User:Penitentes/Manter Fire

Coordinates: 35°52′55″N 118°16′59″W / 35.882°N 118.283°W / 35.882; -118.283
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Manter Fire
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Date(s)
  • July 22, 2000 (2000-07-22)
  • August 9, 2000 (2000-08-09)
  • (19 days)
LocationTulare County, California, United States
Coordinates35°52′55″N 118°16′59″W / 35.882°N 118.283°W / 35.882; -118.283
Statistics
Burned area74,439 acres (30,124 ha; 116 sq mi; 301 km2)
Impacts
Non-fatal injuries≥12
Structures destroyed15
Damage
  • $11.2 million
  • (equivalent to about $19 million in 2023)
Ignition
CauseUnknown
Map
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The Manter Fire was a large wildfire that burned in Tulare County, California, in the summer of 2000. The fire primarily affected the Domeland Wilderness within Sequoia National Forest in the southern Sierra Nevada. The Manter Fire burned 74,439 acres (30,124 hectares) between July 22 and August 9, destroying over a dozen structures in the community of Kennedy Meadows. It was the largest fire of the 2000 California wildfire season, as well as the largest wildfire in the history of the Sequoia National Forest at the time. The cause of the fire was never established.

Background[edit]

Two years of drought and the exclusion of wildfire created conditions conducive to the Manter Fire's spread.[1]

Progression[edit]

The fire began on July 22, 2000, at about 8:00 a.m. PDT in Manter Meadow,[2] a popular wilderness recreation area northeast of Kernville in the Domeland Wilderness of the southern Sierra Nevada.[3] The Forest Service reviewed trail registers in the area and contacted hikers and horseback riders who had left their names in an attempt to determine the fire's cause and/or perpetrator,[3] but the cause of the Manter Fire was listed the following year as still "under investigation" and no further information was forthcoming.[4]

After igniting, the fire burned east towards the South Fork of the Kern River, and crossed the drainage on July 25, setting off a two-acre (0.81 ha) spot fire near Rockhouse Meadows.[2] By July 27, the fire's burned area had increased to more than 11,000 acres (4,500 ha).[2]

On the last day of July, crews successfully completed firing operations along Kennedy Meadows Road, and high clouds over the fire curbed much of its activity, allowing the southern perimeter of the fire to hold with minimal spotting.[5] On August 1 heavy thunderstorms over the fire continued to quiet its activity and allow crews to gain ground.[6]

On August 4, the number of personnel assigned to the fire peaked at over 1,850.[7]

The fire was declared completely contained on August at a total firefighting cost of $11.2 million.[4][8] Much of the Domeland Wilderness eventually burned.[9]

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Jul 24[10] - "A Type I Incident Management Team (Studebaker) is assigned. This fire is 15 miles northeast of Kernville, CA in the Dome Land Wilderness. Low relative humidities, shifting winds and lack of resources are deterring containment efforts."

Jul 25[11] - "Current threats are to cabins and a wild and scenic river area. Containment problems include low relative humidities and shifting winds."

Jul 26[12] - "The fire has now burned to the South Fork of the Kern River drainage. High temperatures, low humidities and a high probability of ignition are contributing to significant fire spread."

Jul 27[13] - "A historic structure and the wild and scenic Kern River corridor are threatened. Continued hot temperatures and low humidities are causing the fire to spread to the northeast."

Jul 28[14] - "The fire has spread significantly toward the northeast. A 100 acre spot fire on the east side of the Kern River is moving toward the Long Valley area. Voluntary evacuation orders have been implemented for the community of Kennedy Meadows, where 200 structures are threatened."

Jul 29[15] - "The fire crossed the Kern River in two places. The community of Kennedy Meadows has been evacuated. Structure protection efforts are underway. Dry fuels are causing extreme fire behavior even with light to moderate winds."

Jul 30[16] - "The fire has made several large runs on all fronts. Youth camps and other facilities have been evacuated as a precaution. Structure protection plans have been implemented for the community of Kennedy Meadows."

Jul 31[17] - "The fire spread has been in the Dome Land Wilderness and Chimney Peak Wilderness. Eight residences and eight outbuildings have been confirmed destroyed in the Kennedy Meadows area. Structure protection operations are ongoing. Crews are making significant gains on the southwest edge of the fireline."

Aug 1[5] - "High clouds have brought a significant decrease in fire activity. Firing operations along Kennedy Meadows Road have been successfully completed. The southern perimeter is holding and minimal spotting has been reported. A radio repeater was reported to be heavily damaged by the fire."

Aug 2[6] - "Crews have completed burnout operations on the eastern flank. The fire received heavy thunderstorms which decreased fire activity and allowed crews to make progress."

