Horsethief Canyon Fire Morning Update
Incident: Horsethief Canyon Wildfire
Released: 9/18/2012
Horsethief Canyon Fire Morning Update
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Contact Fire Information
307.739.5577
HorsethiefCanyonFire@gmail.com
Size: 3,373 acres
Percent Contained: 58
Resources: 15 Crews; 9 Helicopters; 21 Engines, 1 Dozer
Total Personnel: 574
Cost to Date: $6.5 million
Favorable weather conditions will support fire suppression efforts today, though smoke will persist. Fire managers and ground resources are taking full advantage of conditions to limit any further fire growth. Single and group tree torching is expected in the interior of the fire while perimeter activity has steadily decreased as mop-up successfully continues. Crews will focus on isolated pockets of heat inside the perimeter and continue to clean up scattered spots along the north and east edges of the Horsethief Canyon Fire. An infrared mapping flight is planned to identify these hot spots to give firefighters point-specific focus for their efforts. Due to steep and rugged terrain, securing the line may take three or four more days if the weather continues to cooperate. Where fire fighters can get access, direct checking actions will be implemented while the use of burnout operations to secure perimeter lines remains an option.
In the east Jackson area, structure protection crews dismantled sprinkler lines and water systems, packaging 32,000 feet of hose. (Each section of hose is 100 feet long.) In the Game Creek and Porcupine Creek subdivisions, structure protection measures remain in place while crews improve lines and extinguish pockets of heat in the Wilson Creek drainage. The protection plan created by the incident management team and fire personnel for Jackson, Game Creek and Porcupine will be ready to turn over to cooperating agencies later this week. The plan will be a valuable tool for use in the event of future incidents. 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/.
Residents and visitors are reminded that the entry section of the Elk Refuge Road is closed to all pedestrians and bicyclists from 8 am to 8 pm to ensure safety during the helicopter operations. Vehicles are allowed through but not permitted to stop within this section of road.
An area closure does remain in effect for a portion of the Bridger-Teton National Forest surrounding the Horsethief Canyon Fire. This closure is in place for the protection of firefighters as well as the public. Local Forest officials will reduce the closure area as soon as they feel it is safe enough to do so. Limited access is now being provided for local business owners.
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. Please remember that open burn restrictions are still in place.
Representatives from the Wildland Firefighter Foundation will be in Jackson and at the incident camp this week. The mission of the Foundation is to support firefighters and their families in the event of an injury or fatality. They are planning to host a firefighter appreciation event on Wednesday evening at Snow King Resort; more details will follow.
