The Douthit fire and West Ash fire are dying down. There has been no new growth on either fire. The Douthit fire remains at 29,730 acres burned, while the West Ash Fire remains at 58,450 acres burned.
The collective containment of the Region 23 Complex has risen to 85% contained. Fire fighters continue to focus on patrol, and mop-up, rehabilitation of dozer and fire lines in affected areas.
Individuals or families displaced or affected and in need of assistance are encouraged to contact the American Red Cross. They can be reached at 888-382-3790 to get information regarding local resources and services.
The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team has begun assessing post fire conditions so they can recommend and implement treatment to protect critical natural and cultural resources.
A variety of techniques may be used such as: mulching, noxious weed control, reseeding of ground cover, signage, possible road and trail closures, road drainage dip clean out, constructing straw bale dams or placing fallen trees to catch sediment on steep slopes.
Matthew Lucas team leader for BAER/Lead Hydrologist stated "The number one priority of BAER is the protection of life and property." His team is working with the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Nebraska Game and Parks, and United States Forest Services. The team's number one concern is post fire runoff.
Once a large amount of vegetation has been removed from an area and a storm event occurs infiltration of water is hampered and there is a potential for increase runoff from slopes and increased erosion in drainage bottoms. This could lead to damages to roadways, bridges, and structures within the flood plain area.
The goal of the team is to look at and implement ways to slow runoff and help protect water quality in streams, springs and critical natural and cultural resources. The Region 23 Complex BAER team is made up of specialist in paleontology, archeology, hydrology, range, invasive species, soils, engineering, and geographic information systems (GIS).
The Hudson-Meng Bison Kill Research and Visitor remain closed. This closure is in part due to the possibility of fire exposing new cultural resources. The area will be closed while specialists perform rapid assessments, which would allow preservation and protection of the resources for everyone. The facilities at Hudson-Meng Bison Bones have faired the fire with no damages.
Chadron State Park also remains closed and is anticipated to be closed for several weeks. This closure is in place for public safety while crews work to remove hazard trees and cleanup efforts. As soon as it is safe to do so Chadron State Park will resume operations.
UPDATE:Here is a breakdown on who owns the land impacted by the fires.
|
Fire
Name
|
|
Fire
Perimeter
|
|
U.S.
Forest Service
|
|
Nebraska
State
|
|
Private
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Douthit
Fire
|
|
29,730
acres
|
|
6,764
acres
|
|
0 acres
|
|
22,966
acres
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
West
Ash Fire
|
|
56,471
acres
|
|
17,921
acres
|
|
4,937
acres
|
|
33,613
acres
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Region
23 Complex Total
|
|
86,201
acres
|
|
24,685
acres
|
|
4,937
acres
|
|
56,579
acres
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday firefighters continued to focus on mop-up of any last hotspots that might be
remaining along the containment line. Rehabilitation continues on dozer and
road grader fireline that was put in place when suppression efforts were at its
peak.
A new team will take over as the risk dies down. The Type III team will continue
to keep resources on the firelines until fire management feels the fire no long
holds a risk of escaping containment lines.
The
Hudson-Meng Bison Kill Research and Visitor Center and Chadron State Park remain closed.