Aug 3[18] - "The northern flank of the fire is burning actively. Firing operations in the Bald Mountain and Sherman Pass areas have been successful."

Aug 4[7] - "Afternoon thunderstorm downdrafts have caused the fire to make several interior runs, but all containment lines have held. Firing operations are continuing."

Aug 5[19] - "A successful firing operation was completed along the north side of the fire yesterday and fireline construction continued on the rest of the fire."

Aug 6[20] - "The fire burned actively yesterday and a 15 mile section of open fireline is of concern. The fire still has numerous hot spots near existing control lines."

Aug 7[21] - "Crews continue to work hot spots near the fireline in all divisions. Warmer, drier weather, small interior runs, spotting and torching are causes for concern. Burnout operations are ongoing."

Aug 8[22] - "Crews have been successful in containing spot fires and slopovers across the fireline. Spotting, torching and runs within the fire’s interior continue to occur."

Aug 9[23] - "Interior runs have bumped against firelines in several areas, but crews have been successful in containing spot fires and slopovers. Warmer and drier weather is a cause for concern. A burnout operation from Sherman Pass Road to Kennedy Meadows has been completed."

Aug 10[8] - 74,010 acres; 100% contained; 1,106 personnel; $11.2m

Effects[edit]

At least 12 firefighters suffered minor injuries.[1]

At least 8 homes were lost in Kennedy Meadows.[1] A radio repeater station was also heavily damaged by the fire.[5]

Growth and containment[edit]

The table below shows how the fire's growth, containment, and assigned personnel figures changed over the course of the incident. All figures reflect those reported in the daily Incident Management Situation Reports issued by the National Interagency Coordination Center.

Fire containment status Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained
Date[a] Area burned[b] Personnel Containment
Jul 22 ... ... ...
Jul 23 ... ... ...
Jul 24[10] 5,100 acres (2,064 ha) 282 personnel
0%
Jul 25[11] 6,190 acres (2,505 ha) 338 personnel
10%
Jul 26[12] 7,500 acres (3,035 ha) 605 personnel
15%
Jul 27[13] 10,000 acres (4,047 ha) 641 personnel
20%
Jul 28[14] 18,725 acres (7,578 ha) 689 personnel
30%
Jul 29[15] 25,472 acres (10,308 ha) 730 personnel
29%
Jul 30[16] 37,435 acres (15,149 ha) 1,119 personnel
10%
Jul 31[17] 63,270 acres (25,604 ha) 1,559 personnel
10%
Aug 1[5] 63,270 acres (25,604 ha) 1,703 personnel
10%
Aug 2[6] 67,348 acres (27,255 ha) 1,704 personnel
35%
Aug 3[18] 72,228 acres (29,230 ha) 1,704 personnel
40%
Aug 4[7] 72,730 acres (29,433 ha) 1,850 personnel
54%
Aug 5[19] 72,750 acres (29,441 ha) 1,678 personnel
75%
Aug 6[20] 72,750 acres (29,441 ha) 1,678 personnel
75%
Aug 7[21] 73,343 acres (29,681 ha) 1,158 personnel
80%
Aug 8[22] 73,727 acres (29,836 ha) 1,158 personnel
80%
Aug 9[23] 74,010 acres (29,951 ha) 1,158 personnel
95%
Aug 10[8] 74,010 acres (29,951 ha) 1,106 personnel
100%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ No Incident Management Situation Reports mentioning the Manter Fire are available for July 22 or July 23, 2000, owing to the fire's small size at the time. The fire was also contained on August 9, but that fact was not reflected until the August 10 report.
  2. ^ For unknown reasons, the final acreage reported by the National Interagency Coordination Center is 439 acres less than that reported by Cal Fire.

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Gold, Scott; Gorman, Tom (August 2, 2000). "Sequoia Forest Fire Burns 67,348 Acres". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Kohler, Judith (July 27, 2000). "Sequoia National Forest fire and dozens of other blazes drain resources..." The Fresno Bee. Associated Press. pp. A1, A14. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "Forest fires burning out of control". Tulare Advance-Register. July 27, 2000. p. 2. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "2000 Large Fires, 300 Acres And Greater" (PDF). California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. April 19, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 25, 2006.
  5. ^ a b c d Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. August 1, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. August 2, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. August 4, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. August 10, 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  9. ^ "Domeland Wilderness". Sequoia National Forest. United States Forest Service. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. July 24, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. July 25, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. July 26, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. July 27, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. July 28, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. July 29, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. July 30, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. July 31, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. August 3, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. August 5, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  20. ^ a b Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. August 6, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  21. ^ a b Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. August 7, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  22. ^ a b Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. August 8, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  23. ^ a b Incident Management Situation Report (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. August 9, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.