Sheep Fire Update, September 25, 2012
Incident: Sheep Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/25/2012
Current Size: 47,228 acres Containment: 40%
Resources Assigned: Northern Rockies Incident Management Team, Doug Turman, Incident Commander
Personnel- 474, Engines- 18, Helicopters- 5, Crews- 9, Dozers- 17, Water tenders- 13
Start Date: September 6, 2012 Cause: Human, under investigation
Location: On the east side of Highway 95 near Lucile, ID
Accident: Yesterday a pickup truck carrying two firefighters rolled over on FR 2007 near Chair Point Lookout. Both individuals were transported to a hospital, but injuries were minor, and both have been released and returned to duty. The Nez Perce National Forest has issued a news release with more details.
Current Status: Yesterday on the south side, check line was completed northeast of Chair Point Lookout, while indirect line preparation was accomplished south of the lookout, along FR 263. Firefighters mopped up along Allison Creek. Patrol and mop up was also the standard for crews in the Cold Springs Saddle area. Feller/bunchers have nearly completed indirect line clean up along Dairy Ridge and west of FR 221, but removal of down woody material remains. Dozer line was completed into the bottom of North Fork Creek, southeast of Patrol Point. The east side was in monitoring status, and suppression repair was ongoing in numerous locations. Helicopters made several bucket drops yesterday.
Planned Actions: Today, the repair group will continue work on the west side, while patrol and mop up continue on the north side. Feller/bunchers and skidders will continue work west of FR 221, and a felling crew will be removing snags along Slate Creek Road. Check line will be monitored north of Chair Point Lookout. Direct attack and patrol will continue east of Allison Creek, and mop up will continue along FR 263. The east side of the fire remains in monitoring status, while suppression repair continues in many areas. Helicopters will be used to drop water where necessary.
Private landowners who have suffered damage from the Sheep Fire may contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service at (208)983-1046 ext. 109. The NRCS may be able to provide some services for you. Also, the Idaho Department of Lands can provide reforestation technical assistance (208-924-5571). Businesses impacted by wildfires may contact the SBA (Small Business Administration) to apply for Economic Injury Disaster loans at: www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance, or call 800-659-2955.
Closures:
BLM- The BLM has lifted the closure to boating on the Salmon River from the Lucile boat ramp downriver to Twin Bridges effective September 24.
Forest Service- The restricted area begins at the Forest Boundary of CR/FR 243, then east along FR 243 to the junction of FR 221 at Four Corners, from the junction of FR 221 and FR 243 south to Rocky Bluff Campground, from the Rocky Bluff Campground south along the Wilderness Boundary to the Salmon River at Carey Creek, from Carey Creek west along the Salmon River and CR 1614 to the Forest Boundary near Island Bar, and then north along the Forest Boundary to CR/FR 243.
Weather: Today's winds will be from the north at 5-10 mph. The lowest relative humidity will be about 25%, and the predicted high temperature about 80 degrees. Isolated showers are possible on the fire today, which may lessen fire activity.
Additional fire information can be found at: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3240/
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