RSS

Monthly Archives: July 2013

Battle Creek Fire, Day Seven

28 Jul
Firefighter heading toward fire USFS photo by Kassidy Kern

Firefighter heading toward fire
USFS photo by Kassidy Kern

Firefighters getting ready to head out USFS photo by Kassidy Kern

Firefighters getting ready to head out
USFS photo
by Kassidy Kern

West Battle Creek Fire
41.126 latitude, -107.12 longitude

– Transition from Type III Incident Command Team to a Type IV organization took place Saturday. Ben Plum as IC, Chris Moore trainee

– Storm Peak Wildland Fire Module will take over operations Sunday

– 90% containment was announced after Saturday’s operations

– Mop-up and surveillance are the current focus of fire personnel

– There are approximately 35 fire personnel assigned to the West Battle Creek Fire. Cocinino Regulars T2IA crew remains. Final helicopter was released Saturday

– There has been no growth over the past four days, the West Battle Creek Fire is still approximately 103 acres in the Sierra Madre Range, Medicine Bow National Forest.

– The burn pattern of this fire is spotty and has predominantly grown by spotting and creeping. The majority of the fire area is on private land, with some U.S. Forest Service land in the burn area as well.

– Growth potential is low and the fire is currently smoldering

– There are no current evacuations or closures due to the fire

– Located in the West Battle Creek drainage, near the confluence with Haggarty Creek. Two miles west of the Huston Park Wilderness boundary, one mile south of Wyo Hwy 70, Battle Highway

– The fire burned in heavy, beetle-killed lodgepole pine and mixed conifer. Steep, rugged terrain with difficult access

– Cause is lightning

– Isolated cabins in the area

– Initial attack mid-day Monday by U.S. Forest Service engine (Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District) and Carbon Co. engines

Basic Information

Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin Monday July 22nd, 2013 approx. 12:00 PM
Location T 13, R 87W, Section 1
Incident Commander Plum / Moore (trainee)

Current Situation

Total Personnel 35
Size 103 acres
Percent Contained 90%
Fuels Involved Heavy beetle-kill lodgepole pine, mixed conifer
Fire Behavior Smoldering

Outlook

Planned Actions Mop-up
Growth Potential Low
Terrain Difficulty Extreme

Unit Information

USFS Shield

Medicine Bow National Forest & Thunder Basin National Grassland
U.S. Forest Service
2468 Jackson Street
Laramie, WY 82070
Fire Information
Phone: 307-745-237

Incident Cooperators

National Wildfire Coordinating Group U.S. Forest Service Bureau of Land Managemen Bureau of Indian Affairs Fish and Wildlife Service National Park Service National Association of State Foresters U.S. Fire Administration
Content posted to this website is for information purposes only.
version: 2.3      load time: 0.0028 sec.
 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 28, 2013 in Events, Folks, Nature and Wildlife

 

Tags: , ,

Battle Creek Fire, Day Five

26 Jul

Thankfully, the fire seems to be ending not with a bang but a whimper.  We had some rain yesterday, and the Forest Service reports 80 % containment with no growth. It has downgraded the fire from a “Type III incident” to a “Type IV Incident” which I think is less serious.  It describes the current state as “smouldering.”  My friend Alex is surely giving a sigh of relief, since her home, described by the FS as an “isolated cabin”, has dodged this particular bullet.  We were working sheep a couple of miles from the epicenter today, and nary a smoke plume was spotted.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 26, 2013 in Events

 

Tags:

View from Lower Big Gulch, Medicine Bow National Forest

26 Jul
Sheep Mountain and horizon

Sheep Mountain and horizon
photo by Eamon O’Toole

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 26, 2013 in Nature and Wildlife

 

Tags: , ,

Fire on Battle Creek, Day Four

25 Jul

Today, we got blessed rain.  It’s a little hard on the hay that we have mowed and down, but the country is so dry that we are thankful. I expect that it slowed the fire down some.  Tomorrow we hope to finish docking the tail-end lambs.  They are in the Forks Allotment, closest to the fire.  If it’s not too muddy to get in, we should be able to  process these lambs before they get any bigger!

