Wish we could do more

Current Wildfire Activity 4.9.2012 Afternoon Posting

VDOF responded to 22 wildfires for 163 acres yesterday. A number of fires, which are highlighted below, are still ongoing and are not totally reflected in these numbers.

Shipwerck Fire briefing early on in the incident.

The GreatSmoky Mountains might be in TN but for toady they are in VA. The Shipwreck Fire is putting up a lot of smoke which is visible for miles.

Page County, near Shenandoah, VA, Shipwreck Complex, 6 different brush fires reported. Approximately 200 Acres, started on private land but is now mostly on National Forest. Issued a voluntary evacuation order for about one dozen homes last night, firefighter efforts ultimately protected all of the homes from any damaged.

VDOF remains in charge and has all of threats to private lands taken care of at this point. VDOF has moved some IMT personnel into position to help manage the incident.

The USFS is bringing in their own Incident Management Team and other out of state resources by tomorrow to be in place for Wed. to manage the fire longer term on the areas now burning on National Forest lands.

There are also several other fires now burning totally on National Forest lands. VDOF remains involved, however, once our efforts to finalize the protection of private property associated with this fires is complete, and once the USFS has brought in their own suppression resources, we will be significantly reducing our involvement.

Alleghany County – 3 separate fires three different fires West of Covington and reported to be 200 acres total. VDOF handled the initial attack, but is now transitioning over to the USFS.

Barbers Creek – Craig Co., VDOF resources handled the initial attack over the last day and a half, however VDOF resources are now transitioning over to USFS resources. This morning’s estimates are that 750 acres have burned.

Wolf Gap – Shenandoah Co. 100 acre fire completely on National Forest land. VDOF personnel began suppression actions last night since no one from the USFS could respond, however the USFS will be taking this fire over today to free up the VDOF resources.

North Zone Office of the USFS – reporting one additional new fire totally on USFS lands, acreage unknown. Being managed by USFS resources.

More interesting history of the swamp and surrounding area.

The Dismal Swamp and Lake Drummond, Early recollections Vivid portrayal of Amusing Scenes  by Robert Arnold 1888

 

CHAPTER IX.SUFFOLK AND EARLY DAYS.

I will take the above railroad and return to Suffolk, when I will say something of my early recollections of that place. It was in the year 1830 that my father, with his family, moved to it. I was quite small at that time, but I recollect the time well. Suffolk was then a small village, situated on the Nansemond River, with a population of about five hundred, and increased very slowly in population until after the surrender, which was in April, 1865. Since that it has increased very rapidly in population and growth. It was in Suffolk that Henry Herman commenced his business career; moved to Norfolk in 1832; and became one of her successful merchants. At his death his remains were brought to Suffolk, and now quietly rest in Cedar Hill Cemetery. I could mention many instances of successful business men of that town were it necessary. I will now write of things of more recent date--something within the recollection of many persons yet living. It will be recollected that a fire broke out in June, 1837, that destroyed the lower part of the town. There were no engines in the place and the flames raged with great fury. The Allen residence, at Rose Hill, about one half mile distant, was set on fire several times by the flying debris, and it was with difficulty that the house was saved. It was at Rose Hill that a large mercantile business was carried on, and no doubt a large quantity of juniper lumber was shipped from that point belonging to private individuals. A wharf was built at the mouth of Shingle creek (I imagine long before the Jericho canal was dug), and large quantities of lumber was hauled to it by persons living on the edge of the Dismal Swamp. I knew of several persons who owned large juniper glades on the edge of Dismal Swamp one in particular. His name was Thomas Swepston and lived not far from Suffolk, on the line of the Seaboard railroad, which divides his farm. He was agent of the Dismal Swamp Land Company for several years, and may have been the first after the Jericho canal was opened. The last agent, of whom I have any knowledge, was W. S. Riddick, Esq., who died several years ago. The last inspector of lumber was J. E. Bonnewell, of whom it is my pleasure to notice particularly. Perhaps no man was more generally known and respected in Suffolk than he. He was a true friend, benevolent and kind, never refusing to bestow charity when called upon. He succeeded Mr. Joseph Hill as inspector for the company, which office he held until his death. It was during his term of office that it was made so pleasant to visit the Lake. By giving timely notice he would always give the parties the best boats and the most trusty hands as drivers, and would always be present when the boat left its landing and when it returned, and was anxious to know if any mishaps had occurred to any of the party. And if it should be reported that some lady had fallen into the canal, he would always very politely ask that she be carried into his house to be made more comfortable. Capt. Babel Ions, of Philadelphia, was his bosom friend. When the Captain was in Suffolk, they could always be found together. They both have passed away, and a generous people will do justice to their memory. Captain Connewell died leaving a rich heritage behind--a name that will live as long as it is called. But few have lived and died who was so much beloved and respected as he. He was proud but not haughty, and flexible to kind impulses. He was the soul of honor, and no one can say that he even failed to accord to everyone their just dues. I knew him from my boyhood up and never knew a better man. He left an interesting family--Mrs. H. R. Culley being his eldest daughter. I could write many noble traits in the character of that good man, but it is not necessary. There are but few of his compeers now living, and soon they will all have passed away. Such is the march of time.

