May 7, 2023 - Evening Update – Burn operations have concluded successfully on the Cranston Restoration prescribed burn. Firefighters were able to accomplish 20 acres today. Smoke may still be visible through the night, especially around Highway 243.

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #cranstonrestorationprescribedburn

May 7, 2023 - The San Bernardino National Forest (BDF) San Jacinto District will be conducting a prescribed burn today in the Cranston Reforestation area 9:00am to 5:00pm as weather and environmental conditions allow. This will be around southeast Mountain Center. Residents and visitors will see flames and smoke visible throughout the day and evening. Firefighters will be monitoring the area until all piles are extinguished.

Prescribed fire plays an important role in forest health and in reducing extreme wildfires and their negative impact. These fires also help reduce heavy fuel loads while simultaneously opening the conifer forest structure and maintaining the health of meadow habitats. Fire is also used to enhance native plant communities and cultural landscapes and improve wildlife habitats. Another goal is to provide defensible space for communities and developed areas within and surrounding the BDF. With all fire comes smoke, and the U.S. Forest Service works to mitigate smoke impacts from prescribed fires on the communities in the area.

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #CranstonRestorationPrescribedBurn

PLEASE BE AWARE: Wildland fire engines and large equipment will continue to be on roads in the fire area and traveling to and from assignments on US Hwy 70 between Havelock and New Bern. Please slow down and use caution when driving near them.  

BLACK SWAMP ROAD CLOSED:  Fire suppression through the use of water pumping operations along Black Swamp Road within the fire footprint will involve numerous types of equipment and personnel. To ensure firefighter and public safety the Black Swamp Road will remain closed to the public by barricades. 

High pressure remained in control through Saturday. A moderate sea breeze crossed the burn site Saturday afternoon with light and variable winds becoming South behind the sea breeze front. More unsettled conditions could arrive today, and continue at times through the coming week. Temperatures today are expected to reach 80 degrees with higher humidity, light winds, and small chance of rain. 

Acreage: 32,400 acres; Containment: 70%; Personnel and Equipment: 204 total personnel; 2 helicopters, 11 engines, 2 Type-2 and 5 Type-3 tractor plow units, 2 track-mounted engines and 2 ambulances.  

Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor for heat sources today. Planned flooding is continuing to raise the water-table and rehydrate the organic soils affecting about 1,000 acres of the fire.  Pumps and equipment are being set up along Black Swamp Road today to begin additional planned flooding operations in part of the western section of the fire. Smoke dried needles falling pine trees continues to accumulate in the fire area. Crews continue to patrol and extinguish flames where hidden heat sources are revealed by igniting the needles. Two specially equipped track-mounted engines have arrived and will begin patrolling for hotspots. They will be able to maneuver further into the fire burn interior to reach and mop-up any hotspots revealed by smoke. 

Air quality: Information on current air quality data for North Carolina is at https://www.airnow.gov/.   

Closures: The road closures on Forest Service Road 203 (Holston Creek Road) remains in effect.  Black Swamp Road is closed due to fire suppression equipment and personnel working along the road.   

Updates to road closures surrounding the fire are at https://drivenc.gov/.    

Firewise: Information on preparing your home and property to reduce the risk from fire can be found at https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firwise-USA  

Donations: Those interested in donating to firefighters, please consider assisting your local fire departments and /or the Wildland Firefighter Foundation https://wffoundation.org  

CLOSURE ORDER:  This temporary closure regarding wildfires is effective 12:00 PM, May 2, 2023.

Closures Include:

• All trails, and roadways West of 11 Mile Road, North of US41, East of Monument Trail, and South of Mud Lake, Little Deer, Oasis Trail and Lost Dog (see map for perimeter).

Trail Closures:

• Florida Trail from Oasis Visitor Center to I75 (MM63) including all campsites

The following adjacent areas will remain open:

• Private lands in the designated area; residents should use caution and notify the Fire Duty Officer of entry by calling 561-923-5228.

Great Lakes Fire Update 

Friday May 6, 2023 

 Hours: 8 am-8 pm Phone: (252) 285-6174   Email: 2023.GreatLakes@firenet.gov  
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/ncncf-great-lakes  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nfsnc/  

The primary objective for the Gray Team is public and firefighter safety 

PLEASE BE AWARE: Wildland fire engines and large equipment will continue to be on roads in the fire area and travelling to and from assignments on US Hwy 70 between Havelock and New Bern. Please slow down and use caution when driving near them.  

