Update Taboose Fire – smoky conditions, more wind forecasted

News release

TABOOSE FIRE

From Tuesday night

Most of the smoke seen today from the Shingle Mill Bench area was from compacted ground fuels such as duff. There was minimal fire growth today. The fire has now burned 10,106 acres with 62% containment.

Firefighters took advantage of lower winds, and continued to work on fire suppression and strengthening containment lines with crews on the ground and helicopter water drops. Fire personnel on the fire line also worked on mopping up, fire suppression repair, and patrolling the containment lines. The type 2 Incident Management Team continues to manage the incident under unified command with CAL FIRE.

There is currently heavy smoke production in the active parts of the Taboose Fire. With prevailing winds from the south, smoke from the fire can be seen drifting north towards Big Pine and Bishop, the fire containment line on the northern flank of the Taboose Fire is holding and there is no spread on this side.

Air quality is likely to become Moderate and may reach periods of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups for parts of the night. If you are sensitive to smoke, please follow the recommended actions to protect your health. For information on protecting yourself from wildfire smoke, please visit Protecting Yourself From Wildfire Smoke.

Firefighters and equipment will remain on scene due to another forecasted wind event on Wednesday and Thursday this week. This anticipated wind event is expected to bring wind speeds of 30 – 40 mph for the two days which may impact firefighting efforts, particularly the Shingle Mill Bench area. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and prepared.

Fire Resources:
15 crews 24 engines 5 helicopters 1 dozer 5 water tenders 575 personnel
Closures:
Evacuation Orders
Baxter Ranch
Evacuation Advisories
Community of Aberdeen and Community of Birch Creek
Road Closures
Tinemaha Road, Taboose Creek Road at Aberdeen, Birch Creek Road, McMurry Meadows Road, Goodale
Road, and Goodale Creek Road
Campgrounds
Tinemaha and Goodale Creek and *****NEW****** Taboose Creek Campground *******
Trail Closures
Red Lake, Birch Lake & Taboose Creek Trails.
Please respect these closures and avoid the nearby fire area for your own safety and that of the firefighters.

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Previously

Last night’s Red Flag wind event tested the containment lines of the Taboose Fire. Most of them held, but the fire did move in the Shingle Mill bench area; this accounts for the increase to 10,088 acres.

Due to the new fire growth in this area along with another wind event coming tomorrow and Thursday, fire managers are holding back firefighting resources and calling a few more replacements in. The Type 2 Incident Management Team will remain in place. CAL FIRE and Forest Service firefighters will remain on scene with support from  additional CAL OES resources. The fire is 62% contained.

New line will be built around the fire in the Shingle Mill area and mop-up along with suppression repair will continue in other areas. A BAER team will be arriving shortly to assess the flora, fauna, soils, geomorphology and hydrological systems and will make recommendations to mitigate the secondary effects of the Taboose Fire from the winter storms that may occur later in the season.

Fire closures remain in effect. The next wind event will consist of 30 – 40 mph winds for Wednesday and Thursday, not as strong as last night, but still enough to impact the fire, particularly in the Shingle Mill area on the south side of the fire perimeter.

Residents, please remain vigilant and prepared.

Fire Resources:
13 crews 24 engines 4 helicopters 1 dozer 5 water tenders 520 personnel
Closures:
Evacuation Orders
Baxter Ranch
Evacuation Advisories
Community of Aberdeen and Community of Birch Creek
Road Closures
Tinemaha Road, Taboose Creek Road at Aberdeen, Birch Creek Road and McMurry Meadows Road
Campgrounds
Tinemaha and Goodale Creek
Trail Closures
Red Lake, Birch Lake & Taboose Creek Trails.
Please respect these closures and avoid the nearby fire area for your own safety and that of the firefighters.

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