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P
Pine
Ch
A
So
Pine Gro
But
e Acre
Succe
1
hris Post
CA
Amador-E
outh Divi
ove Yout
tte Fir
es Fue
ess St
1/9/15
, Assista
AL FIRE
El Dorad
sion Ope
th Conse
re
elbrea
tory
ant Chief
do Unit
erations
ervation
ak
f
Camp
Fuelbrea
The Pine
reduction
has been
the Amad
The prim
along the
fire supp
Begun in
Acres Fu
runs alon
the City o
Subdivis
ak Backgro
e Acres Fuel
n project with
n maintained
dor Fire Safe
mary goal of t
e rim of the M
ression and
n 2002 and fu
uelbreak is a
ng the rim of
of Jackson to
ion.
und
break is a C
hin unincorp
d through the
e Council an
this project h
Mokelumne
structure de
unded by a v
approximatel
f the Mokelu
o Highway 8
Community W
porated Ama
e cooperativ
nd approxim
has been to
River Canyo
efense opera
variety of gra
y eight miles
mne River C
88 just east o
1
Wildfire Prote
dor County
ve efforts of t
ately forty p
create a sha
on, utilizing t
ations in the
ant funding s
s in length, a
Canyon from
of the comm
ection Plan (
that was con
the CAL FIR
rivate landow
aded fuelbre
topographic
e event of a w
sources thro
averages thr
m the PG&E
munity of Pine
(CWPP) wild
nceived, con
RE Amador-E
wners.
eak, strategic
features inte
wildfire.
oughout its’
ree-hundred
Tabeaud Re
e Grove and
dland fire fue
nstructed an
El Dorado U
cally placed
ended to su
life, the Pine
d foot wide a
eservoir eas
d the Pine A
els
nd
nit,
pport
e
nd
st of
cres
The Pine
Mokelum
Subdivis
The proje
Chaparra
indicates
inhabitan
Fuels tre
Youth Co
Approxim
removal
e Acres Subd
mne River Ca
ion.
ect area con
al vegetation
s that the Pin
nts from pote
eatment has
onservation
mately 80% h
has been co
division is sit
anyon. The
nsists of Oak
n with a large
ne Acres Fue
ential wildlan
been compl
Camp, as w
has been co
ompleted pri
tuated on a
fuelbreak w
k Woodlands
e number of
elbreak defe
nd fire sprea
eted primari
well as by me
ompleted by
marily throu
2
plateau that
raps directly
s, low elevat
f homes scat
ends approxi
ad northward
ily by CAL F
echanical me
hand and 20
gh piling, bu
t rests direct
y around and
tion pockets
ttered throug
imately 1,00
d out of the M
FIRE hand cr
eans with ma
0% by mech
urning and c
tly along the
d adjacent to
of Ponderos
ghout. 2010
00 homes an
Mokelumne
rews from th
asticators an
hanical treatm
hipping on s
north rim of
o the Pine A
sa Pine and
0 Census Da
nd 2,400
River Draina
he Pine Grov
nd dozers.
ment. Final
site by fire cr
f
Acres
ata
age.
ve
fuels
rews.
Initially c
was deve
2005, wit
to ultimat
The fuelb
updated
again in 2
It is intere
proposal
ompleted in
eloped into a
th the intent
tely bring the
break was m
during the s
2016.
esting now t
s regarding
2003-2004
a more comp
of treating a
e fuelbreak t
maintained an
summer of 20
to note that m
what constit
as a three-h
prehensive V
additional ac
to the bottom
nd improved
015 and is s
many proper
tuted adequa
3
hundred foot
Vegetation M
cres through
m of the can
d again in bo
slated for add
rty owners in
ate fuels mo
t wide shade
Managemen
various mea
yon at the M
oth 2006 and
ditional main
n 2002 were
odification an
ed fuelbreak
nt Plan (VMP
ans and sign
Mokelumne R
d 2011. The
ntenance an
e initially res
nd removal o
k only, the pr
P) project in
nificant wide
River itself.
e VMP was
nd improvem
istive to
of vegetation
roject
ening
ment
n.
