LITTLE GOOSE FIRE CONTAINED – RED GRADE ROAD OPENS - The Little Goose Fire has reached 100 % containment.  At the end of the day Tuesday, the fire was returned to the local federal and county units, and all future decisions and planned activities will be determined by local officials in charge. Sheridan County Emergency Management Coordinator, Dave Coleman, has news many have been awaiting:  

A lot of different entities worked together with the Incident Management Team to reach the containment goal, including the Bighorn Fire Department, County Fire Warden Bill Biastoch, the Sheridan County Sheriff's office, Sheridan County Emergency Management, Sheridan Fire-Rescue and the Bighorn National Forest.

Over at the Bone Creek Fire, thanks to better mapping data, the acreage burned is now a lower figure than previously reported, coming in at 3,759.  Containment is at 25 % on the Bone Creek Fire.  Plans for today will have crews using aerial ignition to burn out fuels ahead of the fire.  They'd hoped to do this yesterday, but weather did not cooperate, so the aerial burn was canceled.  Hand crews did manage to secure some fire line along the south slopes of Cedar and Wiley Creeks where the aerial ignition was to take place, and crews also worked along the west flank.  Engine crews assessed structure protection needs along Highway 14.Personnel and equipment on the Bone Creek Fire includes 365 people, five helicopters and fourteen engines.

 

August 22, 2007   5:30 AM

ROAD FROM BURGESS JUNCTION TO BLACK TOOTH NOW OPEN - Word just in this morning from Sheridan County Commissioner Bob Rolston – the road from Burgess Junction to the Black Tooth Subdivision has now been opened.  Red Grade Road remains closed, and we will let you know throughout the day as updates come in.

UPDATE ON LITTLE GOOSE FIRE - The Little Goose Fire is quickly approaching 100 percent containment.  Monday, crews concentrated on completing fire line around the entire perimeter of the fire and mopping up hot spots inside the line.  Other hand crews are constructing water bars on the fire line to mitigate erosion.  Hazardous trees were cut down next to the Red Grade Road to avoid future problems with trees falling on the road.  A small bulldozer applied the same mitigation techniques to fire line constructed by heavy machinery during the fire. For the first time since the firefighting effort began, there were some injuries Monday, to two firefighters.  A log that was being cut into smaller sections unexpectedly moved from a secure spot, hitting the firefighters working next to it.  One firefighter was treated and released, while the second has a broken leg and was held overnight for observation.  Both are expected to make a full recovery. Because crews are dropping trees close to the Red Grade Road, public access to the area between the upper snowmobile parking lots and the Bighorn National Forest boundary remains closed.  We will inform you when that road closure has been lifted.

UPDATE ON BONE CREEK FIRE - As we reported yesterday, the Rocky Mountain Area Incident Management Team has moved their base of operations to the Wyoming Department of Transportation shop at Burgess Junction to better serve the fire suppression efforts on the Bone Creek Fire.The Bone Creek Fire is now 4,083 acres.  It is burning in dead and insect-infested spruce/fir and lodge pole pine.  Structures are not immediately threatened, so crews have been able to use indirect control tactics like retardant applications, helicopter water drops, burnouts and natural barriers, along with hand line crews.There are 412 people, four helicopters and eighteen engines assigned to both the Little Goose and Bone Creek Fires.The same road closures are in effect.

Attached is a map of the Little Goose fire which is now 90 to 95% contained.
(Be patient...it's a little slow to load.)

Besides http://www.storywyoming.org/, 
two other websites dealing with wildland fire issues are:

http://www.rockymountainwildlandfire.info/ and

http://www.firewise.org/

 

UPDATE:  Monday, August 20, 2007

It is reported that the smoke we are seeing this morning is from a fire that started in the Billings area yesterday afternoon. Here is a report from the Billings Gazette about the fire.

 

By The Gazette Staff

Update 6 a.m. Monday: A second home has been destroyed in the Emerald Hills fire, Yellowstone County Commissioner Bill Kennedy said today. He said the focus of firefighters is the south end of Emerald Hills Drive and stretches of Whispering Pines, Box Canyon Road, Corral Drive, Sanctuary Trail and Buck Deer Pass.

"The fires have picked up," Kennedy said. "The crews are holding their own." During the night, gusty winds blew 20 mph to the southeast and stirred up the blaze. An evacuation notice remains in effect for a two-mile radius around the fire.

"We still have a very dangerous situation," Kennedy said.

Several residents stayed overnight at the Red Cross shelter set up in the Lockwood Middle School. The Humane Society is providing shelter for pets and livestock at the Sandstone Building at MetraPark.

