Crews Gain Ground on The Tongue
Incident: Tongue Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 7/21/2007
Saturday, July 21, 2007 @ 10:00 a.m.
Public Information Officer - Debbie Santiago
Incident Command Post - Jordan Valley, Oregon
Fire Info Line (541) 586-2141 or Website: http://www.inciweb.org/
BLM Boise District's Boulder Creek and Tongue Complex wildfires are still being managed under the incident command of Allen Johnson's Type II Team. The Boulder Creek fire remains controlled; this fire burned a total of 4,350 acres and is now in patrol status. Firefighting efforts continue on the Tongue Complex today which has been burning since July 6th. The fire complex covers a lot of inaccessible ground and due to more accurate GIS mapping, a drop in acreage now shows 46,486 acres and remains 45% contained as of last night. Topographic and weather conditions will drive extreme fire behavior as firefighters work hard to gain control of the Tongue Complex
Today firefighters continue to construct direct fireline where terrain allows access. A total of 488 fire personnel are assigned to the Tongue Complex. Most resources, hand crews, overhead operational staff, and heavy equipment remain assigned at the Boni Ranch spike camp. The breakdown of resources assigned today include 2 Type I Hotshot crews, 11 Type II crews, , 3 helicopters, 16 engines, 6 dozers, 11 water tenders, 2 camp crews and 112 overhead personnel.
Poor access continues to hamper suppression efforts in many places. Interior torching was observed yesterday in some remote inaccessible areas as the relative humidity dropped and temperatures heated up again. Helicopters are being used to drop water to help firefighters keep the Tongue at bay. Interior fire activity consists of short runs through the sagebrush and dry Juniper stands. The Fire Behavior Analyst and Fire Meteorologist assigned to this incident remind firefighters daily that extreme fire conditions will continue to heat up causing spotting and increased fire behavior in this tough country! .
The Incident Command Post (ICP) remains located in Jordan Valley, Oregon, at the Jordan Valley High School. Intense logistical support continues daily to the Boni Spike Camp in order to supply crews with fresh food and water. Fire-related supplies and fuel are shuttled throughout the day.
Wildfire danger is high to extreme across Idaho and many states! Therefore, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Idaho State Director has instituted Stage I Fire Restrictions on all BLM land in the State of Idaho. The following acts are prohibited on the public land, roads, and trails:
·1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site, and only within a fire structure provided by the administrative agency.
·2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
Before recreating on any public lands please remember to know before you go! Visit http://www.nifc.gov/
Wildland fire season is severe! Protect your property and make it defensible!
