PARK ALERT: Firefighters made significant progress on containment of the Fern Creek Fire. The fire is now 75% contained. Favorable weather conditions including higher relative humiditiy, cooler temperatures, calm winds and a trace amount of precipitation allowed crews to make headway and complete the construction of fire containment lines on the north and south flanks of the fire. The burn area remains at an estimated 130 acres- there was no overnight fire spread, largely due to the success of yesterday’s suppression efforts. There are still some hot spots within the perimeter of the fire but smoke impacts should be minimal. Today, local NPS staff, the Midewin Hot Shots, and additional personnel from the Cumberland Gap Wildland Fire Module will continue to monitor the fire, patrol active fire areas within the burn and do mop up (the process of making sure all remaining hot spots within the fires perimeter are completely out). They will also be focusing on cutting hazardous trees in anticipation of reopening of the Endless Wall area. The reopening date is yet to be determined. The fire remains under investigation, however, it has been determined that it is a human caused fire. As many as 90 percent of wildland fires in the United States are caused by humans. Some human-caused fires result from campfires left unattended, the burning of debris and negligently discarded cigarettes. We always encourage park users to practice Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics but following the principals of Plan Ahead and Prepare, Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack it in, pack it out), and Minimize Campfire Impacts are helpful methods for enjoying outdoor recreation- especially during fire season.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Apr 2014 18:15:54 +0000
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