Community Update June 12
Incident: Whitewater Baldy Complex Wildfire
Released: 6/12/2012
Fire Facts:
Date Started: 05/16/2012
Number of Personnel: 543 including
Cause: Lightning
2 hotshot crews, 4 hand crews
Size: 278,708 acres (435 square miles)
Equipment: 17 engines, 19 Water Tenders, 3 Dozers
Percent Contained: 37
Aircraft: 6 Helicopters
During yesterday's operational period, crews continued to rehabilitate fire lines and roads along the northern fire boundary from Devil's Park on Road 626 to the union of Indian Creek and the Middle Fork of the Gila River. Today's efforts will include rehabilitation of dozer lines in cold areas of the fires. Road damage that occurred from increased fire traffic on the road system is being rehabilitated as needed.
The increased visible fire activity occurred in pockets of unburned brush in Sycamore and Brush Canyons. Visible fire and smoke behavior was short-lived. Fire fighters and air support were standing by to keep the fire in containment lines. Crews and air resources are standing by in the southern boundary where fire activity has been present.
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.
The Southwest Type 1 Incident Command Team transferred command to a National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) Team yesterday at 6:00 PM. In addition to complex fire management, these teams have year-round "non-incident" duties in support of Fire and Aviation Management. For more information about NIMO teams go to www.nifc.gov/nimo
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.
