited by outcrops of rock.
The Salt Fire is currently being monitored by air resources. Water bucket drops will be used if needed to keep the fire from moving toward a steep drainage to the west or south toward Salt Springs Reservoir. A PG&E power station three miles west of the fire is the closest value at risk that would be of any concern. However, with the fire moving slowly in the opposite direction, and rain on the way, no impacts to private land or the public are expected from the Salt Fire.