BLACK SWAMP ROAD CLOSED:  Fire suppression through the use of water pumping operations along Black Swamp Road within the fire footprint will involve numerous types of equipment and personnel. To ensure firefighter and public safety the Black Swamp Road will remain closed to the public by barricades. 

High pressure will continue over the region on Saturday. The sea breeze pushing through during the afternoon with an isolated shower possible. Winds will become southerly behind the sea breeze with gusts up to 15 mph possible. The airmass will continue to moderate with highs in the upper 70s and minimum relative humidity values around 40 percent. 

Acreage: 32,400 acres; Containment: 70%; Personnel and Equipment: 199 total personnel; 2 helicopters, 10 engines, 1 Type-2 and 3 Type-3 tractor plow units, 1 excavator and 2 ambulances.  

Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor for heat sources today. Planned flooding is continuing to raise the water-table and rehydrate the organic soils affecting about 1,000 acres of the fire.  Additional planned flooding operations will occur along Black Swamp Road. Crews continue to patrol and extinguish heat sources and flames as dried needles fall from pine trees and accumulate on the burned over sections of the fire. This will be a continuous issue as “needlecast” increases new light fuels on the ground.  

Air quality: Information on current air quality data for North Carolina is at https://www.airnow.gov/.   

Closures: The road closures on Forest Service Road 203 (Holston Creek Road) remains in effect.  Black Swamp Road is closed due to fire suppression equipment and personnel working along the road.  Updates to road closures surrounding the fire are at https://drivenc.gov/.    

Firewise: Information on preparing your home and property to reduce the risk from fire can be found at https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firwise-USA  

Donations: Those interested in donating to firefighters, please consider assisting your local fire departments and /or the Wildland Firefighter Foundation https://wffoundation.org  

May 5, 2023 - Evening Update – Burn operations have concluded successfully on the Cranston Restoration prescribed burn. Firefighters were able to accomplish 5 acres today. Smoke may still be visible through the night.

Forest Road 3N06 (Lytle Creek Canyon) in the area of the fire is closed to allow access for firefighters. No evacuations have been requested at this time.

Lytle Creek Road is closed at Sycamore Canyon.

A portion of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from I-15 west to where the Angeles National Forest and San Bernardino NF borders meet.

Update: April 29, 2023 -  As of this evening, personnel have achieved 60% containment on the 227-acre fire in a western portion of the San Bernardino National Forest. Fire fighters continue to increase containment lines and strengthen existing lines through mop up efforts. Ground personnel are taking advantage of water-dropping helicopters during the day in hard to reach and inaccessible spots. Three rotary aircraft have been using the Mormon Rocks Fire Station (BDF station) as a temporary landing zone, where specialized personnel prepare them for their missions. The helicopters have been refilling their buckets at nearby Lost Lake and following designated routes to their drop location. The air missions are scheduled to resume tomorrow; the incident will be staffed through the night by ground crews.

Forest Road 3N06 (Lytle Creek Canyon) in the area of the fire is closed to allow access for firefighters. No evacuations have been requested at this time.

Lytle Creek Road is closed at Sycamore Canyon.

A portion of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from I-15 west to where the Angeles National Forest and San Bernardino NF borders meet.

Update: April 30, 2023

The Nob Fire is 227 acres and has reached 85% containment as of this morning. Cooler weather in the coming days will aid firefighters and assist with the continued increase in containment. Air assets have been invaluable in reaching areas inaccessible due to the extremely steep and rugged terrain and are continuing to assist firefighters on the ground with bucket drops. When the Nob Fire was reported on April 26, Aircraft were immediately deployed to assist. Fixed wing aircraft and Helicopters were ordered including: two CAL FIRE S2 Airtankers, two LAT tankers, and one AT were the fixed wing resources assigned. One Black Hawk, one 205 and one 212 helicopters, all bucket ships were also deployed. These ships have logged more than 40 hours of flight time so far, dropping over 40,000 gallons of water to the fire. The helicopters have been using nearby Lost Lake as a dip sight to fill their buckets, then following designated routes to their drop locations. The air missions are scheduled to resume tomorrow; the incident will be staffed through the night by ground crews.

Forest Road 3N06 (Lytle Creek Canyon) in the area of the fire is closed to allow access for firefighters.  No evacuations have been requested at this time.

Lytle Creek Road is closed at Sycamore Canyon. 

A portion of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from I-15 west to where the Angeles National Forest and San Bernardino NF borders meet.