Lat update: 09/29/02 10:01 AM

Time/Date Started: Friday July 12, 2002. Cause: Lightning storm.

Location: The Coleville fire is located 1 mile west of the Coleville High School, the Gate fire is 3 miles south of Coleville and the Slinkard fire stretches north from Slinkard valley near Hwy 89 to the Topaz Lodge along Hwy 395.

Acreage: 9,866 acres (Complex consists of four separate fires: the Coleville Fire is 37 acres; the Gate Fire is 315 acres; the Buckeye Fire is estimated to be 861 acres; and the Slinkard Fire is 8,653 acres.)

Percent Contained: 100 percent

Local Concerns: The Slinkard fire is no longer a threat to the Double Springs, Holbrook Highlands, Topaz Lodge and Topaz Lake area.  Fire crews will continue to limit suppression impacts to the Wilderness Study Area.

Latest news: The Gate, Coleville, Buckeye and Slinkard fires are all now fully contained. Limited firefighting resources will remain on scene for another 7 to 10 days in order to continue mop-up, patrol and rehabilitation operations.

Nearly half of the resources committed to the Complex were released today. It is expected that many of these resources will be reassigned to other wildfires throughout the Western United States.

Verizon restored phone service to the residents of the Antelope Valley early this morning.

Rehabilitation: The fire suppression rehabilitation continues to be implemented across the Complex. The BAER (Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation) team coordinator arrived today and will assess the need for rehabilitation activities within the fire area.

Evacuations: There are no evacuations at this time.

Highway Closures: Hwy 89 is expected to open this Sunday. Highway 395 is open. Fire managers are asking motorists to exercise caution as they drive on Hwy 395 due to Caltrans roadwork, Sierra Pacific Power powerline installation, Verizon utility repair and fire equipment use of the highway.

Vegetation Types: grass, sagebrush, juniper and isolated aspen stands and Jeffrey Pine

Jurisdiction: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bishop, California Field Office and U.S. Forest Service, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Bridgeport Ranger District.

Fire Personnel Assigned: Sierra Front Incident Management Team is managing the fire with approximately 908 personnel on-scene, including helicopters and air tankers.

Injuries: One firefighter incurred a minor eye injury due to some flying debris. The firefighter was treated and has returned to the fireline.

Costs to Date:  1.6 million

Safety of the public and firefighters will remain the top priority for this incident.

Many thanks to the Fire Information Services for their updates! Please visit their website for more updates and pictures.

Pictures courtesy of Sierra Front Dispatch