Sawtooth Complex Fire

2006 wildfire in Southern California

July 9, 2006 (2006-07-09) –
July 19, 2006 (2006-07-19)

LocationYucca Valley, CaliforniaStatistics^[1]Burned area61,700 acres (250 km²)ImpactsDeaths1 CivilianNon-fatal injuries17Structures destroyed

50 residences
8 mobile homes
171 outbuildings
220+ vehicles

Damage$16.8 millionIgnitionCauseLightning

The Sawtooth Complex fire was a group of wildfires in San Bernardino County in the U.S. state of California in the summer of 2006. The Complex was made up of the Sawtooth, Waters, and Ridge fires, and burnt in chaparral two miles (3.2 km) east of Yucca Valley.^[1]

The Sawtooth Complex fire was started by lightning on July 9, 2006 at 8:30 am PDT. The fire burned 61,700 acres (250 km²) and destroyed 50 homes, 8 mobile homes, 13 garages, 171 outbuildings, 191 cars and pick up trucks, 3 R.V.s, 27 trailers, 2 railcars, 9 tractors. 12 residences were damaged. There were 17 minor injuries and 1 civilian fatality.

Residents of Pioneertown, Skyline Ranch, Pipes Canyon, Gamma Gulch, northern Morongo Valley, Burns Canyon and Rimrock were placed under mandatory evacuations.^[1]

Pioneertown is the site of several historic structures dating back to 1940s Hollywood film production. While some buildings in Pioneertown were destroyed, the historic structures were spared.^[2]

At 5:00 pm PDT on July 14, the Sawtooth Complex fire merged with the Millard Complex fire.

The fire was 100% contained on July 18.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Sawtooth Complex Incident Information". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. 2006. Retrieved July 24, 2006.
^ "Fire crews battle desert winds, heat". CNN. July 12, 2006. Archived from the original on July 14, 2006. Retrieved 2006-07-14.