Update on Evans Road Fire 6pm, June 28 By ICP
Incident: Evans Road Wildland Fire
Released: 6/28/2008
·¨ Water pumping operations continue to reinforce fire containment lines. Lake levels are being monitored and alternate sources of water are being developed. Progress is being made to deliver water to hot spots on the southeast perimeter of the fire.
·¨ An excavator and 1,200-gallon engine are working on the interior of the burn to protect existing roads that are in danger of being undermined by the ground fire.
·¨ Windy conditions today caused a significant increase in fire behavior with short runs (re-burn) inside the containment lines. Two helicopters were used this afternoon to drop water on flare ups to prevent the fire from escaping.
·¨ The fire has burned 41,060 acres of woodland.
·¨ The fire is 75 percent contained. The northeast portion of the fire burned into an area that was too wet for equipment to construct fire lines. This wet area stopped the fire, but it could eventually creep through, if dry conditions persist.
·¨ Smoke output increased today because of windy conditions and more active burning. Winds were out of the south and gusty at times, pushing the smoke north of the fire. Smoke advisories may be found at: www.weather.gov/mhx . A map of forecast smoke impact areas may be found at www.ncair.org/news/pr/2008/smoke warning.shtml .
·¨ NCDFR and USFWS are developing a rehabilitation plan to restore areas impacted by the fire suppression activity.
·¨ A burning ban remains in effect for Hyde, Washington, Tyrrell and Beaufort counties and other counties in southeastern North Carolina.
·¨ Currently 62% of the burned area is on the Pocosin Lakes Wildlife Refuge, and 38% is on private and state lands. Adjoining woodland will remain threatened until significant rainfall is received across the entire fire area.
For additional information on the fire visit the Pocosin Lakes Wildlife Refuge web site at: http://www.fws.gov/pocosinlakes
Resources on the Fire
321 personnel, 11 tractor/plow units, 4 water tenders; 34 engines & 2 helicopters.
Cooperators
US Fish & Wildlife Service; Hyde, Tyrrell & Washington County Emergency Management; NC Division of Emergency Management; National Weather Service; DOT, Hyde County; Hyde County Sheriff's Office; NC Division of Parks and Recreation; NC Division of Water Quality; NCWRC, Division of Wildlife Management; NC Division of Air Quality, NC Highway Patrol; NC Office of State Fire Marshal; USDA-Forest Service; local volunteer fire departments.
Plans for Tomorrow
Continue the pumping operation to move water to the most critical areas of the fire. Use rain bird sprinklers, ditches, canals and high volume lift pumps to reinforce containment lines and aid in mop up operations. Monitor the fire perimeter and have personnel and equipment available to respond immediately if the fire crosses containment lines.
