We had quite a bit of lightning north and east of Mammoth Lakes yesterday after a 5 or more day absence of lightning. This morning the dispatch log shows a dispatch for this fire at 0935. Law enforcement enroute for fire cause investigation. The location is near Dexter Canyon on the north side of the Bald Mountain, Glass Mountain ridge line located north of Crowley Lake and northeast of Mammoth Lakes. Last size given was 116 acres 1.5 hours ago and was moving to the north east given prevailing winds from the southwest. Substantial thunderstorm cells in the area are causing: SEATS (single engine air tankers) can't make any more drops due to squirrely winds from cells and fire is now moving to the southwest due to northeast winds. Helos are not working this fire as there aren't any crews on the ground to back up the drops. Air attack overhead, but with no aircraft on the fire, he might have to move to an "available" status. He feels that if he is released the fire will lose air attack services and unable to return due to getting assigned elsewhere. It sounds like large airtanker availability is quite limited. SEATS came from Stead, Nevada.
IC is patrol 11, he is likely Type IV qualified. The local Type III team was ordered an hour or more ago. The fire moving southwest can pose a threat to structures on private land along the Upper Owens River and Big Springs Campground. Evacuations have been ordered, but I can't confirm where. A person is staffing Bald Mountain lookout as an observer. Some recreational climbers at Bald Mountain Springs. TFR (temporary flight restrictions) are just being ordered by air attack. Air Attack just requested release as winds from a very large thunderstorm cell are making flying unsafe. Cell is parked right over incident. The 116 acre size determined by Firewatch 51. Air Attack is saying the fire has at least doubled in size since then.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area operations just reported no lightning in 20 miles in last 15 minutes. They operate the gondola to the top of the mountain for the bike park in summer and close it down when lightning is within 10 miles. I think this is the procedure based on listening.
Frequencies
172.4000 Command - Inyo NF Service Net Glass Mountain Repeater
168.2000 Tac - NIFC Tac 2
163.71250 Crew Logistics - National Crew Logistics 1
168.6625 R5 Project - Mentioned but I can't hear it in Mammoth
167.4750 - Air to Ground 41
167.4750 Air to Air FM 46 - Inyo NF Primary - nothing heard as all this traffic has been on air to air AM
135.5750 Air to Air AM - Bishop Airport assigned initial attack AM
Another fire reported to be at the top of Glass Mountain is now staffed. Name: Mountain. Inyo NF Helo 525 is working it.
Frequencies:
173.8000 Command - Inyo North Glass Mtn. Repeater
168.6375 Air to Ground 41
Resources assigned will be shown in next post.
IC is patrol 11, he is likely Type IV qualified. The local Type III team was ordered an hour or more ago. The fire moving southwest can pose a threat to structures on private land along the Upper Owens River and Big Springs Campground. Evacuations have been ordered, but I can't confirm where. A person is staffing Bald Mountain lookout as an observer. Some recreational climbers at Bald Mountain Springs. TFR (temporary flight restrictions) are just being ordered by air attack. Air Attack just requested release as winds from a very large thunderstorm cell are making flying unsafe. Cell is parked right over incident. The 116 acre size determined by Firewatch 51. Air Attack is saying the fire has at least doubled in size since then.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area operations just reported no lightning in 20 miles in last 15 minutes. They operate the gondola to the top of the mountain for the bike park in summer and close it down when lightning is within 10 miles. I think this is the procedure based on listening.
Frequencies
172.4000 Command - Inyo NF Service Net Glass Mountain Repeater
168.2000 Tac - NIFC Tac 2
163.71250 Crew Logistics - National Crew Logistics 1
168.6625 R5 Project - Mentioned but I can't hear it in Mammoth
167.4750 - Air to Ground 41
167.4750 Air to Air FM 46 - Inyo NF Primary - nothing heard as all this traffic has been on air to air AM
135.5750 Air to Air AM - Bishop Airport assigned initial attack AM
Another fire reported to be at the top of Glass Mountain is now staffed. Name: Mountain. Inyo NF Helo 525 is working it.
Frequencies:
173.8000 Command - Inyo North Glass Mtn. Repeater
168.6375 Air to Ground 41
Resources assigned will be shown in next post.