Springs Fire Update August 12

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team- Bill Hahnenberg, Incident Commander         
Information Center: 384-3266
Hours of operation: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Website: http://www.inciweb.org/
Email: springsfireinfo@gmail.com
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August 12, 2012
8:00 am                
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Current Situation:  The fire is established in the Zimmer Creek drainage and is bumping up against indirect firelines on the north.  The control lines held through the night.  Today firefighters will continue to construct direct and indirect line around the head of Zimmer Creek and to the east.   The control lines along the north from Highway 55 up to Zimmer Creek are holding.  Today crews will continue to work on contingency lines to the west of the Terrace Lake area.
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On the part of the fire south of Banks Lowman Road, crews are continuing to make good progress.  Firefighters are continuing to mop up and reinforce the lines by moving smoldering fuels that may roll across the line.  Along Highway 55 and Banks Lowman Road, crews are patrolling and mopping up any hotspots that are found.    
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Weather:  A Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon today through midnight on Monday.  The Haines Index, which measures the stability and dryness of air over a fire, is 6.  This indicates that there is a high potential for extreme fire behavior, intensity, and growth.  Very active fire behavior with plume dominated fire growth is predicted.
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Public Safety:  Residents to the north and east of the fire are asked to remain vigilant.  The Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team is coordinating with Boise County and Garden Valley Fire Department to establish comprehensive evacuation plans for the area north and east of the fire.  These plans are being established in the event that the fire continues to push to the north and east. 

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 Public and firefighter safety is our first priority.  The public is asked to not travel on roads north and east of the fire area to where the firefighters are working.  With today’s predicted weather, if fire activity does increase, public and firefighter safety may be compromised.

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Fire Statistics:           

Location: 5 miles west of Garden Valley, ID                             Start Date: August 5, 2012      
Size:  5976 acres  (based on last night’s infrared flight)               Percent Contained: 25
Total Personnel: 416                                                               Cause:  Under Investigation
Resources Include: 3 Type 1 hand crews, 5 Type 2 hand crews, 18 engines, 6 dozers, 5 water tenders, overhead personnel.
Air Resources: 3 helicopters that are used for initial attack are currently being used to support the incident.