Community Corner
UPDATE: Mountain Blaze NE of Banning Estimated 1650 Acres, 25 Pct Contained
Reported by Patch Editors Guy McCarthy and Renee Schiavone
Tuesday update: Click here to follow updates on the Hathaway Fire posted Tuesday, June 11.
Update 9:19 p.m. The Hathaway Fire burning in the mountains northeast of Banning was estimated at 1,650 acres and it was considered 25 percent contained as of 6 p.m. Monday June 10, interagency fire commanders said in a statement.
That was before winds picked up at sundown and fanned flames along ridgetops north of the Morongo Indian Reservation while helicopter pilots ferried water to drop on the blaze until around 8 p.m. Winds blowing east along ridgetops carried crimson plumes of smoke east and northeast as darkness fell.
Forest Service and other agency commanders Monday evening reduced the estimated cost to-date of fighting the fire to $450,000, less than half the $1 million estimate pubic information officers told Patch at fire camp in Beaumont earlier Monday afternoon.
Three firefighters had been injured as of Monday evening, during a two-day battle against the blaze in steep, rugged wilderness terrain inaccessible except by helicopter.
Total personnel assigned to the fire by Monday evening was estimated at 690, reduced from 999 earlier Monday. Full containment of the fire was hoped for by Tuesday June 25.
The cause of the fire, which started shortly before noon Sunday June 9 on the north edge of the Morongo Reservation, was said to be under investigation
"The fire burned north into the San Gorgonio Wilderness on the San Bernardino National Forest," fire officials said.
The area rises sharply from chaparral-blanketed slopes to heavily timbered ridges and rocky pinnacles. The timber includes live and dead fuel, with "significant tree mortality as a result of the 1999-2004 drought and bark beetle infestation," fire officials said.
The fire continued actively burning Monday "and there is continued potential for large fire growth," fire officials said.
Crews in the wilderness made progress building direct fire lines, as well as constructing helispots and spike camps.
"Firefighters will continue to work throughout the night to take advantage of cooler nighttime temperatures and higher humidity," fire officials said. "Night flying Air Attack will be over the fire throughout the evening."
There were no road closures or evacuations in the fire area. Wind speeds overnight were expected around 25 miles per hour from the west. Temps could dip into the mid-50s with humidity levels around 45 percent.
A high pressure system was rebuilding in the area, which could bring warmer temperatures to the area Tuesday.
Update 4:48 p.m. The cost of fighting the 1,500-acre Hathaway Fire in mountains northeast of Banning was estimated at $1 million as of Monday afternoon, a Forest Service spokesman said at a fire camp set up in Beaumont.
As of 4 p.m. June 10, the burned area was still estimated at 1,500 acres, though that figure was expected to change. The fire was still considered 15 percent contained, and there were still more than 900 firefighters assigned.
One firefighter sustained a minor injury, a hip muscle strain, and he was recuperating at the fire camp in Noble Creek Park, San Bernardino National Forest spokesman Chon Bribiescas said.
Requests for more personnel and more helicopters were submitted, Bribiescas said. Helicopters available for the Hathaway Fire include four equipped with night vision and two hoist-capable, according to Monday's incident action plan.
"It's a lot of steep terrain, very steep canyons, and the helicopters are able to support the boots on the ground," Bribiescas said. "Where the fire is at is extremely rugged and we have to very careful about where we place our crews. . . .
"We are using helicopters to insert hot shot crews near the active fire," Bribiescas said. "They have to be strategically placed because the fire's changing and the wind is changing and we have to make sure they can be safe when the fire moves."
Hot shot crews assigned to the fire include Mill Creek Hot Shots based at State Route 38 and Bryant Street at the Mentone-Yucaipa border, and Vista Grande Hot Shots from Highway 243 between Poppet Flats and Pine Cove.
The estimated cost of fighting the Hathaway Fire to date as of Monday afternoon was $1 million, Bribiescas said. The hoped-for final cap on spending to fight the blaze has been set at $4 million, but that figure was subject to change.
Asked to explain justification for the costs, Bribiescas listed concerns for cabins, emergency communications and watershed concerns.
