Gilead Fire Update 9/8/2012
Incident: Gilead Wildfire
Released: 9/8/2012
Fire Information Phone 307-684-2161 or www.inciweb.org/incident/3220/
Fire Location Approximately 7 miles southwest of Story WY and
approximately 10 miles northwest of Buffalo, WY.
Cause Lightning
Size 5300 Acres
Fire Containment 30%
Forest Service Area closure: The area closure and map are available at Bighorn National Forest offices, www.fs.usda.gov/bighorn/ and www.inciweb.org/incident/3220/
A Public Meeting in Buffalo, WY is scheduled tonight, September 8, 2012 at 5 PM at the old Clear Creek School Gym at the intersection of Fort and Burritt Streets.
Overview: The Gilead Fire began August 14 with a lightning strike on the Bighorn NF. The San Juan Hotshots, a helicopter and local firefighters re-conned the fire, determining that the terrain precluded putting firefighters on the ground. Helicopter bucket drops continued for the better part of two weeks. On August 29, the fire grew from 15 acres to 700 acres. Chuck Russell's Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of the fire on August 30.
Closures: The Bud Love Wildlife Habitat Management Unit is closed to public use. Within the Bighorn National Forest, trails and roads are closed. Forest Service trails include Trails 040, 039, 043, 010, 553, 549, 051, 550, 401, 042, 133, 106, 084, and 041. Forest Service roads include FSR 396 (Rock Creek Road) from the junction with FSR 399 (South Rock Creek Road), and FSR 388 (Keno Creek Road) in its entirety.
Yesterday's events/actions: No active spread occurred. Ignitions were held and improved from Thursday securing the eastern flank of the fire. Work continued on a containment line on the southern flank of the fire. A public meeting in Story, WY was attended by 161 community members.
Planned events/actions: Crews continue to make good progress. Direct containment actions on the southwest corner of the fire will be continued. Some engines will be demobilized since most of the work is now in inaccessible areas to engines.
Weather outlook: The forecast is for slightly warmer temperatures and drier than Friday. Winds will shift to the northeast by afternoon but should remain light and shift back to the northwest tonight. No precipitation is expected through tonight.
Current resources: Five helicopters (one light, two medium, and two heavy), three hotshot crews, one five-person fuel module, two Type 2 crews, eleven engines, two dozers, and one water tender, for a total of 211 personnel assigned to the fire. A mobile fire retardant base has been set up in Buffalo to allow for quicker turnaround times to the fire for a retardant plane. Cost to date is $1.5 million.
Fire danger: Extreme - conditions are very dry. Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect on the Bighorn NF. See www.fs.usda.gov/bighorn/ for further information.
Firefighter injuries: None; 13,286 hours of work with no injuries.
Note: Change is acreage is the results of better mapping.