West Battle Creek Fire

Approximate Location

41.126 latitude, -107.12 longitude

Incident Overview

Helicopter Bucket Drops On The West Battle Creek Fire, Noon, July 24Image options: [ Enlarge ] [ Full Size ]

– Thursday’s operations call for continued air operations, establishment of hand line, locating and securing spot fires

– There are close to 100 fire personnel assigned to the West Battle Creek Fire. Wildland fire module, county engines, one helicopter and dozer were released prior to Thursday operations

– 1/10 of an inch of rain fell on the fire Wednesday night.

– An Infrared (IR) flight was scheduled for Wednesday night, but was cancelled due to weather. They will try again Thursday night. This heat seeking device allows firefighters to identify hot spots that may not be seen during daylight hours.

– Starting Thursday’s operational period, the West Battle Creek Fire is still approximately 103 acres in the Sierra Madre Range, Medicine Bow National Forest.

– The fire is 10% contained

– The burn pattern of this fire is spotty and has predominantly grown by spotting and creeping. The majority of the fire area is on private land, with some U.S. Forest Service land in the burn area as well.

– Thursday forecast for cool, cloudy weather with a chance of showers and thunderstorms

– Growth potential is moderate. The fire is primarily active in the heavy fuels, which are still very dry. Fire is creeping, w-short-range spotting

– A local Type III Incident Command Team took over command of the fire early Tuesday, IC is Jerrod Delay and trainee is Chris Rankin

– Located in the West Battle Creek drainage, near the confluence with Haggarty Creek. Two miles west of the Huston Park Wilderness boundary, one mile south of Wyo Hwy 70, Battle Highway

– Resources working the fire include one USFS engine, three Type II hand crews, one SEAT and two Type III helicopters. A Type I helicopter is available as needed.

– Fire is burning in heavy, beetle-killed lodgepole pine and mixed conifer. Steep, rugged terrain with difficult access

– Cause is lightning

– Isolated cabins in the area

– Initial attack mid-day Monday by U.S. Forest Service engine (Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District) and Carbon Co. engines

Basic Information

Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin Monday July 22nd, 2013 approx. 12:00 PM
Location T 13, R 87W, Section 1
Incident Commander Delay / Rankin (trainee)

Current Situation

Total Personnel 80
Size 103 acres
Percent Contained 45%
Fuels Involved Heavy beetle-kill lodgepole pine, mixed conifer
Fire Behavior Creeping, isolated/group torching, short-range spotting

Outlook

Planned Actions Continue air operations, direct & indirect hand line construction. Identify & secure spot fires
Terrain Difficulty Extreme

Unit Information

USFS Shield

Medicine Bow National Forest & Thunder Basin National Grassland
U.S. Forest Service
2468 Jackson Street
Laramie, WY 82070

Incident Contact

Fire Information
Phone: 307-745-2378

Recent Articles

Incident Cooperators

U.S. Forest Service Bureau of Land Managemen Bureau of Indian Affairs Fish and Wildlife Service National Park Service National Association of State Foresters U.S. Fire Administration

Content posted to this website is for information purposes only.
version: 2.3      load time: 0.00264 sec.
 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 25, 2013 in Events

 

Tags: ,

Fire on Battle Creek, Day 3

24 Jul

So far, the fire is doing lots of good.  It has advanced, but not increased in acreage. The Forest Service still reports it at 5% contained, but the terrain is so rough, it is difficult to fight except by air.  They do have some air support in, as well as about 120 firefighters.  The weather has been dry, but not windy.  Much of the fire is on private land.  The Medicine Bow Forest is full of old mining claims, left over from the glory days of the Ferris-Haggerty copper mine–just up the creek from the heart of the fire.

Here’s a report from the Rawlins Daily Times…sure hope they’re right about the rain.

West Battle Creek Fire Map provided by the U.S. Forest Service

West Battle Creek Fire

The West Battle Creek Fire began Monday afternoon two miles west of the Huston Park Wilderness boundary and one mile south of Highway 70. It is burning through 93 acres of the Sierra Madre Range of the Medicine Bow National Forest.

