HAYFORK, Calif. (Aug. 6, 2015) — A team of 20 wildland firefighters under the direction of the Delaware Forest Service is working with 1,165 personnel currently battling the Fork Complex, a group of lightning-caused fires near Hayfork, California that totals 11,862 acres but is only 7 percent contained. Fire resources on the Fork Complex include 26 crews, 4 helicopters, 128 engines, 30 dozers, and 30 water tenders with road closures and evacuations in effect for the area. California officials declared a state of emergency late last week due to the widespread wildfires that have burned upwards of 190,000 acres.

For the past two days, Delaware’s crew has been working on the Peak Fire, a 706-acre blaze burning on Plummer Peak, south of the town near Highway 3. According to fire officials, Delaware’s job is to “Establish indirect control lines” and “Hold and patrol established lines.”

Kyle Hoyd, the Delaware Forest Service’s assistant forestry administrator, summarized the crew’s effort: “We did a burnout with two engine teams on the Peak Fire off of a dozer line and put hand line around several structures in the same area.” Earlier in the week, Hoyd reported that “everyone is doing well” but the “fire is in steep terrain with multiple hazards.”

The crew’s hard work and effort has been paying off. According to the U.S. Forest Service, “The Peak fire was active throughout the day with continued burning to the west; crews remained in place protecting structures (homes, residences, and out buildings). Significant progress was made with a dozer line completion on the northwest division of the fire, east of Highway 3.”

Crews might not get relief from the weather forecast. Officials say that “Warm and dry conditions will continue through the end of the week and as the smoke inversion begins to clear; this presents the possibility of more direct heat in and around the fire areas as well as more intense burning.”

The Delaware Forest Service also dispatched James Dowd from Blackbird State Forest to work as an equipment manager on the Mad River Complex, along with Michael Nelson of Pennsylvania, who is assigned to the Reynolds Fire in Montana.

Status Update from Payette National Forest

With the National Fire Preparedness Level hitting the maximum of 5 on a 5-point scale for the first time since 2008, a crew of 19 wildland firefighters trained by the Delaware Forest Service are on the front lines of a fire in Idaho’s Payette National Forest. U.S. Forest Service officials say the Delaware crew is now assigned to the Howard Fire, a small blaze ignited by lighting in the rugged terrain east of Riggins, Idaho and south of the Salmon River.

Information on Howard Fire

The Howard Fire is located 8 miles east of Riggins, Idaho on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land under protection of the Payette National Forest and is being managed by the Payette National Forest. It was started by lightning on August 18. The fire is currently around 200 acres but expected to grow – characterized by multiple tree torching and active surface fire spread.. Fire crews and aerial resources are focused on the north flank of the fire to provide a containment line to prevent further fire spread into Elk Horn Creek. Total personnel on the fire: 125.

 Trail closures will be in effect for Broken Leg Trail and Lava Butte Trail – both are motorized ATV trails.

 Current weather at the fire: wind –  10 mph SW; temperature – 92 degrees; humidity – 18%

Payette National Forest, U.S. Forest Service
800 West Lakeside Ave.
McCall, ID 83638

Incident Contact: Brian Harris
Phone: 208-634-6945

Contact: John Petersen, DFS Community Relations Officer
john.petersen@delaware.gov
302-698-4552 (office) 302-233-8180 (cell)

Contact: Henry Poole, Assistant Forestry Administrator – Delaware Forest Service
henry.poole@delaware.gov
302-698-4548 (office)

August 16 Update:
Delaware’s crew is assigned to the Patch Springs Fire – a 14,000-acre blaze located two miles northwest of Terra, UT that is only 20 percent contained. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the blaze is characterized by active fire behavior in timber with group tree torching and long-range spotting. Structures are threatened and evacuations in effect.

The Delaware firefighters are working on Division Z, where they are assisting with burn-out operations, line prep and patrolling. There are four crews assigned to the blaze, part of almost 150 personnel assigned to the incident. Estimated containment date: August 22.

August 14 Update:

A team of 20 wildland firefighters from Delaware is battling the Patch Springs Fire  – a blaze situated about two miles northwest of Terra, Utah which has burned 10,671 acres to date since it was ignited by a lightning strike on August 10. The fire is one of 34 new fires in the Eastern Great Basin Area, which has raised its Fire Preparedness Level to the maximum level of 5 on a 5-point scale.  One fire in that region – the Pony Complex – has already torched over 143,000 acres.

The Delaware Forest Service-trained crew is part of over 150 personnel working to protect residences and other structures on the Patch Springs blaze, which is currently 15 percent contained. The crew had been scheduled to travel to another fire before they were diverted to their current assignment. Officials estimate the blaze could be contained by August 19.

National Fire News  –
http://www.nifc.gov
Situation Report –
http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf

The Patch Springs Fire has been reported on two Utah TV stations:

Click here for the FOX 13 News Report

Click here for the ABC 4 News Report