Rain a welcomed sight and more is on the way.

Just what Smokey ordered.

Easter Complex

Current acreage: 39,538 acres, 80% contained

**This is the FINAL Easter Complex media update from the Southern Area Blue Team. Call (540) 525 – 1539 for future updates.

Buena Vista, Va - Steady rain for a six to 12 hour period Wednesday will continue to assist firefighters on the Easter Complex fire. Upwards of one half inch of rain is expected throughout the day, which will significantly contribute to suppression efforts. All fires on the Easter Complex are in a mopup and hold status as firefighters continue to improve containment lines around all fires.

Despite today’s rain, smoke from interior portions of fires within the Easter Complex may be present for some days. This smoke is from any remaining unburned fuels within the containment lines. Crews will continue to monitor and patrol these areas until each fire is completely suppressed.

Demobilization of excess resources began Tuesday, and will continue throughout Wednesday and Thursday. The Southern Area Blue Team (The Incident Management Team in charge of managing the Easter Complex) is transitioning control of the Easter Complex back to the local districts on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests Thursday morning. Crews from 29 states across the country will begin traveling home today.

The following is a summary of all Easter Complex Fires:

· Alleghany Tunnels Fire: 11,381 acres, 90% containment.

· Barbours Creek Fire: 7,352 acres, 80% containment.

· Porter Mills: 879 acres, 100% containment

· Rich Hole Fire: 15,454 acres, 75% containment.

· Shipwreck Fire: 3,717 acres, 100% containment.

· Wolf Gap: 755 acres, 95% containment.

 

 

Assigned to Complex:

36 Engines

4 Dozers

5 Helicopters

15 Hand Crews

694 Personnel

 

Incident Commander

Blue Team- Mike Wilkins

Cooperators: Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia State Police, various county resources, numerous local and county law enforcement agencies and volunteer fire departments.

Closures: The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests have issued closure orders that remain in effect for areas surrounding the Easter Complex Wildfires. Revisions are in progress for these closure orders. The most recent amendment affects the Rich Hole Fire. The area closed to public use at the Rich Hole Fire includes the Rich Hole Trail (Trail # 464) and Forest Road 108. It also includes all National Forest System lands within a boundary defined by the Rich Hole Trail, Forest Road 108 and state route 850.

Homeowners are encouraged to visit www.firewise.org for information on how to make their homes more defensible from wildfires. In addition, Ready, Set, Go www.wildlandfirersg.org is another good website for homeowners living in or near the forest.

Woods Arson Seems To Be On The Increase YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

The face of ARSON has changed over time from the Fire Wolf to GUBRIF and the Fire Bug which looked a lot like a dragon. What does the face of an arsonist look like today?  The face of an arsonist looks a lot like you and me it could be someone in your neighborhood, someone you see in the local grocery store. It could be a man, a woman, a teenager or a senior citizen.

Arson is regarded as one of the easiest crimes to perpetrate and the most challenging to identify and verify.  Even though the challenges are many each and every one of us has a responsibility to help put a stop to this senseless crime. And it IS A CRIME no matter who perpetrates it. It is also NOT a victimless Crime; it can have very serious consequences and can even be deadly!

Investigating the origin and cause of a wildfire to determine if it is a case of arson  requires the work of skilled fire and arson investigators sifting through ash and debris to determine if a fire was in fact arson. We can help by reporting ANY suspicious activity and by calling the authorities IMMEDIATELY if you see a wildfire in the area where Arson has been the suspected cause of a wildfire. Many arsonists tend to “work” in a  specific locality and rarely travel great distances away from where they work or travel to on a regular basis.

SMOKEY BEAR, FIREFIGHTERS AND YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS REALLY NEED YOUR HELP!

Arson Rewards offered and Wildfire Updates, Almost 30,000 acres in VA have burned in last 10 days

Arson Suspected As Cause of Page County and Bath County Wildfires, $2,000 Reward Offered

