Coyote Fire Morning Update – 8/21/2025

Zeke Lunder provided a morning update on the Coyote Fire, which had grown to 560 acres by 10:30 PM on August 20, and abut 640 acres by 8am, on the 21st. The fire was active on the southern and southeastern flanks but showed no significant spread overnight. The fire is currently capped with light smoke and is expected to move up the canyon due to afternoon winds. Unlike the critically dry conditions during the Caldor Fire, current fuels are around average to below-average dryness. Retardant is expected to be effective on SE corner of the fire due to thinned forest areas, and the fire has slopped over Farnham Ridge, complicating direct dozer line placement. Fuels are projected to reach around the 90th percentile of dryness by end of the week – conditions which can sustain high rates of spread, when fuels, topography, and winds are aligned, but aren’t considered to have extremely high fire behavior potential.

Coyote Fire Update and Overnight Activity – 8am report

• Zeke Lunder provides a morning update on the Coyote Fire, noting that CAL FIRE’s intel ship is currently flying over the area.
• The fire was active until midnight, with significant activity on the southern and southeastern flanks, but no major spread occurred overnight.
• The fire’s perimeter is shared, showing it had grown to about 560 acres by 10:30 PM, starting near Farnham Creek and moving up the canyon and around Round Mountain.
• Key areas to watch are at the east end of the fire, where afternoon winds could push the fire up the canyon.
• The northern flank, heavily painted with retardant the previous day, did not grow overnight, indicating the effectiveness of the retardant.
• The use of smaller tankers in steep terrain is explained, highlighting their effectiveness in initial attack and tight country – places where larger air tankers are less effective/maneuverable.

Comparison with Caldor Fire and Fire Conditions

• Zeke Lunder emphasizes that the fuels are currently not as critically dry as during the Caldor Fire, with fuels currently around average to below-average dryness.
• The thinned forest areas, particularly those thinned by Sierra Pacific Industries, will help slow the fire’s spread and make retardant more effective.
• The fire has slopped over Farnham Ridge, making it difficult to put in dozer lines directly, and heavy brush in the area complicates firefighting efforts.
• Spot fires from the night before are being monitored, and aircraft were effective yesterday in slowing the fire’s less active flanks.

Flammability and Fire Behavior Projections

• Zeke Lunder discusses the ERC charts, showing the relative flammability of the landscape, with the current conditions around the 70th percentile compared to the Caldor Fire’s 97th percentile.
• The fire is expected to reach around the 90th percentile by the end of the week, indicating potential for difficult to suppress fire behavior, but not as critical as during the Caldor Fire.
• The fire is still worth watching, but we don’t expect daily runs as extreme as those during the Caldor Fire.

Final Remarks and Next Steps

• Zeke Lunder thanks everyone for joining and mentions the importance of watching the fire, especially the northern flank.
• The next update is expected around 5 PM unless the fire significantly changes.