Update: Sawtooth Complex and Millard Complex Fires East of Los Angeles, CA

• The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard NASA’s Aqua satellite took above image of wildfires east of Los Angeles, CA on July 13, 2006. It shows the Sawtooth complex and Millard complex fires east of Los Angeles, CA. The smoke plume extended approximately 123 miles towards northeast.

• The Sawtooth Complex fire approximately 16 miles north of Palm Springs, CA, and 90 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. It is composed of the Sawtooth, Waters, and Ridge fires. The Sawtooth Complex fire has now burned 53,000 acres of land and is 20% contained. It has destroyed 45 residences, 118 outbuildings (detached garages & barns), 89 cars and pick-up trucks, and 2 R.V.’s while more than 3,000 structures continue to be threatened.

• The Millard Complex is comprised of four fires and is seven miles north of Cabazon, CA. It has now burned 8,200 acres of land and is 5% contained with 75 homes being threatened.

• Early Friday, July 14, the two fires were two miles apart and it is feared that they may merge into one massive fire.

• The steep terrain of the area makes fighting both fires difficult. 2,736 fire personnel now strive to contain the two blazes.

Sawtooth Complex Fire East of Los Angeles, CA

Zoom in to the Burning Area

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard NASA’s Aqua satellite took this picture of the Sawtooth Complex fire in Southern California on July 11, 2006. The smoke plume extended 50 miles northeast.

 

The Sawtooth Complex fire approximately 16 miles north of Palm Springs, CA, and 90 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. It is composed of the Sawtooth, Waters, and Ridge fires.  It has burned approximately 26,000 acres and is 0% contained.  Steep terrain has made fighting the fires difficult.
 

Canyon Fire Near San Francisco, CA

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard NASA’s Aqua satellite took this picture of the Canyon  fire west of San Francisco, CA on July 11, 2006. The smoke plume extended 50 miles north/northeast.

 

The Canyon Fire is approximately 30 miles east of San Jose, CA, and 60 miles southeast of San Francisco, CA. It has burned 9,370 acres and is 45% contained.  Difficult access, steep terrain, and weather impede the fire’s containment.

 

Acres Burned To Date

(Source: National Incident Information Center)

The above Acres Burned Graph plots the acres burned and compares the years from 2000 to 2006, starting in May and ending in October of each year.

 

Currently in the United States there are 19 large active fires burning 142,585 acres in 11 different states with California having the highest number of large fires with 7. This year, to date, there has been 62,727 fires that have burned 4,030,984 acres of land. The states most affected by fires today are California, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, and Texas.

Environmental Impacts:

• The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard NASA’s Aqua satellite took above images of wildfires in California on July 11, 2006.

• The Sawtooth Complex fire approximately 16 miles north of Palm Springs, CA, and 90 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. It is composed of the Sawtooth, Waters, and Ridge fires.  It has burned approximately 26,000 acres and is 0% contained.  Steep terrain has made fighting the fires difficult.

• On Tuesday, July 11 the Sawtooth Complex fire forced up to 1,000 residents of the area to evacuate and at least 30 buildings were destroyed.  The fires burned through Pioneertown, where many classic westerns were shot.  Earlier Wednesday morning dozens more were forced to evacuate.

• The Canyon Fire is approximately 30 miles east of San Jose, CA, and 60 miles southeast of San Francisco, CA. It has burned 9,370 acres and is 45% contained.  Difficult access, steep terrain, and weather impede the fire’s containment.

• Currently in the United States there are 19 large active fires burning 142,585 acres in 11 different states with California having the highest number of large fires with 7. This year, to date, there has been 62,727 fires that have burned 4,030,984 acres of land. The states most affected by fires today are California, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, and Texas.