Fire rages near state line.
http://www.timesdaily.com/stories/Wildfire-rages-near-state-line,188140
Starting early? We still have a few inches of snow here in the woods. Maybe be a dry spring us too. We had a fire that was on a lot next to mine. Not a good thing to see. I was cutting small softwood trees on his side to save mine.Fire went out due to a 2 inch fire hose and nothing to keep it going on mine side.
Just got off my 2nd fire in 3 days. Both timber fires.
Thank God for cool nights.
News from a USFS Associate in Denver
Here is a very brief report on the ongoing fire on the front range of Denver as of 4:00 PM March 27.
No containment at this time-4500 A
*2 fatalities (civilians in fire area)
*1 person missing
*23 structures damaged or consumed ( I would guess they are mostly homes and totally consumed)
A prescribed burn was conducted in the area last week and it is strongly suspected this is the ignition source. Colorado State Forest Service conducted the prescribed burn.
Colorado Fire
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/27/10880041-6500-families-might-have-to-evacuate-in-deadly-colo-wildfire
The map in red shows where it was yesterday and the blue shows where it is today. It is approx. 4 miles from the Waterton campus.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=215563989566450268982.0004bc2e2a43a753aeec4&t=p&source=embed&ll=39.473305,-105.224304&spn=0.092756,0.145912&vpsrc=6
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/colorado-wildfires-still-raging/2012/03/28/gIQAUWOTgS_blog.html
Concern for USFS Air Tankers
http://summitcountyvoice.com/2012/04/13/colorado-sen-udall-says-forest-service-may-not-have-enough-air-tankers-to-fight-large-or-multiple-wildfires/
Here in Virginia a series of fires called the "Easter Complex" have burned just under 40,000 acres! FInally we are getting some rain today.
Ron
Have you seen any bulletins on the Forest Service considering explosives to get rid of frozen cows in Colorado mountain cabin ??
Just can't imagine that our USFS is even thinking this would be a solution to getting rid of carcasses.
(do they think they will vaporize?)
Only briefly, but I haven't heard anything serious about the frozen cow removals. At least not yet. Good bear bait. ;)
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/04/conundrum-how-to-remove-dead-frozen-cows-from-colo-cabin/1#.T4686dX0lUE
This borders on "hilarious" but then shows the thinking of Gov't officials and their wisdom (along with the free money they get from taxpayers).
Have to wonder why they just don't leave the carcasses right there. Fear of polluting water should be the least on their minds. Wonder what they think takes place now with animals that die in their watershed? Or what will happen if (heaven forbid) they blow up the carcasses and cabin into tiny bits? Those parts are going to be somewhere and will rot away, no different than a whole cow.
But maybe if they blow it up into parts, the crows and eagles will carry those parts away. :D Brilliant.
Regardless, it is news of sorts. If the owner shows up, maybe they will charge him for the removal by helicopter and solve their frozen problem ?? ;)
I don't like to see our Gov't (especially the US FS) act out "dumb and dumber". It is embarrassing, to say the least.
beenthere, I really thought you were joking when you first brought that up, all I can say now is I wish you would've been.
Wind-Fueled Arizona Wildfire Nearly Triples in Size
Associated Press (May 17) - Fueled by high winds, a wildfire that has prompted the evacuation of a historic mining town in northern Arizona nearly tripled in size.
The fire in the Prescott National Forest grew to an estimated 5,400 acres, or nearly 8 1/2 square miles-up from about 2,000 acres a day earlier.
The E-Forester
I sure hope they're not getting the winds we are :-\
Seney/Pine Creek North Wildfire – update
from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
As of 11:10 a.m. (Eastern), May 23,2012
The wildfire on the Seney National Wildlife Refuge (Schoolcraft County), ignited by lightning and first reported on Monday, May 21, had burned approximately 1,500 acres as of Tuesday evening.
The wildfire is in an area that backs up against the Fishing Loop and is a few miles west of the Visitor Center and headquarters area. Because of the location of the fire, the Marshland Wildlife Drive, Fishing Loop, Pine Ridge Nature Trail and many interior roads are closed to ALL use. These closures are likely to remain throughout the weekend. At this time the Visitor Center, the Northern Hardwoods Ski Area foot trails, and C3 pool (which is open to fishing) are still open for use. Visitors should check in at the Visitor Center or check the USFWS Facebook page (www.facebook.com/usfws/seneyrefuge) for closure updates.
