NEWS RELEASE
Pains Bay Fire Update- August 8, 2011 and Initial Info on Great Dismal Swam
Over the week-end, the Pains Bay Fire received rain, ranging from one to two inches, depending on the location. An aerial flight on Sunday documented no visible smoke coming from the fire area.... more
Approximate Location
Incident Overview
Management of the Pains Bay Fire has transitioned to the two home units. For Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, a Type 4 Team is monitoring the fire area and flying the perimter several times a week with infrared to detect hotspots. For the Dare County Range, the NC Forest Service continues to monitor the fire area. The two agencies continue to coordinate work and share resources, as needed, both for initial attack on new fires and for monitoring the Pains Bay Fire area.
The Pains Bay Fire was reported on the afternoon of Thursday, May 5, 2011 and was caused by lightning. It is burning on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and the Dare County Range (Dept. of Defense, ASAF) in Dare County, NC. Fuels are chaparral pocosin growing on organic peat soil up to 8 feet deep. Early, fast spread of the fire was caused by low relative humidity and high winds. For several days, the perimeter of the fire has been stationary. Ground fire burning in deep peat continues to smolder within the interior.
June 27, 2011: 100% Contained
100 % containment does not mean the fire is out. The current lines have held since the end of June. Fire officials consider the fire "contained". Firefighters will remain in place to monitor the remaining hot spots and ensure the safety of area communities.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Thursday May 05th, 2011 approx. 02:30 PM |
| Location | Dare County, NC |
| Incident Commander | Type 4 Rotating |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 153 |
|---|---|
| Size | 45,294 acres |
| Percent Contained | 100% |
| Fuels Involved | 4 Chaparral (6 Feet) Pocosin with intermixed Pond Pine |
| Fire Behavior | Some open surface flames were observed on areas south US 264 but well within the fire perimeter. Smoldering creeping ground fire continued to burn on interior portions of the fire. Ground fire continues to produce smoke emissions. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Monitoring with ground observation and occasional infrared flights to reveal hotpots (not from 209, but updated info as of 7/20/2011) |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | Low |
| Terrain Difficulty | High |
| Remarks | Demobilization of the incident resources is currently on going. It's estimated that over 500 million gallons of water are being moved daily around the fire perimeter. It's estimated that less than 1,000 acres of ground fire is within the current fire perimeter. In addition to the resources listed below there are 49 high volume list pumps, 2 USFWS flex tracs, 2 NCDFR flex tracs, 1 front end loader, 1 long reach excavator, 2 marsh master, 1 motor grader, and 1 dump truck. Transition of incident back to local units planned for 6/29/11 at 1900 hours. Continue reduction of resources until transition occurs. *This will be the final 209 for Pains Bay. |
Current Weather
| Wind Conditions | 5-25 mph SW |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 89 degrees |
| Humidity | 73% |
