Fire Information: 208-254-5778 Utah Fire Information: utahfireinfo.gov, Email: 2019.Neck@firenet.gov

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLMUtah/ Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6578/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/UtahWildfire @UtahWildfire

Size: 17,800 acres Containment: 30% Personnel: 292 Start Date: September 5, 2019 Cause: Lightning

FIRE UPDATE: This morning, September 8, 2019 at 6:00 a.m., Color Country Bureau of Land Management transitioned command of the Neck Fire to Great Basin Team 7, led by Incident Commander Jeff Knudson. Today, the Team will build on prior suppression efforts on the Neck Fire using crews, equipment, and aircraft to reinforce line around the fire. Operational priorities will factor safety hazards and concerns, including a 36-inch natural gas pipeline and high-voltage overhead powerlines; these assets have been evaluated and found to be secure. Values at risk include the endangered sage grouse, which are not yet affected since their closest habitat range still is south of the fire. Occupied Utah Prairie Dogs’ dens are several miles east of the fire perimeter.
Red Flag warning for winds and low relative humidity are forecast for today. A predicted upper-level trough will bring steady winds of 12-16 mph throughout the afternoon with gusts to 24 mph. The forecast is for partly cloudy, becoming sunny by mid-afternoon.
No structures have been damaged and none are currently at risk.

WEATHER: Clouds in the morning will give way to sunny conditions in the later morning. Expect dry and windy conditions today as a trough moves through in the early afternoon with increasing gusts up to 25 mph. Maximum temperatures will be in the mid-80s.

RESOURCES: Total Personnel: 292 3 Hotshot Crews 6 Helicopters 5 Hand Crews 17 Engines 3 Dozers

PUBLIC SAFETY: Mud Springs Road is the single paved road closure to-date. Law enforcement is staffing roadblocks established for public safety and efficient firefighting operations. Other unpaved roads near the fire remain closed.
If you are driving in the area on Hwy 130, please SLOW DOWN, but DO NOT STOP in and around the fire area. Additionally, for the safety of firefighters and the public, be aware that helicopters cannot dip from spots where cars are parked too close or where rafters are lingering in the river. Please allow firefighters to do their job safely and efficiently.

CLOSURES: Unpaved roads in the fire area remain closed.

The South Fire was declared out on 12/2/2019

The South Fire was declared contained/controlled at 10:00 am on 11/27/2019.

ORDER NO. 14-19-07
SOUTH FIRE CLOSURE
SHASTA-TRINITY NATIONAL FOREST

Pursuant to 16 USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. This Order is effective from October 3, 2019, until the South Fire is declared out.

1. Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the South Fire Closure Area. The South Fire Closure Area boundary begins at the intersection of Forest Trail No. 09W39 (South Fork Cottonwood Creek) and the Shasta-Trinity National Forest boundary (Section 15 Township 26N, Range 9W, MDM), then continues north along the western edge of Forest Trail No. 09W39 to its intersection with Forest Trail No. 09W34 (Sanford Ridge) (Section 31 Township 27N, Range 9W, MDM), then continues north along the western edge of Forest Trail No. 09W34 to its intersection with Forest Trail No. 09W36 (Humboldt) (Section 20 Township 27N, Range 9W, MDM), then continues east along the northern edge of Forest Trail No. 09W36 to its intersection with Forest Trail No. 09W36A (Low Gap/ Humboldt Tie) (Section 20 Township 27N, Range 9W, MDM), then continues north along the western edge of Forest Trail No. 09W36A to its intersection with Forest Road No. 27N07 (Humboldt) (Section 20 Township 27N, Range 9W, MDM), then continues east along the northern edge of Forest Road No. 27N07 to its intersection with Forest Road No. 27N26 (Middle Ridge) (Section 32 Township 27N, Range 9W, MDM), then continues south along the eastern edge of Forest Road No. 27N26 to its intersection with Forest Road No. 27N06 (Tomhead Mountain) (Section 30 Township 27N, Range 8W, MDM), then continues south along the eastern edge of Forest Road No. 27N06 to its intersection with northern edge of Section 1 Township 26N, Range 9W, MDM, then continues due east along the northern edge of the section line to its intersection with the eastern edge of Section 5 Township 26N, Range 8W, MDM, then continues due south along the eastern edge of the section line to its intersection with the Shasta-Trinity National Forest boundary (Section 5 Township 26N, Range 8W, MDM), then continues west and south along the Shasta-Trinity National Forest boundary back to the starting point, as shown on the attached map. 36 C.F .R. 261.52( e ).