CCVC - InStory Ad Off the beaten path

Posted: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 5:30 am

By Kate Snyder ksnyder@rawlinstimes.com | 0 comments

Ninety-three acres of rugged terrain is burning in the Sierra Madre Range of the Medicine Bow National Forest. The fire, dubbed the West Battle Creek Fire, began Monday afternoon two miles west of the Huston Park Wilderness boundary and one mile south of Wyoming Highway 70.

A local incident command team has taken command of the fire, according to a press release from the U.S. Forest Service in Medicine Bow.

No injuries or fatalities have been reported, said Aaron Voos, public affairs specialist with the U.S. Forest Service.

“It’s still at zero containment,” he said. “We’re a little concerned about the (dry) weather.”

Engines from Carbon County and the U.S. Forest Service responded, the press release stated. A helicopter and a single engine air tanker were also assigned to the fire.

The cause of the wildfire is unknown at this time.

Voos said more resources are in transit, and by the end of the day Tuesday, he estimated about 100 personnel working at the fire site.

“It’s really not a good place for engines,” said Carbon County Fire Warden John Rutherford. “It’s pretty rugged.”

The Lost Creek Campground and the Baby Lakes Trailhead were evacuated and are closed, Voos said.

A cold front is set to move into the fire area on Wednesday and is expected to bring rain through the weekend, the press release stated.

For more information about the fire, call 307-745-2378, visit InciWeb.org or #WestBattleCreekFire on Twitter.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 24, 2013 in Events

 

Tags: , ,

Fire on Battle Creek, Day Two

23 Jul
Pepe and Brian moving sheep, HInman Fire, 2002 photo by Keri Greet

Pepe and Brian moving sheep, HInman Fire, 2002
photo by Keri Greer

Our fire has a name now.  We have three bands of sheep, with herders, dogs, horses and camps, in fairly close proximity to the fire.  We’ve moved them, and warned the herders to be ready to move out quickly if necessary.  At this point, the fire seems to be burning along, without any sudden or life-threatening moves.  The Medicine Bow National Forest is chock-full of dead beetle-killed pines, which are bound to burn.  As long as the fire doesn’t get out of control, it is doing a lot of good.  Of course, as I discussed with my friend Alex, whose home is very close to the fire, “The sheep can move.  Your house can’t.”
Here’s a report from the Forest Service website http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3547/

West Battle Creek Fire

Press Release – 7/23/12
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mbr/news-events/

INCIDENT UPDATED 2 HRS. AGO

Approximate Location

41.126 latitude, -107.12 longitude

Incident Overview

West Battle Creek Fire Area - July 23, 1 P.m.Image options: [ Enlarge ] [ Full Size ]

– Approximately 103 acres in the Sierra Madre Range, Medicine Bow National Forest

– The fire is 5% contained.

– A local Type III Incident Command Team took over command of the fire early Tuesday, IC is Jerrod Delay

– Located in the West Battle Creek drainage, near the confluence with Haggarty Creek. Two miles west of the Huston Park Wilderness boundary, one mile south of Wyo Hwy 70, Battle Highway.

– Initial attack mid-day Monday by U.S. Forest Service engine (Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District) and Carbon Co. engines

– Tuesday afternoon weather will be hot and dry with gusty winds. Potential for fire growth is high. Minimal fire growth Monday night

– Resources working the fire include one USFS and one local engine, one Type II hand crew, one Type II bulldozer, one Wildland Fire Module, one SEAT and a Type III helicopter. Other resources that will be arriving on scene include five Type VI engines, two Type II hand crews and a Type I helicopter as needed.

– Fire is burning in heavy, beetle-killed lodgepole pine and mixed conifer. Steep, rugged terrain with difficult access

– Cause is currently unknown

– Isolated cabins in the area

Basic Information

Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Unknown
Date of Origin Monday July 22nd, 2013 approx. 12:00 PM
Location T 13, R 87W, Section 1
Incident Commander Jerrod Delay

Current Situation

Size 103 acres
Fuels Involved Heavy beetle-kill lodgepole pine, mixed conifer

Unit Information

USFS Shield

Medicine Bow National Forest & Thunder Basin National Grassland
U.S. Forest Service
2468 Jackson Street
Laramie, WY 82070

Incident Contact

Fire Information
Phone: 307-745-2378

Incident Cooperators

National Wildfire Coordinating Group U.S. Forest Service Bureau of Land Managemen Bureau of Indian Affairs Fish and Wildlife Service National Park Service National Association of State Foresters U.S. Fire Administration
Content posted to this website is for information purposes only.
 