Wildland fire investigators suspect that the 4,000-acre Shipwreck Fire burning in Page County was ignited by one or more arsonists as was the 125 acre Stuart Fire in Patrick County.   
“The lives and property of residents and firefighters are directly threatened by these suspicious fires,” said John Miller, director of resource protection for the Virginia Department of Forestry.  “When a wildfire is intentionally set, it endangers lives and can cause unbelievable destruction to land, trees and homes,” Miller said.  “In addition, when firefighters are working an arson fire, they and their equipment are not available to suppress other wildland fires.  This depletion of resources puts even more people and their property at risk.”
The Virginia Department of Forestry needs citizens to be vigilant in the fight against arson.  If you see something suspicious, call 911 or in Page County you can call the Page County Crime Solvers Number at 540-743-3272. Call immediately day or night the quicker law enforcement officers can respond the greater the chance to be successful.  Your help may be worth up to $2,000 – the reward offered for information that leads to the conviction of an arsonist.
The lack of rain, low humidity, high winds and mountainous terrain helped the fire spread quickly, and the additional fire starts pose great danger to anyone or anything in their path.
Woods arson is the common term for deliberately burning forests, grasslands or brush without the owner’s permission. The VDOF and other law enforcement officials are concerned with the number and frequency of these dangerous, destructive and senseless criminal acts. Woods arson is a felony in Virginia and, when convicted, the guilty person could serve up to five years in prison, pay a fine of $2,500 and be liable for the cost of suppressing the fire.
If you see any fire where firefighters have not yet arrived on the scene, make note of the following:

• Location and time of the fire
• Description of persons observed in the area
• Description of any vehicles observed and the license plate if possible
• Any other pertinent information

"We need the public's help in the continuing investigation of the cause of these suspicious fires,”. Your information may be just the piece of the puzzle that helps us put an end to potentially deadly and criminal acts.” 

Summary:  

                        Elevated fire weather conditions continue across Virginia. Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) reports 33 fires burned approximately 102 acres on private land. Fifty-one homes/structures were protected and 1 home/structure was damaged from Friday, 13 April, through Sunday, 15 April. Large wildfires on private property and National Forest land:

·         Easter Complex (6 fires managed by U.S. Forest Service Incident Management Team the “Blue Team”)

o   Page County, Shipwreck Fire: acreage burned – 4,000; 100% contained

o   Alleghany/Craig Counties, Barbours Creek Fire: acreage burned – 4,783; 40% contained

o   Shenandoah County, Wolf Gap Fire: acreage burned – 755; 95% contained

o   Alleghany/Rockbridge Counties, Rich Hole Fire: acreage burned – 12,131; 30% containment

o   Alleghany County, Alleghany Tunnel Fire: acreage burned – 11,381; 85% contained

o   Bath County, Porter Mills Fire: acreage burned – 879; 95% contained (assumed management on 15 April)

The following Counties have notified us that they have implemented county wide bans on all open burning that are over and above the stats 4PM burn law. PLEASE check with your county if you are planning any outdoor activity that may involve open burning.

Botetourt County

King George County

Caroline County

Bath County and

Northampton County.

 In addition I know that Douthat State Park has also enacted restrictions on within the boundary of the park that prohibit campfires and the use of any outdoor fires.

From the Park’s web site….Due to extreme fire conditions there is a burn ban within the park. All open fires and charcoal fires are prohibited at this time. Propane is permissible.

It's Smokey Bear Time

The recent forest fires in Virginia are a Reminder to some and a wake-up call to others.

The mild winter with very little precipitation and the dry spring we are having, coupled with the windy conditions of late, are a recipe for a bad forest and wildfire season.

Places in Virginia that would typically be out of fire season are holding on to the last (hopefully) gasp of Spring Fire season.  It doesn’t take much to ignite the dry grass and low-lying scrubs in underbrush. Last spring and summer, we were worrying about everything washing away, and now we have to worry about things going up in smoke. The landscape has been drying out for several months, and without a significant amount of rain, conditions are only going to get worse. Caution and, most of all, common sense will be the watchwords in the outdoors.

In an average year there are approximately 1,200 wildfires in Virginia. Of those, more than 90 percent are caused by people.

In addition to those fires started deliberately by arsonists, some of the most common causes include burning leaves and debris, unattended campfires , sparks from equipment and vehicles,  discarded cigarettes and children playing with matches.

So here are some of the things you can do to help cut down on the chances of accidently starting a wildfire.
• One of the first and most important things you can do is educate children on the dangers of matches or lighters. Needless to say, you should always keep these devices and other combustibles out of the reach of children. It is also important that children know not to touch lighters and matches, and if they come upon them, to alert an adult.

• For those of you who still smoke you should do so in a safe manner. Use the ashtray in your vehicle, and when in the outdoors, wet your used cigarette, pipe ashes or cigar before discarding. If no water is available, crush it with your shoe and make sure it is completely out. Never just throw a cigarette out the window of your vehicle.

