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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Posted at 1:55 p.m. MT, July 1, 2012
We will attempt to gather more information about the Oil Creek fire just northwest of Newcastle, Wyoming today, but here is a map and some preliminary data.
The information below is from the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center at 4:30 p.m. June 30, 2012, at which time the fire had burned 4,500 acres:
Significant Events: Pre-evacuation is being conducted for the western sub-divisions and areas of Newcastle for approximately 750 to 1000, Currently 20 structures immediately threatened.
Remarks: Back-up or secondary power lin/transmission line for the town of Newcastle has been destroyed. Primary transmission line immediately threatened. Immediate threat to 20 structures. Pre-evacuations for western parts of Newcastle including the area north of HWY 16 and west of the Dog Pound Rd. Approximately 750 to 1000 people on pre-evacuation notice.
Observed Fire Behavior: Experiencing high to extreme fire behavior with moderate spotting up to 1/2 mile.
Planned Actions: Point protection of homes, Newcastle Wyoming, Mondell Field Airport, HWY 16, primary transmission line.
This is exactly the type of events that forest fuels reduction methods help with, sure catastrophic fires happen, however proven in California, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, even South Dakota, forest fuels treatments allow maintanable effects when this stuff happens. I have overviewed alot of this fire, I think areas like this fuel breaks, strategic thinning and so on would have definitely helped. The forest service, NRCS, so forth, they have limited funds to put towards treatments due to higher governments tightening the grip on this funding. Now we watch the beetle for example, the stratagies provided for use known as the cut and chunk or glorified “slash” jobs is being performed for bug prevention, PROBLEM, as we see in Colorado and other areas, they do this to save money, cost effective, what the heck happens when you have an overabundance of floor fuels in an area like this, if this fire would cought in an area that had had this treatment it woulda been beyond bad, the problem is neglecting the forest management projects, and pulling dumb stunts like cut and chunk, yeah may be cost effective BUT what is cost effective about millions of dollars in firefighting, and risking lives, I hope this opens the eyes of the government on the issues with our wooded areas. This pine beetle thing is one of the leading causes of uncontrollable wild fires, its been pushed as an epidemic, the health of our trees is actually quite poor, the beetle is unstoppable, I have been all over the country reviewing this, we have strategies that solve alot of these issues that are cost effective enough to cut out the wait and delays of what we concider government funding, its simply not working running on the support of groups such as NRCS, I would love to debate with the best of the best in the governments forestry departments about bad ideas that put us further and further at risk and debt over stuff such as Oil Creek, and Jasper, and even the Colorado fires that have our attention now, we shoulda pushed on all this like fourty years ago instead of waiting til we simply dont have the money to make things right.
Does anyone know if any homes were destroyed up Big Plum Creek?
Quoted from the KASL Radio Web site (note the part about one barn being the only structure lost to date). As of 8:00 p.m. on 4 July 2012:
Based on a reconnaissance of the fire area and the evening fire brief here are some observations about the fire at this time. The fire is currently at 58,000 acres, however its progress was limited to only a few danger areas in the north along the Skull Creek and Ertman Roads. Along the flanks of the fire, especially in the south, significant work was done in containing the fire. There remain numerous hot spots in the fire interior which means all evacuation advisories will remain in effect. As the weather situation improves, cooling temperatures and rising humidity, the Incident Management Team hopes to gain the upper hand over the next few days. Though 1 barn has been the only structure lost so far, all of us should understand that many families in the interior of the fire have lost pieces of land which also provide their livelihood. For many in Weston County this is a real disaster. They will need continued help from their neighbors and the entire Weston County community. Their disaster will not end when the flames and hot spots are finally suppressed.
July 4… What is the current status of the fire? Especially interested in sweetwater, Pisgah Thanks
The Weston County Homeland Security Website now has the URL to the InciWeb page (http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2985/) which includes a current map of the fire location. Click on “Hybrid View” and zoom in to see roads displayed.
My husband is one of the firefighters on the Oil Creek fire in Newcastle.. he said he hasn’t seen fire behavior like this in a LONG time!! This is definitely going to be a long summer.
