Church Canyon Fire Update - August 14th
Incident: Church Canyon Wildland Fire
Released: 8/14/2008
Church Canyon Fire
IDL - Maggie Creek Supervisory Area
August 14, 2008 8:00 a.m.
FACT
SHEET
Fire Information
(208) 935-9177
Office hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Incident: Wildland fire, lightning-caused, reported on August 7, 2008
Location: 3 miles southeast of Kamiah, ID
Jurisdiction: Idaho Department of Lands, Maggie Creek Supervisory Area
Cooperating Agencies: Glenwood Caribel, Kooskia, Kamiah, Harpster and Sunnyside VFDs
Incident Commander: Mark Grant, Northern Rockies Type II Incident Management Team (IMT).
Current Size: 800 acres Containment: 90%
Yesterday's Activity: Firefighting efforts focused on mop-up and rehabilitation. As part of the mop-up operations, teams searched for hot spots and mixed water with dirt to eliminate continued burning. In some locations, helicopters dropped buckets of water along the line to support operations. Rehabilitation of dozer and hand lines is well underway, and crews are removing firefighting equipment and hose from the fire area. In the evening hours, an IR (infrared) flight was utilized to locate and map lingering hot spots.
Current Resources: The number of firefighters on the incident is 305. Resources assigned include seven 20-person crews, three dozers, five helicopters, six engines and nine water tenders.
Today's Strategy: Firefighters will continue to check fire perimeters for any hot spots and will use water to mop-up for approximately 150 feet into the black. Last night's IR flight will allow crews to search out specific areas of heat. Dozer and hand lines will be rehabilitated and water bars constructed to prevent erosion. Demobilization of excess resources will continue.
Today's weather forecast calls for warmer and drier conditions, with light winds and partially sunny skies. A low pressure system will move into the area, bringing easterly winds. The weather will remain hot and dry through the weekend and thunderstorms are possible on Sunday.
Special Messages/Closures: Firefighter and public safety is always the #1 priority on any fire incident. The public is urged to drive carefully on both the Beaverslide and Kidder Ridge Roads due to the increased fire traffic. The woods and grasslands are becoming dry, and fire danger in the Maggie Creek Supervisory Area is VERY HIGH. We ask the public to be careful and assist in preventing any new fire starts.
For more fire information, visit: http://www.inciweb.org/. Select "Church Canyon."
