American Fire - Sunday Update: Community Meeting Set for Monday

Crews continue to make progress on containing the American Fire, with 78 percent containment reported Sunday afternoon. Total acreage burned stands at 24,135, with 1,429 people still working the incident.

A scene from the American Fire in Tahoe National Forest. (Photo courtesy USFS)

Fire Status: The south-west, west and north-west sides of the fireare in patrol status. Fire crews continue to improve and mop up interior of containment lines on the north and north-east sides of thefire. Crews are continuing a back firing operation utilizing a low intensity burn to strengthen the containment line on the east side of the fire.

The fire has burned through Antoine, Manila and Screwauger Canyons aswell as the Barney Cavanah Ridge. Interior burning will continue for several days. These areas have no previous fire history and have not burned in more than 100 years. Consumption of heavy fuels may produce single and group tree torching with active smoldering and creeping in ground fuels.

Crews have begun repairing areas damaged by firefightingactivity this includes; chipping of materials piled adjacent to roadsduring construction of firelines. Due to increased containment excessive personnel are being released.

Hand Crews: 30 Engines: 78 Dozers: 19 Water Tenders: 38 Helicopters: 13

Structures Destroyed: 5 structures have been destroyed by the American Fire.

Closure Update: Mosquito Ridge Rd (FSR 96) is closed from thejunction of Ralston Ridge Rd (FSR 96-023) to the junction of the Duncan Diversion Dam access road (FSR 96-052), west of French Meadows Reservoir. Foresthill Rd is closed from Humbug Canyon Road (FSR88-066) to Robinson Flat Campground and Forest Rd 43 (Robinson FlatRd) is closed from Robinson Flat Campground to Mosquito Ridge Rd. Robinson Flat Campground and Duncan Peak Lookout remain closed. French Meadow Reservoir and access to the Oxbow Middle Fork American Rafting Launch put in remain open.Forest Order No 17-13-06 has closed portions of the Tahoe NF on the American Ranger District.http://tinyurl.com/mvx4w3c

Further information: Information Call Center (530) 367-8020, staffed7am to 8pm.www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe 

Follow the USFS on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Tahoe_NFwww.inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3624 

For smoke information: www.placer.ca.gov/apcd

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Under Investigation
Date of Origin	Saturday August 10th, 2013 approx. 04:30 PM
Location	10 miles northeast of Foresthill.
Incident Commander	Rocky Opliger

Current Situation

Total Personnel	1,429
Size	24,135 acres
Percent Contained	78%
Estimated Containment Date	Sunday September 01st, 2013 approx. 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved	10 Timber (litter and understory).
Fire Behavior	No appreciable fire activity in DIV A,DIV B,and DIV F. In DIV H, occasional smoldering pockets interior from fire line. In DIV R, active backing fire observed. In DIV T, active surface fire with smoldering and consumption of heavy (1000)fuels - active backing and flanking fire. In DIV Z, active surface fire with occasional single tree torching.
Significant Events	Continued significant fire growth in DIV Z and DIV R due to fire position and canyon alignment.Firing operations began in DIV T. Aggressive and safe mop-up in DIV A and DIV H.The Incident is also supporting Initial Attack requests over the TFR footprint. A partial road closure of Mosquito Ridge Rd(Hwy 96)from the Ralston Rd(Forest Rd 23), east to the junction of Forest Rd 96-052, west of French Meadows Reservoir for public and firefighter safety. Recreational opportunities remain open in French Meadows and adjacent surrounding recreational areas.

Outlook

Growth Potential	High
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Remarks	Fire is burning in an old growth stand of timber with no recorded fire history.Significant changes in fuel types associated with the fire continue to burn in steep and hazardous terrain as well as receptive timber fuels that have not burned in decades.Consumption of heavy fuels continues to create heavy smoke in the surrounding area. The Forest, timber industry,local agencies, and private landowners continue to contribute to collaborate to implement strategy and tactics that will minimize impacts on high value timber resources, The Western States Trail, watershed, and local communities. Aerial ignition options are being reviewed for implementation. Critical resources remain ordered to maintain options to contain fire with the least resource damage that can be safely accomplished.

Current Weather

Wind Conditions	10 mph E
Temperature	78 degrees
Humidity	55%