POWERHOUSE FIRE Incident Update

Tuesday, June 4, 2013 8:00 a.m.

Fire Information Line: (626) 574-5200 Fax Line: (626) 574-5204 Twitter @Angeles_NF

Location: Angeles National Forest, Hughes Lake, Elizabeth Lake, and Green Valley

County: Los Angeles County

Start Date & Report Time: May 31, 2013 3:28 a.m. Cause: Under Investigation

Acres: 32,032 Structures Threatened: 275 Fire Engines: 155

Containment: 60% Residence Destroyed: 6 Fire Crews: 54

Expected Containment: June 10, 2013 Residence Damaged: 9 Helicopters: 11

Total Personnel: 2,034 Injuries: 3 Bulldozers: 27

Air Tankers: 8 Water Tenders: 33 Estimated Cost: $8,707,139

Current Situation: Fire spread was minimal through the night with an increase of only 24 acres. The majority of active fire is along Elizabeth Canyon and Hughes Lake Road northwest to Sawtooth Mountain continuing over Shake Canyon. Fire north of Elizabeth Lake Canyon will burn up slope towards Sawmill Mountain. Fire is currently threatening 275 structures. Today, crews will build direct attack firefighting lines and look for opportunities to strengthen existing lines in the southern portion of the fire in the areas of Hughes Mountain, Abrams Canyon and Deer Canyon; air resources will support these crews.

Overnight crews continued to work on mop up and securing the line. Currently there are 2034 firefighters in place. Additional dozers have been deployed and fire spread is expected to be minimal over most of the fire area. In the areas of Sawtooth Mountain and Sawmill Mountain the fire has potential to spread. Fuels in the area have not burned since 1928. The fuels in this area are unusually heavy, holding heat and having potential to carry the fire. In the area of Fish Creek there is a potential for alignment if we experience an increase in wind and/or temperature. Wind is expected to be minimal today at 5 to 15 mph. Temperature is expected to be 85 degrees. Evacuation: Many areas have been reopened to residents. No additional evacuations are expected. Evacuation Center: The Red Cross Shelter is at Marie Kerr Park (Palmdale). Lancaster and Antelope Valley fairgrounds are being used to shelter animals.

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