Crime & Safety

SILVER FIRE: Initial Attack Resources Overwhelmed, After Action Report Offers Details, Cause Still Under Wraps

The after action report for the Silver Fire, released Friday Sept. 20 by Cal Fire's chief counsel in response to a records request by Banning-Beaumont Patch, offers the most detailed official account of the devastating blaze to date.

But the report, which is dated one week after the Silver Fire started Aug. 7, sheds no light on the cause of the fast-moving inferno. A Cal Fire division chief based in Oak Glen said Thursday he was still waiting to hear from investigators.


The Silver Fire was reported by multiple callers around 2:05 p.m. Aug. 7 near Poppet Flats. It destroyed 48 structures including 26 homes, scorched more than 31 square miles, resulted in 12 firefighter injuries and severely burned one civilian. An update on the man's condition was unavailable this week. The fire was declared 100 percent contained at 6 p.m. Aug. 12.

"The fire presented significant challenges and quickly overwhelmed initial attack resources," the report compiled by Cal Fire Incident Management Team 6 states. "The fire burned rapidly through the affected communities, all while evacuations were occurring.

"This fire presented a significant and very real threat to lives and property. Firefighters responded to 37 reports of fire impinging on occupied structures. Numerous rescues were performed and many civilians were evacuated under extreme fire conditions by firefighters and Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department."

The last Cal Fire update for the estimated cost of fighting the fire and ensuring it was completely out was calculated at $11.2 million on Aug. 18, according to the after action report.

Initial attack on the Silver Fire on Aug. 7 listed in the after action report included:

Engines – Perimeter Control  106  Personnel 335

Engines – Structure Defense     0  Personnel     0

Engines – Staging                     0  Personnel     0

Hand Crews                            18  Personnel 270

Dozers – Perimeter Control     12  Personnel   18

Dozers - Staging                       0  Personnel     0

Water Tenders - Line                6  Personnel     6

Water Tenders - Staging           0  Personnel     0

Aircraft                                  19  Personnel   72

Totals                                  158  Personnel 701

Incident Commander

On Wednesday August 7, 2013 at approximately 2 pm, the Riverside Unit Emergency Command Center received multiple reports of a vegetation fire in the Poppet Flats area.

The fire had a critical rate of spread and by 1530 hours, it split into two separate directions, Northwest and Southwest. The Communities of Poppet Flats, Twin Pines, Silent Valley and Cabazon were immediately threatened. . . . 

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department conducted evacuations of Poppet Flats, Twin Pines, Silent Valley and Cabazon.

Challenges

"The extremely dry and fire receptive vegetation, the wind and accompanying weather along with the steep, rugged terrain caused this fire to burn with dangerous and critical rates of spreads for periods during the first two burning periods," the after action report states.

"This accelerated fire behavior added to the challenges that was faced on this fire which was burning in an area which has a history of multiple incidents of fire fatalities.

"The communication between the incident and ROSS was a challenge during reconciliation and hampered efforts to cancel resource requests that had been placed. We tried to cancel several overhead orders that had been placed. There was a breakdown in communication that made personnel to drive the length of California, when they should have been contacted and cancelled enroute.

"Though we were able to systematically put together and implement a plan to re-populate areas that had been evacuated, the planning, organizing, coordination and implementation of re-population of evacuated areas was a challenge for multiple Sections of the incident’s Command and General staff, as well to the multiple agencies that needed to be involved in the process."

Here are more observations from the 31-page after action report for the Silver Fire, compiled by Cal Fire Incident Management Team 6, dated Aug. 13, 2013:

Initial Actions

Report

At 1405 hours on Wednesday August 7th the Riverside Unit Emergency Command Center received multiple reports of a wildland fire on the Old Banning Idyllwild Road approximately five miles south of the City of Banning.

Response

A consolidated response from the CAL FIRE Riverside Unit (RRU) and Riverside County Fire was dispatched consisting of one Battalion Chief, five Engines, two Fire Crews, two Dozers, one Air Attack, two Air Tankers and one Helicopter.

The fire occurred in a mutual threat zone with the San Bernardino National Forest (BDF). The BDF response included one Battalion Chief and five Engines.

Initial Attack response personnel reported extremely rapid rates of spread in excess of 80 chains per hour. Estimates of initial fire growth were approximately 300 acres in the first fifteen minutes and approximately 5,000 acres within the first two hours. The fire was observed to actively burn throughout the first night until the early morning hours.

During this night time burn period the fire behavior was composed of backing and flanking fire with head fire runs when aligned with wind and slope. Fire spread was aided by short range spotting and was primarily in an easterly direction.

Observed Weather

Skies were clear. High temperatures were near 90 degrees. Relative humidity was below 10 percent. Winds were West 15 mph gusting to 30 mph. Winds did not lay down overnight and humidity only recovered to 25 percent.

