Myrtle Fire Update 9
Incident: Myrtle Fire Wildfire
Released: 7/24/2012
Myrtle Fire Update
Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team- Bill Hahnenberg, Incident Commander
Fire Information: (605) 939-0354
Email: myrtlefireinfo@gmail.com
Online: http://inciweb.org/incident/3028/
Photos: http://photobucket.com/myrtlefire public
Hours of operation: 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Date: July 24, 2012
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Current Situation: Due to the hard work of firefighters during the past several days, full containment of the Myrtle Fire is expected to occur by the end of the day. Today crews will focus on mop-up and patrolling the fire line, as well as rehabilitating the landscape from the firefighting effort. The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Bill Hahnenberg, will begin transitioning command of the Myrtle Fire today to a local Type 3 Team. Command will transfer to the Type 3 Team at 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
The last planned media tour is scheduled for today. Information Officers will be available to meet the media at the staging area in Pringle at 11:00 a.m. The Type 3 team that is assuming command of the fire on Wednesday will accommodate future needs for media tours as they arise.
Cause of Fire: A Forest Service Special Agent determined the most probable cause of the Myrtle fire was a Forest Service road grader that was performing road maintenance. The fire most likely started when the metal blade fractured a rock on the road surface igniting the grassy fuels on the roadside.
Message from Craig Bobzien, Forest Supervisor: "Our hearts go out to those impacted by this large and difficult fire. We appreciate the skill demonstrated by the Forest Type 3 Fire Team, Custer County and cooperators in performing initial attack and evacuations. We thank the Rocky Mountain Type 1 Team, State of South Dakota, the communities, and all cooperators for their tremendous progress containing the fire, protecting people and homes, and securing areas and power so that residents may return safely to their homes."
Evacuations and Closures: All evacuations were lifted and all roads in the fire area were opened on Monday. Utility companies have restored power to all primary residences in the area. As fire crews will be continuing to mop-up and rehabilitate the fire line, those travelling on roads in the fire area are asked to use caution while driving.
Wind Cave National Park will reopen today.
Special Prevention Message: Stage II Fire & Smoking Restrictions are in place on the Black Hills National Forest. Fireworks are always prohibited on public lands. For complete information on Stage II Fire & Smoking Restrictions, please visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5378450.pdf.
Fire Statistics
Location: 1 mile east of Pringle, SD
Start Date: July 19, 2012
Size: 10,080 acres
Percent Contained: 75
Cause: Human-caused
Total Personnel: 667
Cost: $3,200,000
Resources on Scene:
7 Type 1 hand crews, 6 Type 2 hand crews, 46 engines, 2 dozers, 11 water tenders, 7 Type 1 helicopters, 1 Type 2 helicopter, 3 Type 3 helicopters, fixed wing support and overhead personnel
