FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 1, 2006, 12:00 p.m. MT

(Chadron, Ne)
Dawes County Complex * Thayer/Sioux County Complex

Cooler temperatures, higher humidity, and precipitation caused the fire behavior on both fire complexes to moderate yesterday. Improved weather conditions should continue to help the suppression efforts for the next several days.

Dawes County Complex
Total Acres: 26,300 (Spotted Trail - 19,000; Roberts Tract – 5,700, Deadhorse – 85)
Containment: 60 percent
Location: South and southwest of Chadron, Neb.
Resources: 9 20-person crews, 40 engines, 2 dozers, 3 water tenders (mixture of Chadron and area volunteer fire departments and federal resources)
Air support available: 4 helicopters, 3 heavy airtankers
Total personnel: 440 (does not include volunteer firefighter departments that are also on scene)
Evacuations: All evacuations have been lifted.
Spotted Tail Fire: Firefighters are continuing to secure the perimeter and have begun mop-up operations in cooler areas on the northern end of the fire.
Roberts Tract Fire: Containment efforts continue on the southwest corner of the fire. Mop-up efforts have begun on the northern side.
Deadhorse Fire: The fire is contained at 85 acres.

Thayer/Sioux County Complex (consists of Thayer and Rudloff Fires)
Total Acres: 39,000
Containment: 25% (Thayer: 10% and Rudloff: 35%)
Location: 3 miles northeast of Harrison, Neb.
Resources: Total personnel: 294, which includes 1 Type I Crew, 41 engines, 5 dozers, 6 graders and 13 water tenders
Evacuations: Five homes evacuated north of Harrison are still in effect.
Thayer Fire: The main concern for the Thayer Fire is keeping the fire east of Monroe Canyon Road. Firefighters are assessing the potential to complete burnout operations today. On the remainder of the fire, personnel will be securing the perimeter, improving control lines, and extinguishing burning or smoldering trees or stumps in proximity to the established lines.
Rudloff Fire: Monday, the weather abated fire behavior giving firefighters an opportunity to establish and strengthen control lines. Fire personnel will continue these efforts today.

Road Closures
Highways 20, 29, and 385 are now open. Closures on the Sioux Complex still in effect include: Andrews Road; White River Road; East and West Hat Creek Roads; Pants Butte Road; Highland Road; Cottonwood Road; and Sow Belly Roads.

Want to Help?

A relief fund has been established to help impacted residents and local fire departments of Dawes and Sioux Counties.

Financial donations may be sent to:

• any financial institution in Dawes or Sioux County, or
  
• Dawes-Sioux Fire Fund, PO Box 1125, Chadron, NE 69337