Tongue Complex News Release
Incident: Tongue Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 7/11/2007
Contact: Bob Narus, 208-384-3444
Cell: 208-871-1832
Jessica Gardetto, 208-384-3221
Cell: 208-871-1815
Date: 7-11-07
For Release: Immediately
Firefighters Continue To Suppress Lightning-Caused Fires
Boise-Firefighters continue to work on three wildfires sparked by dry lightning on July 6 as high temperatures, steep terrain, and resource shortages hamper fire containment efforts. The Boulder Creek fire, located about four miles south of Silver City, Id., has burned approximately 6,000 acres of grass, brush and sage in very steep terrain. About 200 firefighters are actively suppressing the blaze using helicopters, air tankers, hand crews, engines and dozers. Firefighters have implemented structure protection for several homes in the vicinity of the fire, but no homes have burned.
The Tongue Complex, comprised of two fires, is burning in the Owyhee River Canyon Wilderness Study Area approximately 35 miles south of Silver City, ID in grass, brush and juniper. The fires are in very remote locations and have limited firefighting resources assigned due to resource demands resulting from numerous fires burning throughout the West. The combined acreage of the Tongue Complex is 24,000 acres and the fire is five percent contained. Two historical cabins have been burned as a result of the Tongue Complex and firefighters have implemented structure protection around several outbuildings and corrals. No other structures have been lost.
Allen Johnson's Type II Incident Management Team will take over management of the Tongue Complex and Boulder Creek fire at 6 p.m. this evening. No containment times have been set for either incident as of this afternoon. Information on these fires can be found at: www.inciweb.org.
BLM Fire Managers would like to remind the public that record high temperatures with below normal precipitation, extremely dry forests and rangelands, and large fire activity across the west have prompted wildland fire officials to implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in southwest Idaho.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will go into effect Thursday, July 12 on the Boise, Sawtooth, and Payette National Forest lands outside the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness area, the Idaho Department of Lands and the Southern Idaho Timber Protection Association administered lands, and portions of the Bureau of Land Management lands. The affected Bureau of Land Management lands are those areas which fall within a boundary located north of the Snake River where Interstate 84 crosses the Idaho - Oregon border going east to King Hill, then following Interstate 84 east to Bliss, then following the Hill City/Clover Creek Road north to Hill City, then following Highway 20 east to Carey then following Highway 20/26/93 to the Blaine - Butte County line, then following the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Boundary to the northern boundary of the Payette National Forest, then following the Idaho - Oregon Border back to the beginning point.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions prohibit, until further notice:
·§ Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire except in designated recreation sites, and only within a metal fire structure provided by the administrative agency.
·§ Personal briquette barbeque use is restricted.
·§ Smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
·§ Use of propane, butane, or white gas lanterns and stoves and LPG gas stoves are not restricted.
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