Porcupine Complex Daily Update for 9-29-12
Incident: Porcupine Complex Wildfire
Released: 9/29/2012
Information Officer: Tom Kempton/Dixie Dies
Info Phone @ (208) 842-2725
Office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
G-mail account: mcguirecomplex@gmail.com
Incident: The Porcupine Complex was started by lightning on 8/9.
Location: The Porcupine Complex is 25 miles east of Elk City, ID.
Agency Jurisdiction: USDA Forest Service, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
Cooperating Agencies: Idaho County Sheriff's Department, Idaho County Office of Disaster Management
Incident Command Post: (ICP) is located at the old Red River Ranger Station.
Current Size: 33,248 acres Containment: 0% Structures Threatened: 5
Yesterday: A high pressure ridge over the fire resulted in high cloud cover and light rain over the entire Porcupine Complex. Fire spread was low to moderate for most of the area, but fairly active fire was observed along the southern perimeter below Base Camp Campground and the area of Sabe Creek. Crews continued to patrol and mop up along Forest Road 285, and removed hazardous trees along Forest Road 468.
Today: Northern Rockies Type I IMT (Poncin) assumed command of the McGuire and Porcupine Complexes at 0600 hours. The high pressure ridge will be moving out of the area bringing in sunny conditions with higher temperatures and lower humidity. Fire spread will be low to moderate, but there is potential for fairly active fire on the southern perimeter with spotting distances of up to 1/2 mile possible. Occasional single and group tree torching is likely with a slight chance of large patch torching with short range spotting during the peak burning period. Crews will patrol for and remove hazardous trees near roads, monitor fire activity, provide point protection for values at risk and mop up areas of immediate concern.
Road Closures: The Magruder Corridor Road (Forest Road 468) is closed from its junction with the Green Mountain Road (Forest Road 285) to Observation Point for public safety due to fire activity. Through traffic to and from Montana to Idaho is closed.
Area Closures: Special Area Closures are in effect for the 581 and 575 trails. The spur road going up to Burnt Knob lookout has also been closed. On the Nez Perce National Forest, Forest Road 285 is open with possible delays; Forest Road 357 is open; Forest Road 468 is open from its junction with Forest Road 222 to its junction with Forest Road 285. The remainder of Forest Road 468 is closed; Forest Trail 501 is open from 14-Mile Trailhead to Bargamin Creek; the 14-Mile Trailhead and Granite Springs Campgrounds are open. On the Bitterroot National Forest, Forest Road 468 is open from the West Fork Guard Station to Observation point, but is closed from Observation Point for the remainder of the Magruder corridor.
Special Notice: For Porcupine Fire photos visit: http://www.photobucket.com/porcupinefire
For further information, including specific details regarding the Area Closure, visit the InciWeb website: http://inciweb.org/incident/3171/
