SE Fires, not getting any better.

[Wildland]

Been awhile since I've logged on, thought I'd see what's going on

I've been working in Extended Dispatch for the GA Fires for a little over a week now, I think GA has tapped out any dozer bigger than a type 3 in the Southeast. FL pulled their resources today because of their fire problems are picking up, and now just about any order we get in skips State, Compact, and goes straight to the ROSS system. We've been pulling resources from everywhere. Really like to thank all the states that have been sending folks and equipment in, we're still in a tight, and ya'lls assistance has been greatly appreciated. The weather pattern hasn't shown any wanting to change so looks like we're in this for a while. Already made arrangements to extend an additional week, so if your resourced to go to any of the south GA fires, there's a pretty good chance that your orders have passed my hands. For those that are down there or are planning to go, stay safe, and keep alert. Will try to check in when I can.

Take care.

P.S. - Sorry if this is a bit rambling. I'm averaging 13hrs a day and only had one day off in the past 2 weeks. Rest has been very limited.

[Dalmatian190]

Stay safe down there!

I've been following the story for the last week and half since I heard a short radio blurb about a 45,000 acre fire in Georgia and yelled, "What???" in my car last Saturday.

[Wildland]

Fire Sit-Rep from Yesterday evening......

Georgia Forestry Commission
Wildfire Situation Report
May 2, 2007 - 19:00 P.M. EDT


Charlton, Ware, and Brantley Counties
Sweat Farm Road-Big Turnaround Fire

Location: South of Waycross, GA -Ware and Charlton Counties, USA
Acres: Total- 92,898
Containment: 75%
Expected Containment Date: May 15, 2007
Committed Resources: 586 Personnel; 140 Engines; 50 Dozer/Tractor Plows; 3 Aircraft
Incident History: Start Date- April 16, 2007 Cause-Downed Powerline
Suppression Action: A Georgia Forestry Commission Type II Incident Management Team (Sweat Farm Road Fire) and the Southern Area Incident Type II Management Team (Big Turnaround Fire) are managing the two fires. A combination of federal, state, and local agencies, along with private industry, are engaged in suppression efforts.
Weather Forecast: Tonight:Temp. 58-62, Relative Humidity 95-100%, Winds light and variable
Threatened Infrastructure: Kingfisher Landing, Homeland and the City of Folkston, CSX rail line, ATT communications building, power lines and several commercial radio and cell towers.
Threatened Resources: Timber and wildlife habitat, wetlands habitat in the Dixon Memorial State Forest and the ONWR.
Public Notice: US Highway 1 is closed between mile marker 1 and 16 (Hatcher Point Road to Race Pond Road) and State Route 177 due to heavy smoke in the area and fire activity.

Knee Knocker-Racetrack-Fort Mudge-Brown Town-Easter Day Fires

Location: Ware and Brantley Counties
Acres: Total 3,148
Containment: 100%
Expected Containment Date: N/A
Committed Resources: 115 Personnel, 9 Dozer/Tractor Plows, 15 Engines, Local County Fire Departments, Law Enforcement and Emergency Services.
Suppression Action: GFC Type III Incident Management Team managing fires. Resources patrolling and mopping up remaining hot spots. Provide initial attack resources for surrounding counties and Sweat Farm Road Fire.
Weather Forecast: Tonight:Temp. 58-62, Relative Humidity 95-100%, Wind light and variable
Threatened Infrastructure: None immediately threatened
Threatened Resources: None immediately threatened
Public Notice: None


Atkinson County
Roundabout Swamp Fire

Location: 2 miles SE of Kirkland
Acres: Total 6,000
Containment: 50%
Expected Containment Date: May 9, 2007
Committed Resources: 12 Tractor Plows, Other State and Local Resources
Incident History: Start Date; April 27, 2007
Cause; undetermined
Suppression Action: GFC Type III Incident Management Team managing fire.
Weather Forecast: Tonight: Temps. 58-62, Relative Humidity 95-100%, Wind light and variable.


Other Waycross Area Fire Activity
14 Fires totaling 300 Acres

Other GFC Statewide Fire Activity
May 1, 2007
54 Fires totaling 181 Acres

Got a good nights sleep last night and orders were a little light yesterday, feeling allot better today.

