Down in the Southwest, fire activity has subsided quite a bit after rains came through Ruidoso, New Mexico, slowing the growth of the Salt and South Fork Fires. The fire investigation continues, with the FBI being tight-lipped about its involvement. The newspaper Santa Fe New Mexican asked the FBI if they thought the fires were intentionally set or if they were set by the same suspect(s); the FBI declined to comment.
The South Fork Fire sits at 17,551 acres and 37% contained, and the Salt Fire is 7,816 acres with 7% containment.
I’m kinda surprised the Encerrita Fire is still going outside Grants, New Mexico, after not doing much for a few days; that fire grew a couple hundred acres and is still 0% contained at 2,500 acres. The Foote Fire near Blue, Arizona, called in 5 Hotshot crews to help out with that incident. It was last mapped at around 4,000 acres and is 0% contained. I hear the Elk sheds are plentiful.
Alaska put in Crew and Team orders after lightning rolled through the State and started dozens of new fires. They currently have 100 active fires burning, and basically all local resources are committed, including Chena, Pioneer Peak, and Midnight Sun Hotshots, Gannett Glacier T2IA, North Star Fire Crew, and White Mountain Module… all deployed.
70 local smokejumpers and 54 additional jumpers boosted up there have also been deployed. California is sending the Big Bear, Del Rosa, and Laguna Hotshots; it sounds like Idaho is sending a Team. Canada has started migrating scoopers to its neighbors in Alaska. The North Cascades Smokejumper rookie just class graduated, and some are already on their way to AK.
California is wrapping most of the larger fires they have. The Sites Fire is the highest priority fire, with 2,228 firefighters engaged on the incident. That fire sits at nearly 20,000 acres and is 38% contained. Needles, California, had the Needles Fire that jumped the Colorado River into Arizona but was quickly brought under control.
Here is footage a subscriber sent in of that initial attack. Rippin.
Utah and Idaho had a few small fires but the Little Twist fire is the priority in Region 4. This fire sits at 10,000+ feet of elevation, and 5 Hotshot crews, along with 3 Type 2IA crews, continue to prep and burn on that incident. It’s looking pretty good, actually. That fire is 2,300+ acres and 10% contained outside Beaver, Utah.
The potential in Region 4 remains.
The Pacific Northwest saw increased activity through the weekend, with multiple fires across Oregon and Washington calling in Type 3 Teams. The Winema Hotshots were called to the steep and rocky Dearinger Fire in Oregon; however, the Pioneer Fire remains the region’s priority. That fire has grown to 4,530 acres and has 550 personnel on the incident, including 5 Hotshot crews. A transfer of command will take place tomorrow, and CIMT Northwest Team 7 will take over.
Here are the current national totals:
Meanwhile, the push in D.C. continues this week to try and convince Congress to pass wildland firefighter pay legislation.
After all that… I need a workout. Get yourself a good soundtrack or podcast.
Warm up, stretch, and let’s do it.
Round 1: Three Times
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