Wildfire in California herd management area

NorCal 2 Type II
Interagency Incident Management Team
Rush Fire
CA-BLM-NOD
Ravendale, California
Fire Information Office:
Staffed 8:00 am to 6:00 pm

For Immediate Release: August 17, 2012 @ 8:00 am

RUSH FIRE UPDATE

Started:  August 12, 2012 at 6:42 pm

Cause:  Lightning

Fuels:  Fire is burning in sagebrush, juniper, and grass

Estimated Size: 204,359 acres

Containment: 30%

Expected Containment: 8/22/2012

Committed Resources: Approximately 468 people

Structures Threatened: 36 (30 residences; 1 commercial; 5 outbuildings)

Structures Damaged or Destroyed: 1 (barn)

Injuries: 2 (both in fire camp)

Location: The fire is located on Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Northern California District (BLM-CA-NOD,) Eagle Lake Field Office, approximately 15 miles southeast of Ravendale, California.  The fire is burning near a major natural gas line and transfer station, and power transmission lines that supply the Reno area.

Summary:   The fire pushed south and east over the top of Skedaddle Mountain as well as spreading east of Observation Peak. Firefighters made good progress to secure the northwestern fire edge. Fire crews will continue to construct handline, dozer lines, and complete burnouts operations as conditions permit in an effort to further contain the fire.

Possible thunderstorm activity is in the forecast for the next two-three days. This fire has showed significant growth from thunder cell downdrafts on several occasions.

Voluntary evacuations of structures along eastern side of Highway 395.  Structure protection is being implemented by fire crews. Residents along Mail Route/County Road 502 and Garate Road were notified that voluntary evacuations for that area are in effect. The fire is currently within ½ mile of US Route (Highway) 395.  The public needs to be aware for the need of possible intermittent closures of Highway 395 due to fire activity and public safety.

Area and Road Closures in Effect: On August 16, the BLM issued a closure order for public lands in the fire area to protect public health and safety.  The closed area is bounded by Highway 395 on the west, the Sand Pass Road on the east, and the Wendel Road on the south.  The new northern boundary for the public land closure is the Juniper Ridge, Tuledad, Stage Road, Marr Road, and Buckhorn Road extending to Nevada Highway 447 in Washoe County. Routes closed within this closure area include the Ramhorn Springs, Rye Patch Road, Shinn Ranch, Stoney, Deep Cut, Smoke Creek, Skedaddle Ranch, Dry Valley, and Brubeck roads. The Ramhorn Springs Campground also is closed.

Travelers along the Highway 395 corridor, please use caution near the fire crews and equipment working in the fire area.  Highway 395 may be closed due to fire activity.  Please check for current road conditions with CalTrans at http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi or 800-427-7623.

Remarks: Fire officials remind residents and visitors that fire restrictions are in effect for public lands and national forests in northeast California.  Campfires are permitted only in posted recreation sites.  Chainsaws may not be used after 1:00pm daily.

For additional fire information, go to InciWeb @ http://inciweb.org/incident/3151/ or follow us on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/NorCalTeam2.

 

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