Gun Club fire - Evening Update - August 18, 2016
Release Date: Aug 18, 2016
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Detected: August 17, 2016, 8:45 p.m. Cause: Under investigation
Current Estimated Size: 750 Acres Containment: 0%
The Gun Club fire is located 1 mile west of the Time Zone Bridge and is visible from the community of Riggins, Idaho. It is burning in very steep grassy terrain and includes locations that are not safe or accessible to firefighters. Firefighter and public safety are the agencies top priority in wildland fire management. Agency administrators and incident managers make choices to minimize risk and focus on areas where firefighters can be the most effective.
A Type 2 Incident Management Team has been ordered and are expected to assume management of the fire on Saturday, August 20, 2016.
Salmon River Rural fire department, firefighters from the Salmon River Ranger District, and the Grangeville Interagency Task Force initially responded. Additional resources were ordered and crews worked through the night.
Today crews worked to construct fireline on the north flank of the fire. Aerial resources were used to drop water and retardant to slow the fires progress and to aid firefighting efforts to keep the fire to the south of Lightning Creek and progressively south toward Salmon Point.
A temporary flight restriction is in effect. Unmanned Aircraft Systems or drones are prohibited. Unauthorized UAS flights over or near a wildfire could cause serious injury or death to firefighters in the air and/or firefighters and members of the public on the ground. The bottom line is that “If you fly, we can’t.” Unauthorized UAS flights could lead fire managers to suspend aerial wildfire suppression operations – such as airtankers dropping fire retardant and helicopters dropping water - until the UAS has left the airspace and they are confident it won’t return.
There are no closures at this time. Fire behavior can change rapidly and visitors are encouraged to contact the Salmon River Ranger District at 208-839-2211 for current fire information. Current Fire and closure information will also be posted on InciWeb at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ and on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests website at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/nezperceclearwater.
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