Estimated Acreage Containment
Honey Prairie Complex: 233,606 Acres, 60% Contained
Honey Prairie: 229,498
Sawfly: 4,062 ac.
NOTE: The following fires are contained and will not be reflected on this update after today unless their status changes. Moniac: 14 ac. – Road 22: 9 ac. Murry Road: 2 ac. Boone: 3 ac. Whites Flat: 3 ac. Moccasin: 14 ac. Secret: 1 ac.
Start Date Lightning, 4/30/2011;
Resources on the Fires
1 Type 2 Crew, 7 Helicopters, 82 Engines, 9 Bulldozers, 9 Water Tenders, 3 excavators, 5 feller bunchers, 6 graders, 1 Marsh Master, 1 Camp Crew, 565 total personnel
Unified Command
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 Mike Quesinberry, Troy Floyd and Mark Crow.
Operational Update
Note: The Sawfly & Racepond fires recently joined in the vicinity of Gum Slough and Green Swamp, west of US Hwy 1. The fires continue to be managed separately.
The Crews continued to hold any active fire and mop up the fire in all Divisions. Engines and other heavy equipment continued work along the Swamp Edge Break to secure the fire line. Burning operations were successful near Stephen C. Foster State Park facilities and crews worked all night in that area. Burning operations along the S-SW flank of the Honey Prairie fire had mixed results yesterday, and crews will continue with that operation today. The east side of the fire perimeter was quiet today as crews mopped up. Additional resources have been ordered and/many are now arriving.
Plans for Today
The fire is expected to be active in the area west of Stephen C Foster State Park and many resources are working to keep the fire in the swamp at that point. Crews will continue to hold and mop up along the entire 160 mile perimeter of the fire. Engines and other heavy equipment will continue working along the Swamp Edge Break to secure fire lines. Burn out operations will also continue in the area of Turkey’s Nest in the SW area of the fire along the Swamp Edge Break. Crews continue to work on any spot fires and are assisting with initial attack on any new fire starts as necessary.
Fire Weather
Mostly clear. Areas of smoke are expected to limit visibility through mid-morning Monday on the eastern portion of the fire. Minimum temperatures: 70-74F, Maximum humidity: 88-93%, winds SW 9-13 with gusts to 19 mph early becoming W 5-8 mph after midnight. Inversion lowering to 400 ft by 11:00 p.m. Heat index expected to be 110 degrees.
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 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. Stephen C. Foster State Park and Highway 177 is closed. Current park information is available at 912-637-5274.
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.
06-19-11
22:00 hrs