Estimated Acreage and Containment
Honey Prairie: 160,075 Acres, 80% Contained
Racepond: 7,792 Acres, 65% 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, 321 total personnel.
Racepond: 2 Type 2 Crew, 2 Helicopters, 24 Engines, 23 Bulldozers, 88 Overhead, 195 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. A strategic firing operation was conducted to continue to hold the fire within the swamp edge break. Wildfire activity increased in the afternoon when severe weather moved through the area, which was followed by more than a half inch of rain in some areas. Crews are also assisting with initial attack on several new lightning ignitions.
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. Crews are also assisting with initial attack on several new lightning ignitions.
Plans for Today
Honey Prairie: Crews will continue to hold and mop up the fire in all Divisions. Burn out operations will also continue as necessary along the swamp edge break. Crews will be assisting in the Davis community area with additional fires started by yesterdays lightning. Engines and other heavy equipment will also be working along the Swamp’s Edge Break.
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
Becoming mostly sunny, with dense fog early. Isolated thunderstorm or shower, mainly late in the evening and overnight. Minimum humidity 37-42%. Winds in the morning E-SE less than 5 mph. Afternoon winds E-SE 8-12 mph with gusts to 18 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
06-07-11
19:30 hrs