Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Hastings Fire Update

Rainy days have helped fire fighters gain ground on containment. The fire is now considered to be 25% contained. We continue to be off and on with showers and cool. It is good to see this fire under control! Over 10 million dollars! Operations are beginning to wind down, daily cost is under one million. Still a bunch of folks working on the fire.

Fire Name: Hastings
Daily Record For: Jun 13, 2011
Status: S/U
Estimated Acres: 23110
Incident Commander: Tom Kurth
Personnel Count: 995
Daily Cost: $860,105.00
Summary:
Thunder storms, steep terrain and limited access are hampering control efforts. Todays observed fire behavior was only smoldering and creeping.On the northeast flank crews are working to secure the fire`s edge west along Washington Creek. Crews continue to go on direct line construction north of the Chatanika River on the southeast flank. Crews on the west flank continue to build direct line north toward Washington Creek. Equipment and supplies that are no longer needed for the fire are being returned. Crews on the west flank will continue to build and secure line from H-20 north toward Washington Creek. Direct line will be constructed on the south flank north of the Chatanika River. Mop-up will continue on the northeast flank and West along Washington Creek. Crews on the north flank along Washington Creek will hot spot and extinguish areas as located near the fire`s lower extension along the creek bottom. The field delivered S-420 began today.
Fire Year: 2011
Sequence #: 271
Estimated Acres: 23110
AFS Code: F4D8
DOF Code: 111271
USFS Code: PNF4D8
Total Cost: $10,738,782.00
Structures Threatened: 1405
Structures Burned: 2
Management Org.: DOF
Office: FAS
Option: FULL
Latitude: 65.0333328
Longitude: -148.3500061
Origin Owner: STA
Discovery Time: May 30, 2011 11:45:11 PM
Initial Behavior: Rank 5
Primary Fuel Type:
Mixed (Hardwoods/Softwoods)
Fire Type: Unknown
Origin Slope: 0-25
Origin Aspect: Unknown
Origin Elevation: 0-500
Township: 002N
Range: 003W
Section: 7
Quarter: SWNW
Meridian: Fairbanks
Updated: Jun 14, 2011

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Update from AICC (looks like InciWeb is down at the moment), the latest info from the GIS system:

Fire Name: Hastings
Daily Record For: Jun 6, 2011
Status: S/U
Estimated Acres: 12770
Incident Commander: Tom Kurth
Personnel Count: 563
Daily Cost: $873,440.00
Summary:
An evacuation advisory was issued for residents of the Hayes Creek Subdivision. Burnout operations occurred on the East side of the fire. Aviation assets assisted with slowing the fire`s growth along the east flank. Fire continues to advance on the East side along the dozer line at the top of the ridge. Boats are assisting with structure protection on the Chatanika River. Preparations continue in the McCloud subdivision and along Old Murphy Dome Road.Dozers will continue constructing contingency lines east of the fire. Crews will continue constructing direct line on both the west and south flanks. Structure protection efforts will continue along the Chatanika River. Crews will continue structure protection efforts in Hayes, McCloud, and Desperation Loop. There is Red Flag Warning for strong winds in effect tomorrow from 2PM to 10 PM. Winds from the SW 8-15 mph with local gusts to 25mph.25,464 gallons of retardant were dropped by airtankers and Ducks dropped 39,000 gallons of water.
Fire Year: 2011
Sequence #: 271
Estimated Acres: 12019
AFS Code: F4D8
DOF Code: 111271
USFS Code: PNF4D8
Total Cost: $3,756,542.00
Structures Threatened: 1405
Structures Burned: 2
Management Org.: DOF
Office: FAS
Option: FULL
Latitude: 65.0333328
Longitude: -148.3500061
Origin Owner: Unknown
Origin Admin Unit: Unknown
Discovery Time: May 30, 2011 11:45:11 PM
Initial Behavior: Rank 5
Primary Fuel Type:
Mixed (Hardwoods/Softwoods)
Fire Type: Unknown
Origin Slope: 0-25
Origin Aspect: Unknown
Origin Elevation: 0-500
Township: 002N
Range: 003W
Section: 7
Quarter: SWNW
Meridian: Fairbanks
Updated: Jun 7, 2011

Updated fire map



Updated fire map as of June 7th. Containment is 8%. Quote from a June 7th posting:

"HASTINGS INCIDENT SAFETY MESSAGE 06‐07‐11

IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS FIRE ISN’T BEHAVING. IN FACT
ITS BEHAVIOR IS EXTREME. THE WEATHER ISN’T
COOPERATING EITHER."

