Arapaho Fire News Release for 07/10/2012
Incident: Arapaho Fire Wildfire
Released: 7/10/2012
Arapaho Fire
Contact: Public Information Office - 307-298-0556
Tuesday, July 10, 2012 - 9:00am MST Fire Status Update
Size: 98,115 acres·
Contained: 80%
Personnel: 777
News and Events for the Arapaho Fire
· A public meeting will be held at the Platte County Fairgrounds 4H Building in Wheatland tonight at 6:30 p.m. to provide information on property damage assessments for Platte and Albany Counties and a long-term plan for management of the Arapaho Fire.
· A trend towards warmer and drier weather continues; Initial attack crews are prepared to respond to new starts that are expected as a result of lightning passing through the fire area yesterday.
· Several roads in the area remain closed due to fire operations and the concern for public safety.
· The Joint Information Center has closed due to a low volume of calls, please call Platte County Emergency Management for information at 307-322-2140.
· Excess resources continue to demobilize as fire suppression objectives are met
· Transfer of command from Mike Morcom's Pacific Northwest Type 1 team to a local Type 3 team will occur on Thursday, July 12th.
Arapaho Fire
Three hotshot crews will continue control efforts on Cow Creek Mountain and Friend Park. Open line remains from Eagle Peak south to Cow Creek Mountain. This area is extremely rugged and difficult to access. Structure protection is complete in Cottonwood Creek and crews will continue to patrol the east flank of the fire. Progress has been made with rehab efforts on interior roads and is starting work in Harris Park.
As the actions on the west flank are completed over the next few days, the only open line and uncontained portion of the fire will extend across the extremely steep and rocky western face of Laramie Peak, from the Friend Creek drainage north to just below the peak. As we step through the drying trend we will continue to see additional smokes. The long term analysis will include management action points under different weather scenarios to inform future decisions about management of the fire. It is unlikely the Arapaho Fire will be fully contained in this section of the fire until a season ending weather event. Throughout the remainder of fire season, Laramie Peak will need to be constantly monitored.
Road Closures
· Harris Park Road closed at Cottonwood Park Road and Fish Creek Road
· Garrett Road closed at Palmer Canyon Road and Fetterman Road (County Rd 61)
· Esterbrook Road closed at Fetterman Road and Braae Road
Closures: All Forest Service lands, recreation sites, roads and trails east of Esterbrook Road. Trails include Laramie Peak Trail (#602); North Laramie River Trail (#625); Friend Park Trail (#609); Harris Park Trail (#616); Roaring Fork Trail (#623); and Laramie Peak Trailhead, North Laramie Trailhead; recreation sites closed include Esterbrook Campground and Friend Park Campground.
Restrictions: For current fire restrictions, visit the Wyoming interagency fire restrictions website at http://www.wy.blm.gov/wy fire restrictions/
Donations: Thank you for supporting the firefighters with donations. To make donations, call 1-307-331-8660
Fire Facts
Arapaho Fire: Started: June 27, 2012 Cause: Lightning Location: 28 miles NW of Wheatland, WY. Resources: A total of 777 personnel assigned to the fire, including 3 hotshot crews, 5 hand crews, 2 assigned helicopters, 83 engines, 7 dozers and 19 water tenders.
SAFETY CONCERNS: Changing weather conditions to warming and drying, heat related illness, steep and rugged terrain, weakened snags, gusty winds associated with thunderstorms, stump holes.
RESOURCE CONCERNS: Invasive species such as dalmation toadflax, cheatgrass and zebra mussel transported on equipment from other locations.
WEATHER: Today continues the warming and drying trend in the weather. Some low level moisture will remain in place. Mostly sunny this morning and partly cloudy this afternoon with a slight chance of a late afternoon thunderstorm. Temps near 6500 ft 76-83 degrees; temps near 8500 ft 68-74 degrees. Rh near 6500 ft is 25-32% and near 8500 ft is 29-36%. Gusty erratic winds up to 45 mph or greater is possible near thunderstorms. Slope/valley winds near and below 6000 ft: Light E winds 3-7 mph until 10 am increasing to 12-17 mph after 1:00 p.m. Ridge top winds above 8000 ft: NW 7-12 mph increasing to 15-20 mph by 1:00 p.m. with a few gusts up to 25 mph.
Forecast for Wednesday is mostly sunny in the morning and partly cloudy in the afternoon. Max temps 86 degrees and Rh 17-25%. The warmer and drier trend will continue.
Extended forecast is mostly sunny with a slight chance of thunderstorms both Thursday and Friday afternoons with N-NW upper level winds. Temps will also climb above seasonal norms with a decrease in humidity.
TODAY'S EXPECTED FIRE BEHAVIOR: With the transition towards warming and drying, fire activity will start to increase. This will continue for the next few days of drying. There is potential for surface fire spread where heat is in contact with the unburned edge of the fire. Heavy fuels will continue to burn openly.
COOPERATING AGENCIES & PARTNERS: Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, the Wyoming State Forestry Division, Platte County, Albany County and Converse County; the Rawlins Field Office of the High Desert District of the Bureau of Land Management.
·Change in acreage is a result of more accurate data
