Update for September 3, 2012
Incident: Gilead Wildfire
Released: 9/3/2012
Fire information
New Phone 307.684.2161 or www.inciweb.org/incident/3220/
Fire location
About 8 miles southwest of Story, Wyo.
Size
1,359 acres
Cause
Lightning
Area closure: The area closure and map are available at Bighorn Nation Forest offices, www.inciweb.org/incident/3220/, and www.fs.usda.gov/bighorn/
Overview: The Gilead Fire was started by lightning on August 14. The fire is burning in lodgepole pine in a remote area characterized by very rough and rocky terrain. Firefighter and public safety are the highest priorities on all fires. This is a remote, rugged area with continuous heavy fuels. Firefighters and managers realized that there are no safety zones or escape routes and that evacuation would be extremely difficult.
Yesterday's event/actions: The fire grew by 300 acres yesterday. The two helicopters checked fire as it spread to the northeast. The Worland fuels crew was able to cut a helispot that will be used if firefighter evacuation is needed. Crews applied fire wrap to Ginger's Cabin. The Forest Service and the incident management team would like to thank the Johnson County Fairgrounds, Wes Johnson, Marilyn Connolly, and the residents of Buffalo for their hospitality. About 50 people attended last night's meeting in Buffalo.
Planned actions/events: Today, crews will initiate direct attack/suppression actions on the northeastern edge of the fire and along fire perimeters. Sprinklers will be installed at Ginger's Cabin. Lookouts with good communication will continue to observe weather conditions and fire spread. Firefighters will continue to assess structures, fuels, access, and water sources in the area between the fire and Story, Wyo. The Wyoming Hotshots are scheduled to arrive today.
Weather outlook: Another red flag warning today. Winds will turn to the east and northeast by late morning, then shift to the west and northwest by mid-evening. Cooler temperatures - in the 70s - on Monday, with humidity in the upper teens this afternoon. A cold front will approach on Tuesday. No thunderstorm rrms are expected.
Current resources: Two helicopters (one light and one heavy), two dozers, thirteen engines, one 20-person hotshot hand crew, one five-person hand crew, one 10-person hand crew, and one water tender, for a total of 127 personnel assigned to the fire. Additional hand crews, aircraft, and engines have been ordered. Resources are limited and will be assigned based on priority. A mobile fire retardant base has been set up in Buffalo to allow for quicker turnaround times to the fire for a retardant plane.
Fire danger: Extreme - conditions are very dry
Evacuations/injuries: None
