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Willow Fire Update August 3 2015

August 3, 2015

The Willow Fire is now reported at 5,702 Acres with Perimeter Contained 70% as of August 3 6:57 AM update for http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4413/.

2015-08-02-Willow-Fire-Perimeter-03-03-AM-Google-Earth

Willow-Fire-Perimeter-Map-2015_08_02-01.04.43.757-CDT-2400 Willow-Fire-Perimeter-Map-2015_08_02-01.07.46.212-CDT-2400

Backing Fire Meets Wildfire on Saturday August 1st 2015 Putting Up a Large Plume of Smoke
Willow Fire View from the ICP, Credit: Dennis Rein
Air Tanker Conducting a Drop Supporting Ground Operations, Credit: Dennis Rein
Type 1 Helicopter Conducting a Drop Supporting Ground Operations, Credit: Dennis Rein
Air Tanker Conducting a Drop Supporting Ground Operations, Credit: Dennis Rein
Willow Fire Burning at Night, Credit: Dennis Rein

Incident Overview

The Willow Fire is located on the northern edge of the North Fork Fire Footprint from 2001 and is in steep and rugged terrain which requires hand crews to hike into the area and be supported by helicopters and air tankers. The southern edge of the fire is established in the previously burned area has a concentrated brush component larger dead timber debris, intermingled with a concentration of tree snags.

USFS with CALFIRE are in Unified Command.

On the northern flank the fire, crews continue to gain progress northeast of a large granite face known locally as 7-Rock.

A Willow Fire information phone number has been established for further information about the fire. That number is (559) 877-7449. Please be patient as call volume varies throughout the day.

Evacuations

The mandatory evacuation order will be lifted for the Cascadel Woods community at 9:00 PM tonight. A road closure will remain on Cascadel Drive and Road 233. Residents living off of Road 233, Mission Drive, Peckinpah Acres Drive, and the Cascadel Woods subdivision will have to show proper identification at the road closure to be allowed back into their homes.

The Douglas Ranger Station Road, Central Camp, and Willow Canyon Road mandatory evacuation remains in place at this time. The threat of fire still remains in these areas as fire crews continue building containment lines and extinguishing hot spots.

– The American Red Cross has set up an evacuation center which is located at the Oakhurst Community Center, 39800 Road 425 B in Oakhurst, CA.

Closures

Campgrounds – Gagges, Whiskers, and Whiskey Falls are closed.
Willow Canyon Road, Central Camp Road, Autum Ridge Road, and Douglas Ranger Station Road remain closed. All road closure are until further notice.

Basic Information

Current as of 8/3/2015, 7:01:37 AM
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Human
Date of Origin Saturday July 25th, 2015 approx. 02:30 PM
Location NE of North Fork, CA
Incident Commander David Cooper SCSIIMT
Incident Description Wildfire

Current Situation

Total Personnel 1,764
Size 5,702 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 70%
Fuels Involved Timber, Chaparral, Tall grass.
Significant Events The mandatory evacuation order will be lifted for the Cascadel Woods community at 9:00 PM tonight. A road closure will remain on Cascadel Drive and Road 233. Residents living off of Road 233, Mission Drive, Peckinpah Acres Drive, and the Cascadel Woods subdivision will have to show proper identification at the road closure to be allowed back into their homes.

Outlook

Planned Actions Fire crews are engaged with structure assessment and protection. Direct line construction continues on the south and north ends of the fire. Crews will continue to mop up where safe to do so.
Remarks The Willow Fire is located on the northern edge of the 2001 footprint of the North Fork Fire. The fire is now burning well into this area and resistance to control increases due to heavy brush and dead woody materials with critical live fuel moisture.Crews completed with firing operation along the southern edge of the fire to prevent it from outflanking blackened control lines. On the northern flank crews continue to gain progress northeast of the large granite rock known locally as the 7 Rock. A direct attack remains the most appropriate strategy in this area.Aircraft are being utilized to support crews working on the ground.An evacuation center has been established in Oakhurst by the American Red Cross.

Current Weather

Weather Concerns A drier southwest flow which will raise temps and decrease relative humidity.

Filed Under: Fire Incident Information, Willow Fire