Ash Creek Fire Update, 7/4/12 at 8 AM

Incident: Ash Creek Complex Wildfire
Released: 12 hrs. ago

ASH CREEK

DAILY INFORMATION FACT SHEET

 

Date: July 4, 2012 Time: 8:00 a.m.

 

Incident: Ash Creek Complex is made up of the Ash Creek fire and the Coal Seam fire.

 

Incident Commander: Tom Heintz, Northern Rockies Type-II Incident Management Team

Incident Information telephone number: 406-748-3061

Location: Ash Creek Fire began 10 miles east of Lame Deer and spread north and east; Coal Seam is about 6 miles north of Busby.

 

Approximate Size: Ash Creek Fire: 244,468 acres at 55% containment

Resources: Hand Crews: (5) Type I Hot Shot Fire Crews; (14) Type II Initial Attack fire crews; (3) Type II crews from local BIA; Engines: 62; Water Tenders: 8; Dozers: 6; Air Support: (5) Helicopters, (1) Air tanker, (2) Air attack Total personnel: 813. Injuries: None

Fire Update: As predicted with the Red Flag Warning conditions, the Ash Creek experienced significant fire movement on the eastern flank late yesterday afternoon. The fire became very active at 3 p.m. when the southerly winds and dry fuel combined to cause major fire runs on the northeast and southeast flanks; both active flanks created large smoke plumes that were seen for miles. The fire is currently south of Highway 212 about a mile north of the South Fork of Threemile Creek and a mile west of Sonnette Road; although the fire did reach Sonnette Road in two places yesterday. On the north side of Highway 212 the fire is up to Elk Ridge about a mile south of Stacey School and is nearing the 2011 Mill Fire burned area.

Air support assisted fire crews throughout the day with twelve retardant drops and numerous water-bucket drops, before and during the late afternoon run that the fire made. Some residences remain threatened and crews are continuing structure protection efforts. Firefighters continued to mop-up and patrol the north, west and southwest flanks of the fire, which had minimal fire activity today.

Although portions of the fire remain in the heavy timber area, it is beginning to burn into the more open, grassy areas where firefighters can potentially plan for more direct suppression efforts with the assistance from local resources and landowners.

Today extreme fire potential is expected to continue on the eastern flank of the fire, despite slightly cooler temperatures and somewhat decreased wind speeds forecasted for today. Crews will continue structure protection and direct/indirect fireline efforts. Interior burning is a potential but not anticipated to be extensive.

Special Concerns & Closures: Ranches and residences remain threatened particularly in the Ashland/Broadus Divide near the leading edge of this fire. Highway 212 between Ashland and Broadus remains closed due to fire activity and smoke. Please respect the fire restrictions in place by the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and local Counties by ceasing fireworks and open fire use of any kind. The Ashland Ranger District of the Custer National Forest is under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions and has initiated area closures due to fire activity on all National Forest System lands north of Highway 212. More detailed explanation of the restrictions and closures is available at the Custer National Forest website www.fs.usda.gov/custer.

 

More Information: Visit Inciweb at http://www.inciweb.org/, email ashcreekfireinfo@gmail.com or call the fire information line at 406-748-3061