11/30/16 - Rock Mountain Fire - 11:00am Update

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The Southern Area Incident Management Gold Team took command of the fire today at 7 a.m. Incident Commander Steve Parrish thanked the Pacific Northwest Team 3 for their excellent leadership in a smooth transition and recognized the surrounding communities for extending their Southern hospitality to the team.

Yesterday’s Activities: Fire crews conducted suppression repair from the area of Upper Hightower Road to Tate Branch continuing to Coleman River Road and Tallulah River Road though Tate City. Resources continued holding and improving existing dozer/hand lines throughout residential areas in and around Betty’s Creek Road to Big Creek Road. Crews continued to mitigate hazards trees as needed.

Today’s Operations: Recent significant rainfall has served to reduce the fire spread, allowing fire crews to move into the suppression repair phase. This work includes repair to dozer/hand lines and removal of hazard trees, restoring the national forest and preventing further resource damage. With the reduced fire activity, some resources are being released to other incidents. However, crews will remain on the fire for several weeks continuing suppression repair work.

Firefighter and public safety continue to be a top priority as turbulent weather once again moves through the area. Fire activity today will be light, smoldering with little to no smoke or movement. Wet and slippery road conditions pose a challenge as firefighters patrol, mop up and begin fire suppression repair. They will continue to hold and improve dozer/hand lines in and around all structures. Fire equipment and supplies continue to be back hauled (removed or relocated) away from the fire line.

Weather: Today will be mostly cloudy with showers and isolated thunderstorms. High temperature will be 66°F. South wind 5 to 10 MPH, gusting to 20 MPH with isolated gusts of 30 MPH in some saddles. Chance of precipitation 90%.

Closures and Evacuations

All road closures and evacuations have been lifted except the following road closures, which remain in place: Coleman River Road, Patterson Gap Road and Abe Gap Road. All forest closures remain in place.

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