Questions should be directed to Jennifer McDonough, Visitor Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 906-586-9851 ext. 16 or the Visitor Center, 906-586-9851 ext.15
On Monday and Tuesday, fire crews, including three amphibious track crews, three engine crews and a Midewin hotshot crew worked to strengthen barriers around the fire. The strategy being taken is to contain the fire within an area surrounded by Holland Ditch to the north, Pine Creek Road to the west and the Fishing Loop to the east and south. Crews have burned out fuel along Holland Ditch and Pine Creek. A CL 215 air tanker assisted Tuesday afternoon to help control the fire while crews were establishing containment lines. Some spotting has occurred west of Pine Creek Road and crews were attempting to contain these spots late Tuesday and will continue Wednesday morning. A helicopter is working the spot fires outside of the line. If fire crosses Pine Creek Road, the plan is to contain fire to the wet areas to the north along Pine Creek. The containment area is approximately 2,500 acres in size.
No structures are threatened. The fire is not fully contained but progress is being made.
Quote from: beenthere on April 18, 2012, 03:17:26 PM
Ron
Have you seen any bulletins on the Forest Service considering explosives to get rid of frozen cows in Colorado mountain cabin ??
Just can't imagine that our USFS is even thinking this would be a solution to getting rid of carcasses.
(do they think they will vaporize?)
My Dad was an outfitter in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area near here for 35 years. The guy he sold out to, had a pack horse drown in a lake that was near a bad spot in the trail, and the FS made him blow it up. When they're wrapped in the explosives the way they want them (there's an "official" bulletin that explains how much and how it's to be used, in great detail), yes they do vaporize! Their logic is the attraction to bears and stuff. I guess it poses some sort of unnatural threat if they're there for any length of time, eating on a carcass. Your tax dollars at work.
John
One of my co-workers wrecked his mules and one mule died. The trail crew blew it up. Hooves with iron shoes don't blow up very well. The bears were climbing the surrounding trees to get the other tid-bits. I wonder if the explosive helped flavor the meat?
The solution to pollution is dilution!
Kderby
DNR update on Duck Lake Fire in Luce County
The Department of Natural Resources has reported (as of 10 p.m. Thursday) on the fire that is currently burning explosively in the Two Hearted Zone Dispatch Area of the DNR's Newberry Management Unit in Luce County. Fire behavior has been a fast-running crowning incident that has consumed an estimated 9,526 acres.
This is a lightning strike-caused fire in an area where access is difficult. Detection and initial attack occurred shortly after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23. Containment efforts were halted after dark, with plans to resume in the morning. Strong winds and high temperatures the next day (May 24) enabled the fire to escape, build, and – with the highly flammable fuels involved – evolve into the current situation. The primary fuel feeding this fire is jack pine.
This event triggered an evacuation of the homes and camps on Pike Lake. Evacuees were sent to a shelter set up at the Newberry Youth Center and have been supported by the Red Cross. At this time there are no injuries or accidents related to this incident.
The DNR has committed the following equipment to the suppression effort of this fire:
Six tractor plows;
One D 5 bulldozer;
Seven wild land fire engines;
One marsh unit;
One skidder fitted to be a plow and a water unit; and
40 personnel.
In addition, the Bay Mills, Newberry Village, Portage Township, White Fish Township, Superior Township and Garfield Township provided support.
A related incident, the Pike Lake Fire, broke out on Monday, May 21, around 3 p.m. Suppression efforts on this fire had it contained at 22 acres late Monday evening. Mop-up efforts to extinguish hot spots continued through Thursday until the crew working this incident was forced away by the advancing Duck Lake Fire.
DNR News
EASTERN U.P. WILDFIRES
Two big fires are burning in the eastern U.P., both from lightning strikes. The Seney Fire was backfired off M-28 Thursday.
The one to watch is the Duck Lake Fire, which blew up Thursday and is moving fast today, Friday. Media reports indicated an uncontained jack pine crown fire and a 4-mile swath that has burned to Lake Superior. Strong west winds will likely turn the fire. Evacuations are underway. Watch the media for updates.
