InciWeb: Elk Complex Wildland Fire - 10,337 acres - 59% containment.

InciWeb: Elk Complex Wildland Fire:

Elk Complex Wildland Fire

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INCIDENT UPDATED

Elk Complex Fire Progression Map
Credit: Elk Complex map ICP

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Summary

Total Complex Acreage: 10,337 acres

Incident Resources: 1,146 personnel

Total Complex Containment: 59%

Cost to Date: $12,554,277

Injuries to Date (minor): 13

Fatalities to Date: 1

Expected Full Containment: 8/05/2007

Crews continue to patrol and mop up the perimeter of the Little Grider. Smoke will be produced as fuels burn within the interior of the fire. Suppression efforts continue on the Wingate/Titus/KingCreek 2 fire. Aerial patrol of the Elk and Hummingbird fires is continuing and no heat has been observed on the Hummingbird for the last two days. Protection of Happy Camp and Elk Creek communities remains a top priority.

Burning operations continue on the Wingate/Titus/King Creek 2 fires from Branch I/IV break west along the 15N10 road. The containment date for the Elk Complex has been changed to August 5, 2007 due to steep terrain and fuel conditions. Crews continue to secure lines that have burned in previous shifts and brush roads in the southern portion of the incident. Fire activity is anticipated to increase as daytime temperatures rise and relative humidity decreases.

Complex Fire Details

Of the thirty identified fires in the Elk Complex, 25 are 100% contained. The contained fires will continue to be monitored, patrolled and staffed as safety, resources and access permit. The remaining five fires are as follows:

•Wingate/Titus/King Creek 2 (6,279 acres) 36% contained. Line construction continues on the fire. A recommended evacuation for homeowners and closure for campers and miners, from Five Mile Bridge to Norcross Campground on Elk Creek Road remains in place. Firelines have been constructed and burnouts continue.

•Elk Fire (1,144 acres) 96% contained

•Hummingbird Fire (80 acres) 0% contained. Aerial patrols have not detected heat by Infrared resources on fire for over three days

Sources of info include: http://www.inciweb.org (including other fires) or the incident information office at (530) 841-4451. Visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/conditions/ for information on fire restrictions and local closures.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	07/10/2007 at 00 hrs.
Location	Happy Camp Ranger District
Incident Commander	Mike Dietrich

Current Situation

Total Personnel	1,175
Size	10,337 acres
Percent Contained	59%
Estimated Containment Date	08/05/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	Mature heavy timber overstory with brush understory, large quantities of dead fuels and snags.
Fire Behavior	Active fire behavior with isolated torching, creeping and rollout on steep slopes.
Significant Events	Continued to secure line burned on previous days. Weather conditions provided limited opportunities for burn operations early in the day yesterday. Improved conditions in the afternoon allowed burn operations to continue on the eastern flank of the King Creek 2/Wingate/Titus Fire.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Continue burn operation on the Wingate/Titus/King Creek 2 fire from the Branch I/IV break west along the 15N10 Road towards Drop Point 8. Evaluate further burn operations in Branch IV. Secure the line burned on previous days. Brush roads in southern portion of Branch IV. Support Aviation Forest Service Accident Investigation Team on Norcross Incident.
Projected Movement	12 hours: Continued spread expected due to further drying of fuels and potential burnout/backfire operations. 24 hours: Potential for re-burn in areas wetted by previous rain event as drying continues. Short range spotting activity could increase fire spread. 48 hours: Potential for re-burn in areas wetted by previous rain event as drying continues. Short range spotting activity could increase fire spread. 72 hours: Potential for re-burn in areas wetted by previous rain event as drying continues. Short range spotting activity could increase fire spread.
Growth Potential	High
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Containment Target	Likely to meet objectives based on current weather projections.
Remarks	Note change in containment date to 8/5 based on terrain and fuels conditions. The five DIVS identified in Block #27 are needed to replace incident resources that are timing out on the 14 day rotation. Expect an increase in containment as direct strategy and burnout continues. A total of seventy-seven miles of fire line has been constructed to date. This includes twenty-eight miles of dozer line and forty-nine miles of handline and brushed roads. A six mile portion of the Klamath River will be used as a west flank containment line for the Wingate/Titus/King Creek 2 Fires. Fire acreage and containment: Of the thirty identified fires in Elk Complex, 25 fires are 100% contained. The remaining fires are as follows: Kings Creek 2/Wingate/Titus 6,372 acres-36%, Elk 1,144 acres-96%, Hummingbird 80 acres-0%. Elk fire and Hummingbird fire are in aerial patrol. No heat has been observed by infrared resources on the Hummingbird over the last three days.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	1 mph
Current Temperature	59 degrees
Current Humidity	71 %