East Slide Rock Ridge Fire Update 08/31/2008
Incident: East Slide Rock Ridge Wildfire
Released: 8/31/2008
On the Web at: www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf or http://www.inciweb.org
Info Center (775) 748-4141 -- Hours of Operation: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
By The Numbers
Acres: 48,779
Containment: 30 percent
Personnel: 721
Type 1 Hotshot Crews: 7
Type 2 Crews: 7
Helicopters: 8
Engines: 28
Dozers: 6
Water Tenders: 20
Support Personnel: 272
(Elko, NV) - Despite sustained winds of more than 20 miles per hour, with occasional 40 mile per hour gusts, the fire did not breach containment lines. Most of the fire growth occurred within the wilderness on the south side in the Cottonwood Creek area. Fire personnel did not observe rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior as predicted.
"We are guardedly optimistic that we have turned the corner with this fire," said Incident Commander Paul Summerfelt. "The fact that the containment lines held up against the weather yesterday is attributed to the great work our firefighters did."
Like Friday, the acreage increase is due to several pockets of timber burning on the southern flank of the fire in the Cottonwood Creek drainage. Along the northern and interior flanks of the fire, the Radiometric Airborne Mapping System, or RAMS, was instrumental in identifying areas of heat within 100-300 feet of the perimeter. Engines and hand crews worked these spots, as well as hot spots along Sawmill Ridge throughout the day.
Fire managers will continue to utilize the RAMS for the next several days. Today it will be used along the east and west flanks of the fire outside the Wilderness. The Incident Management Team is refining plans to manage the fire within the wilderness. Crews have also begun identifying and removing hazard trees along roadways.
Much cooler weather is predicted for Sunday. Winds are expected to be erratic in the morning before shifting to a primarily northwest flow in the early afternoon, with gusts up to 20 miles per hour.
Residents and visitors to the area are reminded to use extreme caution when traveling along the Highway 93 corridor and other roads in the vicinity of the fire due to fire traffic. Some personnel will be released today and additional personnel are expected to be released early in the week.
A closure order remains in effect for the area surrounding the fire. If you are planning a trip over the next week, please contact a local Forest Service Office or visit the Forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf for a map, description of the closure, and other recreational opportunities. The closure is in place to provide for both public and firefighter safety and will be lifted when that danger has passed.
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