1 Comment

Posted by on July 23, 2013 in Animals, Events, Folks, Peruvian sheepherders, Sheep

 

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

The new Prince

22 Jul
Dirte with Prince

Dirte with Prince

Not to be outdone by British Royalty, Eamon’s mare, Dirte, gave birth to a colt this morning.

Maeve, Tiarnan and Siobhan checking out the horses

Maeve, Tiarnan and Siobhan checking out the horses

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 22, 2013 in Animals, Events, Family, Horses

 

Tags: , , , , ,

Fire on Battle Creek, Day One

22 Jul
smoke over Battle Creek

smoke over Battle Creek

“There’s a fire on Battle Creek.”

A phone call from Wendy, a Medicine Bow Forest Service Range Conservationist, this evening got my attention.  We have three bands of sheep on their summer grazing permits in the Med Bow, in a forest of beetle-killed dead pines.

Pepe, Salomon and I hopped into the pickup and drove up to the Forest, not far from our Home Ranch, to give the sheepherders a heads up.  Pepe was emphatic in his warnings because he had brought a band of sheep, nearly surrounded by fire, out of the Hinman Fire in 2002.

So far, the fire is burning in an area of rough dead timber, and is quite a ways from the sheep.  If it doesn’t get out of hand, it will do a lot of good.

We found several Forest Service employees and two folks who have homes within the Forest boundaries keeping watch.

Larry and Jeff (homeowner) keeping an eye on the fire

Larry and Jeff (homeowner) keeping an eye on the fire

Pepe recalling the Hinmanfire

Pepe recalling the Hinman Fire

 

 

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 22, 2013 in Events, Folks, Peruvian sheepherders

 

Tags: , , ,

Little Snake River Fun Day, with rain!

12 Jul
Siobhan and Chief round the barrel

Siobhan and Chief round the barrel

Each year, the Little Snake River Lions Club sponsors, with volunteer help, the annual rodeo and Fun Day.  Fun Day features an amateur rodeo and lots of family events like ribbon roping, junior bull riding and mutton busting.  A high point is the pig and chicken catching by community members of various age groups, from under 2 to adult women (hey guys, are you cowards?!)

This year, an added feature was rain–the first in many weeks.  Nobody cared that they were muddy as they chased barrels and pigs.  All were really happy to see the moisture.

Kylie and Matt Feldman, ready to ride

Kylie and Matt Feldman, ready to ride

Matt and Kylie heading for the barrel race

Matt and Kylie heading for the barrel race

McCoy in the barrel race, with a little help from his Mom

McCoy in the barrel race, with a little help from his Mom

McCoy doffs his hat to the crowd

McCoy doffs his hat to the crowd

Seamus mutton busting

Seamus mutton busting in rain

Tiarnan, Meghan ready to chase chickens

Tiarnan, Meghan ready to chase chickens

Rodriguez guys, of El Rio Restaurant fame, serving burgers

Rodriguez guys, of El Rio Restaurant fame, serving burgers

Eamon and McCoy's pig

Eamon and McCoy’s pig

Sage, pig and Eamon

Sage, pig and Eamon

McCoy on fence

McCoy on fence

Tiarnan and McCoy with snowcones

Tiarnan and McCoy with snowcones

Trouble on the fence: Maeve and the kindergarten girls

Trouble on the fence: Maeve and the kindergarten girls

Megan and Meghan following an unsuccessful pig chase

Megan and Meghan following an unsuccessful pig chase

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 12, 2013 in Animals, Events, Family, Folks, Sheep

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bums

10 Jul
naked boys with bum lambs_edited-1

We thought they were running through the sprinklers!

 
1 Comment

Posted by on July 10, 2013 in Animals, Family, Folks, Sheep

 

Tags: ,

← Older posts