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Following a successful day of burning yesterday, crews continued ignitions south of the fire’s origin, moving along 2N05. The upper area of the unit is pine plantation with a thick understory of white thorn and ceanothus. The lower area consists of dense mixed conifer interspersed with dead and down trees.

Crews made excellent progress today with their firing operations. This is a result of careful planning, setting them up for success from the previous day, allowing them to pick up where they left off. Prior to starting ignitions, crews were diligent in checking and confirming that the existing fire perimeter boundaries were holding. 

Today, fire professionals on the Bone Lightning Fire completed burning operations for this fire that has been managed for multiple resource benefits.  Crews diligently checked for any potential fire where burning material could roll out of the perimeter line at the narrow sliver of the project area between 3N01 and 2N05 on the western edge of the fire. This ensured the fire stays within the perimeter control line. 

Bone Lightning Fire Update Saturday July 1, 2023 Stanislaus National Forest Incident Management Team (Type-3)   Bone Lightning Fire Inciweb:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/castf-2023-bone-lightning-fire   Fire Statistics:

 Activities: Fire crews began burning operations today, picking up where they left off in the southeast unit between 3N01 and 2N05, moving south towards the Jawbone Pass area.  They began ignitions targeting standing dead trees (snags) and white thorn, as well as thick overgrown stands of fir interspersed with dead and down trees.  Crews also patrolled and mopped up in the northern perimeter of the fire, securing the control line.

Crews brought fire from the ridge top west towards 3N01 North.  This road will be used as a control line for the western perimeter of the Bone Fire.  The road will also be used to provide a buffer from a large patch of standing dead trees (snags) that fire personnel plan to burn.  Fire personnel will use the 3N01 road for firing operations minimizing their exposure to these hazard trees.   

Crews continued their efforts burning within the fire’s interior. Starting at the fire’s origin, they moved fire southwest towards the 2N05 perimeter. Fire personnel prepped the area between 3N01 and 2N05A south from where they left off yesterday.  Crews put in buffers along the road by removing brush and limbing trees in preparation for burning opportunities tomorrow.

Today, fire personnel completed burning operations on the northeast side of 2N05.  The area is dense with large down woody debris. Fire is used to reduce hazardous fuels in the unit. Fire personnel prepped and improved the western boundary of the fire along 3N01. Working from the north and coming up from the south, fire personnel identified and felled trees that could be hazardous and potentially impede containment efforts once burning operations begin in this unit.

Overnight winds last night increased the potential for spot fires on the 2N05 road. This morning, crews took extra precaution and concentrated on the 2N05 road holding fire and patrolling for spot fires.  Once the concerns for spot fires were eliminated, crews cleaned up unburned pockets of fuel along the eastern edge of the 2NO5 road.

80 personnel are assigned to the fire 158 total acres burned. Fire crews had another successful day of burning. The fire continues to burn with low intensity. With increasing temperatures and decrease in relative humidity fire professionals adjusted tactics slowing down firing operations, but still meeting objectives and continued progress. Groveland and Fulton hotshot crews were actively lighting the fire.