Nothing very important transpired in Suffolk from 1837 until after the close of the late war, when she awoke from her slumbering condition; her watchword being progress. She brushed the dust from her eyes, and her advancement in every branch of industry can be seen in her rapid growth. She stands second to no town in a commercial point of view. Her manufacturing interests are considerable, and being a railroad centre she must prosper and grow. The disastrous fire which occurred June 7th, 1885, impeded business for a few months, but our men of capital at once commenced to repair the breach, and she is again on the road to fame and wealth. And it is to the Suffolk and Carolina or Short Line railroad that Suffolk is mostly indebted for her present prosperous condition. Penetrating as it does a country that is rich and fertile, she has already felt its influence and it should be fostered as one of the main arteries to her prosperity.

The Gay Manufacturing Company, before noticed, is perhaps the most gigantic enterprise ever projected at Suffolk. It has extended its operations as far South as Chowan County, N. C., and the amount of capital invested is no doubt the largest investment of its kind in Virginia, if not in the entire South. It has made large purchases of land in and around Suffolk and has bought all the timbered lands on the Suffolk and Carolina Short Line or Grand Trunk railroad, giving employment to hundreds of hands, at fair wages, that would otherwise eke out a miserable existence. It also enables the landowners, from the sale of their timber, to free themselves from debt and otherwise improve their condition. Under the direction of President W. N. Camp, it has had erected near Suffolk, on the line of the S. & C. R. R., one of the most extensive saw mills in Eastern Virginia, and with the aid of the Atlantic and Danville railroad penetrating the primeval forests of Southampton, Greensville and other counties of Virginia. Millions of logs will be brought on that road and manufactured for shipment to Northern markets. The company consists principally of Baltimoreans, who will reap a harvest commensurate with the capital invested. And in many instances it is owing to the mature judgment of President Camp that the efforts to establish this great enterprise has been crowned with such signal success. The advantages this company possesses, by its intimate connections with the S. & C. R. R., and A. & D. R. R., cannot be estimated, but it can be truly said that their intimate and close relations with each other, while each is a separate and distinct corporation, forms one of the grandest and far-reaching enterprises of its kind in the South.

The Gay Manufacturing Company consists of William N. Camp, president; Charles F. Pitt, Jr., Chauncy Brooks, S. P. Ryland, John M. Denison and William N. Camp, directors; George L. Barton, treasurer; Charles F. Pitt, Jr., secretary.

The A. & D. R. R. has made great internal improvement under the management of Major Charles B. Peck, of New York, and has progressed more rapidly than any road of which we have any knowledge. Its starting point is at West Norfolk, on the Elizabeth river, at the mouth of its western branch, the great trucking region of the State of Virginia which will supply it with thousands of dollars worth of freight annually. It runs diagonally across the Norfolk and Western and Seaboard and Roanoke, railroads, both of which have already felt its effects, and when it shall have reached Danville the Richmond and Danville will then feel its withering influence, for this being the shortest and most speedy route to deep water, in one of the finest harbors in the world, it is natural that all produce will seek such a route and such a favorable shipping point.