Keep your head down, Jeff.
Duck Lake Fire temporarily closes Tahquamenon Falls State Park
The Department of Natural Resources today announced that, due to the growing Duck Lake Fire in Luce County (now approaching 20,000 acres), it will temporarily close the Tahquamenon Falls State Park's Lower Falls campground and Upper Falls viewing area.
Park staff has relocated all campers from the Lower Falls campground to either the Rivermouth campground or Muskallonge Lake State park, which at this time are both considered safe alternatives because the fire is east of Muskallonge Lake and north of Rivermouth.
More than 100 arriving campers have been contacted – either by message or direct contact by the DNR's customer reservation system (CRS) staff – and they have either canceled their reservations (with full refunds) or been transferred to other parks.
The DNR is evacuating all visitors from the Lower Falls campground and the Upper Falls viewing area. These areas will also be barricaded to prevent subsequent entry.
It is currently anticipated that if the fire continues on its current path it will be within one mile of the Upper Falls viewing area sometime tonight.
Visitors are asked to avoid the Tahquamenon Falls area this Memorial Holiday weekend due to the fire danger and the existing, deteriorating heavy smoke conditions. No reservations will be available for either the Lower Falls campground or the Rivermouth campground now through May 31. The Upper Falls viewing area will remain closed until fire staff determines that entry is deemed safe.
The DNR strongly encourages all residents and visitors to avoid open burning and use of any fireworks during this extremely high fire-danger season, in order to minimize the possibility of more wildfires.
DNR News
New Mexico Fire News
http://www.firehouse.com/news/10723846/new-mexicos-largest-fire-growing-in-all-directions
The E-Forester
More Air Tankers Needed
Ashland Daily Tidings, Published by Paul Fittig, May 30th
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden intends to hold the U.S. Forest Service's feet to the fire in an effort to increase its fleet of large air tankers under contract."The forest fires are getting bigger and the air tanker fleet is getting smaller," said Wyden, D-Ore., during a news conference Tuesday morning at the Medford air tanker base. "That has left us with some enormous challenges. We've already seen some big fires in Arizona and Colorado."Despite the enormity of all this, the agency that is most responsible for fighting them, the Forest Service, has allowed the air tanker fleet to shrink," he said. The agency had 44 large air tankers under contract in 2006 but now has only 11, said Wyden, chairman of the Senate Forestry Committee. "And 10 of those average 50 years of age," Wyden added. "So we have some of these planes are getting to the point where they belong in museums rather than the sky."
The E-Forester
Forest Service Adds More Air Tankers to Fight Fires
ABC News (June 7) - Facing a season of potentially dangerous wildfires and a dwindling number of large air tankers to help fight them, the US Forest Service has taken steps to add four more planes to its fleet.
The additions will bring the federal fleet of large air tankers up to 13, still far below the number that critics-and the forest service itself-say are needed to fight fires adequately from above.
The E-Forester
If you are interested in reading about the current Colorado High Park fire here is the web site:
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20826343/
We are rapping up on a 1700 acre timber fire. It was 3 lightning strikes. Mine was 1.25 acres when we showed up for initial attack the other 2 were around that size. They joined with in 3 hours. The 35mph winds were shifting in the canyons. Up top from winds out of the south east in the canyons out of the north. very interesting. Within 10 hours it was up to 1000 acres.
Looks like I will get my dozer boss signed off.
Fire season is very early this year.
I see the fire on the Lincoln NF burned 224 houses. That's really bad; don't know on the Colorado fire yet. We are drier than we have ever been with ERC values - one start away from another disaster...
Info on fires including the high park fire can also be found at inciweb.org. This site has lots of info and a map of the fire.
I have friends in the Bonner peak subdivision .
They are currently evacuated and the fire is within about 3/4 to a mile from their house.
This is the second fire near them this year.
Several years ago a fire burned two neighbor's houses and they were only saved by retardant dropped on their place.
Hope the heavies get back to full force soon.
Forest Service Retiree home burns in Wildfire
RUIDOSO, N.M. A former firefighter with the Forest Service has lost his home in the out-of-control 20,000 acre Little Bear Fire burning in Ruidoso. A Sheriff's Deputy gave Paul Jones the sad news over the weekend that he had lost his home off Highway 48. Jones worked with the Forest Service for 35 years.
