Approximate Location
Incident Overview
The Lateral West Fire in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was started by a several day old lightning strike in the refuge interior. The fire was reported to the refuge on the evening of August 4, 2011. The Great Dismal Swamp is southeast of Suffolk, Virginia. The Lateral West Fire is burning in the fire scar of the 2008 South One Wildfire. Ample regrowth of brush and grasses since the 2008 fire, along with large amounts of dead and downed trees have fueled this fire.
The fire is now reduced to two slightly elevated areas of smoldering peat. Both areas are surrounded by floodwater from an accumulation of precipitation and from the high volume pumping operation. Refuge firefighters continue to monitor the fire and the pumping operation.
For media fire information, please call 757-986-3705.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Thursday August 04th, 2011 approx. 07:00 PM |
| Location | Nine miles SE of Suffolk, VA |
| Incident Commander | Tim Craig |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 7 |
|---|---|
| Size | 6,377 acres |
| Percent Contained | 100% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Friday September 30th, 2011 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | 10 Timber (litter and understory) Hardwood (FM-9) in unburned areas with FM-10 slash in burned areas due to trees falling over as organic soils burn away. |
| Fire Behavior | Fire continues as a smoldering ground fire in islands within the fire perimeter. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Continue high volume pumping operation into block with current ground fire activity. Mop up by hand as conditions allow. Continue rehabilitation on roads and around pumping operations. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | Low |
| Terrain Difficulty | High |
| Remarks | Precipitation expected tonight and into tomorrow. Current forecast indicate over 1 inch possible. |
Current Weather
| Wind Conditions | 16 mph S |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 83 degrees |
| Humidity | 45% |