4
Another intent of continued work on the fuelbreak as a VMP is long term positive response tree
growth as a result of reduction in tree density from pre-treatment and prescribed fire effects.
Past area fuels project history shows that following the introduction of prescribed fire and related
fuels treatments, development of an open and park like condition of various species that is free
of significant ladder fuels will follow.
In addition to reducing vegetation density and providing enhanced protection to residential
structures and communities at risk from the spread of wildland fire into the Pine Grove area, the
Pine Acres Fuelbreak was also designed to protect an important portion of the Mokelumne River
watershed that provides water to the downstream Pardee and Camanche Reservoirs.
Pardee and Camanche Reservoirs provide 90% of the water that goes to the East Bay
Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). EBMUD's water system serves approximately 1.3 million
people in a 331-square-mile area of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, including the major
cities of Oakland and Berkeley and east to Walnut Creek and the San Ramon Valley.
Protection of these watershed values provide benefits that reach far beyond the boundaries of
the project area and the Amador-El Dorado Unit.
Butte Fire Background
The Butte Fire (CA-AEU-024918) was reported on September 9, 2015 at 1425 hours.
It was dispatched as a vegetation fire approximately four acres in size located in the State
Responsibility Area in southern Amador County on Butte Mountain Road near the intersection of
Butte Mountain Cutoff Road southeast of Jackson and just west of the Pine Acres Fuelbreak.
The Butte Fire quickly transitioned from an extended attack into a Major Incident, crossing the
Mokelumne River and burning into and primarily in Calaveras County. The Butte Fire burned a
total 0f 70,760 acres and ultimately damaged or destroyed almost five hundred homes, resulted
in two civilian deaths. It is currently listed as the seventh most destructive fire in California.
Butte Fir
Of the Bu
Of the Bu
perimete
Approxim
utilizing t
re Relations
utte Fire’s 70
utte Fire’s ap
r of the Pine
mately 3.3 m
the Pine Acr
ship to the
0,760 acres,
pproximately
e Acres VMP
iles of the B
res Fuelbrea
Pine Acres
, approximat
y 3,680 acre
P.
Butte Fire pe
ak. There we
5
Fuelbreak
tely 3,680 ac
es in Amador
rimeter cont
ere NO struc
& VMP
cres are in A
r County, 1,4
trol line can
cture damag
Amador Cou
458 acres a
be directly a
ges or losses
nty.
re within the
attributed to
s in this area
e
a.
Butte Fir During th
the fire m
Amador C
Initial ma
areas pro
Canyon V
Single tra
fuelbreak
(Loo
re Pine Acre
he overnight
made a conti
County side
andatory eva
otected by th
View Drive a
ack dozer lin
k the first nig
oking West f
es Fuelbrea
hours of Se
nual push to
of the river.
acuations we
he Pine Acre
and Fig Tree
ne was cons
ght of the fire
from Bedegr
ak Success
eptember 9th
o the east up
ere ordered d
es Fuelbreak
e Lane.
tructed direc
e and held.
rew Property
6
es
and into the
p the Mokelu
during exten
k west of the
ctly along ar
It was later
y towards Po
e fire’s secon
umne River d
nded attack
e Ponderosa
reas previou
improved.
oint of Origin
nd day on S
drainage on
along the we
a Way in the
sly treated a
n. See Map
eptember 10
the north an
estern portio
vicinity of
as part of the
p on Page 8)
0th,
nd
on of
e
Defensiv
directly a
cooperat
(Defen
ve firing was
along the fue
tors in the in
sive Firing o
(Note Low
conducted w
elbreak adjac
itial construc
on Direct Edg
Intensity Bu
with no addi
cent to resid
ction and on
ge of Fuelbr
urn Firing Re
7
tional pre-tre
dences whos
n-going main
reak to Right
esults on Elli
eatment in o
se property o
ntenance of t
t of Elliot Dri
iot Property.
order to save
owners parti
the fuelbrea
riveway. See
See Map P
e structures
icipated as
k.
e Map Page
Page 8)
e 8.)
