Monday, 13 August 2007 01:51

Dome Fire 80% Contained

slide14A fire broke out Friday afternoon near the Amador Calaveras County line southwest of Salt Springs reservoir. The fire, called the Dome fire, burned in a remote area of Calaveras County with no structures or occupied areas threatened. According to CAL Fire 13 state and three federal engines were on scene, with several local Amador County fire departments also responding.

Five air tankers, four helicopters and six hand crews were also called upon to fight the blaze. According to CalFire spokesman Public Information Officer Pat Kaunert, the fire is still located in the general vicinity of Salt Springs Reservoir, and 13 miles northeast of the small community of Dorrington in Calaveras County. An early estimate from CAL FIRE was that the fire was approximately 80-110 acres. The Forest Service is currently estimating the fire at 75 acres. The fire is burning in steep and difficult terrain with no threat to any structures or communities. By Sunday morning Kaunert reported approximately 725 firefighters are on the fire including three air tankers, three helicopters, four water tenders, two dozers, 22 fire engines, 28 twenty-person hand crews, and 20 supervisory overhead and support personnel.

slide16 Kaunert says that despite the difficulty of the terrain the firefighters are making excellent progress, while at the same time, making sure that safety comes first. This morning the fire is reportedly 80 percent containment at approximately 75 acres and the resources on the fire have been reduced to 200 firefighters. Retardant-dropping fixed wing air tankers have also been scaled back but water-dropping helicopters are continuing to be utilized to cool, check, and slow the fire's spread. Together, they are providing coordinated air attack support for firefighters' fire line construction efforts on the ground. The cause of the fire, says Kaunert, is under investigation.