Grindstone Complex

Mendocino National Forest
Wednesday, September 17, 2003 – 9:00 a.m.

Fire Information Contact:  (530) 963 3595     (530) 963 3786 fax
Website:  http:/www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino/incident/grindstone

Fire Size:  Estimated at 7,884 acres. The fire (complex) is 45% contained. The Deafy Fire has burned 4,655 acres.  It is the only active fire in the complex. 

Current Fire Status:  There are 39 confirmed fires; one in active status, 23 controlled, 15 contained and 3 have burned together. There is approximately 55 miles of fire perimeter.  The fuels involved are mature chaparral and mixed conifer pine with heavy surface fuel.  

There was minimal activity during the night.  Heavy pockets of fuel continued to burn.  The potential remains for the fire to spread up the Anderson, Eel and Cold Creek drainages.  Fire behavior is expected to be moderate.

Operational Plan for Today:   On the Deafy Fire, crews will improve fire lines and mop-up along Anderson Creek.  Mop-up operations are ordered to be done on the remaining flanks of the Deafy Fire.  Firefighters will continue to mop up and patrol the Felkner, Estell and the 13 other contained fires.

Equipment assigned to the Grindstone Complex includes: 25 crews (20 persons each), 85 engines, 10 dozers, 18 water tenders, and 11 helicopters.  The total number of personnel assigned to the complex is 1,210.

Tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m. a transfer of command will occur.  California Interagency Incident Management Team 1 (Vail) will pass management responsibilities of the Grindstone Complex to Southern California Interagency Incident Management Team 3 (Diedrich).

Update on Roads

Road Openings:  Forest Highway 7, Recer Ridge Road from Lone Star to Mendocino Pass,
And Forest Road 20N44 from Forest Road M3 to the intersection with Forest Road 20N59

Road Closures in Effect:

• Forest Road M6 from the intersection of the M3/M6 roads to the intersection of the M1/M6 roads.
• Ivory Mill Road (20N01) from the junction of County Road 308 to its intersection with Forest Road M3.
• Forest Road M3 from M6 to the boundary of Upper Lake and Grindstone Ranger Districts near West Crockett Trailhead and east of Twin Springs.