User:Penitentes/Manter Fire

The Manter Fire was a large wildfire that burned in Tulare County, California, in the summer of 2000. The fire primarily affected the Domeland Wilderness within Sequoia National Forest in the southern Sierra Nevada. The Manter Fire burned 74439 acres between July 22 and August 9, destroying over a dozen structures in the community of Kennedy Meadows. It was the largest fire of the 2000 California wildfire season, as well as the largest wildfire in the history of the Sequoia National Forest at the time. The cause of the fire was never established.

Background
Two years of drought and the exclusion of wildfire created conditions conducive to the Manter Fire's spread.

Progression
The fire began on July 22, 2000, at about 8:00 a.m. PDT in Manter Meadow, a popular wilderness recreation area northeast of Kernville in the Domeland Wilderness of the southern Sierra Nevada. The Forest Service reviewed trail registers in the area and contacted hikers and horseback riders who had left their names in an attempt to determine the fire's cause and/or perpetrator, but the cause of the Manter Fire was listed the following year as still "under investigation" and no further information was forthcoming.

After igniting, the fire burned east towards the South Fork of the Kern River, and crossed the drainage on July 25, setting off a 2 acres spot fire near Rockhouse Meadows. By July 27, the fire's burned area had increased to more than 11000 acres.

On the last day of July, crews successfully completed firing operations along Kennedy Meadows Road, and high clouds over the fire curbed much of its activity, allowing the southern perimeter of the fire to hold with minimal spotting. On August 1 heavy thunderstorms over the fire continued to quiet its activity and allow crews to gain ground.

On August 4, the number of personnel assigned to the fire peaked at over 1,850.

The fire was declared completely contained on August at a total firefighting cost of $11.2 million. Much of the Domeland Wilderness eventually burned.

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Jul 24 - "A Type I Incident Management Team (Studebaker) is assigned. This fire is 15 miles northeast of Kernville, CA in the Dome Land Wilderness. Low relative humidities, shifting winds and lack of resources are deterring containment efforts."

Jul 25 - "Current threats are to cabins and a wild and scenic river area. Containment problems include low relative humidities and shifting winds."

Jul 26 - "The fire has now burned to the South Fork of the Kern River drainage. High temperatures, low humidities and a high probability of ignition are contributing to significant fire spread."

Jul 27 - "A historic structure and the wild and scenic Kern River corridor are threatened. Continued hot temperatures and low humidities are causing the fire to spread to the northeast."

Jul 28 - "The fire has spread significantly toward the northeast. A 100 acre spot fire on the east side of the Kern River is moving toward the Long Valley area. Voluntary evacuation orders have been implemented for the community of Kennedy Meadows, where 200 structures are threatened."

Jul 29 - "The fire crossed the Kern River in two places. The community of Kennedy Meadows has been evacuated. Structure protection efforts are underway. Dry fuels are causing extreme fire behavior even with light to moderate winds."

Jul 30 - "The fire has made several large runs on all fronts. Youth camps and other facilities have been evacuated as a precaution. Structure protection plans have been implemented for the community of Kennedy Meadows."

Jul 31 - "The fire spread has been in the Dome Land Wilderness and Chimney Peak Wilderness. Eight residences and eight outbuildings have been confirmed destroyed in the Kennedy Meadows area. Structure protection operations are ongoing. Crews are making significant gains on the southwest edge of the fireline."

Aug 1 - "High clouds have brought a significant decrease in fire activity. Firing operations along Kennedy Meadows Road have been successfully completed. The southern perimeter is holding and minimal spotting has been reported. A radio repeater was reported to be heavily damaged by the fire."

Aug 2 - "Crews have completed burnout operations on the eastern flank. The fire received heavy thunderstorms which decreased fire activity and allowed crews to make progress."

Aug 3 - "The northern flank of the fire is burning actively. Firing operations in the Bald Mountain and Sherman Pass areas have been successful."

Aug 4 - "Afternoon thunderstorm downdrafts have caused the fire to make several interior runs, but all containment lines have held. Firing operations are continuing."

Aug 5 - "A successful firing operation was completed along the north side of the fire yesterday and fireline construction continued on the rest of the fire."

Aug 6 - "The fire burned actively yesterday and a 15 mile section of open fireline is of concern. The fire still has numerous hot spots near existing control lines."

Aug 7 - "Crews continue to work hot spots near the fireline in all divisions. Warmer, drier weather, small interior runs, spotting and torching are causes for concern. Burnout operations are ongoing."

Aug 8 - "Crews have been successful in containing spot fires and slopovers across the fireline. Spotting, torching and runs within the fire’s interior continue to occur."

Aug 9 - "Interior runs have bumped against firelines in several areas, but crews have been successful in containing spot fires and slopovers. Warmer and drier weather is a cause for concern. A burnout operation from Sherman Pass Road to Kennedy Meadows has been completed."

Aug 10 - 74,010 acres; 100% contained; 1,106 personnel; $11.2m

Effects
At least 12 firefighters suffered minor injuries.

At least 8 homes were lost in Kennedy Meadows. A radio repeater station was also heavily damaged by the fire.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-nov-28-mn-58213-story.html

Growth and containment
The table below shows how the fire's growth, containment, and assigned personnel figures changed over the course of the incident. All figures reflect those reported in the daily Incident Management Situation Reports issued by the National Interagency Coordination Center.