Narrative

The first arriving units to the Silver Fire reported 25 acres with a rapid rate of spread. The fire was fueled by a westerly wind and extremely dry fuels. The fire advanced rapidly to the east. By 1530 hours the fire had developed two heads of fire. One head was burning across the front county north of Mount Edna and the second to the south of Mount Edna toward the community of Poppet Flats.

Within two hours the fire had grown to 5,000 acres and was destined to become a major incident. The extended attack IC ordered a CAL FIRE Incident Management Team a little over two hours after the initial report. The initial incident management organization realized the scope of the incident and established control objectives and a plan based on a large scale incident.

An initial ICP was established on 22nd Street and a Base Camp at Noble Creek Park. Evacuations were ordered for Poppet Flats, Silent Valley, Mount Edna and Twin Pines. At 1800 hours the fire was threatening the San Bernardino National Forest and Unified Command was established with the BDF. . . .

The fire continued the spread throughout the evening. Based on the continued threat to life and property, night flying operations was initiated using three night flying helicopters.

At 0230 hours the fire again crossed Highway 243 and began to spread toward the community of Cabazon. A large scale firing operation was initiated to protect the communities along the Banning front country.

On Thursday Morning August 8th the fire crossed Cabazon Peak and began to spread to the southeast towards Fulmer Ridge and Snow Creek. The initial control objectives were revised and significant efforts were initiated to keep the fire from spreading any farther into the San Bernardino National Forest.

Fire Spread


From the initial report at 1405 hours on Wednesday August 7th to 0600 hours the following morning, fire spread was approximately 10,517 acres.

Structures Destroyed 

The fire destroyed 26 single family residences, one commercial building and several outbuildings and vehicles. It should be noted however, that more than 1,000 residences and over 200 RVs were defended and saved. The estimated value of residences saved is over $35,000,000. Full Damage Inspection (DINS) was conducted through the cooperative efforts of CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and the Riverside County Fire Department (RVC).
For questions about the separate RVC Damage Inspection Report, please contact the Riverside County Fire Department Office of Emergency Services at (951) 955-4700.
Air Operations

Aviation Operations were well established during initial attack on August 7th by the Riverside Unit and San Bernardino National Forest. Silver Helibase was set up at the Banning Airport. Upon arrival, IMT 6 obtained an initial transition in-brief from the Riverside Unit.

The Air Operations Branch supported Operations with water drops and retardant drops throughout the incident. Incident assigned aircraft included two Type I, five Type II and three Type III Helicopters. Fixed wing assets included Air Attacks, Lead Planes and Air tankers including a Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) supported from Hemet-Ryan, Ramona, Paso Robles and San Bernardino Air Attack Bases.

The Air Operations Branch conducted reconnaissance missions and transported a total of 137 passengers. The Incident was able to utilize Banning Airport for Helibase operations utilizing CAL FIRE and Forest Service personnel for the duration of the incident.

Public Information Officer

Major information events during the incident included a civilian who sustained serious burn injuries during the initial stages of the fire, a CAL FIRE bulldozer that sustained major fire damage due to a mechanical problem and California United States Senator Barbara Boxer holding a press conference, originally scheduled elsewhere, at the incident with the Directors of both CAL FIRE and CAL EMA and a Region 5 USDA Forest Service Chief concerning the wildfire season on August 8th. On August 11th the PIO coordinated an operational briefing, fire tour and camp visit with California State Assemblyman Brian Nestande.

Challenges

The relocation of Senator Boxer’s news conference to the incident Base Camp within the first 24 hours and during the transition period for IMT 6 presented difficulties for the PIO function. The news conference was not directly related to the incident and was coordinated by the Senator’s staff. In retrospect, a different location for the news conference, perhaps in an area of Noble Creek Community Park away from the Base Camp should have been selected. This situation was also compounded by the placement of the Beaumont City Police Mobile Center in the PIO area.

Location


The incident was located on a flat aspect on the northwestern edge of the Mt. San Jacinto Mountain Range, 0.1 miles west of Silver Creek Drive on Wolfskill Truck Road.

The fire origin lies approximately 4 miles south of Interstate 10 and the City of Banning, 3.2 miles west of Highway 243, 1.9 miles east of Highland Springs Road and 8 miles north of Highway 74 and the City of Hemet.

The location on record in Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) is as follows: 33.86347 N / 116.89514 W.

Boundaries included the Interstate 10 corridor and City of Banning to the North, City of Palm Springs to the East, The communities of Idyllwild and Pine Cove to the South and the community of Gilman Hot Springs to the West. 

Area Incident History

Historical events that may have influenced this incident are varied from natural events to decisions made by land owners. The area has been affected by drought conditions for the past 2 years. The area in and around the fire perimeter had a significant fire and somewhat recent fire history. The fire history in and around the Silver Incident is both extensive and recent. A majority of the fire area last burned in the Esperanza Fire of 2006. The Gorgonio Fire of 2013 burned within the Northwest section of the fire.

