Wednesday, April 13, 2011
INCIDENTS
Fort Davis National Historic Site (TX)
Park Remains Closed Due To Wildfire
Fort Davis NHS remains closed due to impacts from the Rock House Fire, which, as of yesterday, had burned about 108,000 acres and was 60% contained. This acreage increase was due to more accurate mapping from a satellite burn scar. The fire burned 106 acres of the park last Saturday. Power has been restored and the park's main phone lines are now operational, but efforts are still underway to restore internet and email access. If conditions remain favorable, the park has tentative plans to reopen tomorrow. Firefighters continue to hold the fire in the higher elevation areas of the park, but the rugged terrain presents a challenge to firefighters engaged in mop-up operations. On Monday, the main body of the fire hooked back towards the park and there is still active fire approximately two miles west of the park's northwest corner. Although the fire hasn't gotten any closer to the park, red flag conditions were forecast for yesterday and are gain predicted for tomorrow. Hose lays accordingly remain in place to provide protection to the park's historic buildings, if needed. NPS resources at Fort Davis NHS include two collateral duty park firefighters, and engine with a three person crew from Big Bend National Park, and the Bandelier fire module. A Type I incident management team from the Southern Area was briefed by Texas Forest Service fire managers on Monday and assumed command of the Trans Pecos Complex of fires in the West Branch yesterday at 6 p.m. The complex includes the Rockhouse and Hickman Fires, a new 20,000-acre fire near Alpine, and several smaller fires in the area, including new starts caused by lightning. According to the Texas Forest Service, twenty-three homes and two businesses were reported as destroyed in the Fort Davis area. Tragically, the nearby home of Jerry and Jeanie Yarbrough, the park's retired superintendent and his wife, burned to the ground. They were not home at the time of the fire and are safe, but have lost all of their belongings, including 40 years worth of hand-crafted furniture, their entire wood shop, and their full lifetime of memories in photos, letters and other documents. They have only the clothes on their backs and the vehicle they were in while shopping in Odessa, Texas. When they visited their home site they found nothing that is salvageable. An assistance fund for Jerry and Jeanie Yarbrough has been established to help them cope with their total loss of property. Retiree Rob Arnberger is coordinating the donation effort. He will document receipt, then cash these checks in bulk and send the funds to Jerry with a listing of names of those who donated (but not the amounts). Please make the check out to Robert Arnberger. In the memo section of the check indicate "Yarbrough Fund." Funds will be only be accepted through May 2nd. Please send checks t Robert Arnberger, 4621 N. Cerritos Drive, Tucson, AZ 85745. On May 3rd, Rob will send a check to Jerry representing the total donations with the names and addresses of those who gave. If you have questions regarding donations for the Yarbrough family, please contact Rob at 520-743-1717 or
robvera@comcast.net. For more information on the fire, click on the link below. [Submitted by Michelle Fidler, NPS Fire Communication and Education Specialist]
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