Top, Karen McKinley from the USFS sends this photo of Tanker 17 dropping retardant on the fire. Bottom (l-r),Melissa Yoes, sent this image of the smoke seen from the end of Sutter Court in Pinon Pines; the fire becomes explosive as it moves into a stand of Pi?on Pine trees, about two hundred yards northwest of the campsite where it appeared to have started. On Saturday, April 18 Community reporters called 245-NEWS and sent photos of the Lockwood Valley fire to BreakingNews@MountainEnterprise.com
Memories of the 2006 Day fire struck many as they saw smoke rising from Lockwood Valley Saturday, April 18. Melissa Yoes was turned back by CHP on her way to visit friends in Lockwood Valley. She sent photos from Pinon Pines. Linda Curtis sent photos from Tecuya Ridge. Karen McKinley and Rodney Byrd sent photos from near Chuchapate Ranger Station. Jim and Fae Lumsden sent images from within Tejon Ranch in Lebec. Sylvia Iannucci, and Robert Curlee, 12 of Frazier Park called in reports to The Mountain Enterprise Breaking News line (245-NEWS). The community is staying vigilant.
It was Frazier Park contractor Bob Stowell who called 911 at 12:31 p.m. to report the first signs of the fire.
Stowell told The Mountain Enterprise he was driving westbound on Lockwood Valley Road before 12:30 p.m., when he observed smoke and flames south of the highway. He drove further to the west to get a cell phone signal. While parked he observed someone walking near the fire area, then saw a late model beige Ford F-250 truck leaving the fire area and driving east on Lockwood Valley Road toward Lake of the Woods.
Stowell says he drove into the area to see if anyone else was there. He saw a tent, an ice chest with “a lot of beer cans and litter” strewn around the makeshift campsite near where the fire appeared to have started, about a half mile west of Chuchupate ranger station.
Approximately 40 Kern County Firefighters responded to this incident with assistance from Forest Service, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County and CHP.
As additional resources arrived, the fire was divided into areas and the additional resources attacked the head and flanks of the fire.
Approximately 20 to 30 acres burned, according to Mt. Pinos District Forest Ranger Tom Kuekes. “So far, the fire has laid down pretty good. We have two dozers on-scene that will work to get some line built,” Kuekes said.
Crews were also aided by water dropping helicopters from Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties as well as an airplane dropping fire retardant. As of 5 p.m. the fire was about 50 percent contained.
“A spot fire about a quarter mile to the south was cooled down with water drops and crews were able to take care of that,” Kuekes said.
CHP began escorting groups of motorists on Lockwood Valley Road past the fire area at approximately 2:30 p.m.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Battalion Chief John Abell took over as Incident Commander during the afternoon.
Crews remained on the fire throughout the night and additional crews continued through Sunday, April 19 to fully contain the fire, according to official reports.
There were no reported injuries.
The cause of the fire is listed as “suspicious.” It is currently under investigation.
This is part of the April 24, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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