Estimated Acreage and Containment
Honey Prairie Complex: 169,951 Acres, 80% Contained
Honey Prairie: 160,234 Acres
Racepond: 7,893 Acres, 100% Contained
Paxton Road: 10,939 Acres (part of Honey Prairie acreage)
Honey Prairie Complex acreage includes Honey Prairie Fire, Paxton Road Fire and six other fires.
Start Date
Honey Prairie: Lightning, 4/30/2011;
Resources on the Fires
Honey Prairie: 1 Type 2 Crew, 5Helicopters, 57 Engines, 7 Bulldozers, 11 Water Tenders, 1 Camp Crew, 178 Overhead, 537 total personnel.
Racepond: 9 Engines, 8 Overhead, 26 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: Fire activity was high on the Honey Prairie Fire around 11 p.m. last night, as winds became high from a thunderstorm north of our area and a spot fire from the reburn area started around the boardwalk. The fire crossed the boardwalk and swept north along the swamp west of Chesser Island Homestead. The boardwalk is damaged but the homestead is safe. Crews burned out around the Chesser Island to make sure Chesser Homestead was secure. The fire is still within the Refuge boundaries. Scattered pockets burned in the Sapp Prairie area throughout the day as the fire moved into remaining fuels. Line construction continued in preparation for strategic firing operations as necessary. Fire in the interior continued to burn in areas of peat.
Paxton Road: Activity on the Paxton Road Fire picked up over night, as the fire continued to burn north and south slowly into the interior of the swamp. Fire is still within the Refuge boundaries. Line construction continued with bulldozers, as strategic firing operations took place ahead of the flanking edges.
Racepond: Monitored for potential reburn.
Plans for Today
Honey Prairie: Crews will continue to hold and mop up the fire in all Divisions. Strategic firing operations will also continue as necessary along the Swamp Edge Break. Work will continue around the Chesser Island Homestead, Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center, and Okefenokee Adventures to keep the structures secure.
Paxton Road: Engines and other heavy equipment will be working along the Swamp Edge Break to secure fire line.
Racepond: Transition to Georgia Forestry Commission control at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, June 13, 2011.
Fire Weather
Partly to mostly cloudy, with patchy smoke early. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the afternoon and early evening. Minimum humidity 30-36%. Winds in the morning from the west 5-8 mph. Afternoon winds from the west 8-12 mph.
Open Facilities
Stephen C. Foster State Park is open for camping and hiking. Current park information is available at 912-637-5274.
Closures and Restrictions
The Suwannee Canal Recreation Area, including the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center, Okefenokee Adventures, and all hiking trails at the refuge’s east entrance are closed until the immediate threat of fire is over.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 suspended. Kingfisher Landing is closed until further notice to all boating activities. 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.
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, Toledo Manufacturing Company.
06-13-11
18:00 hrs