An artist rendition (above) and an actual picture (below) of the Halfway House (Lake Drummond Hotel), built in 1829, which was located originally on the NC/VA line.   The line was later moved 555 ft to the south.  It is rumored to be a site where one could “step over the line” and immediately be out of reach of local law.

Chronology of the Great Dismal Swamp

1665    Lake discovered by William Drummond

1728     Dismal Swamp Canal proposed by William Byrd

1763     Lake Drummond charted by George Washington's surveyor

1764     Dismal swamp Land Company chartered

1787     Dismal Swamp Canal authorized by Virginia Legislature

1790     Dismal Swamp Canal authorized by North Carolina Legislature

1793     Work on the Dismal Swamp Canal began

1802     William Farange builds first hostelry in Camden County, N.C.

1803     Thomas Moore wrote "THE LAKE OF THE DISMAL SWAMP"

1805     Dismal Swamp Canal began limited through navigation for flat boats

1810     Jericho Canal completed

1812     Feeder Ditch completed

1814     First recorded passage of a vessel other than a shingle flat

1818     President James Monroe visited the Dismal Swamp

1819     First Lottery held to raise funds for improving the Canal

1820     Second Lottery held

1822     Cross Canal completed

1823     First passage of completely loaded schooner "Rebecca Edwards"

1825     Erie Canal completed

1826     U.S.Congress purchased 600 shares of Dismal Swamp Company

1826     Dismal Swamp Canal enlarged as a shoal draft ship canal

1829     Third Lottery held

1829     Lake Drummond Hotel built

1829     President Andrew Jackson visited the Dismal Swamp Canal

1829     Federal Government purchased 200 additional shares of stock

1830     "Lady of the Lake" first steamer designed to ply the canal

1830     North West Canal completed

1867     State of Virginia's 600 share holdings sold at auction

1871     North West Canal closed by dam built to conserve water

1878     Congress sold its shares in the Dismal Swamp Canal

1890     Emma K - Dismal Swamp's favorite vessel - was built

1899     Dismal Swamp Canal enlarged in substantially its present form

1929     United States Government purchased the Lake Drummond Company

1974     Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge created

With all the news lately about the smoke and the Great Dismal Swamp Fire getting lost at least in the news from the East was yet another tragedy in the wildland firefighting world.

 A South Dakota wildland firefighter was killed and four others were injured after they were caught in a burnover Thursday afternoon.

 Trampus S. Haskvitz

The wildfire that claimed a Buffalo Gap firefighter's life Thursday is still burning in rugged canyon and hill country northwest of Edgemont.

The Coal Canyon Fire trapped five firefighters, killing Trampus S. Haskvitz, 23, on Thursday afternoon.  Firefighter Trampus Haskvitz succumbed to his injuries and firefighters Austin Whitney and Kevin Fees were airlifted to Rapid City Regional Hospital. Whitney suffered burns to his arms and third-degree burns to his hands and neck and has been transferred to a burn center in Greeley, Colo. Kevin Fees suffered minor burns to the back of his hands and neck and has since been released. Two U.S. Forest Service firefighters were also treated for injuries at the hospital and released.

"Yesterday was a very dark day for the Division of Wildland Fire Suppression," Joe Lowe, director of the South Dakota firefighting agency, said during a news conference Friday morning.

Haskvitz's death rocked the close-knit firefighting community. Firefighters not only had to deal with the tragic death of one of their brotherhood but continue the battle to stop the fire that killed him.

Haskvitz was one of three Wildland Fire seasonal firefighters involved in the incident.

The firefighters were on one of three engines sent to attack a fire sparked by lightning in Coal Canyon that was reported about 3 p.m. Thursday.

The firefighters were attacking the flank of the fire on a mid-slope road when an ember started a spot fire behind them, Lowe said.

The winds as erratic and the air mass as unstable. Fire travels rapidly uphill. The firefighters turned to attack the spot fire behind them, but the fire moved quickly up hill, trapping them.

Lowe said the firefighters were forced to use their emergency fire.