[coldfront]

Georgia Forestry Commission
Wildfire Situation Report
May 7, 2007 - 11:30 P.M. EDT


Charlton and Ware Counties
Sweat Farm Road-Big Turnaround Fire

Location: South of Waycross, Georgia (GA) -Ware and Charlton Counties
Acres: Total Acreage for Sweat Farm Road-Big Turnaround Fire: 100,315 acres (Sweat Farm Road: 53,899 acres; Big Turnaround: 46,416 acres).
Containment: Sweat Farm Road:80% contained; Big Turnaround:45% contained
Committed Resources: Sweat Farm Road-Big Turnaround Fire: 936 Personnel, 142 Engines, 100 Dozer/Tractor Plows,and 11 Aircraft.
Incident History: Start Date: April 16, 2007 Cause: Downed power line
Suppression Action: The fire is managed by 2 separate Incident Management Teams (IMT). A Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) Type II IMT manages the Sweat Farm Road Fire and the Southern Area IMT manages the Big Turnaround Fire. The GFC Type II IMT is transitioning with the Texas Lone Star State IMT. A formal transfer of command will take place on 5-8-07. A combination of federal, state, and local agencies, along with private industry, are engaged in suppression efforts. Plan of action for the Sweat Farm Road Fire includes mop up, patrol, and structural protection. Plan of action for the Big Turnaround Fire includes the continuation of building control lines and improving the line along the swamp edge break and perimeter road.
Weather Forecast: Tonight: clear, temperature 49-53 degrees, relative humidity 86-91%, smoke dispersion fair, and winds out of the North at 14-18 mph with occasional gusts.
Public Notice: Firefighters will continue to burn fuel from an established control line back to the main fire near the Race Pond area. This burnout operation will put smoke into the air, but it will strengthen the control line by removing this unburned fuel between the line and the fire. US Highway 1 remains closed from Waycross, GA to Folkston, GA. State Route 177 is closed south of US Highway 1.


Ware County
Bugaboo Scrub Fire

Location: 16 miles west of Folkston, GA.
Acres: Unavailable
Containment: Unavailable
Committed Resources: Unavailable
Suppression Action: The Southern Area Incident Management Team (IMT) manages the fire. This fire has originated from one of the lightning strikes this past weekend and more information will be available on 5-8-07.
Weather Forecast: Tonight: clear, temperature 49-53 degrees, relative humidity 86-91%, smoke dispersion fair, and winds out of the North at 14-18 mph with occasional gusts.



Brantley and Ware Counties
Kneeknocker-Race Track-Ft. Mudge-Brown Town-Easter Day Fires

Location: Brantley and Ware Counties
Acres: 3,233
Containment: 95%
Committed Resources: 39 Personnel, 5 Engines, and 10 Dozer/Tractor Plows.
Suppression Action: A Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) Type III Incident Management Team (IMT) manages the fires. Resources continue to mop up and hold containment lines on Kneeknocker, Ft. Mudge, and the Race Track fires. The IMT is providing initial attack resources for surrounding counties and the Sweat Farm Road Fire. The IMT is also providing overhead and operational support to the Roundabout Fire in Atkinson County.
Weather Forecast: Tonight: clear, temperature 49-53 degrees, relative humidity 86-91%, smoke dispersion fair, and winds out of the North at 14-18 mph with occasional gusts.



Atkinson County
Roundabout Swamp Fire

Location: 4 miles west of Pearson, GA, and adjacent to Kirkland, GA.
Acres: 5,857
Containment: 65%
Committed Resources: 225 Personnel, 5 Engines, and 21 Dozer/Tractor Plows.
Incident History: Start Date: April 27, 2007 Cause: Under investigation
Suppression Action: A Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) Type III Incident Management Team (IMT) manages the fire. Resources continue to build and improve control lines to provide access for engines in mop up operations and to keep the fire from coming out of Roundabout Swamp.
Weather Forecast: Tonight: clear, temperature 49-53 degrees, relative humidity 86-91%, smoke dispersion fair, and winds out of the North at 14-18 mph with occasional gusts.
Georgia Forestry Commission Type II Incident Management Team