Basic Information from:Â http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4921/
Morning Update 8.10
Incident: Whit Fire WildfireCurrent Situation: As fire containment increases the transfer of command from the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team (IMT) to a Type III IMT will occur on August 11 at 6:00 a.m. The new team will have an in-briefing this morning with the Rocky Mountain IMT and will shadow them throughout the day. The Rocky Mountain IMT would like to express their appreciation to the community and to all the agencies involved for their support on the Whit Fire.Yesterday firelines held through red flag weather conditions; smoke that was visible in the late afternoon came from interior burning on the north end of the fire and from burnout operations that occurred on the fire’s southwest flank. Smoke and interior burning can be expected until the fire area receives significant moisture (rain or snow).Today crews will continue to mop-up, patrol, and secure containment lines. Fireline construction and burnout operations will occur on the southwest side of the fire.Weather: Today will be warm and less windy than yesterday. A cold front will pass through the fire area late in the day increasing chances of thunderstorms this evening. Winds will be easterly this morning then switching to west/southwest around 3:00 p.m. On Thursday there is a good chance of late day thunderstorms bringing wetting rain. There is a chance of thunderstorms Friday and Saturday; Sunday will be dry and warm.Safety: Boaters should be aware that helicopters may use Buffalo Bill Reservoir as a water source. Fire traffic in North and South Fork areas will continue for the foreseeable future.Closures: The Bureau of Land Management Cody Field Office and the Shoshone National Forest have maintained temporary trail closures in the vicinity of the fire. The following trails are closed: Green Creek, Twin Creek, and Sheep Mountain Trails. More information on the closures can be found at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/4921/.Sign Boards: Information boards at the Wapiti School, Wapiti Post Office, Wapiti Wayside, and the Red Barn Store will be removed today. Information about the Whit Fire can be obtained through this site, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/whitfire or Follow on Twitter at @WhitFireInfo.
Morning Update 8.9
Incident: Whit Fire WildfireReleased: 44 min. agoCurrent Situation: Today crews are continuing to secure, mop-up and patrol containment lines on the northwest, northern, and southeastern fire flanks. Resources are being concentrated on the southwestern corner of the fire where fireline will be constructed from West Fork of Timber Creek to Cow Camp.Resources are being released as firelines are secured. Crews, equipment and air resources are being made available for dispatch to other incidents.Weather and Fire Behavior: Red flag conditions are forecasted for today between noon and 9:00 p.m. which brings potential for more active fire behavior. Wednesday expect dry conditions but light winds. Thursday will be partly cloudy with a good chance of thunderstorms with wetting rain.Safety: Buffalo Bill Reservoir was opened to recreational activities on Monday, August 8. The speed limit is back to normal on Highway 14/16/20. Boaters should be aware that helicopters may use the reservoir as a water source if needed.Evacuations and Closures: There are no evacuation orders in place. Fire traffic in the area will continue for the foreseeable future.The Bureau of Land Management Cody Field Office and the Shoshone National Forest have maintained temporary trail closures in the vicinity of the fire. The following trails are closed: Green Creek, Twin Creek, and Sheep Mountain Trails. More information on the closures can be found at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/4921/.A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire. Pilots are advised to check all NOTAM’s before flying in the area. Current TFR 6/8166.
