Sheep Fire Update September 27, 2012
Incident: Sheep Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/27/2012
Current Size: 47,483 acres Containment: 41%Resources Assigned: Northern Rockies Incident Management Team, Doug Turman, Incident CommanderPersonnel- 398, Engines- 16, Helicopters- 4, Crews- 6, Dozers- 3, Water tenders- 13Start Date: September 6, 2012 Cause: Human, under investigationLocation: On the east side of Highway 95 near Lucile, IDCurrent Status: Yesterday, moderate surface fire with occasional single and group tree torching, and short range spotting were observed. Fire was active on warmer exposed sites throughout the fire. In the upper end of Fiddle Creek, firefighters built direct hand line, while dozers cleared old roads to make a secure containment line. A small burnout operation was accomplished to stop fire progression. Crews kept the fire from moving out of the West Fork of Allison Creek, while the east side of Allison Creek was patrolled. South of Slate Creek Lookout, snag felling continued. Around Patrol Point, skidding, loading, and hauling woody material continued. Chipping crews disposed of slash along one mile of FR 2028 near Skookumchuck Work Center, while hazard tree removal continued along the road. Most of the east side remained in monitoring status, and suppression repair was ongoing in numerous locations. Helicopters slowed fire spread with several bucket drops.Planned Actions: Today, crews plan to complete direct hand line from Fiddle Creek to FR 263E, and mop up and patrol hand line along Southwest Butte ridge. Mop up and patrol will continue along Allison Creek, and along FR 263 south of Padrick Ridge. Fire line along West Fork of Allison Creek will be monitored. On the north side, firefighters will mop up spot fires south and east of Patrol Point, and patrol the fire line. Tree and slash removal will continue along roads and dozer lines around the northeast corner of the fire. North and east of Patrol Point, hazard trees and brush piles will be removed along FR 463. Between FR 398 and FR 221 felled trees will be de-limbed, cut into manageable lengths, and removed. The repair group expects to complete work on the west side, while the east side of the fire remains in monitoring status. 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 (800)659-2955, or www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.Attention hunters: For current fire closure perimeters and units, see Idaho Game & Fish website: https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/content/article/do-fire-closures-leave-you-hunting-spot-hunt.Closures:Forest Service- The restricted area begins at the Forest Boundary at FR 2025, east to 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 west /northwest at 8 mph. The lowest relative humidity will be about 20%, and the predicted high temperature about 70 degrees.Additional fire information can be found at: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3240/###Sheep Fire UpdateThursday, September 27, 2012Nez Perce National ForestFire Information: 1 877-599-7716 and 1 877-608-4027
