[UPDATE]
TREE ON FIRE in BIG BEAR
USFS On Scene Of The Boulder Fire. 10 By 10 Foot Smoldering Ground Fire. Not Active In The Tree. Can Handle With Units Assigned To This Incident. Units Committed For Approximately 2 Hours.
DETAILS: [Click Here]

Here is a video of an Air Tanker dropping on a Lightning Snag back in 2020 on the North side of Big Bear Lake above the Observatory.
Link to video: [Click Here]

[UPDATE]
TREE ON FIRE in BIG BEAR
USFS Units Have An Eye On The Smoke Above Lakewood Drive In Erwin Lake. Looks Like A Single Tree With Minimal Ground Fire Involved. Units Are Attempting To Make Access. May Be A Hike In Situation.
DETAILS: [Click Here]

[UPDATE]
TREE ON FIRE in BIG BEAR
Big Bear Fire Reporting Smoke Coming From A Tree On The Ridge Above Lakewood Drive In Erwin Lake. USFS Is Sending A Response. Likely A Lightning Snag.
DETAILS: [Click Here]

[UPDATE]
SMOKE CHECK in BIG BEAR LAKE
Units In The Area Are UTL (Unable To Locate). Per USFS - Lots Of Water Dogs In The Area. Reporting Party Says Whatever It Was Has Dissappated. CANCEL RESPONSE
DETAILS: [Click Here]

MD.. that's what I thought too 🤪

Thx for all of the feedback.

I thought I was in the know, so this was a bit humbling in asking.

I've seen Water Dogs in the past.... But I didn't know that the phenomena had a name. (who'd knew, right?)

Water dogs can also be almost any type of retriever or spaniel...

[INCIDENT DISPATCH]
FU /UNKNOWN TYPE FIRE IN BIG BEAR LAKE - BIG BEAR MARINA (BBL) / PAINE RD BIG BEAR LAKE CITY
DETAILS: [Click Here]

Water dogs are not fire; they are pockets of fog that form after thunderstorms. They can sometimes resemble smoke, leading to confusion during fire incidents. It's important to differentiate between water dogs and actual smoke to avoid unnecessary panic or misreporting of fires.
Record Searchlight
+1

"Water dogs," more accurately known as scud clouds, are not caused by rain itself, but are clouds that can be observed in humid conditions, often after or during a rainstorm. These small, ragged clouds form under the base of a larger cloud and can be caused by rising, humid air that evaporates before reaching the main cloud due to mixing with dry air, or by raindrops breaking up into fragments in highly humid areas.

McToddy: Here is an SCM thread from 2010 on the subject of Water Dogs: [Click Here]

Water dogs are those plumes of steam that rise up and often resemble puffs of smoke. They're quite deceptive sometimes.

So.... What's are "water dogs"?

At first thought it was a type-o... But I see it's mentioned several times over, so it must be a legitimate term

[UPDATE]
VEGETATION FIRE in BIG BEAR LAKE
Per USFS Bat 13 - This Is Mistaken ID; Water Dogs In The Area. False Alarm. Units Cancelling.
DETAILS: [Click Here]