South Georgia Fires Update, 9 May 2007

From the Georgia Forestry Commission Fire Situation Report:


Georgia Forestry Commission
Wildfire Situation Report
May 9, 2007 - 12:00 A.M. EDT


Charlton and Ware Counties
Sweat Farm Road-Big Turnaround Fire

Location: South of Waycross, Georgia (GA) -Ware and Charlton Counties
Acres: Total Acreage for Sweat Farm Road-Big Turnaround Fire: 107,365 acres (Sweat Farm Road: 53,899 acres; Big Turnaround: 53,466 acres).
Containment: Sweat Farm Road:80% contained; Big Turnaround:45% contained
Committed Resources: Sweat Farm Road-Big Turnaround Fire: 921 Personnel, 139 Engines, 98 Dozer/Tractor Plows,and 11 Aircraft.
Incident History: Start Date: April 16, 2007 Cause: Downed power line
Suppression Action: The fire is managed by 2 separate Incident Management Teams (IMT). The Texas Lone Star IMT assumed command of the Sweat Farm Road Fire on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 and the Southern Area IMT is managing the Big Turnaround Fire. A combination of federal, state, and local agencies, along with private industry, are engaged in suppression efforts. Plan of action for the Sweat Farm Road Fire includes mop-up, patrol, and structural protection. Plan of action for the Big Turnaround Fire includes the continuation of building control lines and improving the line along the swamp edge break and perimeter road.
Public Notice: Charlton County Elected Officials have issued a mandatory evacuation notice for the Davis Community as of 5:00 pm Tuesday, May 8, 2007 due to the Big Turnaround Fire pushing southward. Currently, the Big Turnaround Fire is burning 5 miles north of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (Okefenokee NWR) Headquarters. The Okefenokee NWR is closed as of 7:00 A.M. on Tuesday, May 8, 2007. This includes the visitor center and the refuge headquarters.
Portions of U.S. Hwy 1 remained closed. State Route 177 is closed south of U.S. Highway 1.



Ware County
Bugaboo Scrub Fire

Location: 16 miles west of Folkston, GA.
Acres: 40,139
Containment: Unavailable
Incident History: Start Date: May 5, 2007 Cause: Lightning Strike
Committed Resources: Unavailable
Suppression Action: The Southern Area Incident Management Team (IMT) is managing this fire. Plan of action includes structural protection and building control lines along the perimeter of the fire.

Public Notice: The fire has crossed over Florida (FL) State Route (SR) 2 and is headed toward the Osceola National Forest. The fire ran over 9 miles on Monday, May 7, 2007. SR 94 and SR 185 in Georgia and SR 2 in Florida are closed.



Brantley and Ware Counties
Kneeknocker-Race Track-Ft. Mudge-Brown Town-Easter Day Fires

Location: Brantley and Ware Counties
Acres: 3,233
Containment: 95%
Committed Resources: 37 Personnel, 5 Engines, and 8 Dozer/Tractor Plows.
Suppression Action: A Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) Type III Incident Management Team (IMT) is managing the fires. Resources continue to mop-up and hold containment lines on Kneeknocker, Ft. Mudge, and the Race Track fires. Resources are assisting with extended mop-up operations in Wayne County. The IMT is providing initial attack resources for surrounding counties and the Sweat Farm Road Fire. The IMT is also providing overhead and operational support to the Roundabout Fire in Atkinson County.




Atkinson County
Roundabout Swamp Fire

Location: 4 miles west of Pearson, GA, and adjacent to Kirkland, GA.
Acres: 5,857
Containment: 70%
Committed Resources: 226 Personnel, 5 Engines, and 21 Dozer/Tractor Plows.
Incident History: Start Date: April 27, 2007 Cause: Under investigation
Suppression Action: A Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) Type III Incident Management Team (IMT) is managing the fire. Plan of action is to contain the fire within the existing control lines and to continue to install fire breaks ahead of the fire. Hand crews are continuing with mop-up operations. Resources continue to build and improve control lines to provide access for engines in mop-up operations and to keep the fire from coming out of Roundabout Swamp.