Wildland Fire Update
Monday, August 3, 2009 @ 8 a.m.
Knight Wildland Fire – Stanislaus National Forest
40 % Containment
Public Information Officer – Debbie Santiago
Started: Sunday, July 26, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
Cause: Under Investigation
Location: 10 miles North of Twain Harte
Acres: 4,594
Estimated Containment: 40%
Estimated Control: Unknown
Estimated Costs: $7,600,000
Injuries: 3
Fuels: Burning in heavy timber/brush Fire
Potential: Extreme
Committed Resources: 1,352 personnel
Personnel: 30 Type I hand crews, 6 Type II hand crews, 9 Helicopters, 3 Air Tankers, 62 Engines, 10 Dozers, 24 Water Tenders, 172 Overhead
Major issues: Steep, rocky inaccessible terrain, extreme fire behavior, active burning throughout night.
Significant events: The battle remains heated on the fire front of the Knight Incident, 10 miles north of Twain Harte. Burn-out operations on the west end of the fire are progressing as planned and fire personnel remain on the lines day and night. Contingency line construction is complete and crews are mopping up in the previously burned areas along the fire line. Consistent drops in temperature and rising humidity aid the firefighters as the war wages on to extinguish the blaze.
Several roads and recreation areas, including Crandall Peak Staging Area, Sand Bar Flat Campground, Forest Road 4N14 west off of Beardsley Rd., 4N01 at Fraser Flats, and the southwest end of 4N16 (Italian Bar Rd.) are closed to the public due to the high number of fire personnel and the operations they are carrying out in those areas. Only authorized personnel will be allowed to pass through Spring Gap. These areas are clearly marked with cautionary signs.
Heavy smoke will continue to impact many outlying areas, including those as far away as the Sonora Pass and Angels Camp.
The incident is being managed under a Unified Command between the United States Forest Service and CAL FIRE. Other agencies represented include Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Kern County, Tuolumne County Emergency Personnel, Tuolumne County Fire, and Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Department, Office of Emergency Services.
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