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9-13-2017 Bearskin Fire Update
Release Date: Sep 13, 2017
Contact(s): Venetia Gempler 208-373-4105
Bearskin Fire Update – Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Bearskin Fire Information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5536/
Boise National Forest Fire Information: 208-373-4105
Acres: 29,100 Acres Containment: 0 percent Personnel: 148
Resources assigned: 4 crews, 5 engines, 1 water tender, 1 NIMO Team
BOISE, Idaho – Fire management strategy on the Bearskin Fire is a continued focus on ensuring National Forest System (NFS) road 579 remained clear following recent heavy equipment work and a high incidence of falling snags. Defensive firing to reduce the fuel load ahead of the fire began around Deadwood Lodge and approximately midway between the lodge and the intersection with NFS road 555.
Tuesday, engines from the Boise National Forest monitored fire activity along NFS road 579 to ensure safe passage for firefighters and equipment. Chainsaw crews broke up piles of fuel to further secure the side of the road closest to the fire while others worked on widening the indirect line established along NFS roads 579 and 555. Chipping of all green material was completed and prepping operations continued along NFS road 555 to the south, toward Deadwood Reservoir. Good preparation work will ensure the area is ready for a safe and effective burn out as needed.
Today’s plan is to patrol and utilize point protection with crews and sprinklers around Deadwood Lodge, while crews continue to chip dead and down fuels along NFS road 579 to improve the indirect line. Engines continue to patrol the east side of the fire and hand crews and heavy equipment will work south below the second bridge on NFS road 555.
The Bearskin Fire has been full suppression since the start, but the management strategy had to be adapted to less available resources. While the confine and contain strategy has been safe and successful, the trade-off has been days with increased smoke and a fire that will likely last until it rains or snows. For information about smoke, please see http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/
The fire area will be partly cloudy Wednesday with a chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Southwest winds from 3 to 8 mph are expected with the potential for gusts up to 20 mph with thunderstorm activity.
Public Information Officers (PIO) will be staged at specific locations and times daily to answer questions: In Stanley at the Visitor Information Center: 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., in Grandjean at the Sawtooth Lodge: 11:30 – 12:30 p.m., in Lowman at the District Rangers office: 9 – 10 a.m., in Crouch at the Community Hall: 11:30 - 12:30 p.m. and the Chevron in Garden Valley: 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. A PIO will also provide a fire update on KXGV 98.5 in Crouch every day at 11 a.m.
The Bearskin Fire area closure remains in place for public safety and includes the Deadwood Reservoir area and all the campgrounds and trails in the vicinity. NFS road 582 through Bear Valley remains open except between the junctions of NFS roads 545 and 515 which is closed for construction. Work is expected to last into October.
All Forest Closure Orders and maps are available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-noticeserts/boise/alerts-notices. Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect on public and private lands under fire protection of the Boise National Forest, Boise BLM and State of Idaho. Campfires are only permitted in developed recreation sites with an agency approved metal fire ring. Smoking is allowed in a cleared area of at least 3 feet in diameter, in a vehicle or in a developed recreation site. For specific information visit: http://www.idahofireinfo.com/p/fire-restrictions.html
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