The wind died down at the perfect time to save both homes in imminent danger on Skull Creek. Lots of personnel still on site of course. Flames were visible on the top of the east side of Skull Creek Canyon 30 minutes ago, but it had not reached the Skull Creek Complex Fire to my knowledge. What happens with it today will depend heavily on wind conditions. Unfortunately, even though they were contacted by me, I never saw anyone from ONEOK and the ONEOK Bakken PIpeline, and have no idea if their pipeline and all of their equipment was saved.
Anyone have any updates on the fire?
Tonight July 3rd there will be a community meeting at the Crouch Auditorium for the public to address the current fire situation at 7:00 p.m.. Present will be Incident Command, WC Sheriff’s Office, WC Fire Command, Wyoming State Forestry Officials and WC Homeland Security Director. Oil Creek Fire Incident Command now has a land line into their command center: 307-746-2614 (Source: KASL Radio Web site)
Any updates on the c-103 crash, first and foremost my family is thinking of those families affected by the fire, our prayers are with your families.
Update on Newcastle power outage if possible and where the fire is at this time.
Doreen, do a Google search on Rapid City Journal, then search that site. The newspaper had a detailed article on the C-130 crash yesterday.
Starting at 7 p.m. MDT, Fire moved aggressively, with strong winds from the SE and then S, into Skull Creek Canyon crossing Seeley Rd., and continuing up the eastern ridge and moving into the canyon bottom in some places. Mandatory evacuation calls received for the southern part of Skull Creek Road. at around 1 a.m. They were putting structure units in place, but my personal opinion is that it will be a miracle if 2 or 3 of them are saved. This fire will likely run into the Skull Creek Complex Fire [earlier in June] which may be good or bad, as there are more heat-killed trees than fully fuel-free areas. Again, my opinion as a resident, and someone who was on both fires.
According to Weston County Homeland Security: We are now beginning to evacuate the elderly and disabled from Osage. We also believe that the main power line between Osage and Newcastle may be endangered. If this is damaged there may not be power to Newcastle. Be prepared…
Fire Update- 2030 2 July Via WESTON COUNTY HOMELAND SECURITY
Fire has broken out of the west side of the fire and is moving towards the Osage area. Deputies are enroute to Osage to begin issuing pre-evacuation notices. Situation unclear. We also believe that the main power line between Osage and Newcastle may be endangered. If this is damaged there may not be power to Newcastle. Be prepared…
I have several cousins in and around Newcastle. So am hoping to keep updated, especially if it decides to turn and head for Newcastle. Thanks. In Advance. Dorlene
Thank you for the updates. My son is fighting this fire and it sure helps to know how things are progressing. I am in Oregon.
1700 hours, 2 July 2012: Local television news reports Oil Creek Fire now at 8,000 acres with no containment and none predicted. 20+ families have been evacuated. Oil Creek and Plum Creek roads are reported to be closed to non-emergency traffic.
As of 1300 hours on 2 July, the Oil Creek Fire had jumped the road on the west side of the northern-most red square on the fire map and burned to the top of the canyon. According to a Newcastle resident, it appears to be heading north, away from Newcastle but toward a number of horse and cattle ranches on Oil Creek.
Jocelyn,
If it helps any, the Oil Creek Fire is not on federal land. It is all state and private. The USFS will be only minimally involved (maybe advice), if at all.
My brother is with the US Forest Service and is fighting this fire. He’s up in the helicopters and planes. Any news on the crash would be helpful. I can’t seem to get any info from the forest service. I’m in California.
jocelyn the crash of the c130 was working on the fire in SD and not the newcastle 1 it crashed by hot springs sd and as of right now the fire here in newcastle has not had any plane crashes or helicopter crashes as well as no hurt firefighters and I sure hope it stays that way
Jocelyn: The only people in the air tankers are full-time, trained, experienced air tanker pilots. Ground based firefighters are never in them. The air tanker that went down was an Air Force plane which usually carries only Air Force Reserve or National Guard crews.
According to 2 July 2012 SITREP from National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), “Oil Creek, Wyoming State Forestry. Washington IMT 2 (LaFave). One mile west of Newcastle, WY. Timber, brush and grass. Extreme fire behavior with long-range spotting. Numerous structures and power lines threatened. Evacuations in effect.” Sounds like Newcastle FD is focusing on structure protection but that a Type 2 team is also on hand? Also just learned that an Air Force C-130 Hercules fighting fire near Edgemont, SD (east of Newcastle) has crashed.
Thank you for the info. My daughter lives in Newcastle. We are in Terrell, TX.