Alright, been a busy real job day, but finally time for a #MooseFire update thread. This will be a slow thread, I'll post things as I go through different data sources.
The fire is listed at ~125k acres, growing just over 2k acres yesterday.
🧵I'm only going to focus on the fire as it relates to threatening Salmon. Elsewhere, the fire isn't doing much. Here's today's official PIO map. (I'll call out any official maps I use)
🧵 here's a wider look at MODIS/VIIRS fire detections over the last 24 hours along with perimeter. Most heat is around Leesburg and E towards Salmon.
As of a few minutes, ago, Southern Idaho Interagency Dispatch logs confirm they are working an Initial Attack Fire near Cherry Creek just south of Galena Lodge. Fire doesn't have a name yet.
The Galena area is now under a "SET" evacuation status.
Alright, we're heading into the evening. Been away from twitter doing the thing that pays the bills for a bit. about to take a look at recent fire info.
I'm anxiously awaiting fresh satellite data for the moose fire. Until then, I don't have anything of substance to add. Salmon is smoked in, can't see a damn thing.
NEW IR DATA! #MooseFire
This is from the nightly IR Mapping flight, which overflew the fire a couple hours ago at approx 12:15am
Red is previous IR perimeter (which was a very controlled fire weeks ago)
Yellow & Orange are the current blowup
(I'll 🧵 a closer look and comments)
🧵a closer look at fresh IR data shows fire approaching sagebrush in Wallace creek and *just* barely into Jesse creek (Salmon's municipal water source)
It does not appear that fire has crossed the powerline to the south.
I'm *guessing* fire crews will meet the fire at diamond creek road for burnouts. And if weather/visibility permits, I can imagine AM tanker support between fairgrounds and town.
Red flag warning tomorrow... this ain't over.
Ok, let me put on my optimistic hat for a moment for #MooseFire and then, I'm going to do something I try not to do. Speculate. a🧵
First, here's the most recent 🛰️ pass of Tera (MODIS) as of 20 minutes ago.
It shows fire well-established E of contingency line. But (optimistic hat) not well established in Jesse Creek drainage. Jesse creek is the town's municipal water supply.
We're seeing a significant change in fire behavior.
it's still *VERY* active, crowning, touching etc.
BUT! (optimistic hat)
it's not a wall of 300' flames like we saw when it crossed the contingency line.
(gonna be a slow thread, juggling a lot, lets look at a map)
"Unfortunately, the ridge road isn't a good position to hold this fire... If it does cross the ridge road, we will be downslope towards Salmon burning above the homes to protect Salmon"
Rough quote from #MooseFire briefing moments ago. 1/2🧵
This basically means, in this weather, it's not safe for crews to try to hold the ridge road fuel break & I agree.
We're at a real risk of losing Salmon's municipal water source tonight. It's up to the wind at this point.
"The fire crossed the 300 road a little north of Bear track mine, honestly we don't know know what the rest of the 300 road looks like. We can't even fly it right now."