"The surface fire flame lengths were somewhere between 14 and 20 feet. It was a lot of heat."

The fire engine was destroyed. Its aluminum bed was completely melted off, Lowe said.

The Coal Canyon Fire grew to about 400 acres by Friday afternoon.

As firefighters WE MUST remain vigilant and keep situational awareness and our safety a top priority. As residents of those areas where wildfires are occurring or have the potential to occur WE MUST remain vigilant and do all we can to prepare ourselves, our property and our homes for a wildfire should one naturally occur (from a lightning strike) AND we MUST follow Smokey Bear’s words of wisdom … ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT WILDFIRES.  We are talking here about those wildfires caused by human carelessness, lack of knowledge and compliancy.

This wildfire in the swamp is not now a super-fast moving wildfire that might catch firefighters off guard like the one in South Dakota BUT it still has the potential to be a killer. There are a thousand things that can go wrong from the news making, Kodak moment wall of flames to a very remote, very quiet tree falling because all its support has been burned away. Firefighters put their lives in danger every time they strap on their boots.

Please keep them in your thoughts and do your part … DON’T LET A WILDFIRE START and BE WISE, BE VERY WISE, BE FIREWISE!

Wallow Wildfire in AZ Nations LARGEST at 519,319 acres

Do you know just how big 519,319 acres is?
If you had a plot of land a football field wide (100 yards) it would go from San Fransico to New York        5 times.

Strong southwest winds have caused the Wallow Fire to breach containment lines along US 180, on the east side of the fire. The fire is burning toward Luna, New Mexico.

Power has been interrupted in the towns of Nutrioso, Alpine and The Blue, AZ. and Luna and Reserve, N.M. for further information see the Navopache Electric Cooperative web site.

 Planned Activity Today .....
Zone 1- Continue point protection and mop-up and re-hab. Zone 2- Structure protection and constructing and securing control lines in Branch VI. Continue securing lines and burning out from Strayhorse down to Blue River. Patrol for and attack any spot fires found across the Blue River. Zone 3- Check fire spread south in Branch XII and mop-up and patrol in other branches.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar is scheduled to visit Springerville tomorrow, with visits to the Apache-Sitgreaves Forest Supervisors Office and the Zone 1 ICP. IHC Crews remain a critical resource for Southwest Area Command. Acres burned by ownership are as follows: USFS = 478,131 ac. State of Arizona = 4,531 ac. Private = 6,284 ac. San Carlos Indian Reservation = 9,200 ac. Fort Apache Indian reservation = 12,972 ac.

Growth Potential  Extreme

Terrain Difficulty  High

Temperature 72-88 degrees

Humidity 8-9%

Special update on the Bearing fire in TX

According to a TX PIO “Bad day in TX.  Lots of new fires.  air resources are getting very short.  They need more type 2 tractor plows.  Jim is catching hell on his fire.  Around 4000 acres now.  Lost some homes.  3 communities evacuated. This fire is just south of lufkin as seen on the map below, just one of several in the vacinity.

The Texas Forest Service and numerous volunteer fire departments, including Hudson and Diboll, are out assisting on the Polk/Trinity fire being called the "Bearing Fire," said Karen Stafford, Regional Urban Wildland Interface Coordinator with the Texas Forest Service. Fires get their names typically from a community or street name, Stafford explained.

The Bearing Fire had burned 4,000 acres as of 5:30 p.m. Saturday, although it was first reported at 12:30 p.m. Friday as a two-acre wildfire. As of 5:30 p.m. Saturday, the fire was only 20 percent contained, compared to 80 percent contained Friday night, Stafford said.

"Once the winds picked up and the humidity dropped, the conditions were unfavorable. It was like we had everything working against us," she said.

Homes were being evacuated Saturday north of FM 2262 and in the Trevat and Sulphur communities

Incident Overview

This fast moving fire is burning in multiple aged pine plantations. Hunting camps have been threatened and impacted.

Significant Events  Resources redeployed from direct attack to defensive posture/structure protection.

Basic Information

Date of Origin Friday June 17th, 2011 approx. 12:38 PM

Location Vicinity town of Carmona, Texas

Outlook

Planned Actions Structure protection.

