Elk Fire in Big Horn Nat’l Forest

[aprswatcher]

Elk Fire at 22,410 acres, grew rapidly overnight.
air tankers coming out of Billings, some rotary wing out of Greybull.
Air attack should be on 123.575 am
Don’t forget about:
National Flight Following 168.65 nfm
Airguard on 168.625 nfm
Smokejumpers on 168.55 nfm
fixed wing/rotary wing air to air 122.925, 123.9, 122.85, 122.75 and 123.025 all am.
updates as I find them.
73, Rex

 

[hazrat8990]

All of the crews that just finished putting out the fire just south of me were heading to that one. It was pretty cool tracking all of the aircraft and listening to the radio traffic, but it sure sucks that everything is on fire!

 

[aprswatcher]

This fire now at 49,555 acres and getting closer to Dayton! Evacuation orders still going out to areas.
Haven’t seen much for air assets being used last few days. The rotary wing aircraft might be too low to be seen on flight tracking programs. Also terrain might too steep/rough for fixed wing drops to be effective!
Updated if I can find them.
73, Rex

 

[aprswatcher]

Currently at 75,969 acres with 16% containment! Moving Southeast down the front range of Big Horn National Forest.
Air attack on 123.575 am. Tankers still coming out of Billings, helicopters out of Sheridan and Graybull.
Personnel up considerably to 889. Warm October.
73, Rex

 

[pdmedic]

This fire has transitioned back to the forest service repeaters but is still using a couple of the NIFC tac's.

 

[es93546]

Currently at 98,352 acres with 88% containment. I think the fire is being managed by local personnel as no team is mentioned on the daily narrative. This would explain why pdmedic reports command traffic is now back on local comm system. Staffing is now down to 171 people.

Nationally, acres burned is about 1.5 million acres over the last 10 years average. That 10 year average increases each year as well. This year's number of fires is 46,784 while the 10 year average is 50,140, so the area per fire is increasing. All of these statistics are as of today. December 31st count will be a little larger, depending on the next 2 months of activity.,