Single Publication

Incident Commander: Austin Robins 
Location: Southwest of Branham Lakes Campground 
Start Date: 09/05/2024
Cause: Lightning
Size: estimated at 12-15 acres
Resources on Site: 2 Initial Attack Modules 
Total Personnel: 9

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.

Several factors, including firefighter safety, terrain, resource availability, fire behavior, past prescribed fire units and vegetation management projects in the area, threats to public safety and property, and fire season outlook and modeling, inform wildfire management decisions. 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 fuels reduction around it. 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 installation of the sprinkler system around the cabin closest to the fire. Additional planned actions involve 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 tomorrow.

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.

A map of the fire will be included as part of this evening update beginning September 7.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
The fire area is under building high-pressure which will result in warming and drying conditions over the next week. Temperatures will get into the mid-70s, and winds are forecasted to be 5-10 mph, gusting to 15 mph for the next two days. Thunderstorms are forecasted for Monday and Tuesday, which could bring gusty and erratic winds from outflows. A low-pressure system will come through towards the end of next week, and conditions are forecasted to 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.