"There are some threats," Bribiescas said. "There are some cabins in Raywood Flats. Up on top of Snow Peak there are repeaters and there's comm towers. All that is very expensive equipment, vital for communications at different levels. So right now we've got strike teams up there.
"The fire's made a run at the towers already," Bribiescas said. "There hasn't been damage to any of the towers. They're still functioning.
"In addition the city of Banning has a vested interest because of the watershed," Bribiescas said. "It's mainly Banning that has the water concern. It's the flume and the watershed that are at risk."
No property damage had been reported from the fire as of Monday afternoon. Residents who can see the smoke should pay attention to wind direction and remain aware of the smoke, Bribiescas said.
"The main thing is air quality, the fire can get very active and throw up big plumes of smoke," Bribiescas said. "Yesterday a lot of smoke settled in Big Bear Valley and it was really thick. So people with respiratory illnesses they need to be aware of the air quality. The wind keeps changing direction, the smoke keep changing direction. So they have to aware of where the smoke is."
Drift smoke to the Big Bear area was significantly less Monday compared to Sunday, Forest Service spokesman Bob Poole said.
The fire was reported just before noon on the north edge of Morongo Indian Reservation in the area of Burro Flats and Potrero Canyon, Bribiescas said.
Topographic maps used by the Forest Service showed the point of origin near a drainage marked Wood Creek, just below the mouth of Wood Canyon.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Update 12:33 p.m. Perimeter/locator maps for the Hathaway Fire northeast of Banning are at the following link:
Hathaway Fire Perimeter/Locator Maps Monday June 10
Update 10:43 a.m. Pilots and support crews fighting the 1,500 Hathaway Fire in mountains northeast of Banning are using Hemet Ryan air attack base and the Forest Service tanker base in San Bernardino, a USFS spokesman tells Banning-Beaumont Patch.
In addition, Cal Fire and other Type 2 helicopters are working out of a helibase on the Morongo Indian Reservation, and Type 1 Skycranes are operating out of Banning Municipal Airport, John Miller of the Forest Service said Monday morning.
Update 10:33 a.m. Beaumont city officials have canceled the summer's first 'movie under the stars' event because fire crews have set up base camp at Noble Creek Park where the event is normally held, officials tell Banning-Beaumont Patch.
Update 9:53 a.m. A camp for commanders, crews, cooks and other personnel assigned to the 1,500-acre Hathaway Fire northeast of Banning has been set up at Noble Creek Park in Beaumont, which is closed to the public.
Posted 9:33 a.m. A 1,500-acre mountain blaze northeast of Banning was expected Monday to continue burning live and dead timber in steep terrain of the San Gorgonio Wilderness, while firefighters try to construct containment lines where they can, according to the Forest Service.
The fire was considered 15 percent contained as of 9 a.m. June 10. There were 999 firefighters and other personnel assigned to the fire as of Monday morning, including 32 hand crews, 42 engine crews, eight helicopters, nine tanker planes, 11 dozers, and seven water tender trucks.
"Many of the fuels burning have been impacted by drought and bark beetle kill," USFS officials said in an update at 9 a.m. Monday June 10. "Extreme fire behavior has been observed and is expected today. There is continued potential for large fire growth into the San Gorgonio Wilderness."
The Hathaway Fire was reported at 11:57 a.m. Sunday on the north end of the Morongo Indian Reservation and burned into the rugged mountain forest through Sunday and overnight through Monday morning.
To read more about the Hathaway Fire on Sunday click the following links:
UPDATE: Fire NE of Banning Grows to 1,500 Acres, Concern for 'Significant Growth Potential'
Banning Woman with Family on Morongo Reservation: 'My Rez is on Fire'
Fire NE of Banning Grows to 1,300 Acres, Smoke and Aircraft Visible in Redlands
"Emphasis today is on continuing direct fire line construction to establish contingency lines, establish helispots and spike camps," Forest Service officials said Monday morning.
Objectives Monday will be to keep the fire north of Foothill Road, south of South Fork Whitewater River, east of Banning Canyon, and west of Millard Canyon, Forest Service officials said.
Update 9:19 p.m. The Hathaway Fire burning in the mountains northeast of Banning was estimated at 1,650 acres and it was considered 25 percent contained as of 6 p.m. Monday June 10, interagency fire commanders said in a statement.