2. Being on any National Forest System road within the South Fire Closure Area, as shown on the attached map. 36 CFR 261.54(e).

3. Being on any National Forest System trail within the South Fire Closure Area, as shown on the attached map. 36 CFR 261.55(a).

Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:

1. Persons with a permit from the Forest Service specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.

2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A. A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 USC 551 and 18 USC 3559, 3571, and 3581.

Executed at Redding, California this 2nd day of October, 2019.

TERRI SIMON-JACKSON Acting Forest Supervisor

South Fire Closure Order and Map (PDF)

Current Fire Situation: This will be the final update unless significant activity occurs.

As of this morning, the South Fire is approximately 5209 acres with 61% containment. Large fuels continued to smolder, but no significant fire activity was observed on Friday.

The South Fire is in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, southeast of Tomhead Mountain, west of Red Bluff, and 15 miles south of Platina CA. The fire is in a remote and very rugged area of the forest.

Along Sanford Ridge, two miles west of the fire, a contingency line has been completed to contain the fire, should it to move to the West. The eastern portion of the fire, which is outside of the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness, remains 100% contained.

Today, firefighters will continue to improve the containment line along the Humboldt trail on the northern edge of the fire, and scout for other possible confinement line locations within the wilderness.

The fire will transition to a smaller organization today. The California Interagency Incident Management Team 16, has been managing the fire since September 8. On behalf of the team, we would like to thank the local communities for their support. Management of the fire will be returned back to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

A warming and drying trend is predicted through the coming weekend. Today’s forecast is for clear skies with highs of 71 at 5000 feet elevation, and 70-75 at 2500 feet elevation. The continuation of drying fuels, influenced by solar heating, will also continue throughout today.

Fire Information: For specific inquiries, contact the Shasta-Trinity’s fire information center at 530-628-0039. Please note: this is a new phone number. Information is also available online at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6577/

A Forest Closure remains in effect within the area of the South Fire. Order No. 14-19-06.

For public and firefighter safety, forest visitors should observe all Forest Closures.

Visit the Shasta-Trinity National Forest web page for more information. www.fs.usda.gov/stnf

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

Current Fire Situation:

As of this morning, the South Fire is approximately 5209 acres with 61% containment. No fire activity was observed on Thursday.

The South Fire is in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, southeast of Tomhead Mountain, west of Red Bluff, and 15 miles south of Platina CA. The fire is in a remote and very rugged area of the forest.

The western portion of the South Fire, within the Yolla Bolly Wilderness, continues to be confined south of Humboldt Ridge; east of Sanford Ridge; and north of Cottonwood Creek. The eastern portion of the fire, which is being managed under a full suppression strategy, also saw no activity.

Today, firefighters will improve containment lines as needed to hold fire within established boundaries. Roads are being watered and graded to restore them to pre-fire condition. Limbs and branches are being chipped and spread. This action will accelerate decomposition and reduce the amount of fuel available for future fires.

The top priorities are to provide for firefighter and public safety; protect private and Forest Service infrastructure; protect natural and cultural resources; and limit fire spread to within the established boundaries.

A warming and drying trend is predicted through the coming weekend. Today’s forecast is for partly cloudy. Temperatures are forecast for 60-65 at 5000 feet and 70-75 at 2500 feet. Winds will be from the north to northeast at 3-6 mph. Smoldering of larger fuels, such as large trees and stumps, is expected for today. The continuation of drying fuels, influenced by solar heating, will also continue throughout the day.

Fire Information: For specific inquiries, contact the fire information center at 530-852-8473. Information is available online at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6577/

A Forest Closure remains in effect within the South Fire. Order No. 14-19-06.

For the safety of our Firefighters, the public and hunters should observe all Forest Closures.

