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National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) Team is managing the Jenkins Creek fire under a full suppression strategy. Ensuring public and firefighter safety remains a primary priority.

Using hand held mapping devices, the READS (Resource Advisors) and REAFS (Resource Advisors Fireline) are gathering information and building field maps that inform and guide operations on the fire. 

The low pressure system that has been in the fire area for a few days is moving out tonight and a high pressure will build tomorrow morning bringing warmer temperatures and clearer skies. Smoke from the Canadian fires to our north and west that was anticipated to impact our area today is now expected to move through southern Minnesota. 

Jenkins Creek Fire Quick Facts

Size: 16,145 acres                               Containment:94%                 Personnel: 168

Two additional masticators were brought in, and another is on order, to assist with the fuels reduction work on the contingency lines along the northwestern and southeastern areas of the fire. Slow but steady progress is being made with mastication efforts in the heavy, dense fuels. We are utilizing two Unmanned Aerial Systems (UA/Drone) units to continue to map the perimeter of the fire and look for any hotspots in the interior of the fire. We anticipate the mapping efforts to be completed in a few days. READS (Resource Advisors) and REAFS (Resource Advisors Fireline) are advising and providing protection and avoidance information ahead of the fuels reduction efforts. Crews identified and were able to mop up a few smokes found along roads in the interior of the fire. As new mapping data from the UAS and ground crews becomes available, acreage of the fire will be adjusted.

Fire Weather & Behavior: The low pressure system that has been in the fire area for a few days is moving out tonight and a high pressure will build tomorrow morning bringing warmer temperatures and clearer skies. Smoke from the Canadian fires to our north and west that was anticipated to impact our area today is now expected to move through southern Minnesota. 

What do READS/REAFS do on a fire?:  During the early stages of a wildfire, a team of resources advisors is assembled to assist the incident management team in developing strategies and tactics that protect resources while achieving fire suppression goals. Strategies are developed to ensure the protection and repair of resources such as timber, soil, hydrology, botany, wildlife, recreation sites and archeological/cultural sites.  READS (Resource Advisors) and REAFS (Resource Advisors Fireline) are area specialists and provide expert knowledge and recommendations. They utilize available maps as well as gather information in the field to develop an electronic field map for the incident management team to utilize in their decision making process in firefighting and suppression repair tactics. Using handheld devices, READS/REAFS are able to add information in the field to the map and sync up their data when the team convenes at the end of the day. REAFS are fireline qualified and are the only specialists that can be utilized in the field when a fire is still going.