Single Publication

Incident Commander: Chris Hericks
Location: Southwest of Branham Lakes Campground
Start Date: 09/05/2024
Cause: Lightning
Size: estimated at 22 acres
Resources on Site: 3 Initial Attack Modules
Total Personnel: 14

The Pedro Mine Fire, located nine miles east of Sheridan in the Mill Creek area, is burning in steep, rocky terrain with little to no access for firefighters. The area contains a large concentration of standing dead trees (“snags”) that pose challenges to ensuring firefighter safety and in responding to potential medical emergencies, jeopardizing the well-being of firefighters and other responders.

Fire managers from the Forest, working in collaboration with local Madison County officials have identified and prioritized critical values at risk in the fire area. Firefighting efforts will focus available resources on the protection of structures on private inholdings and active mining claims approximately .1-.7 miles from the fire and the Branham Lakes Campground 1.5 miles from the fire.

There are several factors involved in making wildfire management decisions. These factors include, firefighter safety, resource availability and threats to public safety and property. As well as, terrain, fire behavior, fire season outlook and modeling, and past prescribed fire units and vegetation management projects in the area. Fire managers are strategic in their approach and continually reassess conditions and alter management strategies to protect critical values.

CURRENT STATUS/PLANNED ACTIONS:
Fire managers were focused on point protection for the cabin closest to the fire and completed the sprinkler installation today. They continue to assess the other identified values at risk for protection needs, order the appropriate resources and equipment, and identify timely implementation of the protection measures. Point protection objectives will be accomplished by reducing fuels around the structures and installing sprinkler systems. These actions will only occur if the fire poses an imminent threat to the structures.

Tomorrow’s actions will focus on mechanically reducing fuels around the other values, monitoring fire activity and subsequent movement, observing and recording weather trends, and furthering a long-term strategy for the fire until a season-ending weather event occurs. An additional four-person Initial Attack module will arrive on the fire Monday morning to replace one of the modules who have worked their 14-day assignment and will be headed home at the end of the shift on Monday.

These actions are designed to allow fire personnel to protect the identified values at risk while operating in areas that have much better access and egress to safety.

Agency representatives will be compiling contact information for affected landowners immediately adjacent to the fire area. The Madison Ranger District, Madison County, and Sheridan VFD encourage people to refrain from using the Mill Creek area, allowing fire personnel to operate without congestion on FS RD 111.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
The warm and dry conditions with little winds experienced the last few days will be ending tomorrow. The forecast
shows a chance of mainly dry thunderstorms that could produce gusty, erratic winds up to 40 mph around outflows
Sunday through Tuesday. The low-pressure system forecasted for mid-week is trending towards having higher
amounts of moisture associated with it, while conditions return to a cooler, more fall-like weather pattern.

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS:
The Forest is in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Campfires are allowed only in a permanent metal fire grate/ring provided
by the Forest Service in a designated, developed recreation site. Smoking is restricted to vehicles, in buildings, or in
an area clear of flammable materials. Devices with an on/off switch that use LPG fuels are allowed in an area clear
of flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.