Basic Information
| Current as of |
‎8‎/‎8‎/‎2016‎ ‎10‎:‎18‎:‎32‎ ‎PM |
| Incident Type |
Wildfire |
| Cause |
Undetermined |
| Date of Origin |
Tuesday August 02nd, 2016 approx. 02:20 PM |
| Location |
12 miles west of Cody |
| Incident Commander |
Todd Pechota |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel |
639 |
| Size |
12,094 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained |
70% |
| Fuels Involved |
brush, grass, timber |
Outlook
| Planned Actions |
Continue assessment and securing of structures. Continue direct and indirect line construction to stop further movement west into Whit Creek drainage, north toward North Fork drainage, northeast toward Sheep Mountain and southeast toward the South Fork Highway. Mop up recently fired and burned out areas of fire to secure on south flanks. |
| Projected Incident Activity |
Fire spread potential remains highest on western and northern flanks with heavier forested fuel types present. Areas burned out on south west flanks will need continued monitoring for spotting problems with high forecasted winds. Higher probabilities of ignition setting up in the burn period. |
Current Weather
| Weather Concerns |
Today's weather on project RAWS 76 degrees, winds 9 gusting to 17 mph from the ENE. Tomorrow's weather 79 degrees, 14-16% RH, winds S 10-20 with gust range of 30 to 35 mph possible with a Haines Index of 6. |
From the Cody Enterprise:Fire Summary Monday 8/8/16
A week into the Whit Fire, firefighters from across the U.S. gained the upper hand on a blaze raging on the outskirts of Cody that has grown as large as 12,240 acres so far. By Monday, many of the 686 firefighters who had battled the human-caused fire at its peak, as well as the Super Scooper planes that dipped into Buffalo Bill Reservoir for water refueling, had rotated out.
As of the beginning of the week, officials proclaimed the fire 65 percent contained, but remained wary of any notable rekindling if the powerful winds that earlier spread the fire resume. Most of the southern, northern and western perimeters of the fire were considered contained.
The wildfire began Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 2, but expanded rapidly, first to 1,800 acres early Wednesday and then mushrooming to more than 3,000 acres that afternoon after being fanned by winds up to 70 mph. “The winds were a huge factor,†said Delissa Minnick, Bureau of Land Management field manager in the Cody office. The high winds, dry conditions and hot temperatures reaching the 90s were called perfectly bad conditions for quelling the fire. At different times large brown clouds or black clouds loomed on the western horizon of Cody towards Yellowstone National Park.
A massive cooperative effort by Park County, Type 3 and then Type 1 traveling crews, and dozens of pieces of apparatus, from engines to helicopters, brought firefighters from all over the U.S. to Cody where an incident base camp was set up at Buffalo Bill State Park. It took commanders, officials and firefighters from the BLM, Shoshone National Forest, City, county, state and other states working 12-hour shifts to limit home and structure damage to a small number after two buildings were almost immediately lost. Forced to hike into backcountry areas over downed timber, rocky stretches and over steep hills to reach the fire’s front line, firefighters were greatly aided by the arrival of special planes that were able to douse the blaze with airdrops of 1,600 gallons of water at a time.
Type I crew chief Todd Pechota said the terrain was “beautiful, but nasty, nasty country†to send firefighters. Pechota and other fire leaders stressed repeatedly to personnel to “be safe.†The phrase was a routine part of each day’s 6 a.m. morning briefing at the base camp. Although work continues to totally suppress the fire, reports of only two minor injuries to firefighters have been reported.
At its peak, the fire caused county Homeland Security Coordinator Mart Knapp to issue orders to 250 area residents to evacuate their homes. In one public briefing, Minnick referred to the fire as “human-caused, through no malicious intent.†But attention was more on putting out the fire than investigating is beginnings. The use of four CL-415 Super Scoopers, manufactured solely for firefighting, was “a very big deal,†said Minnick. Capable of inhaling water while traveling at 100 mph, the planes took advantage of the proximity of Buffalo Bill Reservoir.  “They’ve been instrumental,†Pechota said of helping the firefighters slow the wildfire. The planes caused the shutdown of the reservoir to recreational boating and fishing for a few days, but the body of water re-opened for those pursuits again Monday.
 Officials said there was no indication of major harm done to wildlife. Fire operations manager Rob Powell said elk and mule deer generally run from fires. Since this area is populated with grizzly bears, fire crews going into the field were given bear awareness training and carried bear spray. Travis Chamberlain with the Sweetwater County firefighting group out of Rock Springs said three people shared one bear spray canister. “So we had to stick together,†he said.
Two public meetings between officials and citizens on Thursday and Saturday nights at Livingston School included thank-yous for support from the officials and applause from the citizens. “We’re probably more supported than a lot of places,†said Steve Williamson, a Cody-based BLM firefighter. One turning point in staying ahead of the fire was a weather change Sunday when rain fell and temperatures cooled during thunderstorms.
