Oliver / Silver Fire Continues

The W.I.S.E. Fire Track has reported that the Oliver Fire Complex is now known as the Oliver Fire (which covers the area of the fire that is on private lands) and the Silver Complex (which covers the fires that are burning on National Forest lands). It seems that the new names are a matter of government agency responsibilities and accounting. This side of the fence is one name, and that side is another. It doesn't really matter, so long as they get it put out.

The fire is now larger than 2000 acres, and is occupying more than a thousand firefighters from all across the U.S. - including firefighters from Yuma, AZ and 18 firefighters from Kern County.

This map from the MODIS Active Fire Mapping Program can give you an idea of just how much of the state is actively fighting wildfire. The locations in red are fires that have been active in the last 12 hours.

Here's another update from the Daily Situation Report, as posted by the Forest Service.

SILVER COMPLEX	CA-SNF-718	Type: WF	Start: 07/21/2008 1710	Cause: L	Priority:
Overhead Team Name: TOM CABLE, NIMO TEAM		Organization: Type 1 Team			Local: 4	GACC:
Size: 818 ACRES % Cnt/MMA: 50 % Est Contain: NR Latitude: 36° 26´ 21" Longitude: 119° 40´ 38"
Location: FISH CAMP TO THE MERCED RIVER $$ Costs to Date: $1
Structures Threatened: NONE Structures Destroyed: NONE
Resources Committed:	Total Personnel: 241		Report Date: Jun 25, 2008 1600
Agency CRW1 CRW2 HEL1 HEL2 HEL3 ENGS OVHD BLM 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 NPS 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 PRI 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 USFS 2 6 0 0 0 7 35
Significant Events: Focus on making progress on the Star fire. Continue current control measures, continue requesting additional needed resources. Remarks: WESTFALL IS 105 ACRES, 100% CONTAINED; SILVERKNOB IS 480 ACRES, 60% CONTAINED; CIQUITO FIRE 52 ACRES AT 60%; STAR FIRE IS 180 ACRES AT 0%. POISON AND GAGGS ARE 1 ACRE EACH AND ARE CONTAINED. Observed Fire Behavior: NIMO Incident Management Team (Cable) assumed command of the Silver Complex at 0600 on 6-25-08. A TFR is in place over the fire area. Crews, dozers, and engines continue to make good progress. Yosemite High School is the site for the ICP. Planned Actions: FOCUS ON MAKING PROGRESS ON STAR FIRE. CONTINUE CURRENT CONTROL MEASURES, CONTINUE REQUESTING ADDITIONAL NEEDED RESOURCES.

OLIVER	CA-MMU-008107	Type: WF	Start: 06/21/2008 1710	Cause: L	Priority:
Overhead Team Name: BILL HODSON ICT #6		Organization: Unified Command			Local: 2	GACC:
Size: 1,400 ACRES % Cnt/MMA: 20 % Est Contain: 06/28/2008 Latitude: 37° 27´ 4" Longitude: 119° 45´ 12"
Location: NORTH OF PONDEROSA BASIN $$ Costs to Date: NR
Structures Threatened: 200 PRIM , 225 OUTB Structures Destroyed: NONE
Resources Committed:	Total Personnel: 1,102		Report Date: Jun 25, 2008 0700
Agency CRW1 CRW2 HEL1 HEL2 HEL3 ENGS OVHD BLM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 LGR 0 0 0 0 0 50 0 OES 0 0 0 0 0 40 1 PRI 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ST 22 0 0 0 0 25 60 USFS 4 2 1 1 0 0 0
Significant Events: Fire continued to burn towards the Ponderosa Basin. Contingency plans are in place pending additional evacuation potential. North portion of the fire currently has a 200 acre spot that threatens the USFS DPA. Remarks: Due to updated mapping intel, it was determined that the fire is on CalFire DPA. CalFire ICT-6 took command of the fire at 1300 hours on 6/24/08. Fire is in unified command with Mariposa Co. FD, Mariposa Co. Sheriff and CHP. Due to transition of the fire the Oliver fire is not part of the previous complex. Cost for the Oliver fire shall commence at 0700 6/25/08. Cost incurred prior to that time shall be part of the Oliver Complex. Observed Fire Behavior: Fire continues to back toward Ponderosa Basin. Moderate behavior observed. Planned Actions: Continue to construct direct and indirect line. Provide structure protection.

As you can see, the Oliver Complex has been split into the two fires now known as the Silver Complex, and the Oliver Fire.

As of 12:50pm, the Fresno Bee is reporting that the Oliver Fire is now 20% contained.

If you have any other information that you would like to add to my blog, concerning the fires, please email me at
mountainpowerlineman@yahoo.com. You can get there by going to my profile.

Thanks,

The MPL