Friday 9/21/12 Powell Sbw Complex Update
Incident: Powell Sbw Complex Wildfire
Released: 9/21/2012
POWELL SBW FIRE COMPLEX
Friday September 21, 2012
Nez Perce - Clearwater National Forests
Contact: Molly Puchlerz Phone # (208)942-0303
Date Started: 7/20/2012 Total Personnel: 54
Cause: Multiple Lightning Strikes Size: 51,700 estimated acres
Resources: 1 Type 1 Helicopter, 5 Engines, and 2 Water Tenders. Injuries to Date: 2
Location: The complex consists of three main and numerous small fires situated in an arc running southeast to southwest of the town of Powell, Idaho, straddling the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness boundary. The three main fires are named from east to west as: Fern, Cedar and Freeze Out/Queen.
Yesterday' Activities: Fire behavior consisted of: creeping surface fire, group torching, and a few small crown runs. This moderate fire behavior was observed on the north side of the Fern Fire and on the west side of the Cedar Fire. Ground operations continued patrols along the Beaver Ridge containment line, along the Lochsa River and highway 12, and around the Elk Summit guard station and campground area. Last night active fire behavior was observed south of the highway near Mocus Point. Due to a limited number of infrared aircraft, the Powell SBW complex will not be receiving nightly flights.
Today's Activities: Today's activities and fire weather will be similar to yesterdays. Morning and afternoon inversion will continue to cause poor visibility and lower temperatures in river corridor. Poor visibility and speeding along Hwy 12 is still a major concern. By late the afternoon the inversion should break and allow increased visibility. With increased visibility helicopters may be utilized to cool down any active fire along the Highway 12 corridor and/or recon the fires. Ridge tops and areas above the inversions will have increased temperatures and lower relative humidity; this is where fire managers except to see the most activity. Ground forces will continue to patrol Beaver Ridge, the Elk Summit area, and the Highway 12 corridor, including Mocus Point.
Remarks: Reminder to forest visitors: Please abide by all fire closures. Jerry Hot Springs and Trail 49 remains closed. This closure remains in place for visitor safety, the trail has been burned and falling snags pose a very real threat to anyone trying to access the hot springs.