Monday, June 6, 2011

Hastings Fire Update

A cold front cleared out the air, but didn't produce much rain. These pictures are from June 6th, 2011 at 9 pm Alaska time showing new smoke plumes over the forest fire.



These new plumes indicate additional area has burned. We will find out tomorrow what burned. Over 550 personnel working on this fire.
Fire Name: Hastings
Daily Record For: Jun 5, 2011
Status: S/U
Estimated Acres: 12019
Incident Commander: Tom Kurth
Personnel Count: 563
Daily Cost: $676,282.00
Summary:
Continuing warmer temperatures and lower RHs led to increased fire behavior. Strong Southwest winds caused the fire to grow NE toward Hayes Creek Subdivision.Aviation assets assisted with slowing the fire`s growth along the east flank. Dozers worked their way down the ridge from Hayes Cr. to the fire`s edge and continued constructing contingency dozer line. Boats are assisting with structure protection on the Chatanika River. Preparations continue in the McCloud subdivision and along Old Murphy Dome Road. Dozers will continue constructing contingency lines east of the fire. Crews will continue constructing direct line on both the west and south flanks. Structure protection efforts will continue along the Chatanika River. Crews will continue structure protection efforts in Hayes, McCloud, and Desperation Loop.
Fire Year: 2011
Sequence #: 271
Estimated Acres: 12019
AFS Code: F4D8
DOF Code: 111271
USFS Code: PNF4D8
Total Cost: $2,883,102.00
Structures Threatened: 1405
Structures Burned: 2
Management Org.: DOF
Office: FAS
Option: FULL
Latitude: 65.0333328
Longitude: -148.3500061
Origin Owner: Unknown
Origin Admin Unit: Unknown
Discovery Time: May 30, 2011 11:45:11 PM
Initial Behavior: Rank 5
Primary Fuel Type:
Mixed (Hardwoods/Softwoods)
Fire Type: Lightning
Specific Cause: Lightning
Origin Slope: 0-25
Origin Aspect: Unknown
Origin Elevation: 0-500
Township: 002N
Range: 003W
Section: 7
Quarter: SWNW
Meridian: Fairbanks
Updated: Jun 5, 2011

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Smoke plumes from Hastings Fire 2011

Above: 6 pm, Saturday, June 4th, 2011
Above: late afternoon

Hasting Fire Update

Follow details at inciWeb for the Hastings Fire. We have been cooler with showers in the area. The fire over the past few days has grown from under 1000 acres to over 7000 acres. Growth has been slow in the last couple of days.


A wind shift brought smoke into our area Thursday evening. At about 10 or 11 pm, the wind shifted and picked up and blew the smoke out of the area.

Fire Name: Hastings
Daily Record For: Jun 3, 2011
Status: S/U
Estimated Acres: 7350
Incident Commander: Allen, Rob
Personnel Count: 475
Daily Cost: $580,501.00
Summary:
The Alaska Type 1 IMT assumed command of the incident at 0600 Friday. All staged crews were moved out to the line. Boats arrived to assist with structure protection on the Chatanika River. Dozers worked their way down the ridge from Hayes Creek to the fire`s edge. A return to warmer temperatures and lower RHs led to increased fire behavior. Strong South winds caused the fire to grow NW toward Washington Creek. Aviation assets assisted with slowing the fire`s growth along the east flank. Preparations continue in the McCloud subdivision and along Old Murphy Dome Road.
Fire Year: 2011
Sequence #: 271
Estimated Acres: 7350
AFS Code: F4D8
DOF Code: 111271
USFS Code: PNF4D8
Total Cost: $1,559,099.00
Structures Threatened: 1405
Structures Burned: 2
Management Org.: DOF
Office: FAS
Option: FULL
Latitude: 65.0333328
Longitude: -148.3500061
Origin Owner: Unknown
Origin Admin Unit: Unknown
Discovery Time: May 30, 2011 11:45:11 PM
Initial Behavior: Rank 5
Primary Fuel Type:
Mixed (Hardwoods/Softwoods)
Specific Cause: Unknown
Origin Slope: 0-25
Origin Aspect: Unknown
Origin Elevation: 0-500
Township: 002N
Range: 003W
Section: 7
Quarter: SWNW
Meridian: Fairbanks
Updated: Jun 4, 2011