Blaine County Final Update - September 4, 2007
Incident: Castle Rock Wildland Fire
Released: 9/4/2007
Complete fire information is at www.inciweb.org/incident/952
100% CONTAINMENT!
Update: At 6:00 am this morning Commander Jeanne Pincha-Tulley announced full containment. Handlines and bulldozer lines completely surround the 48,520 acre fire! The Type 1 management team will be leaving on Friday, September 7th, 2007 and will be replaced by a Type 2 Team that will take control on Thursday morning.
Tours: Base camp tours were a huge success! Giving the over 2000 people in our community a great idea of how the camp worked.
All neighborhoods are no longer under any type of advisory, voluntary or mandatory evacuations.
Backcountry: Do not venture into burned areas. These areas are very dangerous due to rolling rocks and rolling logs. Trees were weakened by the fire and could fall without warning. There are increasing numbers of walkers, joggers, and bicyclists on the trail system. Stay off the trails until a risk assessment can be completed. The Forest Service will notify the public when full public access can be granted in these areas.
Rain and Mud Slides: The Forest Service's Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team is working on an assessment of the hillsides and any possible soil movement that may occur as a result of the fire and possible erosion due to rain. The Ketchum Ranger District will release information to the media and to the public when information is available.
Volunteers: Thank you to all the volunteers for the incredible outpouring of support throughout the last three weeks. Fire managers noted that our community was truly unique in the way that everyone stepped-up to help. The volunteer email volunteer@ketchumidaho.org is no longer available. There may be volunteer opportunities available with the BAER Team after all the assessments have been completed. Stay tuned to the Ketchum Ranger District website and your local media and radio outlets for further information.
This will be the last Castle Rock Fire update posted on the http://www.blainecounty.org/ website. Puffs of smoke will continue to be seen in the backcountry areas and fire activity will continue until winter. Such activity does not pose a threat to any residences. Fire managers are aware of this activity.
