August 2, 2009 Crazy Mountain Complex News Release
Incident: Crazy Mountain Complex Wildfire
Released: 8/2/2009
Alaska Interagency Incident Management Type II Team
Tom Kurth, Incident Commander
Fire information:
Phone: (907) 773-5511
email: crazymountaincomplex@gmail.com
www.inciweb.org/incident/1780/
August 2, 2009
Crazy Mountain Complex
323,330 ACRES
Community Meeting is planned for Sunday
August 2nd, 2009 at the Circle School at 3pm.
Erratic winds and volatile fuels were the key factors for the extreme fire behavior yesterday near Circle, Alaska. The Bluff Creek fire was pushed over the Steese Highway at mile 155 by a strong west wind. Firefighter efforts were focused on protecting structures along the road corridor and containing the spot on the eastside of the Steese Highway. Cooler temperatures are predicted today, and then expected to increase through the week. Fire operations will use this weather opportunity to continue to make progress securing the dozer lines and assembling protection equipment around homes. Additional resources including crews, engines, and aircraft have been requested to meet incident objectives.
Crews on the Little Black Creek fire will continue to mop up and secure line around allotments and structures in the 12 Mile Bluff Area. The Jagged Ridge and Puzzle Gulch fires will be monitored from aircraft if conditions allow.
Road Conditions: Firefighters and firefighting equipment are located on the Steese Highway from the bridge at Mile 147 to Circle City. There is active fire from Milepost 153.5 to Milepost 158. Due to the active wild land fire activity on the Steese Highway there can be temporary traffic delays. Local residences are being escorted by fire personnel. Drivers are urged to use caution as dust and smoke is limiting visibility. Drive slowly with headlights on and do not stop in areas where the fire is encroaching on the road.
The Incident Command Post (ICP) is located at the school in Circle, Alaska.
Information updates are posted on local bulletin boards in town. Local residents are welcome to call or visit us at the ICP. Information Phone #(907)773-5511. Current information is posted on the Inciweb site at http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1780
You may also contact the Crazy Mountain Complex Information Office via email at: crazymountaincomplex@gmail.com
For a statewide perspective on the current fire situation you can view the AICC website at http://fire.ak.blm.gov/content/news/highlights/current.pdf.
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