Visit the Shasta Trinity National Forest web page for more information. www.fs.usda.gov/stnf

California Conservation Corpsmembers Learn the Incident Command System

9/19/2019

Nineteen California Conservation Corps (CCC) corpsmembers learned about the Incident Command System (ICS) while working on the South Fire on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

Forty corpsmembers from the Delta CCC Center near Stockton are assigned to the South Fire. Working under the direction of Crew Supervisor George Mejia, corpsmembers are supporting the incident management team and firefighters in a variety of ways, including: camp upkeep, handling supplies, and distributing refrigerated food.

The South Fire is being managed by the California Interagency Incident Management Team 16. The Incident Command System is a management structure used by federal, state, tribal, and municipal agencies to manage forest fire responses, non-fire disasters and large planned events. Team 16 has used ICS to manage several types of incidents.

During an orientation session on Wednesday September 18, each team command and general staff officer or section chief explained their team role; their day-to-day job; how they became interested in incident management; and potential career paths that would enable CCC members to become qualified to perform various ICS positions. For many corpsmembers, this was their first exposure to the Incident Command System.

Corpsmembers asked incident management team members several questions concerning careers with the wildland agencies, training opportunities, and the more technical aspects of the work they perform while deployed on an incident. CCC Agency Representative Chad Harris said afterwards that the team’s interactions with the corpsmembers had “lit a fire” in several of them.

Current Fire Situation:

As of this morning, the South Fire is approximately 5203 acres with 53% containment. No fire activity was observed on Wednesday.

The South Fire is in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, southeast of Tomhead Mountain, west of Red Bluff, and 15 miles south of Platina CA. The fire is in a remote and very rugged area of the forest.

The western portion of the South Fire, within the Yolla Bolly Wilderness, continues to be confined south of Humbolt Ridge; east of Sanford Ridge; and north of Cottonwood Creek. The eastern portion of the fire, which is being managed under a full suppression strategy, also saw no activity.

Today, firefighters will improve containment lines as needed to hold fire within established boundaries. Roads are being watered and graded to restore them to pre-fire condition. Limbs and branches are being chipped and spread. This action will accelerate decomposition and reduce the amount of fuel available for future fires.

The top priorities are to provide for firefighter and public safety; protect private and Forest Service infrastructure; protect natural and cultural resources; and limit fire spread to within the established boundaries.

The fire received intermittent rain yesterday. A warming and drying trend is predicted through the coming weekend. Today’s forecast is for mostly sunny. Temperatures are forecast for 55-60 at 5000 feet and 65-70 at 2500 feet. Winds will be from the west and southwest at 3-6 mph, with gusts up to 12 mph. Today’s fire behavior will be characterized by smoldering larger fuels. No fire growth is expected today.

Fire Information: For specific inquiries, contact the fire information center at 530-852-8473. Information is available online at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6577/

A Forest Closure remains in effect within the South Fire. Order No. 14-19-06.

For the safety of our Firefighters the public and hunters should observe all Forest Closures.

Visit the Shasta Trinity National Forest web page for more information. www.fs.usda.gov/stnf

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

Hike it or Spike it: Wildland Firefighters In Action!

September 18, 2019

Betsy Haynes PIOF (T)

Have you ever wanted to get away from it all and take a walk on the wild side? You can join thousands of men and women who work on wildland fires annually in the U.S. When arriving to an incident, firefighters start out by checking in to base camp. Base camps provide services such as porta-potties (blue rooms), showers, laundry, and a dining area to have warm meals. What conditions lead some of these firefighters, equipment operators, and aviation crews to leave base camp for a very remote “spike camp” with limited facilities? Webster’s dictionary defines a spike camp as “a temporary or secondary camp site for a forestry crew accessible from the main camp.”

Why is a Spike camp needed? SAFETY! Firefighter safety is a top priority. A firefighting crew may have to hike in, drive, or ride a transport long distances up to high altitudes to get into areas to implement fire suppression tactics. These distances can take hours and can affect the productiveness of the crew if they use all of their energy getting to the fire.

On the South Fire in September 2019, a Warm Springs (OR) Fire Module crew member, said they had just spent eight days in a spike camp. He reported facilities were limited and meals were delivered by vehicle or slung in by helicopter. Although it is very remote, the firefighters do what they have to do to get the job done!

So, if you are looking for an adventure, join the firefighter forces and you may just get the chance to spike out!