Morning Update
Incident: Horsethief Canyon Wildfire
Released: 9/15/2012
Horsethief Canyon Fire Morning Update
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Contact Fire Information
307.739.5577
HorsethiefCanyonFire@gmail.com
Size: 3,353 acres
Percent Contained: 41
Resources: 9 Helicopters; 16 Crews; 43 Engines; 3 Dozers
Total Personnel: 651
Cost to Date: $3.76 million
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for today. Hot and dry weather coupled with gusty winds will cause an increase in fire activity. Efforts will focus on the northeast corner and the southern flank of the fire where the most activity was seen Friday. Hand crews will continue to cut control lines on the south and east perimeters of the fire and use engines to mop-up existing hot spots near the perimeter. Aviation resources will prove instrumental again today in supporting crews on the ground and addressing flare-ups.
Fire engines will continue to provide protection in east Jackson as they also move into the Game Creek subdivision. All homeowners, even those not immediately affected by the fire area, are encouraged to take actions to make their homes more survivable against wildfire. Information can be found at http://www.firewise.org/.
Structure assessments will take place today in the Porcupine Creek area. Crews will construct contingency firelines on USFS land adjacent to the private lands, and fire managers will also consider where they might use dozers to construct additional line on state and federal land. Large, portable water tanks will be set up at strategic locations in the area. These actions are precautionary in nature, and such contingency lines are used frequently on large fires.
The public is discouraged from gathering along the east end of Broadway along the Elk Refuge fence to view helicopters. Traffic congestion creates a hazard for emergency vehicles and can impact fire aviation operations. The Elk Refuge Road will be closed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to pedestrians and bicycles from the intersection of E. Broadway and Elk Refuge Road to the Miller House. Vehicles are permitted through with intermittent closures but are not allowed to stop adjacent to helicopter operations. This closure is being enacted to allow for helicopters to safely operate.
Closure Information: Though the evacuation advisory was lifted last night, residents and visitors are reminded that an area closure is still in effect for Cache and Game Creeks, including trails on Snow King. The purpose of the closure is to provide for protection of forest visitors from the current fire safety hazards associated with the Horsethief Canyon Fire.
For additional information, see http://inciweb.org/incident/3241/ or http://www.tetonfires.com/. Sign up at http://www.nixle.com/ for emergency updates from Teton County.
v The firefighters are extremely grateful to those who have shown their appreciation in so many ways, including those who greeted them as they returned to camp last night.
