The Sacred Path

Journeys through the mist

Day: September 4, 2007

Wood smoke

Sep 4, 2007 /

The past few days have been hot with low humidity, and the Bone Creek fire in the Big Horn Mountains just west of me has picked back up. Most days, the smoke does not come down into Sheridan, but this afternoon the winds were out of the northwest, and the smoke descended on us, filling the air with that sweet smell.

I find the smell of wood smoke unbelievably intoxicating and if I relax into its sweet embrace it will carry me away. I’m not sure where this link to wood smoke comes from, but I’ve had it as long as I can remember. I spent about an hour sitting out on my steps tonight surrounded by it’s sweetness. At one point, I became aware of a soft distant drumming, then came the chanting of some Native American ceremony, and I could sense them dancing around a fire in their finest ceremonial dress. It was at this point that the mosquitos and bugs became too much of a distraction and I came back inside.

Tonight I will sleep with all my windows open and invite the spirits of the smoke to come in and again carry me away.

Bone Creek fire moving into Shell Canyon 9/4/07 AM – UPDATE

Sep 4, 2007 /

[PM Edit: I just checked back in with InciWeb and perhaps the 4,110 acre number this morning was incorrect, or had not been updated. The acreage involved is now listed at 8,052, but still at 60% contained.]

I just checked in and InciWeb has the following update:

Summary: The Bone Creek Fire continues to grow to the south and west and is burning in Shell Canyon below Copman’s Tomb. The fire is being fueled by warm, dry weather; steep canyon topography; and large amounts of dead timber. As of 8:00 am Tuesday morning, an overhead supervisory group, two engines, a 20 person handcrew and a helicopter are assigned to the incident.

Planned Actions: The Bone Creek fire has been under a suppression strategy since it started. The north and east perimeters of the fire have seen extensive suppression work including helicopter bucket drops and line construction. The lines were strengthened by firefighters burning out the unburned fuels between the main fire and the Hunt Mountain Road. Less suppression activity has taken place in the deep canyons on the southwest corner of the fire. The heavy fuels, combined with steep inaccessible topograhphy are unsafe for hand crews.

Projected Movement: On warm dry days, people should anticipate seeing sometimes significant amounts of smoke and fire activity until there is a significant snowfall. When temperatures rise and relative humidities drop to conducive levels, the fire will continue to burn.

It is still listed at 4,110 acres and 60% contained.

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