Jenkins Creek Fire and Horse River Fire Update

The National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) team is is managing the Jenkins Creek and Horse River fires under a full suppression strategy. Ensuring public and firefighter safety remain a primary priority. Given the risk of inserting crews into areas of heavy timber with numerous hazard trees, and the difficulty of extracting an injured fire fighter from these areas, the Team is relying on the use of infrared technology to identify areas of heat, particularly along the perimeter of the Jenkins Creek Fire. An infrared flight may occur each night over the entire fire as conditions allow and a drone equipped with an infrared camera will be used to fly the perimeter of the fire where crews have had limited access. A very deliberative process is in place where we evaluate the risk to crews before we insert them into the fire to seek a hotspot identified by the infrared technology. Because some of the perimeter heat may appear only as fire weather conditions change,
particularly where there is downed heavy timber, this will be a repeated process that will be used to secure the perimeter of the Jenkins Creek Fire.

Jenkins Creek Fire
Size: 16,089 acres | Containment: 95% | Personnel: 213
Yesterday, a spot fire was detected in the vicinity of Laird Creek, approximately two miles to the southeast of the Community of Skibo. Crews, aided by helicopter water drops, successfully limited growth of the spot fire. Crews will return to the area today to continue suppression and mop-up of the spot fire. This process of ‘mopping up’ a fire means that crews move across a burned area to detect hidden sources of heat which are then extinguished or ‘mopped up.’ Unmanned Aerial System (UAS/drone) flights will continue over the Jenkins Creek Fire perimeter to detect locations of residual heat. Detections of heat signatures will be used to direct crews to hotspots, greatly increasing the efficiency of crews while minimizing their exposure to hazards. Chipping operations along the 113 Road and grading of road surfaces will continue today.

Horse River Fire Quick Facts
Size: 15 acres | Containment: 0% | Personnel: 20
Forest Service personnel and members of the NIMO Team continued development of a suppression plan for the Horse River Fire. Two Wildland Fire Modules, consisting of firefighters that routinely work in remote areas over extended periods of time, successfully entered the area of the fire yesterday. The mission of the Wildland Fire Modules will be to assess the feasibility and logistical requirements necessary to implement fire suppression efforts. Communications have been established with the crews in the field, which will allow them to pass on the information to inform fire suppression planning while ensuring their safety.

Fire Weather & Behavior: A notable warming and drying trend will bring elevated fire weather conditions that
will continue throughout the weekend, extending into Monday. Near critical fire weather conditions will occur in our vicinity. Today, temperatures will be in the high 70s, relative humidity will be approximately 25%, winds will be between 6 to 12 mph out of the northwest, with gusts to 20-23 mph. Overnight relative humidity, which normally increases, is likely to be lower than normal, also contributing to the drying of fuels and the risk of increased fire activity. These weather conditions are likely to result in increased fire activity and smoke visibility. An Air Quality Alert, due to smoke entering the area from fires in Canada, will continue through this evening.

Fire Prevention: Good campfire practices, while obvious for those of us familiar with recreating in fire-adapted landscapes, still bear repeating. Use designated campfire sites, douse campfires thoroughly with water, and ensure that they are cold to the touch before departing the area. Never bury a campfire. Just like a wildfire, a buried fire may smolder its way to receptive fuels. Stir the embers, adding water or soil, until your campfire is completely extinguished. Mop it up.

Fire Information: 218-432-0953, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Email: 2025.JenkinsCreek@firenet.gov | LinkTree: www.linktree