Knight Fire
Location: Stanislaus NF, Mount Knight area, Tuolumne Co. CA
Specific Location: N of Twain Harte, near Mount Knight on the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River. Lat 38° 10´ 48″, Lon 120° 15´ 14″
Date of Origin: 07/26/2009
Cause: Lightning
Situation as of 08/11/2009 6:00 pm
Personnel: 51
Size: 6,130 acres
Percent contained: 100%
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Situation as of 08/11/2009 10:30 am
Personnel: 51
Size: 6,130 acres
Percent contained: 95%
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Situation as of 08/09/2009 5:00 pm
Personnel: 178
Size: 6,130 acres
Percent contained: 90%
Costs to Date: $11,900,000
Continue mop-up and rehab.
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Situation as of 08/06/2009 6:00 pm
Personnel: 433
Size: 6,130 acres
Percent contained: 80%
Costs to Date: $11,100,000
A thermal imaging flight of the fire was flown today, very little activity was observed along control lines, interior heat is diminishing. Today’s higher relativity humilities and lower temperatures kept fire activity to a minimum. There will not be a night shift tonight.
Fire activity was minimal today, back haul of supplies and equipment was today priority. Today was the last shift for the South Central Sierra Incident Management Team. Type 3 Incident Commander John Lucas with trainee Shawn Baker will transition at 0600 tomorrow.
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Situation as of 08/05/2009 6:00 pm
Personnel: 663
Size: 6,105 acres
Percent contained: 60%
Costs to Date: $10,600,000
Fire continued interior burnout as islands of green consumed. Fire activity was mostly ground fire with some small runs of ground litter.
Heavy De-mob is expected for the next couple of days. Camp is expected to brake down on Friday and a transition to a Type 3 organization is expected on Saturday. Tonight’s operations will be shortened and crews will come off the line around 2400. A shift back to day operations is planned for tomorrow.
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Situation as of 08/04/2009 6:00 pm
Personnel: 926
Size: 5,612 acres
Percent contained: 50%
Costs to Date: $9,755,000
Firing operations were very successful, with approximately 14 miles of line burnt, minimal spotting occurred. Interior continues to burn out and mop-up and line rehab continues. Weather conditions should continue to be favorable for the next couple of shifts. There will be an increase in winds as the upper level low approaches inland.
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Situation as of 08/03/2009 6:00 pm
Personnel: 1,259
Size: 4,700 acres
Percent contained: 45%
Costs to Date: $8,900,000
Fire continues to back towards the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus on the east side of the fire. Fire is expected to reach the river on the east side by the end of tonight’s shift.
Firing operations slow today, favorable wind did not materialize. Convection column stayed over hand line for most of shift due to up slope winds.
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Situation as of 08/01/2009 8:00 pm
Personnel: 1,360
Size: 3,975 acres
Percent contained: 30%
Projected Final Size: 6,132 acres
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Situation as of 07/31/2009 6:00 pm
Personnel: 1,295
Size: 2,734 acres
Percent contained: 25%
Costs to Date: $4,400,000
Westward firing operations were curtailed today to concentrate on completing black line to the river on the E flank. Contingency line construction nears completion N of the fire on the ridge above the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River. Weather is expected to hold for completion of the firing operation on the east flank.
Fire retardant base located near Murphys. Six air tankers and 15 helicopters are assisting in operations.
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Situation as of 07/30/2009 6:00 pm
Personnel: 1,090
Size: 1,643 acres
Percent contained: 10%
Costs to Date: $2,500,000
Residents continue to be let back in the Mount Knight sub-division. Fire was carried along the S flank in both directions today. Burning operations accomplished approx. 1.5 miles to the E and 1 mile to the W.
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Situation as of 07/29/2009 6:00 pm
Personnel: 1,016
Size: 1,332 acres
Percent contained: 10%
Costs to Date: $1,342,400
Dozers completed line on the S flank of the fire. Crews constructing line down the E and W flanks in preparation for backburning operation. Contingency line construction continues N of the fire on the ridge above the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River.
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Situation as of 07/28/2009 7:00 pm
Personnel: 658
Size: 750 acres
Percent contained: 0%
Evacuations are in place for the community of Mount Knight. Cooperators: CAL FIRE, US Forest Service, Tuolumne County, National Park Service, Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation
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Situation as of 07/27/2009 8:00 pm
Personnel: 566
Size: 650 acres
Percent contained: 0%
The fire is now well established in the Stanislaus River canyon, burning in heavy fuels including brush and timber. Crown fires, all flanks burning actively with multiple spot fires.
30 residences remain threatened. Transitioned to A. Johnson’s Type II IMT today. Public is asked to avoid Southfork Rd. in Twain Harte — used to move fire equip. via 4N01 to Mt. Knight.
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Situation as of 07/27/2009 8:00 am
Personnel: 267; Update: 550
Size: 275 acres
Percent contained: 0%
Homes threatened: ~30
Evacuation of Mount Knight started yesterday.
Type 2 IMT expected arrival at 1000 hours today (7/27). Firefighting resources ordered with expected arrival today: fifteen Type 1 (twenty person) hand crews; six dozers; ten engines; two water tenders; six air tankers; 5 helicopters; and additional overhead and support personnel. Once filled, these orders will bring the total personnel figure to about 550+ firefighters dedicated to the incident.
