Incident: Thorn Divide Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 2006-07-15 09:00:00
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2006
0900
Thorn Divide Complex
More information, pictures, and a map of the Thorn Divide Complex can be found at www.inciweb.org.
Location: 5 miles south of Devil’s Tower National Monument near Carlile, WY
Size: 6000 acres
Containment: 10%
Cause: Lightning
Structures: 70 residences and 36 outbuildings threatened, 1 outbuilding was lost
Personnel: Approximately 153 with additional resources arriving this morning
Current Resources include: 2 Type 1 handcrews, 1 Type 2 handcrew, 25 engines, 3 dozers, 7 water tenders, over head personnel, and aerial support
Cooperators include: Area VFD’s, State of Wyoming, Crook County, State of South Dakota, National Park Service, US Forest Service
Current Situation: Today will be a crucial day for firefighters. Not only will they be battling the fire, they will also be battling Mother Nature. Low humidity overnight coupled with high temperatures predicted to be over 100 and relative humidity in the single digits will cause extreme fire behavior today. A fire weather watch has been issued for Sunday.
Crews working on the fire through the night reported that the fire remained very active. This morning crews will hit the fire hard in an attempt to make as much progress as possible before fire behavior increases. Aerial resources, including Type 1 helitankers, National Guard Blackhawks, and single engine air tankers, will assist firefighters.
Firefighter and public safety is the number one priority as firefighters continue to fight the fire aggressively. The fire is burning on private land and a mandatory evacuation was ordered by the Crook County commissioners for the town of Carlile and the area east of the Zimmerschied fire. A major powerline that runs through the area is threatened. Highway 14 is closed from the junctions of highways 24 and 113.
A Northern Rockies Type 2 Incident Managment Team has assumed management responsibility of the Bundy Railroad Fire, this is a joint-jurisdictional fire, with the Bureau of Land Management taking lead role as managing agency.
Basic Information
Updated 2006-07-15 11:00:28 EST
Incident Type Wildland Fire
Benefits & Objectives
Crews will continue structure protection efforts while working today to strengthen and hold line that has been established.
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin 07/12/2006 at 1301 hrs.
Location 8 Miles Northeast of Worden, Montana
Incident Commander Glenn Mcnitt
Current Situation
Size 32,000 acres
Percent Contained 40%
Estimated Containment Date
Total Personnel 201
Fuels Involved Timber, Grass, and Sagebrush
Fire Behavior Rapids rates of spread were observed on the fire yesterday, as winds caused extreme and erratic fire behavior. Fire made runs to the North and East.
Today's Significant Events The fire made major runs to the North and East late yesterday. Crews were able to protect the few homes that were in the path of the growth.
Outlook
Estimated Date of Control
Planned Actions Work will continue to provide structure protection to homes in the area. Efforts will continue to strengthen and construct line.
Growth Potential Extreme
Terrain Difficulty moderate
Containment Target
Remarks Fire is expected to remain active until weather moderates.
Weather
Current Wind Conditions 7-8 mph W
Current Temperature 87 degrees
Current Humidity 20 %
http://inciweb.org/incident/285/