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Wildfire
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On July 24, 2024, the Borel Fire started on the south side Highway 178 near the Democrat Fire Station on the Kern River Ranger District in (Kern County). The cause is under investigation.
This fire was previously reported under 2024 SQF Lightning.
There are Forest Closures in effect for the fire area. See the closures tab for more information, including a map.
| Current as of | Mon, 08/12/2024 - 09:38 |
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| Incident Time Zone | America/Los_Angeles |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Undetermined |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | 3 miles SW of Lake Isabella |
| Incident Commander | CICIMT 2, Curtis Coots |
| Coordinates |
35° 30' 54'' Latitude
-118° 41' 1
'' Longitude
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| Total Personnel: | 811 |
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| Size | 59,288 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 91% |
| Estimated Containment Date | 08/30/2024 |
| Fuels Involved | Brush (2 feet) Primary carrier continues to be the heavy crop of annual grasses intermixed with shrub, and timber understory. The heavy grass crop and very dry dead fuels are driving the fire spread. Energy Release Components and Live Fuel Moisture are near normal, but 1000-hour fuels are near critical levels. The heavy grass crop and very dry dead fuels are driving fire spread. |
| Significant Events | Fire behavior remained minimal across the fire area yesterday. Fuels are still very dry and receptive and any escape or new ignition has the potential to spread quickly and escape initial attack efforts. |
| Planned Actions |
The planned actions prioritize fire containment, suppression repair, and community protection while emphasizing safety and collaboration with partner agencies. Crews will focus on constructing direct containment lines wherever possible, identifying control points in areas where this approach is not feasible. Aircraft and ground teams will work diligently to keep the fire contained within its current footprint. They will also leverage favorable changes in fuel conditions from previous fires to aid in control efforts. As part of the ongoing response, some resources will shift to suppression repair operations and initial attack staffing. Dozers and excavators will play a critical role in this repair work. Efforts to repopulate affected areas will be coordinated with local law enforcement and partner agencies to ensure the safety and security of the community throughout the recovery process. |
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| Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Conditions on the fire are improving, and the threats continue to decrease. This risk is expected to diminish further during the coming shifts for structures, historical sites, and infrastructure. Areas of concern include Moreland Mill, French Meadow/Camp Nick Williams, Landers Meadow Guard Station, Glen Olive Mine, Claraville, Forest Service Campgrounds, and numerous mines and historic structures associated with the sites. 24 hours to 72 hours: Less potential for fire spread to the east and south towards Claraville, Sageland, and areas west of Kelso is also expected to lessen. Overall, the situation is improving, and the threat to these areas is diminishing. Cooling tends will continue with near normal temperatures. There is no expectation of further incident spread or escalation. However, the fuels within and adjacent to the fire are extremely dry, meaning that any escape or new ignition could spread rapidly. 72 hours and beyond: Interior pockets and islands within the fire area may continue to burn until the area receives wetting rain. The fire area may still face challenges from weather conditions; there are no expectations of fire growth after 72hrs. |
| Remarks |
The focus is on protecting lives and property while conducting firefighting operations and providing timely updates and support to affected communities. We appreciate the ongoing cooperation of all agencies involved in this challenging situation and will continue to keep the public informed as we gather more information. In areas where the fire has been contained, crews will proceed with suppression repair to stabilize and address the impacts of suppression activities. |
| Weather Concerns | Sunday: Very warm and dry conditions once again prevailed across the incident. At lower elevations, temperatures climbed into the upper 80s and 90s while the ridges topped out in the upper 70s to mid 80s. Afternoon relative humidity dropped down to the 10-18% range. Typical diurnal winds developed with southwesterly winds, gusting around 20 MPH. Monday: Several degrees of cooling are anticipated with an uptick in relative humidity. Tuesday: The cooling trend will continue Tuesday with afternoon temperatures around seasonal normals. Typical diurnal winds will persist. |
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