Backbone Fire burns through many snagsCredit: Six Rivers National Forest
Update: 0620 - The Backbone Incident is now reported at 4,884 acres and 25 percent containment. NIMO Team assumes command at 0600. Swartzlander's Typ II IMT ordered. Crews will continue constructing line north on Backbone Ridge. Additional ridgetop contingency line construction continues on Fawn Ridge to the south and near Salmon Mountain near the Klamath National Forest boundary. 10 handcrews, 10 helicopters 3 engines,9 watertenders for a total of 412 firefighters.
Useless tiny Backbone Fire perimeter maps provided at Inciweb - Link
Incident Overview
This map depicts the fire area, bounded on the west by Backbone Ridge, bounded on the south by the north fork of the Horse Linto Creek drainage. The Red Spot, spot fire is located just south of Red Cap Lake north along the Backbone Ridge from the main fir
The Backbone Fire is burning on the Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests approximately 36 miles northeast of Willow Creek in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. Formerly called the Lower Trinity 17, on the Six Rivers National Forest, the fire was one of many ignited by lightning on the evening of July first. Firefighters quickly extinguished most of the fires. The remaining lightning fires have all been declared controlled and contained at this time. Backbone was the only fire that continued to grow, until it overtook and combined with the Trinity Fire that was located on the Shasta-Trinity National Forests.
Due to the complexity of the fire situation the Atlanta based National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) assumes command of the fire under Incident Commander George Custer Wednesday July 8th. The fire is burning within the footprint of the 1999 Megram Fire. Standing dead snags, dead and down logs are actively burning on exposed southwest facing slopes.
Forest Service officials are working closely with the Hoopa Tribe and keeping tribal members and fire service personnel updated on the Backbone Fire. Protection of cultural sites within the fire area is a priority.
Rafting in Willow Creek is still permitted. There is a "No Stop Zone" from the mouth of Willow Creek to 1 mile downriver. Visitors are asked to float through with caution, due to the helibase located there. Rafting and rafting guide services are still operating. In the interim Kimtu Beach access will be open. Hawkins Bar free day use river access is also open.
Closures: Roads and trails in the fire area are now closed to the public. The Horse Ridge National Recreation Trail, Salmon Summit National Scenic Trail, and Mill Creek, Tish Tang, and Red Cap trails are now closed, as well as Bear Hole, Grizzly Camp and the Willow Creek Big Rock Day Use Area and river access.
Basic Information
Incident Type: Wildland Fire
Cause: Lightning
Date of Origin: Wednesday July 01st, 2009 aprox 12:00 AM
Location: Trinity Alps Wilderness - GPS 41.04 latitude, -123.464 longitude
Incident Commander: Fred Hays - Transition today
Current Situation
Total Personnel: 412
Size: 4,848 acres
Percent Contained: 25%
Fuels Involved: The fire is burning in timber (litter and understory), a heavy accumulation of dead and down fuels, as well as standing dead snags. The Backbone Fire is located in an area that was severely burned in the 1999 Megram Fire.
Fire Behavior: No overnight fire observatios. Fire behavior yesterday was moderate mostly backing spread from log to log. Some spotting occurred with the increased winds, requiring crews to work indirect on the south flank.
Significant Events: Today the NIMO team assumed command of the Backbone Fire. Kent Swartzlander's type II Incident Management Team has been ordered and will be transitioning in with the NIMO team this afternoon. Crews will continue line construction to the north on Backbone Ridge. Crews are working on additional ridgetop contingency line construction at Fawn Butte on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and near Salmon Mountain on Klamath National Forest boundary.
Outlook
Planned Actions: Firefighters continue to construct and improve line on the west flank of the fire, north along Backbone Ridge.
Growth Potential: There is high growth potential for this fire.
Terrain Difficulty: The difficulty of the terrain in the fire area is extreme.
Remarks: The incident command post has been moved from the Lower Trinity District Office to Willow Creek Veterans Park.
Swartzlander's Type II Incident Management Team has been ordered to work under the NIMO. The current strategy for fire containment is to keep the Backbone Fire within the Trinity Alps Wilderness.
Current Weather:
Wind Conditions 5 to 7 mph NE
Temperature 46 degrees
Humidity 55%
Backbone Fire Information: - http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1716/
