http://inciweb.org/forest/1467/Latest articles for Snow Hole Wildland FireFri, 09 Jan 2009 12:26:40 -06:00en-ushttp://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1467/7865/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1467/7865/Snow Hole Fire Winds Down(Cottonwood, ID) This will be the last fire update from Kusicko's Incident Management Team (IMT). A local IMT is preparing to assume command of the Snow Hole Fire Tuesday morning, August 19th. The Incident Command Post (ICP) established east of Keuterville will be dismantled on Tuesday, and the new camp will be located where a spike camp has been established on Joseph Plains. Approximately 75 firefighters will be stationed there until the fire is controlled. Sunday, crews continued to secure containment lines around the Snow Hole Fire. Crews mopped up about 200 feet inside containment lines and are finding fewer hotspots every day. In fact, the line around the western flank of the fire is looking so good that Operations Section Chief Sam Gibbons compared it to the "shady side of an iceberg." Areas of heavy, woody fuels still remain unburned within the fire perimeter, particularly along the southern flank of the fire between the upper ends of the...Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:59:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1467/7854/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1467/7854/Crews Begin Mop-Up on Snow Hole Fire(Cottonwood, ID) Saturday, crews continued to secure containment lines around the Snow Hole Fire and made significant headway on mop up just inside firelines. Large quantities of heavy, woody fuels are still unburned within the fire perimeter, particularly between the upper ends of the Home Sweet Home and Kylie Creek drainages. Previously unburned fuels continued to smolder, and as Saturday afternoon progressed, some individual and group tree torching also occurred. As a result, a small smoke column developed for a few hours late in the day. Sunday, crews will keep working on mop up duties, including laying hose and watering down hot spots. Firefighters will mop up at least 200-300 feet inside the containment lines, as long as they can do it safely. Several acres of unconsumed fuels within the fire's interior will likely continue to burn for many days, and such hot spots could result in the potential for spotting under windy conditions....Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:19:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1467/7833/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1467/7833/Snow Hole Progress Faster Than Expected (Cottonwood, ID) Friday, containment lines around the Snow Hole Fire continued to hold, and crews worked to reinforce line around the southeastern and southern flanks of the fire. Much of the finer fuels within the Snow Hole Fire perimeter had burned completely, so fire officials reassessed whether a thorough burnout operation (as previously planned) was even warranted. Due to the reduced risk of fire spread and steadily improving lines, Operations Section Chief Sam Gibbons determined that approximately 75% of the firelines are secure enough to classify as contained. As a result, some aircraft and crews assigned to the incident will be released, or demobilized, starting this weekend. Larger, woody debris and fuels within the fire perimeter, which are still smoldering, remain a potential source for re-ignition. Therefore, Saturday, engine crews and firefighters will begin the process of "mopping up" within the fire containment lines....Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:58:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1467/7823/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1467/7823/(Cottonwood, ID) Thursday hand crews, with assistance from aerial resources, made excellent progress and have completed fireline construction around the Snow Hole Fire. However, Operations Section Chief Randy McKenzie feels that "those lines will be tested with windy conditions and high temperatures the next few days." Crews expanded and strengthened containment lines along the western flank of the fire, west of Ruggles Gulch, between Billy Point and the Salmon River. In order to widen containment lines, firefighters used a technique called "blacklining", by burning strips of unburned fuels just inside the containment lines. Containment lines along the eastern flank of the fire in the Burnt Creek drainage continued to hold, and Operations Section Chief Sam Gibbons felt that portion of line was secure enough to increase containment percentages on the fire to 50%. Today, crews and engines will continue burnout operations of unburned fuels near the southern and western containment lines...Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:58:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1467/7808/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1467/7808/The Snow Hole Fire continues to be active and is now established in the Kylie Creek and Ruggles Creek drainages. Wednesday, hand crews and aerial resources made good progress on a containment line along the western flank of the fire, west of Ruggles Gulch drainage, between Billy Point and the Salmon River. Crews also began expanding and strengthening portions of the line by igniting strips of unburned fuels just inside the lines. Containment lines along the eastern flank of the fire in Burnt Creek drainage continued to hold, and late in the evening crews began a burnout operation on the southeastern flank of the fire to help secure that portion of line.Dozer line construction at the top of the ridges between the headwaters of Home Sweet Home Creek and Billy Point is nearing completion. Thursday, firefighters will work to complete line construction on the western flank of the fire, and crews and engines will begin the process of strengthening the southern and western containment lines...Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:46:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1467/7791/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1467/7791/ Although the Snow Hole Fire was less active during the day on Tuesday, an inversion allowed the fire to pick up activity late in the afternoon. A weak cold front passed through the area late in the day increasing cloud cover over the fire, which in turn kept temperatures warmer at the fire through the night. As a result, the fire stayed active all night and continued its westward track. Tuesday, numerous hand crews and aerial resources worked to extend and strengthen containment lines along the eastern flank of the fire in the Burnt Creek drainage. To date, that line has held; however, risk of rolling debris still exists as the area is extremely steep and rugged. Dozer line construction at the top of the ridges (between the headwaters of Home Sweet Home and Rickman Creek drainages) progressed well Tuesday, yet more work remains to be done. Due to the remote location of the fire, numerous crews and equipment will be "spiked" (camped) out south of the fire, near containment...Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:52:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1467/7771/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1467/7771/High temperatures, upslope winds, and rugged terrain hampered efforts to corral the Snow Hole Fire Monday.Firefighters had constructed fireline Saturday and Sunday, working to flank the fire on both the east and west sides of the fire. As of Monday morning, crews had been successful, limiting the fire size to approximately 120 acres.Rolling debris caused a spot fire across containment lines mid-day on Monday, and strong winds pushed the fire upslope in the Home Sweet Home Creek drainage. Single engine air tankers (SEATs), larger air tankers, and multiple helicopters worked all afternoon dropping retardant and dousing the fire with water. Despite ground crew and aerial support efforts, the fire has grown to over 200 acres.The fire is currently burning south of the Salmon River, in the Home Sweet Home and Burnt Creek drainages. The fire has scorched property in multiple land ownerships, including Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and private lands, and the fire is burning in both grass...Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:19:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/announcements/article/1467/7769/http://inciweb.org/incident/announcements/article/1467/7769/The Salmon River is open, and the Snow Hole Fire is currently not a threat to recreational rafting activities. At times, heavy smoke and helicopter dip sites may impact rafters with delays. In an effort to keep rafters advised of current conditions, two BLM River Rangers are stationed at White House Bar to provide daily updates. Anyone planning a rafting trip in the area between White House Bar and Billy Creek should phone Snow Hole Fire Information or the Cottonwood BLM office (208-962-3245) prior to departure to check the current fire status.Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:06:00 -06:00