• Another common cause of wildfires is debris burning that gets “out of control”. Please before lighting that match make sure it is legal to be burning, many local and state laws are in place that prohibit or limit open air burning at various times of the year. Currently we are still in what is referred to as the 4 PM Law time period. It is illegal to have any open air fire within 300 feet of the woods or dry grass before 4 PM.  Several localities currently have restrictions in place so it is recommended that you check with your local Virginia Department of Forestry or Law enforcement agency.

• The careless use of a campfire is yet another of the causes of wildfires. However, there are several things you can do to keep a campfire from turning into a disaster. First and foremost is to always check to see if there is a fire ban in the area you are camping. Even if there is no fire ban, there are some simple rules you should follow when building a fire when camping, fishing or partaking in any other outdoor activity. First, always clear the area around your fire for at least 10 feet, so it is free of debris and any material that might ignite from a stray spark. Always dig a pit for your fire and or ring it with rocks to isolate the fire from the surrounding area. Always keep a bucket of water and shovel close to the fire to quickly put out any problems. It is also a good practice to keep a fire extinguisher in your vehicle or camper, and keep it handy around a campfire. You should also choose hard woods that burn cleanly and don’t throw a lot of sparks. Finally, NEVER leave your fire unattended. Not only is this against the law but is is very dangerous. When you go to sleep or are leaving your fire make sure it is completely out, “Dead Out”, pour water on the ashes of your fire and stir them with the shovel or rake and pour more water on them. Do this over and over until there is no smoke or heat left.

A charred landscape is one of the most depressing scenes in the outdoors, so if you will be camping, fishing or participating in any other outdoor activity this spring and summer, please follow Smokey Bear’s message Always Be Careful With Fire. Remember Only You Can Prevent a Wildfire.

What else can you do to help?

If you live in or near a wooded area, the Virginia Firewise program can help protect your home and community from wildfires. The Firewise program offers simple ways community members can work together to prevent their properties from becoming fuel for a wildfire. Residents can reduce the risk of their home’s ignition with simple changes to their homes and immediate surroundings. For example, clearing a space around your home can reduce wildfire threat. Reduce surrounding vegetation and prune large trees. Even something as simple as cleaning gutters and eaves of leaves and debris can prevent an ember from igniting a home.

This year, we hope to keep wildfires in Virginia to a minimum by enlisting more help from the public. Using the simple tips above can help us prevent a wildfire from becoming catastrophic.

REMEMBER ........

www.virginiawildfireprevention.com

www.dof.virginia.gov/fire/index-prev-ed.shtml

www.firewisevirginia.org

www.smokeybear.com

THANKS for doing your part and not letting a wildfire start.

Many of our recent wildfires have been very suspicious in nature, in my next blog, pending any significant wildfire activity, I will discuss the problem of woods arson, what can be done and how you can help.

Rich Hole Wilderness Wildfire

The following pictures were taken by someone at the Rockbridge Alum Springs Youth Camp in Rockbridge County . They are GREAT shots really showing the challanges firefighters face when wildfires impact the Wildland Urban Interface.

Rockbridge Alum Springs Youth Life Camp

Rich Hole Fire (4/12/2012 @ 5:00 p.m.)

PIO’s Alan Craft and Karen Grubbs (540) 962-2214

Location- 17 miles east of Covington in the Simpson Creek drainage of eastern Alleghany County and western Rockbridge County.  Estimated 80% of fire is burning in the Rich Hole Wilderness.  Fire is burning on private land and national forest.

Total acres:  3,669

SR 60 (between I-64 Exit 35 and 43)

Fire reported 4/9/2012 at 7:00 p.m. and cause is under investigation.

Total Personnel Assigned: 180

Firefighters about to stick a fork in this one and call it done

The main suppression activity is all but over with HOWEVER firefighters will stay with this fire monitoring and moping up for several days or until significant rain occurs.

Shipwreck FIRE UPDATE Approximately 4000 acres.  3200 acres on National Forest System Land; 800 acres on private land. Additional and enhanced data resulted in the acreage reduction.    The fire is estimated as 90% contained. The following roads are closed until further notice: Cub Run Road (FS Road #65).The public will not be able to access Pitt Springs, Big Mountain Road or Peter Fish Road due to this closure. The following trails are closed until further notice: Pitt Spring Lookout #584, Massanutten Mountain South #416 (beginning at Pitt Springs and extending South), Fridley Gap #419, Second Mountain #580 (including Boone Run Shelter, Martin Bottom #579, and Morgan Run #583. The voluntary evacuation for the Shipwreck Farms Area has been lifted.  All residents are permitted to return to their property.   Firefighters will continue mopping up and patrolling the area. Some backfiring operations (burning out unburned areas within the constructed fire lines) will be performed as needed.