Gunbarrel Fire Update 08/06/2008
Incident: Gunbarrel Wildland Fire
Released: 8/6/2008
CLOSURES/EVACUATIONS
Evacuations:
·· Goff, Elephant Head and Crossed Sabers lodges have been evacuated.
·· Occupied Recreation Residence - East of Eagle Creek Campground
Closures:
·· The Fishhawk Trailhead is closed.
·· No access is being allowed into the Moss Creek cabins.
Due to the active fire behavior, the Goff and Elephant Head lodges were evacuated by the Park County Sheriff's Office, and the Crossed Sabers Lodge evacuated voluntarily. According to Dick Spiess, an Operations Director for the Rocky Mountain Management Team, "We conducted a planned evacuation based on preset management points."
A recreational residence east of the Eagle Creek Campground was also evacuated, and the Eagle Creek Campground is under a precautionary evacuation alert. Earlier in the fire, firelines were constructed around the lodge buildings and sprinkler systems were installed as precautionary measures.
Today firefighters will provide structure protection for the evacuated lodges as predominant winds are expected to draw the fire down the drainages towards the highway. Patrols will be prevalent on the highway to extinguish any spot fires that may ignite on the south side of the road. On the east side of the fire area, units will continue to prepare the Standing Star Ranch to withstand the fire fronts advance.
Park County Sherrif's Department will continue control measures to keep traffic flowing safely along highway 14-16-20. Delays are possible. Campgrounds along the North Fork Highway will remain open to the public until further notice. Three Mile Campground is closed for construction.
unbarrel Fire Statistics at a Glance:
- Time/Date Started: July 26, 2008
- Location: 40 miles west of Cody, WY north of Hwy. 14-16-20.
- Cause: Lightning
- Estimated Cost: $2,050,000
- Fuels: Heavy dead and down timber with 50-80% beetle killed trees in spruce/fir.
- Size: 32,590 acres.
- Resources Committed:
- 6 twenty-person hot shot crews, 3 heavy helicopters, 3 medium helicopters, 2 light helicopters, 16 engines, and approximately 322 personnel.
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