August 15, 2007                                                             Fire Information 307-224-4109

BRUCE HOFFMAN GOLDEN DOME THE SIGHT FOR TOWN MEETING - Nearly 400 people attended last night's Town Hall meeting, hosted by the Region 2 Incident Command overseeing the firefighting efforts on the Little Goose Fire. For the first hour, presentations were given by representatives with the Bighorn National Forest, the Sheridan County Commission, the Wyoming State Forestry Division, Sheriff Hofmeier, County Fire Warden Bill Biastoch, and members of the Rocky Mountain Area Incident Management team.Pete Blume is the head of the Region 2 Incident Command, and commended all the agencies for working together on this fire, especially, he says. And just since Saturday night, County firefighters were called out to 25 fires because of the lightning storm, with 13 fires burning in the Clearmont area.  Boyd Labedeck trains firefighters in how to read wildland behavior, and he taught the audience. And on Sunday, while the topography and the fuel source didn't change, the weather did, mainly with a shift in the winds from being either north-westerly or north-easterly on Saturday, to coming up from the South on Sunday, pushing the fire up over Stumpy Ridge, with ashes landing several hundred feet below.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER VINCE URBINA GIVES TUESDAY STATS ON LITTLE GOOSE FIRE - With his daily update on the status of the Little Goose Fire, Region 2 Incident Command Public Information Officer, Vince Urbina, gives this report. Urbina was the facilitator of the meeting in the Bruce Hoffman Golden Dome last night, and he comments on how he feels the meeting went. With over 200 people on the fire, Urbina notes that while the majority of fires on which he's worked don't typically use night shift crews, on the Little Goose Fire. As to when they estimate full containment, no officially-released statement has been made, although at last night's Town Meeting at the Golden Dome, they unofficially mentioned a possibility of four to five days.

Monday, August 13, 2007

UPDATE 2PM AIR POLLUTION ALERT FOR SMOKE FOR THE CITY OF SHERIDAN AND SURROUNDING AREAS, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE  - Due to the Little Goose fire and other fires in the region, periods of smoke and poor air quality conditions are being experienced in  Sheridan and communities in the surrounding areas. Conditions can worsen at nighttime and early morning as an inversion can trap the smoke and hold it close to the ground surface. The Sheridan air quality office recommends the elderly, the young, and anyone with respiratory or heart problems avoid excessive physical exertion and exposure to the outside air. Areas immediately down wind from the Little Goose fire could experience hazardous levels of smoke.

Story Fire News

August 13, 2007

 

According to Bighorn National Forest officials there is currently no eminent threat to the community of Story from the Little Goose Fire. It would take a drastic wind change for several days to cause the fire to be of concern to Story residents.

 

We will continue to post current information at the

Fire Hall Bulletin Board;

Story Post Office;

Piney Creek Grocery;

Chuckwagon Country Store.

 

We have an e-mail newsletter we also use to distribute information. To be on this e-mail list please e-mail:

jlunbeck@trcable.tv

UPDATE 9AM - TWO STRUCTURES KNOWN TO BE LOST OVERNIGHT; MORE WIND AND HOT TEMPS EXPECTED TODAY - We now know 42-hundred acres have been lost to the Little Goose Creek Fire, and officials are anticipating the same kind of wind and hot temperatures today that caused the fire to blow up Sunday afternoon. Vince Urbina is the Public information Officer with the Region 2 Incident Command, says there are four divisions on the fire, and more resources are at a premium, because of the high volume of fires burning in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho.  In fact, they'd requested retardant drops yesterday afternoon and only received one. Urbina says that two structures are confirmed lost, but he has no information as to whom they belong.  Urbina wants to dispel the rumor about the fire being nearer to the town of Big Horn:. Urbina tells us there are 100 firefighters on the fire so far, and talks  about the plan for today:. We reported earlier that many people came forth yesterday with offers to help, and while Urbina relays the many thanks from crews:. And speaking of the Fairgrounds, director Sharon Nadeau says they've got about 10 to 20 horses in stalls with no identification; she asks that those people who took them there to please call the fairgrounds with that information. Lastly, Urbina tells us about tonight's town meeting at the Bruce Hoffman Golden Dome:. As the day progresses, we will bring you updates.

Monday, August 13, 2007

LITTLE GOOSE FIRE JUMPED STUMPY RIDGE – EVACUATIONS NECESSARY BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON - We're waking up to a thick blanket of smoke this morning, as the overnight temperatures and humidity have force the smoke from fires all over Sheridan County to settle low in the valley. Word came in around 3:15 Sunday afternoon – the winds had shifted direction in the Black Canyon of Little Goose, causing the Little Goose Creek Fire to jump Stumpy ridge and head down the mountain toward Big Horn, forcing residents along County Road 77 and Red Grade Road to evacuate. Sheridan County Emergency Management Coordinator, Dave Coleman, talks about how the night ended last night. And as is usual with crises that hit our community, well-meaning and helpful volunteers came forth with offers of everything from pet carriers for transporting dogs and cats with their evacuated owners, to offers of providing food and shelter.Ken Schuster, curator at Bradford Brinton, sent word the the museum and gallery are, understandably, closed until further notice, for certain through today.The fire in the Arvada-Clearmont-Pasaic Road area has crossed the state line into Montana, and we will be getting an update on the status of firefighting efforts and the need for extra help a bit later this morning.Tonight, there will be a Town Meeting at the Bruce Hoffman Golden Dome at 7pm with Fire Information Officials, most especially for Big Horn residents, but the community is welcome to attend.

