Thick logs and leafy duff smolders in patches, but no new growth was reported for the Stoner Mesa Fire as of Wednesday night’s infrared camera flight observation, according to a news release from fire officials.
“That infrared flight flew the majority of the fire and found really no fire growth outside of the existing perimeter,” San Juan Team 8 Operations Section Chief Scott Nielsen said during Thursday morning’s briefing. “And we also found very little heat inside the fire, which is good news.”
The fire has remained at 10,249 acres since Tuesday, with late arrival monsoonal rains keeping the flames low and moisture soaked up by once bone-dry fuels. Yesterday saw minimal rain on the fire.
Crews previously hindered by wet, slippery, even inaccessible routes closer to the fire are now carrying on with patrol and mop up operations as the area gradually dries out.
Isolated pockets of heat are allowing fire crews to focus intently on squashing the lingering flames, Nielsen said.
Preemptive measures are underway in the event that the flames once again rise up. The Los Padres Interagency Hotshot Crew will be fortifying a dozer line near Stoner. Fireline improvement measures are taking place in other parts of the fire as well.
Containment is at 43%.
Helicopters will be on hand for water drops and transferring crews into remote parts of the fire. A crew camping in the highly remote northwest subdivision of the fire will be transferred out on Thursday.
