The Sacred Path

Things must have rolled right along today for the firefighters on the Bone Creek fire. InciWeb is now reporting 45% containment, and none too soon with a cold front and wind moving into north central Wyoming tomorrow afternoon. Personnel is up to 227.

Projected Movement: A forecasted cold front with winds up to 40 miles per hour is expected to pass over the fire area on Wednesday (9/13/07) afternoon to evening. The high winds will test the containment efforts to date.

Total estimated cost to date for fighting this fire: $2,100,000.

[Edit: Oops, this was actually from the 10th, not the 9th as the title says. I lose track of days when I get to consultin' at the speed of sound.]

I’ve been consulting all day and just got around to looking at InciWeb and they have the following to report on the Bone Creek fire since I last checked in:

Karl Brauneis, Information Officer: Snow began to accumulate on the upper elevations of the Bone Creek Fire this morning [9/9/07]. Weather forecasters expect the storm to leave up to 4 inches of snow on the fire.

Ron Klatt, Operations Section Chief with the Rocky Mountain Team stressed that the snow can be a mixed blessing. “The snow will limit our access and in turn our ability to do things we need to do. Unfortunately, there is not enough moisture in the storm to put the fire out.”

Weather forecasters expect a warm and drying trend to begin about mid week. This in turn will lead to an increase in fire behavior.

The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Bravo assumed command of the Bone Creek fire on Thursday evening at 8 PM on September 6, 2007. A recent cool and wet weather pattern has helped firefighters attain 35% containment. Additional resources have arrived to assist in the suppression effort. At least three crews will spike camp in the Cottonwood drainage on the fires west flank.

Firefighters will establish a spike out camp on the Bone Creek fire after the weather clears today. Spike camps are established close to the fire lines to increase effectiveness by reducing crew travel time. They are supported by the fire’s base camp. Up to three crews will “spike out” out in the Cottonwood Creek area on the fires west edge.

The Bone Creek Fire base camp is located at the rodeo grounds north west of Greybull.

Total personnel working the fire is now shown as 204 and total acreage is listed at 13,670.

InciWeb still lists the Bone Creek fire at 13,670 acres and 25% contained, but the number of personnel working the fire is now at 138.

Fire Behavior: Smoldering in duff and heavy timber.

Projected Movement: Expect minimal fire behavior over the weekend (September 8 - 9) due to forecasted cool down with moisture.

According to today’s News Release on InciWeb:

Greybull, WY - Cooler weather along with some much needed moisture helped firefighters gain 25 percent containment on the Bone Creek Fire. The present trend is forecasted to continue through the weekend. Fire Behavior Analyst Clint Dawson said that the current weather forecast calls for snow over parts of the fire from Saturday night through Sunday morning. According to Dawson, the main concern will be a warm and drying trend that will take hold in the middle of next week.

Additional air and ground resources have arrived to help contain the fire. Firefighters will take advantage of the cool down to focus on hot spotting and the construction of containment lines.

Firefighters will only work day shifts on the Bone Creek Fire. Lessons learned during the 1984 Shell Canyon Fire demonstrated that the area is just too rugged to safely work at night.

Current information, along with maps and photographs, can be viewed on line at www.inciweb.org

Fire Facts:

Size: 13, 670 acres
Containment: 25%
Personnel Assigned: 138
Crews: 1 Type I Hot Shot Crew
2 Regular Type II Crews
Air Resources: 2 Heavy Helicopters and 2 Light Helicopter
Engines: 4
Dozers: 0
Water Tenders: 4
Structures Threatened: 46 residence, 5 commercial property and 20 outbuildings
Costs to Date: Estimate $1,300,000
Land Ownership: Bighorn National Forest