That was before winds picked up at sundown and fanned flames along ridgetops north of the Morongo Indian Reservation while helicopter pilots ferried water to drop on the blaze until around 8 p.m. Winds blowing east along ridgetops carried crimson plumes of smoke east and northeast as darkness fell.
Forest Service and other agency commanders Monday evening reduced the estimated cost to-date of fighting the fire to $450,000, less than half the $1 million estimate pubic information officers told Patch at fire camp in Beaumont earlier Monday afternoon.
Three firefighters had been injured as of Monday evening, during a two-day battle against the blaze in steep, rugged wilderness terrain inaccessible except by helicopter.
Total personnel assigned to the fire by Monday evening was estimated at 690, reduced from 999 earlier Monday. Full containment of the fire was hoped for by Tuesday June 25.
The cause of the fire, which started shortly before noon Sunday June 9 on the north edge of the Morongo Reservation, was said to be under investigation
"The fire burned north into the San Gorgonio Wilderness on the San Bernardino National Forest," fire officials said.
The area rises sharply from chaparral-blanketed slopes to heavily timbered ridges and rocky pinnacles. The timber includes live and dead fuel, with "significant tree mortality as a result of the 1999-2004 drought and bark beetle infestation," fire officials said.
The fire continued actively burning Monday "and there is continued potential for large fire growth," fire officials said.
Crews in the wilderness made progress building direct fire lines, as well as constructing helispots and spike camps.
"Firefighters will continue to work throughout the night to take advantage of cooler nighttime temperatures and higher humidity," fire officials said. "Night flying Air Attack will be over the fire throughout the evening."
There were no road closures or evacuations in the fire area. Wind speeds overnight were expected around 25 miles per hour from the west. Temps could dip into the mid-50s with humidity levels around 45 percent.
A high pressure system was rebuilding in the area, which could bring warmer temperatures to the area Tuesday.
Update 4:48 p.m. The cost of fighting the 1,500-acre Hathaway Fire in mountains northeast of Banning was estimated at $1 million as of Monday afternoon, a Forest Service spokesman said at a fire camp set up in Beaumont.
As of 4 p.m. June 10, the burned area was still estimated at 1,500 acres, though that figure was expected to change. The fire was still considered 15 percent contained, and there were still more than 900 firefighters assigned.
One firefighter sustained a minor injury, a hip muscle strain, and he was recuperating at the fire camp in Noble Creek Park, San Bernardino National Forest spokesman Chon Bribiescas said.
Requests for more personnel and more helicopters were submitted, Bribiescas said. Helicopters available for the Hathaway Fire include four equipped with night vision and two hoist-capable, according to Monday's incident action plan.
"It's a lot of steep terrain, very steep canyons, and the helicopters are able to support the boots on the ground," Bribiescas said. "Where the fire is at is extremely rugged and we have to very careful about where we place our crews. . . .
"We are using helicopters to insert hot shot crews near the active fire," Bribiescas said. "They have to be strategically placed because the fire's changing and the wind is changing and we have to make sure they can be safe when the fire moves."
Hot shot crews assigned to the fire include Mill Creek Hot Shots based at State Route 38 and Bryant Street at the Mentone-Yucaipa border, and Vista Grande Hot Shots from Highway 243 between Poppet Flats and Pine Cove.
The estimated cost of fighting the Hathaway Fire to date as of Monday afternoon was $1 million, Bribiescas said. The hoped-for final cap on spending to fight the blaze has been set at $4 million, but that figure was subject to change.
Asked to explain justification for the costs, Bribiescas listed concerns for cabins, emergency communications and watershed concerns.
"There are some threats," Bribiescas said. "There are some cabins in Raywood Flats. Up on top of Snow Peak there are repeaters and there's comm towers. All that is very expensive equipment, vital for communications at different levels. So right now we've got strike teams up there.
"The fire's made a run at the towers already," Bribiescas said. "There hasn't been damage to any of the towers. They're still functioning.
"In addition the city of Banning has a vested interest because of the watershed," Bribiescas said. "It's mainly Banning that has the water concern. It's the flume and the watershed that are at risk."
