California wildfire resurgent near Kings Canyon; 1000 evacuated

Starting Wednesday, wildland fire agency personnel, including an all military veteran group with the Bureau of Land Management of Vegas Valley, will train members at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the release said.

More than 1,000 people are battling the massive fires near Chelan that have burned more than 170 square miles and destroyed an estimated 75 buildings. Firefighters are dealing with steep terrain, hot weather, moderate winds and extreme drought conditions.

“I’ve been on for 56 days”, said Capt. Nick Perricelli, CAL FIRE Tulare. The Cuesta Fire’s proximity to Santa Margarita forced evacuations and a 1-day school closure.

Two people, including a firefighter, were treated for minor injuries. The fire is about 5 percent contained. More than 1 million acres have burned this summer in the West, and barring an unlooked-for end to the drought, the fire season will surely last through October or longer.

Cuesta fire was reported on August 16 as a result of a vehicle on U.S. Highway 101.

Ritter pointed out that the oaks on Cuesta Ridge have probably survived many fires already, and some species of ceanothius, manzanita, and pines actually need fire to reproduce.

Fire crews were hoping the winds would continue to keep the fire burning away from residential areas, Milloy said.

“I never thought that part was in danger”, said Troy Swickard, a fire captain with the Ventura County Fire Department, who said bulldozers, air tankers and helicopters had successfully fended off flames. The fire, in and around Mad River, Dinsmore and Hyampom, was started by lightning.

Later in the afternoon, Milloy said a smoke column was drifting toward Park Hill Road. Santa Margarita resident, Mark Tomes recalled barbecuing steaks for breakfast with his dog during the Highway 41 fire in 1994. The Fork Complex Fire and Rogue Fire are two that are also alarming Californians.

About 24 National Guard members waited at the staging area in Santa Margarita to learn where they would spend their day. “I felt pretty good coming in but I now know exactly where its burning, its better to see the maps, we didn’t have a lot of that available to us so that’s good”.