Buckhorn Fire

The Central West Zone Type Three Incident Management Team will assume command of the Buckhorn Fire on Saturday. The team will begin shadowing Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team Two beginning today. Reduction in containment is due to successful defensive burn operations.

Yesterday, crews on the Buckhorn Fire completed removing vegetation along the 2034 Road. Work along the 2030 Road is roughly two-thirds complete. Firefighters also did defensive burning operations along the 2035 Road and made good progress due to warm, dry weather conditions and favorable winds. Firefighters were also scouting along the ridges for a “backup” fire line, known as an “contingency line” to the northeast. Today, as weather permits, crews will continue defensive burning to the east and south along the 2030 Road and complete defensive burns along the 2035 Road.

Overview: Yesterday, the Buckhorn Fire burned its way to the Black River on the western perimeter. The fire movement was slow, with low-to-moderate behavior. Crews removed vegetation along the 2034 Road and that work is expected to be completed today. Crews then began defensive burning operations to remove vegetation ahead of the main fire on the southeastern and southwestern perimeter. Firefighters located old dozer lines along many of the ridges, which may be used to slow the fire’s progress.