![Two of four smoke jumpers observed arriving on Sawmill Mountain to attack the Saw Fire just before 2 p.m. on Sunday Aug. 12, 2012. [Photo by Douglas Page]](https://mountainenterprise.com/fds/images/story/fs_10689.jpg)
Image 1 of 4
Two of four smoke jumpers observed arriving on Sawmill Mountain to attack the Saw Fire just before 2 p.m. on Sunday Aug. 12, 2012. [Photo by Douglas Page]
Image 2 of 4
Smoke from the Point Fire on Mt. Abel, shown in a photo sent by Scott Watters of Pine Mountain.
Image 3 of 4
Barry Ailetcher snapped this shot of Ventura County helicopter 6 snorkeling water from Fern's Lake in Pine Mountain to fight the Point fire near the top of Mt. Abel.
Image 4 of 4
Brian Murray sent this shot of the Ventura County helicopter at Fern's Lake to our Breaking News from www.MountainEnterprise.com
PINE MOUNTAIN (Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012 at 12:35 p.m.)–Los Padres National Forest Battalion Chief John Abell, with the Mt. Pinos Ranger District, privided some details: There are three fires, two of them are on Mt. Abel and one is at Sawmill Mountain (between Mt. Pinos and Mt. Abel). One of the Mt. Abel fires (the Point fire) is visible from the PMC clubhouse and is difficult to reach. Los Padres National Forest Santa Lucia Crew 7 is working that fire.The other Mt. Abel fire, the Mesa fire, is on the south side of the mountain and being worked by crews. The Sawmill fire is in a remote and difficult-to-reach area. Smoke jumpers are about to descend upon that fire from a fixed-wing aircraft "any minute." There will likely be a couple of small water drops with S2 (type 3) air tankers. Abell said they have Ventura County helicopter 6 assisting as well as engines and hand crews, and he said he believes they have enough resources to handle these three fires.
PINE MOUNTAIN (Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012 at 11:50 a.m.)–This report was received from Los Padres National Forest Public Information Officer Andrew Madsen: Mt. Pinos Ranger District firefighters are responding to three small fires with assistance from Ventura County fire. The fire starts are likely the result of a storm system that moved through the area overnight. [He is referring to the fire(s) on or near Mt. Abel. Earlier, Kern County Station 58 had also responded.]
PINE MOUNTAIN (Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012 at 9:55 a.m.)–A lightning strike has ignited a small fire near Mt. Abel, above the mountain community of Pine Mountain. According to Kern County Fire Department’s Public Information office, Station 58 has one patrol unit on the scene and Los Padres National Forest has two units there.
A storm cell moved through the area on Saturday with heavy rains and lightning, causing a power pole fire on Matterhorn Drive in Pine Mountain after lightning struck the pole around 5 p.m.
This is part of the August 10, 2012 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you.