AS OF 10 PM SUNDAY, AUGUST 12TH, 2007

Nothing new to report for the overnite; the cooler night-time temperatures and slightly calmer winds should help firefighters to keep the Little Goose Fire at bay from coming further toward Big Horn. Emergency personnell will be holding a briefing early Monday morning, and we will update you at that time.

As for the possible power outage in the Arvada-Clearmont-Ucross area, Doreen Schaar, spokeswoman for Powder River Energy, says that they think they've got the situation under control regarding the fire consuming their substation; however, customers are still asked to prepare for a possible power outage by having flashlights or other light sources, a battery-operated radio and fresh batteries, and jugs with fresh drinking water handy.

Here's web cam shot of the fire area.

  Click link     http://www.sheridanmedia.com/site/webcam2.html

August 12, 2007...5:45 PM   Just In:

As of 5:45: Doreen Schaar of Powder River Energy says that one of the substations is being threatened by the wildfires burning in the Arvada-Clearmont-Ucross area. The fire started last night during the severe lightening storm that covered the region for several hours. Residents are asked to round up emergency flashlights, candles, fill tubs or jugs with fresh water, as the potential for power to go out is imminent!

LITTLE GOOSE FIRE UPDATE AUGUST 11, 2007 AS OF 10:45 am The Little Goose Fire was detected around 9 am on Friday, August 10, in the Bighorn National Forest, west of Story.  The fire is in T53N, R85W, and is estimated to be now at 830 acres. There are two helicopters assigned, one Type I helicopter for bucket drops, and one Type III helicopter for logistical support.  Another Type I helicopter has been ordered to assist with water drops.  There are 80 people assigned to the fire at this time. The objectives for the day are to provide for firefighter and public safety above all other considerations, to try to keep fire from crossing Stumpy Ridge to the northeast and going past Kinney Wood Park to the west, and to protect structures.  Some structures have been treated with protective foam.  The forest Service is working on this fire in coordination with Sheridan County. The fire is burning in grass and very dry timber with torching.  Today is predicted to be cooler, which should help the firefighters, but tomorrow is expected to return to hot, dry conditions. A Type II overhead team has been ordered and is expected to arrive at noon today.  

The following roads and trails are closed for public safety:

Trail 33 from the trailhead in Story to Penrose Park
Road 320 from the Forest boundary to Penrose Park
Trail 28; Trail 112; Trail 86; Trail 628; Road 521; Road 314; Road 313; Road 315; Road 316; Road 309; Trail 29 from Red Grade Road to Road 309; Little Goose Campground, Red Grade Road 26 from the snowmobile parking lot west of Big Horn to the Junction of Park Reservoir; Road 293

TeePee Association residents have full access to ingress and egress from the west.  They may not travel up the Red Grade Road but may access their homes from Hwy 14, then Forest Road 26.  The Red Grade Road is closed from that point to the snowmobile parking lot west of Big Horn.

NOTE FROM JOHN LUNBECK TO STORY RESIDENTS:

LITTLE GOOSE FIRE UPDATE AS OF 

8 PM 8/10/07 - Here is an update on the fire burning in the Big Horns: The fire, burning only on National Forest land at this time, is now officially called the Little Goose Fire.  This is what we know until a briefing is held tomorrow morning: The fire, as of 8 Friday night, has burned approximately 600 acres of timber, on a steep, rocky terrain in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.  Because of high winds, it has been difficult for the Type 1 and Type 3 helicopters to fly in to drop water. Craig Yancey with the Big Horn Forest Service says that until increased manpower comes in, they have not had personnel fighting the blaze, because there is no escape route should the winds increase. . . He says that they anticipate gusts up to 40 miles an hour overnite, and they will have a firefighter monitoring the blaze until morning. A Type 2 Incident Command and Hot Shot hand crews have been called in to provide a larger overhead team.  Yancey says that there are some mountain structures in the vicinity but they have been evacuated, and both ends of Red Grade Road have been closed and will remain closed until further notice.

BLACK CANYON FIRE 8/10/07 - Craig Yancey of the Big Horn National Forest says that the fire currently burning in the Big Horns is located in the Black Canyon of Little Goose Creek, Section 11, Township 85 North, Range 53 West Crews from Porcupine and Tyrell are en route.  Forest service officials are getting crews organized from Sheridan, and a State of Wyoming helicopter is coming from Casper. Smoke seems to be dissipating as of 10:15, but Yancey anticipates the wind picking up this afternoon 

UPDATE Sheridan County Emergency Management Coordinator Dave Coleman, and Sheridan County Fire Manager Bill Biastock, ask that no one go up Red Grade Road to the mountains today, to allow clear travel for emergency vehicles and firefighting personnel. Red Grade is now closed to the public and to all vehicles (including property and cabin owners). Only emergency personnel.are allowed on Red Grade Road. Onlookers and 'lookey-loo's" are asked to stay out of the area, so as not to impede the firefighting effort.