Gilead Fire Update 9/12/2012
Incident: Gilead Wildfire
Released: 9/12/2012
Fire Information Phone 307-684-2161 or www.inciweb.org/incident/3220/
Fire Location Approximately 8 miles southwest of Story WY and
approximately 10 miles northwest of Buffalo, WY.
Cause Lightning
Size 6000 Acres
Fire Containment 50%
Forest Service Area closure: The area closure and map are available at Bighorn NationalForest offices, www.fs.usda.gov/bighorn/ andwww.inciweb.org/incident/3220/
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: There has been no fire movement on the north, east, or southeast flanks of the fire for several days as containment lines are in place and holding well. Good progress was made on containment lines along the southwestern flank of the fire. Smoke was visible in the afternoon due to ground fire activity along a portion of the west side of the fire in the area northwest of Firebox Park. No significant torching or crowning in tree tops was observed. As a result, there was only minimal growth in the fire perimeter along the western side of the fire. There are no structures or homes threatened. People and equipment were removed from the Spike Camp at Firebox Camp and will return to Base Camp.
Planned events/actions:The firefighter Base Camp has been moved to the Johnson County Fire District Station #1 in Buffalo, WY. Crews will continue to monitor the eastern flank and continue to evaluate and monitor the area around Ginger's Cabin. Resources are being demobilized as containment lines are completed.
Weather outlook:It will be sunny with temperatures of 58 - 63 degrees today. Winds will be out of the southeast, 5-15 mph throughout the day. Drying trends continue with no precipitation in the forecast for the next several days. Smoke may be visible during the day
Current resources: One helicopter, one ten-person fuels module, three engines, and one bull dozer are assigned to the fire, for a total of 88 personnel. As crews and engines are released from the Gilead Fire, several have been reassigned to the Sheep Herder Hill Fire near Casper, WY. The cost to date is $2.1 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; 26,606 hours of work with no injuries.
