News Release June 9
Incident: Whitewater Baldy Complex Wildfire
Released: 6/9/2012
For Immediate Release June 9, 2012 - 8:00AM
Whitewater-Baldy Complex
News Release
Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team
Incident Commander: Tony Sciacca
Fire Information: 575-533-6901, 575-533-6053 (Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
Email: whitewaterfire@gmail.com
Website: http://inciweb.org/incident/2870/
Flickr (photos and maps): http://www.flickr.com/photos/gilaforest
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SWIMT1 and www.twitter.com/gilaforestPAO
Fire Facts:
Date Started: 05/16/2012
Number of Personnel: 826 including
Cause: Lightning
9 hotshot crews, 5 hand crews
Size: 274,838 acres (426 square miles)
Equipment: 30 engines, 27 Water Tenders, 4 Dozers
Percent Contained: 32
Aircraft: 10 Helicopters
Yesterday, firefighters finished the burnout around Bearwallow Lookout. North of the West Fork of the Gila River, crews successfully conducted aerial ignitions. In the south and southwest fire perimeter, there were short duration increases in fire activity as fire crept into pockets of unburned fuels. Along the western boundaries, squads directly engaged the small fingers of active fire to stop the progress and strengthen the lines.
Today, from noon to 8 pm, there is a "Red Flag" fire weather warning. Crews will continue securing lines throughout the perimeter in anticipation of the increased winds. Fire crews are preparing for burnout operations pending weather and fire activity. Fire personnel are prepositioned and ready to respond in the event of increased fire behavior.
Fire crews and equipment will be reorganizing around the fire perimeter to prepare for today's forecast of high winds. Traffic will increase this morning during this transition.
For additional information regarding the post fire-flood assessment go to the Whitewater- Baldy Complex BAER page at http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2900/.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: If you are planning to visit the Forest, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect. Additional closures are still are in effect in several areas; please go to the Gila National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/gila for current information or contact the Forest directly at 575-388-8201.
