News Release June 11
Incident: Whitewater Baldy Complex Wildfire
Released: 6/11/2012
Immediate Release June 11, 2012 - 8:00 am
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: 738 including
Cause: Lightning
5 hotshot crews, 5 hand crews
Size: 278,708 acres (435 square miles)
Equipment: 19 engines, 27 Water Tenders, 3 Dozers
Percent Contained: 37
Aircraft: 9 Helicopters
Yesterday, crews patrolled around the northern perimeter and containment lines are holding. A wilderness crew mopped up in the area around the West Fork of the Gila River. Along the southern perimeter there was some active fire in the Turkey Creek area. Crews kept it with in containment lines. Along the western flank crews moped up where needed.
During today's operational period, crews will continue to patrol the fire's perimeter, mop up as needed and cut off any pockets of fire found along containment lines.
The Southwest Type 1 Incident Command Team will transfer command to a National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) Team today at 6:00 PM. In addition to complex fire management, NIMO teams have year-round "non-incident" duties in support of the National Fire and Aviation Management Program. For more information about NIMO teams go to www.nifc.gov/nimo
Increased fire traffic will continue in the southern fire perimeter. For your safety and safety of the fire crews please remember to avoid traveling on Sacaton Road and Moon Ranch Road.
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.