The Lookout
Russian Smokejumpers Die in Wildfire
Jim Cherry, President of the National Smokejumpers Association sent us news of fire fatalities in Russia. On June 6 of this year 9 jumpers were killed in a major fire in South Central Russia near the Mongolian border. According to Jim's information, 13 jumpers were involved in the suppression effort and were apparently over run by fire caused by a sudden wind shift. The four survivors were not injured. In the region where the fire occurred several communities have been burned this year.
The Lookout
Ron
Thanks for the post. I wondered what Jim Cherry was up to these days. :)
US Forest Service adds four heavy helicopters to support wildfire suppression
WASHINGTON, June 19, 2012 - U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell today announced the agency is adding four heavy helicopters to the aviation firefighting fleet. "The addition of these helicopters to our aviation fleet will increase our ability to respond quickly and aggressively to fight wildfires and protect lives and property," said Tidwell. "We will continue to mobilize our firefighting assets when and where they are needed as we respond to a very challenging wildfire season."
Chief's Newsletter
Anybody know how the Colorado fire fighting is going, we're heading to Estes Park for my sister in laws wedding next week, from what I've seen and heard the folks out there need all the prayers and help they can get.
2500 acre fire in Waldo Canyon on west side of Colorado Springs, CO. Zero contained this morning. Evacuations ongoing for Manitou Springs, Ute Pass, and Cascade and much of Colorado Springs west of I-25. I think about 5,000 people evacuated. I lived in that area few years ago, beautiful place. Total of 8 fires in Colorado today.
Note the fire information listing for each state.
http://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm
Thank you guys for the information and for the link Ron.
Check out Denver Post for updated info on Colorado fires - 20+ homes lost in Estes Park yesterday due to a cabin catching fire, several major fires in the backcountry not getting much attention. Manitou Springs evacuation - now that's news...........
I like this one too.
http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/index.php
Waldo Canyon 5% contained this AM, 5100 acres burned. Projected containment July 16th. I have been following this one each day. Good friends in the area, not evacuated yet. I lived in the Mountain Shadows area in the 90's. Latest inciweb report was a 8:00 AM local time.
Stay safe firefighters.
Looks like a bad situation. Does anyone know if this is burning beetle killed areas? I could see this getting pretty bad before it gets better if that is the case.
High Park is hitting the beetle kill.
It has just been announced that 346 homes went up in smoke on the Waldo Canyon (Colorado Sprgs) fire. If you want to view photos of the damage go to:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/index.html
KKTV.com, Ch 11, Colo Spgs has been running live video since Saturday. Live incident command briefings are held at 0800 MDT and 1600 MDT daily. Burned houses in Mountain Shadows area within 1 block of house where I lived in 90's. Very sad, some of my former neighbors still live in the area. Good day yesterday, no increase in size and containments lines are holding in most of the areas. A few people have been allowed to return to their homes outside the burn area. They are calling it 15% contained, still spot fires outside the perimeter. 1 fatality found in a house in Mountain Shadows, another person missing from the same household.
US Forest Service mobilizes more air tankers, MAFFS, to assist with wildfire suppression
WASHINGTON, June 24, 2012 -- The U.S. Forest Service is taking actions to continue to maintain adequate air tanker capability by mobilizing four Department of Defense C-130s equipped with Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems to assist with wildfire suppression efforts in Colorado and elsewhere in the Rocky Mountains and the Southwest.
US Forest Service mobilizes more air tankers, MAFFS, to assist with wildfire suppression
The Chief's Newsletter
Today the air is hazy. We can smell smoke at times. The wind is out of the west.
Could the haze and smell of smoke be from the fires out west?
We're in mid Missouri.
Yes, it could very well be. The fires may also bring you some weather changes.
Seasonal firefighter news item.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48018300/ns/weather/
All:
If you want to view an outstanding collection of photos of the Waldo Canyon Fire (Colorado Sprgs) go to:
http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2012/06/27/colorado-wildfires-waldo-canyon-fire-colorado-springs/5732/
There were a couple of fires in Iron and Madison counties, [Mo.] this past week-end.
http://earthsky.org/earth/five-day-timelapse-video-wildfire-near-colorado-springs
Interesting to watch the day to night transitions.
been on a fire on district. It has reached 56000 acres mostly private and state owned.
