If conditions are right, Baldy Fire managers
prepare to burn out fuels inside fire lines constructed along the fire’s east
and west flanks Ione, Wash. – Good progress was made today on the Baldy
Fire to keep the fire within established containment lines. If
tomorrow’s weather and fire behavior are favorable, fire managers plan to begin
burning out the fuels inside these lines prepared along the east and west
perimeters of the fire. If firefighters conduct the burn-outs, smoke columns
will be visible from some locations in the Pend Oreille
Valley.
Firefighters have been working for three days to clear and improve Cedar Creek Road east of the fire as a contingency fire line. The fire has slowly burned downhill toward the creek and is now approaching the road at varying rates of spread. According to Brian Gales, incident commander of Washington Interagency Incident Management Team #4, the intent of a burn-out is to “even out” the edge of the fire so that it is easier to control.
“If conditions are right, firefighters will begin to light unburned fuels along the prepared line by the road, and allow it to burn up to the perimeter of the fire,” Gales said. “Firefighters working below the fire will light the fuels in short segments so that the burn-out can be easily supported with aircraft water drops and monitored closely from the ground.”
Gales also said that fire crews will begin to burn out a segment of unburned fuels immediately adjacent to the fire along its western flank to reduce the chance that the fire will burn outside an established fire line there. “We will only burn out if the conditions are right and it can be conducted safely and effectively,” he said.
Two heavy helicopters and a Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) worked today, cooling down the fire front where fire behavior increased due to gusty wind conditions. Winds are expected to change direction tomorrow coming from the west. Weather conditions are expected to remain similar to those today: mostly cloudy and with a chance of rain. Gales said his intent for managing the fire is to keep it inside a manageable space and contain it. “Our first priority is to continue to improve containment lines on the east, west and south flanks and prevent the fire from growing and threatening homes and communities in the Pend Oreille Valley.”
Quick Facts:
Firefighters have been working for three days to clear and improve Cedar Creek Road east of the fire as a contingency fire line. The fire has slowly burned downhill toward the creek and is now approaching the road at varying rates of spread. According to Brian Gales, incident commander of Washington Interagency Incident Management Team #4, the intent of a burn-out is to “even out” the edge of the fire so that it is easier to control.
“If conditions are right, firefighters will begin to light unburned fuels along the prepared line by the road, and allow it to burn up to the perimeter of the fire,” Gales said. “Firefighters working below the fire will light the fuels in short segments so that the burn-out can be easily supported with aircraft water drops and monitored closely from the ground.”
Gales also said that fire crews will begin to burn out a segment of unburned fuels immediately adjacent to the fire along its western flank to reduce the chance that the fire will burn outside an established fire line there. “We will only burn out if the conditions are right and it can be conducted safely and effectively,” he said.
Two heavy helicopters and a Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) worked today, cooling down the fire front where fire behavior increased due to gusty wind conditions. Winds are expected to change direction tomorrow coming from the west. Weather conditions are expected to remain similar to those today: mostly cloudy and with a chance of rain. Gales said his intent for managing the fire is to keep it inside a manageable space and contain it. “Our first priority is to continue to improve containment lines on the east, west and south flanks and prevent the fire from growing and threatening homes and communities in the Pend Oreille Valley.”
Quick Facts:
Fire Size: 507
acres
Fire Start Date:
Saturday, August 1, 2015Location: East flank of Baldy Mountain,
Sullivan Lake Ranger District, Colville National
ForestHazards: Dangerous
snags, heavy ‘jackstraw’ ground fuels, steep terrain, remote location, lack of
safety zones and escape routes, poor access Values at Risk: Power lines east and
south of the fire, private property, fish habitat, water resources, timber,
structuresCause:
UndeterminedContainment:
2%Resources Committed or Available:
4 Type I
Crews5 Type II
Crews7 Engines 2 Type I Helicopters (loan)1 Type II Helicopter (loan)1 Type III Helicopter
(dedicated)2
Dozers2 Air Attack
Personnel: 288
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