Tuesday, May 15, 2007

7:00 PM update

Came late to this one, they sound like they are giving a powerpoint about fire fighting. What strikes me about this press conference is how much of a wrap up it is...

(Ok, 8:00 post of the first half of the 7:00 update)
• Fire did not grow much today. 1,000 Acres in Canada, none is U.S.
• Drizzle all day, high humidity
• 20% of fire contained, 55% on US side.
• 4 fires in Ontario, this one is the least critical! They are very stretched.
• US teams going up north to help out.
• 1 structure lost today on Sag (Canada), no additional loss. Confidant there will be no more.
• US side, not much happened besides line building.
• Media says "fire out" by sunday, not true. Fire will be contained by sunday, but it might not be out for months.
• Firefighters will be around all summer on this fire.
• But, contained by sunday!
• Thursday, seagull and sag people can get passes to return home for the afternoon.
• Owners on Gunflint and Loon can return noon tomorrow, no conditions. Electric is spotty, talk to the company.
• All of the areas outside the BWCA open for recreation. BWCA is still closed.
• Weather is key, weather has helped us. Along with the 1,100 people helping out.

(Ok thats the whole thing, time for me to dive home to St. Paul)

• Canada is hard to fight fire in
• The 120 mi+ is the parameter of the fire. Not the entire area is burned, but rather is a patchwork.
• The north shore of gunflint lake was a hot crown fire, not much you can do.
• Sprinkler systems have been vital to firefighting. Sprinkler + firefighters is very very good
• the burn out/back burns
• Intentional burns to stop fire
• Very effective around Gunflint and Loon
• This fire used a lot of air support.
• The forest is renewing it self already, lots of green in black places already!

• Re-cap
• Move road closure up to cross river
• Thursday, property owners can get passes to get to their property
• Meeting tomorrow 10 AM and 7 PM with guests from Canada

Rebroadcast at 8:00, I will catch the front end of that

No comments: