NEWS RELEASE
News Update 7-16-2012
Unless situations change to warrant any further updates, there will be no additional activity on this more
Approximate Location
Incident Overview
The Bonita Complex consists of two separate fires that were started by lightning on July 9, 2012. They are the Bonita Fire, which is 8,304 acres, and the Iron Fire, which is 9,884 acres. These fires are located 15 miles NW of the town of Westfall, Oregon.
The fires are burning in short grasses, sagebrush of varying heights, and some Juniper trees. The terrain is rugged and access is remote. The fires are also burning in areas of key Sage Grouse habitat, along with grazing range for the area. Temperatures are hovering in the 90 degree range, with humidity around 15-20 percent. Isolated thunderstorms are forecasted for the coming week.
The Complex is being managed by a Type 3 team, with Dave LaChapelle as Incident Commander.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Monday July 09th, 2012 approx. 01:00 PM |
| Location | 15 miles SW of Westfall, OR |
| Incident Commander | Dave Lachapella |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 177 |
|---|---|
| Size | 18,188 acres |
| Percent Contained | 85% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Tuesday July 17th, 2012 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | Short grasses, sagebrush, and Juniper trees |
| Fire Behavior | Smoldering and creeping fire |
| Significant Events | Much of the fire area received rainfall yesterday and overnight from thunderstorms, perhaps as much as .02 inches. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | The Type 3 organization will continue with patrol, mop up, and suppression rehabilitation. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | Medium |
| Terrain Difficulty | Extreme |
| Remarks | Transfer of command to Type 3 organization is scheduled to occur at 0600 July 16, 2012. |
Current Weather
| Wind Conditions | 8-14 G20 mph W |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 92 degrees |
| Humidity | 17% |
