The Lake Fire, which started June 17, spread rapidly the first eight or nine days of the fire as it burned in timber that hadn’t burned for 100 years or more. But then the fire started bumping up against the burn scar area from the Sawtooth Fire from 2006. With little fuel to burn, the spread of the fire slowed, and firefighters were able to make good progress in containing it. The fire is now at 31,726 acres and is 60 percent contained. But as managing editor Tami Roleff explains, “containment” doesn’t mean “out”…
U.S. Forest Service Public Information Officer Chon Bribiescas said Monday that the percentage of containment of the Lake Fire will start to slow now, since the areas not yet contained are very rocky, very steep, and very difficult to get in and out of. “We just can’t put our firefighters or even any hot shot crews in there without exposing them unnecessarily to hazards and dangers. The strategy is to use bucket drops to try to help slowly contain that part of the fire.” Bribescas explained that while the fire may be contained, the trees inside the perimeter will still continue to burn. “This was an unusual fire, it was a timber fire that took place in June. This type of fire is one that we would normally see toward the end of the season, right around August, September, maybe October. It emphasizes the point that we are in record drought, because of the low humidity and the stress to trees, it makes the trees a lot more receptive to ignition. Right now, this particular fire, is going to hold a lot of heat; there are pockets of unburned fuel in there. As conditions favor it, it won’t be unusual to see smoke start popping out and unburned fuel burning within the perimeter of the fire. While residents shouldn’t be overly concerned about the smoke, they shouldn’t ignore it either. “Folks should pay attention to that. We’re not telling people not to call it in. Don’t make that assumption that it’s within that perimeter. Let us tell you that. If you see smoke, dial 911.”
