News Release 09/15/12
Incident: Sheep Herder Hill Wildfire
Released: 9/15/2012
NEWS RELEASE: Sheep Herder Hill Complex Fire
Contact: Susan Ford, Public Information Officer
Media Line: (307) 215-3099
Phone: (303)-886-2171
Website: www.InciWeb.org
Twitter: @RMIMT2 TeamB
Containment Progress ImprovesHot, Windy Weather Forecast Saturday
Saturday, September 15, 2012, 8:00 a.m. Casper, WY Progress continued to be made Friday in containing the Sheep Herder Hill Fire, according to Incident Commander Todd Petchota, with containment now estimated at 75%. However, Pechota noted that "red flag" fire weather is predicted for Saturday so crews will have to be especially vigilant as they work in the most dangerous, unsecured areas of the fire. Those areas are steep, heavily wooded slopes on the northwest side of the fire. Addressing a community meeting Friday night Pechota noted that the incident has been without injuries, and praised fire crews for their careful steady progress. "Those young men and women are working very hard in difficult and dangerous environment and while we want to get this fire under control as soon as possible, nothing is worth a life," he said. A "red flag" weather forecast was issued for today because of low humidity, warm temperatures and expected strong gusty winds. A red flag warning means high fire danger with a high probability of a quickly spreading vegetation fire during the next 24 hours.
The fire has not grown in the past several days but hot spots continue to flare up inside the fire perimeter and residents can expect to continue to see smoke coming from the fire. One heavy helicopter and two light helicopters are still working on the fire, in addition to ground crews.
Beginning Saturday morning, the Natrona County Office of Emergency Management has scheduled brief site visits for some property owners whose structures were destroyed. No evacuations nor road closures are being lifted and residents in areas near the fire are encouraged to remain vigilant as fuels are still dangerously dry.
A total of 37 cabins and homes have been destroyed and two damaged, with 23 outbuildings destroyed. Aerial observations have recently identified some additional structures which were lost.
Fire stats at a glance:
Start Date: Sunday, September 9, 2012 Personnel: 325 Injuries: 0
Cause: Under investigation
Crews: (5) Type 1 and (1) Type 2
Acreage Burned: 15,556
Aviation: (1) Type 1 Heavy lift helicopter, (2) Type 3 light helicopters and (2) Air Attack aircraft
Percent Contained: 75%
Structure information: 37 Residences, 23 Outbuildings Destroyed, 2 Residences damaged
Structures/outbuildings threatened: 853
Agencies assisting with the fire include Natrona County Fire District, Casper Fire-EMS, Casper Mountain, Mills, Evansville, Bar-Nunn Fire Departments, Wyoming Army National Guard, Natrona County Emergency Management, Natrona County Sheriff's Department, Wyoming Medical Center, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Wyoming State Forestry Division, U.S. Bureau of LandManagement, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Forest Service, Casper-Natrona County Health Department, Wyoming Office of Homeland Security and Natrona County Medical Reserve Board.
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