“The weather yesterday was our friend,†said Pete Buist, a fire information officer, on Monday.
Update from Saturday Meeting 8/6/16By LEW FREEDMAN
The Whit Fire’s 10,366 burning acres are 30 percent contained, authorities announced Saturday night at a public meeting at Livingston School, and they expressed optimism a Sunday forecast of rain will aid the 686 firefighters in gaining the upper hand on the blaze.
The work of crews from all over the United States, coupled with an increase from two to four Super Scooper planes bombarding the blaze with water taken from the Buffalo Bill Reservoir, led Type I crew chief Todd Pechota to express confidence the spread of the fire may have been halted. “I’m not going to tell you it’s a done deal,†Pechota said. There are at least “three more days of hard work left,†Pechota said. “It’s beautiful, but nasty, nasty country.â€
Pechota reported two firefighters have suffered minor injuries, one an abdominal strain. The other was hit in the shoulder and cheek with a baseball-sized rock. This was the first mention of injuries in connection with the fire that has raged near Cody since Tuesday afternoon. No additional information was available on the loss of structures. Thursday night it was stated between two and 10 buildings have been lost.
As another positive sign, at 9 a.m. Saturday Mart Knapp, Park County Homeland Security coordinator, lifted the evacuation order for approximately 250 people who had been asked to leave their homes for their own safety.
The fire spread wildly in mid-week, quickly expanding to 9,647 acres, but has grown by only about 720 acres since because of the intensive firefighting effort.
Pechota said 5,606 acres are Bureau of Land Management acreage, 3,184 acres of private property, 1,570 acres of state land and six acres of the Shoshone National Forest. The forest is at the western edge of the fire and Pechota said the team is working to prevent it expanding to the West. Originally, the fire, which is said to be human-caused, spread quickly because of winds up to 70 mph in the mountains, but the wind died down over the last few days, giving the firefighters an edge.
“It’s been huge,†said Delissa Minnick, Cody regional office BLM field manager of that change. “We got lucky. We’ve had favorable winds. Our strategy would have been much different.â€Â A cornerstone of the firefighting strategy revolved around CL-415 Super Scoopers. Two of the planes were on loan Thursday and another two arrived Friday. Two were dismissed Saturday. “It’s been a very big deal,†Minnick said of having access to the planes. The planes can skim the surface of the Buffalo Bill Reservoir at up to 100 mph to load 1,600 gallons of water. Pechota said a key is the location of the body of water so close to the fire. “We had eight-minute turnarounds,†he said. “They’ve (the planes) been instrumental. It was perfect.â€
It was a less-than-perfect situation for officials on the road nearby, however. Park County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Lance Mathess said onlookers are creating traffic jams and unsafe conditions on the highway with children running across the highway without looking. A no-parking order is being enforced except at turnouts and speed limits are being lowered.
Fire operations manager Rob Powell said there is no indication elk or mule deer have been killed since they generally flee fire areas. He said firefighters are carrying bear spray, but have not reported any grizzly encounters.
Powell said it will take more than a few drops of rain to really help extinguish the fire. “It’s going to take a lot of rain to take you guys out of the woods,†he said.
Update p.m. 8/6/16:
All evacuations due to the Whit Fire have been lifted, with all residents and landowners allowed back to their property. Be aware that there may be heavy fire traffic in the area.
Temporary trail closures implemented by the Bureau of Land Management Cody Field Office and the Shoshone National Forest remain in effect. Closed are Green Creek, Twin Creek, and Sheep Mountain Trails. There also is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire. Pilots are advised to check all NOTAM’s before flying in the area. Current TFR 6/8166.
Saturday was a busy day for firefighters. Some hand crews were ferried in by helicopter on both the fire’s northern and southern flanks, where direct handline continued to be constructed from Whit Creek south to the North/South Fork Divide and from Breteche Creek east. The latter crews met crews that are anchoring handline from the Bear Creek drainage to the west. These crews are also securing structures in the South Fork drainage.
Other crews were anchoring and constructing fireline from the West Fork of Timber Creek to Cow Camp using existing roads. The North Fork structure protection group continued structure assessment/triage and moped up around structures where the fire front has passed. The South Fork structural protection group continued structure assessment/triage as well.
The Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team will give a current fire update and overview of the Whit Fire tonight at 6 p.m. at Livingston School. The group has a Facebook page dedicated to notes of appreciation for the firefighters working on the fire line. Visit https://www.facebook.com/RockyMtn.Type1.IMT.PIOs.
Update a.m. 8/6/16:
On Friday the Whit Fire grew to 10,198 acres but it is now 15 percent contained. Hand crews have and will continue to strengthen firelines on the northern and southern perimeters. There are 448 people working on the fire with more arriving.
Buffalo Bill Reservoir remains closed for aircraft using the water on the Whit Fire. A no stopping zone is in effect through the fire zone where a 45 mph speed limit is in effect.
There will be another public meeting Saturday at 6 p.m. at Livingston School.
Update afternoon 8/4/16:
As of Thursday evening some 250 South Fork and North Fork residents had been told to evacuate their homes because of the spreading Whit Fire that has been ravaging terrain on the outskirts of Cody. Perhaps an additional 100 people were notified of a potential threat, said Mart Knapp, the Park County Homeland Security coordinator, at a public briefing at Livingston School on Thursday evening.
Local, state and federal officials provided an update to more than 100 listeners at the school about the backcountry fire. However, no claim was made that the fire was contained, and no announcement that it had grown larger than the 9,647 acres already consumed. The Whit Fire was “human-caused, through no malicious intent,†said Delissa Minnick, field manager for the Bureau of Land Management’s Cody office.
Thursday night a plane was scheduled to make over-flights of the fire zone using infrared capability to determine the latest size of the blaze, said Kristie Salzmann, public affairs officer for the Shoshone National Forest. A report on the size of the conflagration was due to be released Friday morning. Salzmann said there was too much smoke too close to the ground to obtain a better reading Thursday.
The fire grew so quickly Wednesday because of high winds, Minnick said. She said there were gusts to between 60 and 70 mph, wind much stronger than was experienced in Cody at the same time, and that hindered firefighters. “The winds were a huge factor,†Minnick said. To date there have been no injuries to people reported, she said.
 Although he did not have a precise count, Cody Fire Marshal Sam Wilde said “several structures†have been destroyed. Between two and 10 was his best estimate. The end of the day Thursday marked a switch of the main firefighting force in the hills. While initially combated by local and regional volunteers, a 12-member Type 3 crew from Arizona that had been slated to fight a fire near Dubois was diverted to the Cody area Wednesday. The group was scheduled to be replaced by a Type 1 crew at 6 a.m. Friday. New incident commander Paul Pechota said his group has 56 members, primarily drawn from five states – Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota and Kansas. Type 1 crews are the most experienced firefighting crews deployed.
Outgoing incident commander Andy Mandell, Minnick and others, praised Cody residents for tremendous support in providing water, Gatorade and energy bars to the firefighters. Those in the audience avidly applauded each representative of agencies that has taken part in seeking to halt the advance of the blaze.
Update 9 a.m. 8/4/16:After a day of very active burning yesterday, an infrared flight overnight shows the Whit Fire at 9,647 acres. This fire is burning on both the north and south side of Sheep Mountain approximately 15 miles west of Cody. The cause of the Whit Fire is currently under investigation.
A public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at Livingston Elementary School. During this meeting, the Central West Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team will share current information as well as planned future actions for the Whit Fire. ENDUpdate afternoon 8/3/16:
"A wildfire that started Tuesday afternoon in the Whit Creek area west of Cody has spread dramatically in a few hours.  Estimated at 1,800 acres Wednesday around noon, by mid-afternoon the size had nearly doubled.
The following pictures were taken the afternoon of 8/3/2016 by Lonnie. They show how fast the fire grew in size and for a time it looked like things were going to get very bad for the South Fork area just south of the reservoir. Luckily, the wind shifted just enough to let firefighters get in to protect homes and structures. So far today, it looks like there are not any hot flare-ups.
Taken from the South Fork Highway around 4 p.m.
8/4/2016 Pictures:
