LITTLE ELK FIRE
INFORMATION FACT SHEET
July 19, 2002, 9:00 p.m. (MT)

For Information Contact: Little Elk Fire Information, Phone: 605-280-4545

Fire Location: West of Piedmont, I-90 Exit 44

Ownership: Private land, State land, and Black Hills National Forest land

Size: 673 acres. Global Positioning was used today to determine accurate size.

Cause: Construction equipment.

Reported: Approximately 1:30 PM, July 16, 2002

Injuries: Five injuries, none today.

Structures lost: None

Command: Managed by Type I Interagency Management Team. Kim Martin, Incident Commander. 

Evacuations: All closed roads and evacuated areas have been reopened to residents only. Dalton Lake campground remains closed.

Containment: 70% contained. Containment is estimated to occur on Sunday July 21, 2002 at 1800.

Resources committed: Approximately 683 people including 4 dozers, 39 engines, 16 hand crews, and 4 helicopters.

Narrative: Firefighters made good progress today constructing line around the west side of the fire. Unburned fuels within the interior of the fire will continue to burn out. Fire suppression above Little Elk Canyon is in extremely steep country and will take several days of work to meet suppression objectives. Mop up and patrol will continue on the east side of the fire. Priority is still fire fighter and public safety. The residences along Dalton Lake road were allowed to return home Friday night at 6 p.m. For tonight and tomorrow operations will continue with burnout of unburned fuels within the fire, line construction, and improvement of existing line. The Type I team continues to support initial attack on other lightening caused fires.

Status of other fires in the Northern Black Hills:

Whitewood Canyon, 60 acres, 40% contained, in steep rugged areas.

Granite Peak, ½ acre, contained.

Polo Peak, 3 acres, hand line around fire.

Green Mountain, 1/10 acre, 100% mopped up.

Other fires in the Black Hills include three small fires on the Bearlodge District in Northeast Wyoming and one small fire in the southern Hills.