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Owens Peak Complex Fire Incident [update]

News Release #6 Date: July 22, 2010
For Immediate Release Time: 9:00 p.m.

Indian Fire Update
Ridgecrest, CA- As the fire nears full containment, the South Central Sierra Interagency Management Team will transfer the incident back to the local Bureau of Land Management Ridgecrest Field Office. The transition will take place Friday July 23, 2010 at 6:00 a.m. The local BLM district will assign about 60 firefighters to the fire. The crews will continue to watch for any hot spots and monitor containment lines throughout the weekend. Repair work will also be done on the trails and roads to restore the area to pre-fire conditions.
As the transition from the management team to the local BLM office occurs, the incident base will be removed from the Desert Empire Fairgrounds. The fire management will occur from the BLM Ridgecrest Field Office.
Final acres burned will be 1,822. Adjustment in acreage is a result ground mapping of the fire by GPS technology. The fire is 90% contained with full containment expected by Saturday July 24, 2010.
The Temporary Emergency Closure issued by the Bureau of Land Management for the area around the Indian Fire remains in effect. The Temporary Emergency Closure includes the Owens Peak Wilderness Area, Indian Wells Canyon Area, and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail north of Highway 178 through the Wilderness. Indian Wells Road is closed to all traffic at Highway 14.
For current fire on the Indian Fire, please call the BLM Ridgecrest field office at (760) 384-5400.

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News Release #5 Date: July 22, 2010
For Immediate Release Time: 7:30 a.m.

Indian Fire Update
Ridgecrest, CA- Firefighters have made good progress as full containment draws closer. A few hot spots still remain near the western portion of the fire perimeter and are being extinguished today. Repair work on trails, roads, and fire line is currently being done to restore the area to pre-fire condition. More fire crews are being released today and fire camp will begin to breakdown over the next two days.

Weather conditions will begin to be cooler with less wind, but thunderstorms are possible over the area tonight and tomorrow. Full containment of the fire is expected at the end of the day.

Final acres burned will be 1,822. Adjustment in acreage is a result ground mapping of the fire by GPS technology. The fire is 90% contained.


The Temporary Emergency Closure issued by the Bureau of Land Management for the area around the Indian Fire remains in effect. The Temporary Emergency Closure includes the Owens Peak Wilderness Area, Indian Wells Canyon Area, and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail north of Highway 178 through the Wilderness. Indian Wells Road is closed to all traffic at Highway 14.

For more questions regarding the Owens Peak Complex call the incident information center at: (760)-384-4279.


Royjindar (Raj) Singh

Public Information Officer
Owens Peak Complex

 

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News Release #4 Date: July 21, 2010
For Immediate Release Time: 9:00 p.m.

Indian Fire Update
Ridgecrest, CA- Firefighters improved fire line in steep terrain today while continuing to extinguish hot spots near the containment lines. Crews have also begun repairing fire line and trails that were affected by the fire. Some of the fire crews are being released from the incident and more will be released Thursday. Weather conditions were hot and dry with gusty strong winds still present. Thunderstorm activity is predicted to move into the area late tomorrow as well as early Friday and firefighters will continuously be monitoring the weather on the fire. Full containment of the fire is expected late tomorrow.

The fire is being held at 2,281 acres and is 80% contained. Crews will patrol and monitor fire activity throughout the night.


The Temporary Emergency Closure issued by the Bureau of Land Management for the area around the Indian Fire remains in effect. The Temporary Emergency Closure includes the Owens Peak Wilderness Area, Indian Wells Canyon Area, and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail north of Highway 178 through the Wilderness. Indian Wells Road is closed to all traffic at Highway 14.

For more questions regarding the Owens Peak Complex call the incident information center at: (760)-384-4279.


Royjindar (Raj) Singh
Public Information Officer
Owens Peak Complex

 

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News Release #3 Date: July 21, 2010 @ 8:00 AM

Ridgecrest, CA- Fire crews remained out on the fire line last night to monitor the fire activity. About 400 firefighters and 6 helicopters will be assigned to the fire line today. Firefighters will continue fire suppression activities by working on extinguishing hot spots, and reinforcing containment lines around the fire. The hot, dry, and windy weather continues to pose a challenge to crews on the fire line. The temperatures are expected to remain in the 90’s with high winds on the fire line for the next several days.

**There was an error in the burned acreage released yesterday. The correct burned acres now stand at approximately 2,281 acres and the fire remains at 80% containment.**

The Temporary Emergency Closure issued by the Bureau of Land Management for the area around the Indian Fire remains in effect. The Temporary Emergency Closure includes the Owens Peak Wilderness Area, Indian Wells Canyon Area, and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail north of Highway 178 through the Wilderness. Indian Wells Road is closed to all traffic at Highway 14.

For more questions regarding the Owens Peak Complex call the incident information center at: (760)-384-4279.

 

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Press Release #2 (July 20, 2010 @ 7:00 PM) 

RIDGECREST, CA - Fire crews continued to make progress on containing the Indian Fire. Over 400 firefighters and 5 helicopters worked throughout the day to extinguish hot spots and reinforce containment lines around the fire.

More accurate mapping of the Indian Fire was done today. The burned acres now stand at approximately 2,812 acres and the fire is 80% contained.

The Temporary Emergency Closure issued by the Bureau of Land Management for the area around the Indian Fire remains in effect. The Temporary Emergency Closure includes the Owens Peak Wilderness Area, Indian Wells Canyon Area, and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail north of Highway 178 through the Wilderness. Indian Wells Road is closed to all traffic at Highway 14.

For more questions regarding the Owens Peak Complex call the incident information center at: (760)-384-4279.


Royjindar (Raj) Singh
Public Information Officer
Owens Peak Complex

 

 

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Owens Peak Complex Fire Press Releases (Archive)

 

Original Press Release

RIDGECREST, CA - On Monday, July 19^th at 6 p.m. the South Central Sierra Interagency Incident Management Team (IMT) took command of two fires burning on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District.  The two fires are named the Sand 2 Fire and the Indian Fire.  Due to the close proximity of the two fires, they are being managed as one incident called the Owens Peak Complex.

 

The Sand 2 Fire started on Friday July 16, 2010 near Sand Canyon Road northwest of the City of Ridgecrest.  About 100 firefighters were assigned to this fire yesterday.  The Sand 2 Fire has burned approximately 1255 acres and is 100% contained.  The cause of the fire was lightning.  No injuries have been reported on this fire.  All roads and trails in the area of Sand Canyon Road remain open.

 

The Indian Fire started on Saturday July 17, 2010 near Indian Wells Road northwest of the City of Ridgecrest.  About 500 firefighters were assigned to this fire yesterday.  After a more accurate mapping of the Indian Fire late yesterday, the burned acres now stand at approximately 1057 acres and is 65% contained.  The cause of this fire is under investigation.  Two injuries have occurred on the Indian Fire.

 

The Bureau of Land Management has issued a Temporary Emergency Closure for the area around the Indian Fire.  The Temporary Emergency Closure includes the Owens Peak Wilderness Area, Indian Wells Canyon Area, and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail north of Highway 178 through the Wilderness.  Indian Wells Road is closed to all traffic at Highway 14.

 

Incident Management Teams assist local, state, and federal agencies with managing complex incidents.  IMT?s manage and coordinate incident logistical, fiscal, planning, operational and safety needs.  The IMT consist of members from a wide variety of federal, state, county, and local agencies. 

 

For more questions regarding the Owens Peak Complex call the incident information center at: (760)-384-4279.

 

Royjindar (Raj) Singh
Public Information Officer
Owens Peak Complex