Ash Creek fire now 80% contained

The Ash Creek Fire between Crawford and Chadron was declared 80% contained at this morning's 5:30 a.m. briefing, according to Dax Permenter, Type 3 Incident Commander Trainee from Boise, Idaho. "There are 150 fire crew members here now, we plan to release 48 more today, and will have an additional 20 on standby. Remaining crews will continue mop up to put the lid on this fire," he said.

Improved conditions for the Ash Creek Fire allowed officials to redirect firefighting resources to initial attack on new fires. Success of this plan was proven yesterday afternoon when three helicopters, three engines, two hot shot crews and dozer crews were immediately deployed on initial attack for a major billow of smoke south of Crawford. Now known as the Steineke Fire, a hold-over from lightning earlier in the week, the approximate 400 acre burn exhibits how explosive conditions remain from extended hot, dry weather.


"I can't imagine how many thousands of acres this would have burned if the aerial attack had not been almost instantly available to support ground crews. In fact, working with all our fire partners, I was able to have two buckets dumped on this fire before the first engine arrived," said Brian Prosser, Fire Chief of the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department.

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