Growth Potential

Terrain Difficulty

Current Weather

Wind Conditions 25 mph SW

Temperature 105 degrees

Humidity 29%

Today It's TEXAS

A couple of very interesting facts from TFS PIO's this morning.

To many times we focus on the negatives, look at these numbers for structures SAVED. A BIG THANKS goes out to all those firefighters no matter what logo they have on their uniform for the hard work and dedication it took and takes. You all are amazing!

# of homes saved: 14,011

# of other structures saved: 8,936

Total # saved: 22,947

# of homes lost: 474

# of other structures lost: 1,368

Total # lost: 1,842

# of aviation drops to date: 18,755

# of gallons of water dropped: 8,632,406

# of gallons of fire retardant dropped: 2,725,960

(note: all air operation figures are from Dec. 21, 2011, when record-keeping began)

LOTS of water to bad mother nature is not helping add to the numbers. So just how much is 11.3 million gallons.

Do you remember watching Michael Fred Phelps (bet you didn't know his middle name was Fred) win all those gold medals? Well the olympic size swimming pools hold about 600,000 gallons so that means that so far TFS has dropped a tad over 19 olympic size swimming pools worth of water and retardant.

 

Virginia has several what is referred to as single resources in Texas. A single resource (usually people) is individuals with expertise in specific areas that supports either directly or indirectly the suppression efforts.

There is also a Wildfire Prevention and Education Team being deployed to East Texas this weekend. No Virginia folks are assigned to this team, but some assistance may be provided remotely.  Some might say it’s a bit late for prevention with all the wildfires currently burning. However now is a very good time for this important work! Any wildfire that can be prevented will only reduce the stress and pressure on resources assigned to current wildfires. Also that one fire prevented just might have been that killer fire or one that burned up numerous homes, businesses, other properties and changed the lives of many Texans. http://www.southernwildfireprevention.sref.info/

Below is a list of the more notable wildfires currently burning in Texas.
Additional information can be found at http://www.inciweb.org/

Name of Fire and Acres
Springer Ranch1,200

Rhoades Ranch 2,010

Two County 176

Encinitos 3,200

Gruhlkey 350

Mackentire 935

S Curve 2,000

Bird Ranch 2 29,976

Camp Boothe Oaks 1,116

Burdett 1,502

Honey Island 1,274

Dos Amigos 19,391 

Canyon 16,803

Mcclarty 716

Sutton Cemetery 170

Lamar 250

Bolt 1,300

Russ Complex 550

Tejano Canyon  12,311

A few quotes from local papers out of TX this morning ...

It's adding up to a potential nightmare scenario, fire experts say.
"It's scary for us what the late-summer conditions could look like," Spencer said. "Our winter-spring fire season has basically merged with our late-summer season.
"2011 as it stands is a record year, and it stands to be even more so. There's no relief in sight -- it's only going to get worse."

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/06/14/3152612/texas-unprecedented-wildfire-season.html#ixzz1PRNPrRrY

Wildfire potential will be very high or extreme in areas where very dry or partially dormant vegetation exists due to the drought. A red flag warning is in effect today for far western Oklahoma and adjacent parts of north Texas.

PALO PINTO, Texas - The drought and the heat have fires burning in Palo Pinto County again. Residents there are still recovering from the catastrophic wildfires that scorched much of the county less than two months ago.

The TFS said the largest fire was started by a campfire. It has burned about 1,900 acres and destroyed two vacant homes. The second fire ignited by lightening has burned at least 200 acres.

Read more on myFOXdfw.com: http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/061511-wildfires-burning-again-in-palo-pinto#ixzz1PROXRA1J

Everything is big in TX even the snags. OK you guys/gals out west they might not be as big as yours!!

Lighting it from one hand and fighting it with the other.

Who said rock wont burn! Sure looks that way, I guess its so dry the rocks will burn in TX.

Man o man look how dry the fuels are!!!!

 Fire behavior , a bit extream wouldn't you say!

 Where there is moke there is usually some sort of aircraft trying to slow down the fire.

Big aircraft and little aircraft. Thanks RR