Crews Draw Line Around The Tongue
Incident: Tongue Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 7/22/2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007 @ 9:00 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.
Suppression efforts continue on the Tongue Complex today. The fire is currently 46,409 acres and firefighters made good progress yesterday reaching 60% containment. Light interior fire activity was observed yesterday which consisted mainly of ground fire in stringers of unburned fuel with some movement in grass, sage brush and bone dry Juniper stands. Moderate fire conditions have allowed opportunity for good progress yet topography and weather conditions can still drive extreme fire behavior as the hard work continues daily to gain full control of the Tongue Complex.
Today firefighters continue to construct and improve direct fireline. A total of 469 fire personnel are assigned to the Tongue Complex. Many firefighting resources are timing out which means after 14 days of grueling work, rest and refurbishing is mandatory for 2 days. Some crews will return to close the fire out while others will be reassigned to new large fires as a grueling fire season already continues to plague the nation. The breakdown of resources assigned today include 1 Type I Hotshot crews, 7 Type II hand crews, 3 helicopters, 7 engines, 6 dozers, 11 water tenders, 2 camp crews and 113 overhead personnel. Helicopters are being used to drop water to help firefighters keep the Tongue at bay.
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.
Visit http://www.nifc.gov/ Wildland fire season is severe! Protect your property and make it defensible!
