Southern Area Incident Management Red Team
Honey Prairie and Racepond Fires
Fire Information: 912.287.4471 or 912.637.5247
www.inciweb.org/incident/2214
Estimated Acreage and Containment
Honey Prairie 158,505 Acres, 80% Contained
Racepond 7,792 Acres, 64% Contained
Cause and Date Started
Honey Prairie: Lightning, 4/30/2011; Racepond: Under Investigation, 5/25/2011
Resources on the Fires
Honey Prairie: 4 Helicopters, 41 Engines, 20 Bulldozers, 6 Water Tenders, 1 Camp Crew, 180 Overhead, 326 total personnel.
Racepond: 1 Type 2 Crew, 5 Helicopters, 23 Engines, 23 Bulldozers, 83 Overhead, 172 total personnel.
There are additional resources not reflected in the above count from private industry and State agencies.
Operational Update
The Racepond and Honey Prairie Fires are managed as the Honey Prairie Complex
Honey Prairie: The Honey Prairie Fire continues to be active in the southwest corner, near Fiddlers Island Road, and in the area of Billy’s Island, where the fire has been slowly backing towards the Suwannee Canal. Firefighters improved line and held the fire well within the swamp edge break.
Racepond: Fire activity remains low on the Racepond Fire. Specialized swamp logging equipment is continuing to build line around the 30 acre spot west of Highway 177, as well as patrolling and mopping up in all divisions.
Plans for Today
Honey Prairie: The Honey Prairie Complex is being managed by Unified Command under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Georgia Forestry Commission and the Florida Division of Forestry. Incident Commanders are Mark Crow, Troy Floyd and Tony Wilder. Crews will continue to hold and mop up the fire in all Divisions.
Racepond: Specialized swamp logging equipment will continue building line around the 30 acre spot west of Hwy 177. Crews and equipment will also continue holding and mop-up operations.
Fire Weather
Partly Cloudy. Patchy fog and smoke early. Isolated shower or thunderstorm, mainly in the late evening and overnight. Maximum temperatures 94-97 F. Minimum humidity 39-44%. Winds in the morning light and variable. Afternoon winds E-SE 4-8 mph with gusts to 10 mph.
Restrictions and Closures
Stephen C. Foster State Park is open for camping and hiking. Current park information is available at 912.637.5274. All public canoe camping, day use boating, and motorized boat use from the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge East Entrance are temporarily suspended. Guided boat, canoe and kayak tours have resumed on limited portions of Suwannee Canal. Contact Okefenokee Adventures at 912.496.7156 for tour information. Swamp Island Drive, including the Chesser Island Homestead and Swamp Walk Boardwalk, at the Refuge’s east entrance, is closed until the threat of fire is over. Swamp Park, 912.283.0583, on Highway 177 is also closed at this time.
Joint Information Center
Unified Command and emergency management agencies have established a Joint Information Center in Waycross, GA, at 912.287.4471. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Community Information
A Community Information Hotline is in place in Fargo, GA. The hotline is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 912.637.5597.
Cooperators
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia Forestry Commission, Florida Division of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, Greater Okefenokee Association of Landowners, Georgia Emergency Management Agency, Rayonier, Superior Pine, Langdale, GDOT, FLDOT, Georgia Aviation Authority, Brantley Co. FD, Ware County FD
06-05-11
17:15 hrs