No property damage had been reported from the fire as of Monday afternoon. Residents who can see the smoke should pay attention to wind direction and remain aware of the smoke, Bribiescas said.
"The main thing is air quality, the fire can get very active and throw up big plumes of smoke," Bribiescas said. "Yesterday a lot of smoke settled in Big Bear Valley and it was really thick. So people with respiratory illnesses they need to be aware of the air quality. The wind keeps changing direction, the smoke keep changing direction. So they have to aware of where the smoke is."
Drift smoke to the Big Bear area was significantly less Monday compared to Sunday, Forest Service spokesman Bob Poole said.
The fire was reported just before noon on the north edge of Morongo Indian Reservation in the area of Burro Flats and Potrero Canyon, Bribiescas said.
Topographic maps used by the Forest Service showed the point of origin near a drainage marked Wood Creek, just below the mouth of Wood Canyon.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Update 12:33 p.m. Perimeter/locator maps for the Hathaway Fire northeast of Banning are at the following link:
Hathaway Fire Perimeter/Locator Maps Monday June 10
Update 10:43 a.m. Pilots and support crews fighting the 1,500 Hathaway Fire in mountains northeast of Banning are using Hemet Ryan air attack base and the Forest Service tanker base in San Bernardino, a USFS spokesman tells Banning-Beaumont Patch.
In addition, Cal Fire and other Type 2 helicopters are working out of a helibase on the Morongo Indian Reservation, and Type 1 Skycranes are operating out of Banning Municipal Airport, John Miller of the Forest Service said Monday morning.
Update 10:33 a.m. Beaumont city officials have canceled the summer's first 'movie under the stars' event because fire crews have set up base camp at Noble Creek Park where the event is normally held, officials tell Banning-Beaumont Patch.
Update 9:53 a.m. A camp for commanders, crews, cooks and other personnel assigned to the 1,500-acre Hathaway Fire northeast of Banning has been set up at Noble Creek Park in Beaumont, which is closed to the public.
Posted 9:33 a.m. A 1,500-acre mountain blaze northeast of Banning was expected Monday to continue burning live and dead timber in steep terrain of the San Gorgonio Wilderness, while firefighters try to construct containment lines where they can, according to the Forest Service.
The fire was considered 15 percent contained as of 9 a.m. June 10. There were 999 firefighters and other personnel assigned to the fire as of Monday morning, including 32 hand crews, 42 engine crews, eight helicopters, nine tanker planes, 11 dozers, and seven water tender trucks.
"Many of the fuels burning have been impacted by drought and bark beetle kill," USFS officials said in an update at 9 a.m. Monday June 10. "Extreme fire behavior has been observed and is expected today. There is continued potential for large fire growth into the San Gorgonio Wilderness."
The Hathaway Fire was reported at 11:57 a.m. Sunday on the north end of the Morongo Indian Reservation and burned into the rugged mountain forest through Sunday and overnight through Monday morning.
To read more about the Hathaway Fire on Sunday click the following links:
UPDATE: Fire NE of Banning Grows to 1,500 Acres, Concern for 'Significant Growth Potential'
Banning Woman with Family on Morongo Reservation: 'My Rez is on Fire'
Fire NE of Banning Grows to 1,300 Acres, Smoke and Aircraft Visible in Redlands
"Emphasis today is on continuing direct fire line construction to establish contingency lines, establish helispots and spike camps," Forest Service officials said Monday morning.
Objectives Monday will be to keep the fire north of Foothill Road, south of South Fork Whitewater River, east of Banning Canyon, and west of Millard Canyon, Forest Service officials said.
"Smoke from the Hathaway fire will continue to be visible during active burning periods in the mountain communities," fire commanders said. "Depending on changing weather conditions, smoke may create decreased visibility and increased problems for people with respiratory diseases."
There were no road closures in the fire area, as most of the area burning is designated wilderness, where roads are illegal.
A dry low pressure system was moving in from the coast, and a high pressure system was expected rebuild in the area Tuesday and Wednesday, "bringing high winds, lower humidity’s and poor humidity recovery at night," Forest Service officials said.
Find out what's happening in Banning-Beaumontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Agencies working the fire include the Forest Service, Cal-Fire Riverside Unit, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and Morongo Tribal Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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