Possible Signal Fire – 12/13/2014

SAR Staff, Hasty Team, RAVEN, SVU, and WCSAR responded to the Garson Rd. staging area on the report of a possible signal fire in the area of the microwave towers on Chimney Peak. As teams were driving to the possible location, RAVEN located the smoldering fire and reported the coordinates to SAR Staff. The coordinates were relayed to the teams in the field. Shortly after, an ATV rider was encountered coming down the road, saying that he was the reporting party, and that he had come upon a smoldering campfire with no one around it. He tried to put the fire out, but was unsuccessful. Teams continued to the location and located the fire. It had traveled in the duff about 20 feet from where it was started, and fire was still active under the pine needles and duff. Using water, snow, and shovels, an attempt to put it completely out was unsuccessful. Command staff notified NDF, and the incident was turned over to them.