There went 4 of my thinning projects, 2 active timber sales and much more.
But wait its still growing...
Final size 62,000 acres. No structures lost. No injuries! 60 head of live stock and 3 horses were lost, many homestead cabins and buildings, but all in all we were watched over.
What a beginning to fire season.
Our fire season is just starting, we had a very cool, wet spring. If these temps stay it is going to get ugly. We are seeing a lot of smoke from the south, air quality advisory's have been issued in some areas.
DC-10 arrives in San Bernardino National Forest
On July 9, the DC-10 Very Large Airtanker arrived at the San Bernardino National Forest Airtanker Base and will be available for initial attack fire suppression and large fire support. It's on a "call when needed" contract. Strategically positioning the airtanker in San Bernardino National Forest puts it in a position to reach locations throughout California, Nevada and Utah. The airtanker can carry about 11,800 gallons of retardant and has been used on numerous wildfires in California in recent years.
The Chief's Newsletter
Ron
From the tone of the note, sounds like this is the first time this year it has been used.
I see by the fire map, the big ones are somewhat under control.
http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/index.php
Down to just two "red" incidents on todays' map. One in SE Oregon and one that looks to be in the Lassen Nat. For. in northern CA
Yes, I believe that it is just being put into use. The focus has been mpstly on the use of the smaller private aircraft under contract.
Debate Over Use of Military Planes Grows After Fires, C-130 Crash
USA Today, Published by Trevor Hughes, July 3rd
Eight of the government's biggest firefighting airplanes sat on the tarmac for weeks as fires erupted across the Rockies last month because incident commanders first called in smaller, privately owned aircraft to bombard flames with water and retardant.The military's C-130 tankers were not called to duty until June 25, weeks after large fires began destroying homes and causing deaths across the West. The planes flew multiple missions in Colorado before one crashed fighting the White Draw fire in South Dakota on July 1, killing three members of its crew. The cause of the C-130 crash remains under investigation. The remaining planes were temporarily grounded but resumed flying today. Federal law prohibits fire managers from calling in the military planes until they first call in private aircraft leased to the government. The law has been the subject of some debate in the aftermath of the recent fires. Beth Lund, leader of the national-level Type 1 Incident Management Team that managed the 87,284-acre High Park Fire near Fort Collins, Colo., says that contrary to popular belief, the bigger planes aren't necessarily better.
The E-Forester
Large Fire Settlement with logging Company
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/18/12804544-logging-company-to-pay-record-1225m-in-damages-over-2007-california-wildfire?lite
http://www.newswithviews.com/Clausen/barry110.htm
And the enviros have a very firm grip on the cajones of the Federal judges (if they have any) and as a result are very powerful with their protests - - and very, very expensive to the rest of us.
The enviros are a very non-caring people.
Also very ignorant
Firefighters Discovered Marijuana Grow Site during Waldo Canyon Fire
KKTV.com (August 21) - While fighting the Waldo Canyon Fire, a 22 acre marijuana grow site was found on US Forest Service land. It contained about 7,500 plants with an estimated value of $15 million.
Since 2009, the US Attorney's Office reports 16 marijuana growing operations have been raided on national forestland in Colorado. In addition to what was found during the Waldo Canyon Fire, officials have seized more than 1,400 plants, 103 pounds of marijuana, and $354,325 connected to marijuana grown on public land in Colorado this year.
The E-Forester
Forest Service to Try Nighttime Water-Drops-Again
Press Enterprise (California, August 20) - Thirty-five years ago, a deadly mid-air collision involving a US Forest Service water-dropping helicopter illustrated the dangers of aerial nighttime firefighting, which the agency ended 29 years ago in 1983.
But last week, the Forest Service announced that beginning next year it will operate one contract helicopter that will be available for nighttime firefighting in southern California.
The E-Forester
Steep Corner Fire Fatality Investigation Report
http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/northwestnews/files/201302/Steep_Corner_Fatality_SAI.pdf
The E-Forester