Wesley Fire Grows to 2,500 Acres
Incident: Wesley Wildfire
Released: 9/10/2012
Date: September 9, 2012
Contact: La Dawn Saxton at (208)253-0178 Cell: (208)634-6566
Wesley Fire Grows to 2,500 acres
Air resources along with firefighters are continuing to battle the Wesley Fire that was ignited by lighting early Sunday morning. The fire is approximately 2,500 acres and growing. The fire is burning in upper Lick Creek, upper Rapid River, and upper Boulder Creek and encompassing the Lick Creek lookout. The fire has been a wind driven event with winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts up to 40 mph. The fire has been creeping, torching, spotting and moving mainly north and northeast. The fire is burning in grass, subalpine fir, Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir habitat. Firefighters are being challenged with the remote area and minimal road access and trails into the fire. A combination of firefighters and air resources are being used to aggressively fight the fire.
The local Forest Type 3 Team took command of the Wesley fire and additional resources have been ordered to assist in managing the fire. Extremely dry and windy conditions are expected to continue throughout the day and into the night. Aerial retardant and water drops continue to be used to slow the spread of fire.
Tonight's weather is calling for mostly clear skies, with winds becoming north northwest around 5 mph. Monday's forecast is sunny with a high near 73 and west-southwest wind becoming southwest 9 to 14 mph with gusts to 18 mph in the afternoon.An area closure has been issued for Boulder Creek, Upper Lick Creek, Upper Bear Creek and upper Rapid River. For more information regarding the area closure, please contact La Dawn Saxton at (208) 253-0151.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions and road closures are in effect. For inquiries, contact the Payette National Forest Fire and Aviation Office at (208) 634-0700.
Note: Building or maintaining an open fire outside campgrounds or picnic areas is prohibited.
Further information may be obtained visiting www.inciweb.org/incident/Wesley
Safety of firefighting personnel and public is of the highest priority.
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