Operations update: crews open roads and prepare lines as Pulaski Fire draws resources

Planning and operations staff provided a detailed, division-level briefing on Aug. 26 about ongoing tactical work on the Timber Fire and how resources could be allocated if nearby fires intensify.

"We have 1 leadership out there just doing some scouting, looking at some opportunities to open up some roads and look at some old, fire containment lines that we can utilize," said Veil Campbell, planning ops section trainee for Incident Management Team 3. Campbell reported mechanized work opening Indians Road and improving containment lines on Coast Ridge Road, completion of line prep in Division Whiskey, and active patrol and mop-up in Division Delta.

Campbell said crews had performed a test burn in Division Bravo and, if successful, would take operations from the fire’s edge to a designated control point (DP 10). In Division Foxtrot, crews were monitoring a slow progression into Montana Ridge/Creek.

When asked about the Pulaski Fire south of the Timber Fire, Campbell said "we are currently using resources from the Timber Fire and resources from the local forest," including several crews, strike teams and air resources that can be redirected once the Pulaski incident commander formally requests them.

Officials did not provide a percentage split of diverted resources and said exact resource allocation will depend on operational requests and incident-command decisions.