Sunday, February 8, 2015

WIND-DRIVEN WILDFIRE DESTROYS 40 HOMES, BURNS 11 SQUARE MILES NEAR SWALL MEADOWS, CALIFORNIA, NEAR THE NEVADA BORDER. THE INCOMING STORM MADE IT DIFFICULT TO FIGHT THE BLAZE. THE CAUSE AND ORIGIN OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION









WIND-DRIVEN WILDFIRE DESTROYS 40 HOMES, BURNS 11 SQUARE MILES NEAR SWALL MEADOWS, CALIFORNIA, NEAR THE NEVADA BORDER.  THE INCOMING STORM MADE IT DIFFICULT TO FIGHT THE BLAZE.  THE CAUSE AND ORIGIN OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION


February 8, 2015

SWALL MEADOWS, CALIFORNIA:

Forty homes were destroyed in a wind-driven wildfire that burned nearly 11 square miles and forced the evacuation of about 150 people in two small California towns at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada, officials said Saturday. 

The fire started near a highway on the border of Inyo and Mono counties Friday afternoon, and blew up when 50- to 75-mph winds whipped through wooded areas near Swall Meadows and the neighboring community of Paradise for about three hours, said Capt. Liz Brown of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. 

An incoming storm caused the winds to constantly shift direction, making it tough for firefighters to contain the blaze, she said. 

“We had to take defensive positions to protect as many structures as we could while protecting ourselves,” Brown said. “We did what we could.” 

She said Swall Meadows was hit hard by the blaze – 39 homes were destroyed there while one burned in the community of Paradise. 

Firefighters gained the upper hand when rain moved in, and have contained 50 percent of the blaze. 

Brown said even rain wasn’t enough to put out the fire because a three-year drought across California created extremely dry timber brush that fueled the flames. 

A firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation. 

The cause of the fire was under investigation. 


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FIRE CREWS INCREASED CONTAINMENT OF A WIND-DRIVEN WILDFIRE THAT DESTROYED 40 HOMES


 February 8, 2015

CROWLEY LAKE, Calif. (AP) —

Fire crews increased containment of a wind-driven wildfire that destroyed 40 homes, but they said Sunday that they still didn't know when residents evacuated from two small California towns at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada would be able to return home.

Dozens of power poles have come down in the communities of Swall Meadows and Paradise, creating hazards for the roughly 250 residents who have been evacuated, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Capt. Liz Brown said. Crews were assessing trees in the two communities on Sunday to ensure they wouldn't come down.

"We would love to shoot for today, but I don't know," Brown said of the prospect of lifting evacuation orders. "Once it's open, it's open. We don't have the resources to escort people in and escort them out."

The fire started near a highway on the border of Inyo and Mono counties Friday afternoon. It blew up when 50 to 75 mph winds whipped through wooded areas near the two communities for about three hours, turning the flames into a "freight train," Brown said.

Swall Meadows was hit hard by the blaze — 39 homes were destroyed there while one burned in the community of Paradise, Brown said.

Firefighters made progress after rain moved in, and they have since contained 65 percent of the 11-square-mile blaze.

But Brown said the rain hasn't been enough to completely put out the fire. A three-year drought across California has created extremely dry timber brush that fueled the flames and pushed them all the way up the Sierra slopes to the snow line around 8,000 feet, she said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.