Oil Creek Fire, 12:14 a.m., MT, July 3, 2012. ESRI/USFS
UPDATE: July 6, 2012: We posted an update on the Oil Creek fire HERE.
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We posted updated information about the Oil Creek fire July 5, 2012.
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(We posted updated information about the Oil Creek fire on July 4, 2012.)
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The Oil Creek fire northwest of Newcastle has grown to approximately 20,000 acres, according to the Wyoming State Forestry Division. The map above (which can be found at ESRI’s web site) shows the perimeter as detected by a fixed wing infrared mapping aircraft at 12:14 a.m. MT, July 3, 2012.
The map below shows the same perimeter, but also indicates by the red dots with white squares, heat detected by a satellite at 12:50 p.m. MT, July 3, 2012. It shows that the fire spread approximately another three miles farther north during the previous 12-hour period.
Oil Creek Fire, 12:50 p.m. MT, July 3, 2012. MODIS/Google
The Wyoming State Forestry Division reported that the town of Osage was evacuated on Monday, affecting 425 people. Highway 16 closed for a while but reopened. Numerous structures are threatened and one barn has burned. The fire is 20% contained. Information number: 307-746-2614.
I know that area, i use to live just west of Osage and the fact that there has been minimal loss of structures attest to the skills and dedication of the firefighters. Myy heart goes out to them and the families in the area.
Knew that area and the landowners quite well in the early 1950′s. Have 35mm slides of pine invasion on sagebrush flats north of Osage. Told several landowners in Oil Creek/Plum Creek area that the area would burn “someday” due to accumulation of highly flammable fuels including an abundance of annual grasses. It will also recover over time with average precipitation, but the current drought conditions will not help.