Blm Continues to Fight Ferris Fire
Incident: Ferris Fire Wildfire
Released: 8/4/2012
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) High Desert District continues to fight the Ferris wildfire on BLM, state and private lands on Bear Mountain, 30 miles northeast of Rawlins, Wyo.
Three Type I helicopters, two Type I heavy air tankers and four single engine air tankers are dropping retardant on the active west and south flanks. A DC10 VLAT, or very large air tanker, will be used for the timbered areas of the fire today. The VLAT is flying out of the newly established Casper, Wyo., air tanker base and is capable of carrying up to 11,000 gallons of retardant. Three hotshot crews, four initial attack hand crews and numerous county and federal engines are providing ground support.
The north and east flanks of the fire continue to hold and containment stands at 47 percent. The fire grew approximately 5,155 acres in grass, sagebrush and timber for a total of 8,797 acres. A Red Flag warning for the previous two days, with low relative humidity and wind gusts of 30 m.p.h., helped contribute to the fire's growth.
The fire has crossed Carbon County Road 497 and motorists are advised to avoid using the road due to ongoing fire activity. Motorists are also cautioned to avoid traveling on Carbon County roads 100 and 104.
Management of the fire will transition from a local Type III incident team to a Western Wyoming Type III incident team on Sunday.
The wildfire was first reported at 11 a.m. on July 27; the cause remains under investigation.
