Blue 2 Update for Wednesday July 16, 2008
Incident: Blue 2 Wildland Fire
Released: 7/16/2008
Fire crews made good progress yesterday on four areas of the Blue 2 fire.
Red Mountain Lookout and Communication site
Crews along with wood chipping equipment continued work cutting Lodgepole pine and brush away from the lookout and communication buildings. The site is the main communication hub for all Del Norte County and is critical for local fire and other emergency operations. Crews wrapped some buildings in protective material that reflects heat to be ready in case the fire reaches the area. The protective wrap is made of the same material as firefighters' protective fire shelters. Crews also installed collapsible water tanks, pumps, hoses and a sprinkler system to wet the area if the fire approaches.
Red Mountain Road
Crews continue work on the red mountain road which leads to the lookout and communication site. They are preparing the route for future firefighting actions if they become necessary. Heavy equipment called a masticator is "chewing" trees and brush on either side of the road into chips that will burn less intensely in the event of fire. A bulldozer is clearing old road spurs to prepare them for use by crews to ignite backburns if necessary.
Gasquet-Orleans (G-O) trail
Crews continue to construct handline and remove fuels on the trail east of the G-O road. They have installed collapsible water tanks, pumps and hoses every one-half mile to help keep the fire below the trail in the Blue Creek drainage. So far crews have cleared and installed almost 2 miles of hoses along the trail.
Northwest flank of the fire
Crews in this area are constructing handlines and removing fuels in anticipation of burning out in front of the fire as it gradually advances.
Future actions
Members of an Alaskan Incident Management Team are on the ground gathering updated information about bridges, trailheads and other identified infrastructure. The collected data will help prepare for potential fire management actions.
Closures remain in effect. For additional information call (707) 457-3995 or check the website at http://www.inciweb.org/ Blue 2 fire incident.
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