Major Fire history in the area includes

2006 Sawtooth Complex 61,700 acres

2006 Esperanza 40,200 acres

2006 Millard 24,000 acres

1985 Cabazon 20,900 acres

1996 Bee #2 9,620 acres

2005 Woodhouse 6,500 acres

2005 Blaisdell 5,500 acres

Ownership

The general fire area lies within the Riverside County Whitewater Watershed. Ownership of lands affected included private State Responsibility Area (SRA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and USDA Forest Service, San Bernardino National Forest.

Weather

The weather over the fire area departed from what is normal for the first part of August. A high pressure ridge was breaking down as a trough approached the coast resulting in increasing westerly winds, with higher wind speeds than what is considered normal for this area. High temperatures were approximately 7 degrees F below normal.

The average high temperature at Vista Grande RAWS, approximately two miles south of the fire perimeter was 86-89 degrees. Average high temperatures in the lower elevations as reported by the Beaumont RAWS, approximately 5 miles northwest of the fire perimeter were 2-5 degrees below normal.

Fuels

Fuels within the area include annual grasses, chamise, manzanita, mountain mahogany, yucca, succulents, ceanothus, scrub and live oak species and mixed conifer in the upper elevation north facing drainages. Densities of fuel types varied according to elevation and aspect.

The main carrier of fire spread were the fine fuel annual grasses, as numerous islands of unburned fuel and areas of “dirty” burn were observed. Fuels were not contiguous in the lower elevations and fire spread was dependent on wind and rollout. Grass load levels varied by elevation. Live fuel moistures were in the critical range and averaged only 55%. The fuel bed was represented by a 7 year old age class.

Values at Risk

Significant identified values at risk included: 500 KV transmission lines including one existing and one under construction and numerous smaller electrical distribution lines, communications sites at Ranger Peak, Green Energy infrastructure, the communities of Twin Pines, Poppet Flats, Silent Valley, Mount Edna, Vista Grande, Snow Creek, Cabazon, Banning, and Pine Wood, the Twin Pines Ranch, a County juvenile correctional facility, the San Jacinto Wilderness including both State Park and BDF lands, improvements including gates, fences, roads, cattle troughs etc., critical habitat and sensitive and protected species including the mountain yellow-legged frog, Skyland Ranch Girl Scout Camp, Azalea Trails Girl Scout Forest Organization Camp, Forest Service developed sites and the James Reserve, Lake Fulmor Day Use Area, Black Mountain Historic Lookout, Boulder Basin and Black Mountain Campgrounds, Yellow Post sites, Fern, Dark and Marion Campgrounds and Fuller Mill Picnic area, Desert Water Agency infrastructure in the Snow Creek Area as well as the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and other hiking trails.


Cal Fire Incident Management Team 6 was unified during the Silver Fire with personnel representing the San Bernardino National Forest, Riverside County Fire Department and Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

More on the Silver Fire from Banning-Beaumont Patch:

Fire Victims Workshop: Some Residents Question Initial Response to Silver Blaze

VIDEO: Silver Fire Survivors Recall Leaving as Flames Approached

Silver Fire Survivor on 243: 'It Would Be Nice if They Would Open it Up'

VIDEO: State Law Enforcement Officers Warn Silver Fire Victims of Insurance Scams

Silver Fire Aftermath: Highway 243 Expected to Open This Weekend
SILVER FIRE UPDATE: Demobilization Begins as Costs Rise to More than $8.8 Million
SILVER FIRE UPDATE: Burn Area is 19,000 Acres, 70 Percent Contained, 11 Injured

Updated Interactive Map of Silver Fire Burn Area by Esri of Redlands

SILVER FIRE HELP: Victim Resources for Debris Clean-Up, Assistance Contacts

SILVER FIRE RECOVERY: In Devastated Poppet Flats Neighborhood, Pig Survives Blaze and Neighbors Pull Together

SILVER FIRE: How You Can Help Fire Victims With Clothing, Monetary Donations

SILVER FIRE UPDATE: Evacs Lifted in Some Communities, Fire Estimated at 17,500 Acres

SILVER FIRE BURN VICTIM: Man Was Found on Old Banning-Idyllwild Road

SILVER FIRE VIDEO: Poppet Flats Resident Returns to Home Burned to Ground

SILVER FIRE MAP: Interactive Public Info by Esri of Redlands

VIDEO: As Silver Fire Advances Evacuee Says 'We Decided to Leave on Our Own'

Inside the Silver Fire: Photos From Evacuated Areas in San Jacinto Mountains

Beaumont Unified School District Employee Loses Everything in Silver Fire

Silver Fire Evacuation Center, Fire Camp Set Up in Beaumont

Video, Pics: Silver Fire South of Banning

SILVER FIRE UPDATE: 26 Homes Destroyed, 6 Injuries to Date


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