Castle Rock fire 8/28
Well I guess I hit a nerve It was said for me to get my facts straight well I get them straight from the government sights which are
<http://www.nifc.gov/fire_info/nfn.htm--for>
press relies
<http://www.inciweb.org/incident/952/>
-- fire up to date maps
<http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/>
------- for national maps
I am not in any way saying anything against all the fire fighter who are there there doing the job there payed for and doing a great job.
But if this fire was in any other part of the state I'm sure there would not be 1,900+ personal and almost 200 engines and countless heave lift helicopters in under 12 days. It was said the fire fighters are protecting all homes as the should but they would not be there if it wasn't for the fact that there are very expensive homes to protect and a very real political agenda there. The nice thing is its 44% contained as of 9am and with all the men and equipment not 1 house was lost and no ski runs ruined. Of coarse if you look at the incident map you can see how the fire made a nice ring around bald mountan and the ski hill .
This is taken directly from the morning brief's
"Structure protection measures to continue for the infrastructure and communications sites on Bald mountain. Structure protection to continue in Warm Springs in coordination with the burn operations. Crews to continue to construct direct handline when possible on the southern perimeter east. Continue direct dozerline construction south from Seattle lodge. On the southeast perimeter crews to continue direct handline construction north towards the dozerline. Crews to continue to patrol, mop-up and contain any spot fires north along Hwy 75 and Big Wood River. Crews are to continue direct handline construction east and south from Fox Peak. Crews to continue to work on containment of the slopover north of Fox Creek. At Boyle Mountain Crews to continue direct handline construction north and south. The southern point of the slopover at Warm Springs road to be patrolled by air."
Morning update, 9am - Yesterday the Castle Rock Fire saw active fire behavior due to gusting winds, record dry fuels, and low humidity. In the Fox Creek drainage, fire crossed the Creek and our fire line approximately 2.5 miles west of the confluence of Fox Creek and Big Wood River. Fire crews are working to contain any further growth of the fire in this area. The previously burned out areas near Adams Gulch, Warm Springs and Hulen Meadows saw moderate fire behavior, but the fire lines held. The fire line west of Alturas Gulch held, but fire spotted east into Timber Gulch. Fire was visible from Highway 75. Active fire behavior was also observed north and west of Frenchmans Bend in Warfield Creek. The spot fires in the Greenhorn Gulch Subdivision were held north of Greenhorn Gulch road, but there was some movement east towards Timber Gulch. The fire is currently being held west of Limekiln Gulch and north of Greenhorn Gulch. Firefighters continued to make good progress on the west side of the fire holding and improving line.
Aggressive suppression efforts will continue, including air support, structure protection, and line building; burnout will be conducted as fuel and weather conditions permit. Today, crews will continue to patrol and mop up the fire lines within the Fox Creek and the Big Wood River drainages. South and west of Bald Mountain crews will continue structure protection of the ski resort facilities and will work to contain further fire spread to the north. Structure protection and suppression crews are working along Warm Springs Road. Crews and engines will patrol, mop up and improve line as necessary. Crews will continue structure protection in the Greenhorn Gulch subdivision and improve line west toward Castle Rock. Crews will also be patrolling and providing structure protection along Highway 75.
The mandatory evacuation that was ordered Saturday for the area north of Ohio Gulch to the bridge at St. Lukes Hospital on both the east and west sides of Highway 75 remains in effect. The evacuation area includes the following: Heatherlands, Sundance, all of East Fork, Greenhorn Gulch, Golden Eagle, Gimlet, Starweather, Meadows Mobile Home Park, Clear Creek Canyon, Clear Creek Light Industrial, Cold Springs, McHanville, Broadway Run, Timber Gulch, River's Edge, Audubon Road, Gypsy Trailer Park and Sun Hollow. The evacuation is in effect to provide for both firefighter and public safety as well as to allow safe and rapid incoming and outgoing of suppression equipment. An evacuation center is located at the Community Campus in Hailey, 1050 Fox Acres Road. There are a number of locations open for horse and other large animal sheltering. Contact the Red Cross at (788-2117 for more information.
The weather forecast today calls for partly cloudy skies, with slightly decreased temperatures, decreased wind speeds, and higher humidity. Variable winds in the morning will shift to the southwest in the afternoon. Winds will gust to 20 mph.
The 42,433 acre Castle Rock fire is now 44 percent contained. Resources fighting this fire include 1,640 firefighters, 11 helicopters, 5 bulldozers, 45 hand crews and 110 engines. No lives or structures have been lost to this point.
