Estimated Acreage and Containment
Honey Prairie: 159,083 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: 6 Helicopters, 42 Engines, 20 Bulldozers, 6 Water Tenders, 1 Camp Crew, 184 Overhead, 328 total personnel.
Racepond: 2 Type 2 Crew, 2 Helicopters, 24 Engines, 23 Bulldozers, 90 Overhead, 194 total personnel.
There are additional resources not reflected in the above count from private industry and State agencies.
Unified Command
The Racepond and Honey Prairie Fires are managed as the Honey Prairie Complex.
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
Operational Update
Honey Prairie: The Honey Prairie Fire continues to be active in the southwest corner, east of Council Road and south of Strange 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. Crews are patrolling and mopping up in all divisions.
Plans for Today
Honey Prairie: Crews will continue to burn out, 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 to mostly cloudy with isolated showers and thunderstorms. Patchy smoke late. Maximum temperatures 91-94 F. Minimum humidity 40-45%. 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. Okefenokee 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
06-06-11
13:30 hrs