8/21/07 W H Complex Daily Update
Incident: W H Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 8/21/2007
Fire Update WH Complex August 21, 2007 8:00 a.m. Fire Information: Public Information Officer: 406-932-3121 Kimberly Nelson 406-932-3122 Headlines € The WH Complex is 28,550 acres and is 30% contained. Acreage change is due to better mapping. € Both fires in the complex received about 0.3€ of rain last night. € The amount of contained perimeter and mop up on the west side of the Wicked Creek Fire and the Hicks Park fire continues to increase, reducing the threat to structures on both fires. € There are currently 500 personnel working on the WH Complex including nine 20-person hand crews, one heavy helicopter, one light helicopter, five bulldozers, and thirty-eight engines. € Suppression efforts continue to focus on structure triage and protection, mopping up adjacent to structures and access routes, direct and indirect line construction in areas with high values at risk, and patrol. € The WH Complex consists of two fires that are approximately 8 miles apart. Hicks Park Fire €“ Currently at 2,500 acres. Change in acreage is due to better mapping. The heavy equipment group on the Hicks Park Fire continues to construct a fuel break adjacent to the Christikon Camp and the Main Boulder Road. Crews continue to build direct and indirect handline along the western edge of the fire. Structure and bridge protection efforts continue. Wicked Creek Fire €“ Currently at 26,050 acres. Change in acreage is due to better mapping. A burnout was conducted south of the Mill Creek Road yesterday. The northwestern perimeter along the East Fork of Mill Creek will be contained using cold trailing and handline construction. Snag removal continues along the main road through the center of the burn. Structure and bridge protection efforts continue. Public Meetings Daily public meetings hosted by the Gallatin National Forest will be held as follows: € Even days of the month at the High School in Big Timber at 6:00 pm. € Odd days of the month at the Emigrant Community Center at 5:30 pm. Residents on evacuation notice from the Hicks fire can now obtain a trip permit to access their property. The trip permit allows property owners to go beyond the road block after 6:00 a.m. and returning by noon. Trip permits can be obtained at the Sweet Grass County Courthouse from 9:00 am €“ 4:00 pm. A permit can be obtained the day prior to a trip. For more information contact the county Emergency Operation Center (9:00 am - 5:00 pm daily). They can be reached at 406-932-3014 or check their web page at: http://www.co.sweetgrass.mt.us/ Visit Inciweb http://www.inciweb.org and click on the WH Complex for more information.
