Final Shanat Creek Update 072209
Incident: Shanta Creek Fire Wildfire
Released: 7/23/2009
United States Department of the Interior
KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
P.O. Box 2139
Soldotna, Alaska 99669-2139
(907) 262-7021
Shanta Creek Fire Information Update
Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 4:00 p.m.
Fire Information: (907) 260-4262
Fire Information Websites: http://kenai.fws.gov or www.inciweb.org/incident/1724/
Fire E-mail Address: r7shanta@fws.gov
Final Press Release
Shanta Creek Fire to Return to Refuge Office
With the transfer of command of the Shanta Creek Fire from the National Interagency
Management Organization team completed yesterday, the new local Type 3 team has now
assumed the responsibility of the fire. Type 3 Incident Commander, Dave Lockwood and his
staff, along with the resources needed, will now manage the balance of the tasks before turning
back the fire to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Office by end of shift on Friday. At that
point, all assigned resources will have been released from the fire. The fire itself will then go
into Monitor Status via the Refuge office.
Currently, the fire has not gained in acreage which remains at 13,221 acres. A light rain
fell on the fire again over most of the perimeter yesterday. In addition, the predicted winds from
yesterdays forecast over the perimeter did not create any change to the perimeter itself. Other
than some interior burning, smoke columns were visible to residences along Funny River Road.
However, winds were easterly and posed no threat to homes. One local 20 person fire crew will
be assigned today along with two excavators which will work in tandem along the defensive
lines. The defensive lines established will remain in place continuing to provide protection from
future fires that may start near the Full Protection zone, south of Funny River Road.
The Level 1 Evacuation Notice for the Funny River Road Area remains lifted and no
longer in use, issued from the Kenai Peninsula Borough (KPB) Office of Emergency
Management.
The slash disposal site available from the KPB still remains available as long as residents
have a need for it. Funny River Road residences may continue to drop off their wood slash and
woody debris there. No tires, trash or chemical disposal is allowed. Residents must continue to
first check with the Funny River Road Central Emergency Services Station 5, on Mile 17. Please
obey all signs and dispose of slash in designated areas only. The disposal site will remain open
from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fire Information will remain in support for the Type 3 organization until the end of the
week. Phone numbers will remain operational today through Friday. Office hours will be from
8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., phone numbers are: (907) 260-4262 at Division of Forestry and (907)
262-7021 at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge office.
For additional information, please visit the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge web site at
http://kenai.fws.gov, then click on the link for the Shanta Creek Fire or visit the Shanta Creek
Fire information on "InciWeb" at www.inciweb.org/incident/1724/.
To comment or ask questions on the fire, please use the fire e-mail address at,
r7shanta@fws.gov.
###
