California Wildfire Crews May Contend with Storms
 07-17-2006 12:29:47

Firefighters were bracing for the possibility of thunderstorms and lightning Monday that could spark new blazes and flood canyon areas scorched by wildfires that have devoured 58 homes and blackened 120 square miles.

"We'll get substantial rain. Whether it will be helpful or harmful will be determined by how you look at it," said Robert Balfour, a National Weather Service senior forecaster assigned to the fires.

The two major fires in the California desert have merged, which fire officials described as a positive development.

There is a 40 percent chance of rain in the area on Monday, and a 60 percent of heavy rain, with the possibility of flash flooding later in the week, Balfour said.

One area of the fire, spanning about 97 square miles, was 60 percent contained, fire officials said. Much of the firefighting Sunday occurred at an adjacent complex of fires, which grew to more than 32 square miles Sunday and was 20 percent contained.

Firefighters have had a hard time reaching remote, rugged pockets in both fires, which merged on Friday. They were forced to rely on helicopters to drop in suppression teams instead of using bulldozers and other heavy equipment.

Once on the ground, firefighters faced rocky terrain and sheer cliffs.

"It's steeper than a cow's face," said Tony Duprey, an air tactical group supervisor who has flown helicopter reconnaissance.

Since being ignited by lightning a week ago in this area about 100 miles east of Los Angeles, the larger fire has destroyed 58 houses and mobile homes, dozens of outbuildings and scores of vehicles.

Fire officials estimated damage from the fire at more than $8.4 million and firefighting costs at $10.3 million.

At least 11 people, including firefighters, have been injured. On Saturday, a search team found the body of a man who had been missing since the fire burned through historic Pioneertown on Tuesday. The cause of the man's death remained under investigation but sheriff's officials said it appeared to be fire-related.

Fires were raging in several other states as well.

On the edge of Valentine, Neb., located about 300 miles northwest of Omaha near the South Dakota state line, a large canyon fire destroyed about 10 homes and 200 people and a hospital were told to evacuate as a precaution, officials said.

Firefighters spent the night protecting the town of 2,600 people and trying to keep the blaze confined.

"We've got it knocked down, but it's not out," said Valentine Fire Chief Terry Engles.

Firefighters in southern and eastern Montana were battling five major fires that charred about 294 square miles, mostly east of Billings.

In Wyoming, a wind shift helped firefighters keep a blaze from advancing toward Devils Tower National Monument. Four fires about five miles southwest of Devils Tower have burned about 14,848 acres - about 23 square miles - of mostly brush and ponderosa pine. About 10 percent of the fires were contained. Started by lightning Wednesday, the fire had damaged two homes and threatened 35 others.

In Minnesota, authorities let two wildfires burn Sunday in the northeastern part of the state, which is having a second consecutive day of a "red flag warning" for fires. The more serious of the two is expected to burn eastward toward a part of a "blowdown area" where prescribed burns were conducted in 2003 and 2004, making firefighting easier and safer.

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On the Net:

California Forestry Department:
http://www.fire.ca.gov/php/

National Interagency Fire Center:
http://www.nifc.gov

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