8
During th
operation
progress
river.
At approx
below an
This prom
Highway
(
he day and o
ns held the f
sion up the M
ximately 140
nd in slope a
mpted the la
88.
(Screen Sho
overnight ho
fire in check
Mokelumne R
00 hours on
alignment wit
arge scale ev
ot of Field Ma
urs on Septe
along the P
River drainag
September
th the Pine A
vacuation or
ap with Estim
9
ember 10th,
onderosa W
ge keeping t
10th the fire’
Acres Subdiv
rder for the c
mated Fire P
fire suppres
Way and slow
the fire low o
’s edge was
vision in the
community o
Perimeter on
ssion efforts
wed its’ eastw
on the slope
reported to
Clinton Bar
of Pine Grove
n 9/10 at 140
including do
ward
e and near th
be directly
r Road area.
e south of
00 hours)
ozer
he
.
The effor
allowed d
the area
(T
The fuelb
ahead of
(E
rts to hold th
dozer improv
of Quail Driv
The End of Q
break also p
f the inevitab
End of Quail
he fire in che
vements to b
ve and Clint
Quail Drive o
rovided pre-
ble uphill fire
Drive Lookin
eck and slow
be made to t
on Bar Road
on the Fuelb
-treatment o
e run towards
ng Towards
10
w the eastwa
the fuelbrea
d prior to 120
break on Rim
pportunities
s the subdiv
End of Clint
rd progressi
ak directly ad
00 hours on
m of Canyon
for the Very
vision as note
ton Bar Roa
ion on Septe
djacent to the
n September
. See Map P
y Large and
ed by visible
d. See Map
ember 10th
e subdivisio
r 11th.
Page 12.)
large Airtan
e retardant.
p Page 12)
n in
kers
On day t
Acres Su
evacuate
fuelbreak
afforded
(Looking
(Fire R
hree of the f
ubdivision ea
ed. Dozers h
k due to the
the opportu
g West from
Reaching Qu
fire at 1217 h
ast of the Po
had remaine
reduced fue
nity to scout
m the End of
uail Drive Lo
hours on Se
onderosa Wa
ed ahead of
el loading. S
t and prep th
Quail Drive
ooking East T
11
eptember 11t
ay. The com
the fire and
Several Engi
he subdivisio
directly in fro
Towards Clin
th the fire ma
mmunity of P
were able to
ne Strike Te
on in advanc
ront of the Ho
nton Bar Ro
ade its’ run t
Pine Grove h
o improve th
eams were in
ce of the fire
ouse in Pictu
oad. See Pic
owards the
had already b
he pre-existin
n place and
front arrival
ure on Page
cture Page 1
Pine
been
ng
l.
e 10)
10)
(Sam
(The
me Location
full force of t
n Looking Ea
the head fire
ast Towards
12
e run hit the
Clinton Bar
fuelbreak at
r Road Appro
t 1224 hours
oximately 4
s.)
hours later.)
)
The initia
lifted all s
structure
Once the
operation
smolderi
There we
(Note R
al convective
smoke and e
es on the rim
e fire’s conve
ns were cond
ng debris no
ere no struct
Referenced L
e column fro
embers verti
of the cany
ective colum
ducted over
ow scattered
ture damage
Locations of
m the fire’s
ical and likel
yon along the
mn cooled an
several hou
d throughout
es or loss in
f Quail Drive
13
run to the to
ly prevented
e fuelbreak’
nd collapsed
urs to seek a
the subdivis
the Pine Ac
and Clinton
op of the can
d any direct i
s direct edg
, fire front fo
and destroy t
sion near the
cres Subdivis
n Bar Road,
nyon and into
impingemen
e at the end
ollowing struc
those embe
e fuelbreak.
sion.
Fuelbreak a
o the fuelbre
nt on those
d of Quail Dr
cture defens
rs and
and Fire’s Ed
eak
rive.
se
dge)
Over the
County w
the Pine
location a
damage
(Previo
(Loo
following op
was construc
Acres Fuelb
allowed fire
to Roaring C
ous Treatme
oking South
perational pe
cted using a
break plan co
crews to con
Camp, a sign
ent Used as
from Top of
eriods, the fi
check line lo
onnecting th
nduct a succ
nificant local
Final Contro
f Previous Tr
14
re’s ultimate
ocation prev
he top of the
cessful firing
l landmark a
ol Line Circle
Treatment Are
e easternmo
viously ident
ridge to the
g operation,
and tourist at
ed in Red, R
rea Ultimatel
ost control lin
tified as an in
e river. This
hold the line
ttraction loca
Roaring Cam
ly Used as C
ne in Amado
ntegral part
pre-designa
e and preven
ated on the
mp is Blue St
Control Line)
or
of
ated
nt
river.
tar)
)
15
Summary The Pine Acres Fuelbreak is a CWPP wildland fire fuels reduction project that was constructed
and has been maintained through the cooperative efforts of the CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado
Unit, the Amador Fire Safe Council and approximately forty private landowners.
Begun in 2002 and funded by a variety of grant funding sources throughout its’ life, it was
initially completed in 2003-2004. It was converted to a VMP in 2005 and maintained and
improved again in both 2006 and 2011.
It stretches over seven miles and consisted of approximately 300 treated and maintained acres
prior to the Butte Fire.
Fuels treatment has been completed primarily by CAL FIRE hand crews from the Pine Grove
Youth Conservation Camp along the majority of its’ length adjacent to the Pine Acres
Subdivision. Additional masticator and dozer treatment projects have also been coordinated by
the Amador Fire Safe Council in and around the Ponderosa Way.
The primary goal of this project was to create a shaded fuelbreak intended to support fire
suppression and structure defense operations in the event of a wildfire coming out of the
Mokelumne River Canyon.
On the first four days of the Butte Fire September 9th through September 12th, 2015 it did just
that.
The Pine Acres VMP was updated during the summer of 2015 and the remaining areas of the
fuelbreak unaffected by the Butte Fire are slated for additional maintenance and improvement
again beginning in 2016.
On the D
(Aerial
Perform
Credits The follo
maintena
Tod Dorr
Scott Wa
Jim Simm
Craig Os
Cathy Ko
Eldon Ro
Ron Mon
Tom Low
Chris Wa
Patrick M
Pine Gro
Day it Matte
l Photograph
med Succes
wing individ
ance of the P
ris, CAL FIR
atson, CAL F
mons, Amad
stergaard, Am
oos Brazeal,
odman, Roa
nk, Registere
wrie, Registe
aters, Regist
McDaniel, Re
ove Camp Yo
red
h Taken Bef
ssfully in and
uals were in
Pine Acres F
E Pine Grov
FIRE Pine G
dor Fire Safe
mador Fire S
Amador Fir
ring Camp M
ed Professio
ered Profess
tered Profes
egistered Pro
outh Conser
fore the Butt
d around Qua
nstrumental i
Fuelbreak an
ve Youth Co
Grove Battalio
e Council, CA
Safe Counci
re Safe Coun
Mining Comp
onal Forester
ional Forest
ssional Fores
ofessional F
rvation Camp
16
te Fire. Red
ail Drive and
n the develo
nd deserve s
nservation C
on Chief (Re
AL FIRE Am
l (Former Bo
ncil, Executi
pany & Pine
r
ter
ster, CAL FI
Forester, CA
p, Current &
d Arrows Poi
d Clinton Ba
opment, sup
special recog
Camp Divisio
etired)
mador-El Dor
oard Membe
ve Director
Acres Deve
RE Battalion
L FIRE Fore
& Former Fire
int to Treatm
ar Road on S
pport, constru
gnition.
on Chief (Re
rado Unit Ch
er)
elopment Co
n Chief
ester 1
e Crew Cap
ment Areas th
September 1
uction and
etired)
hief (Retired)
ompany
tains and Cr
hat
1th)
)
rews