Overland Fire - October 29, 2003

Before dawn on October 29th, high winds downed a power line at the Burlington Mine near Jamestown starting the Overland Fire. By nightfall, the fire had grown to 3,800 acres, the largest in the County in a century.

About 200 local, state and U.S. Forest Service firefighters created a 200-foot perimeter around the fire, which stretched from James Canyon and Lefthand Canyon Drives to the hogback just west of U.S. 36 at the mouth of Lefthand Canyon.

Approximately 600 acres at Heil Valley Ranch were burned; 9 acres severely and 180 acres moderately severely. 27 POS employees worked on the fire, mainly wildland firefighters stationed on Geer Canyon Road to help protect the caretaker's house and historic barn.

View from US Hwy 36

Members of POS wildfire crew

POS is not planning fire mitigation on the burned areas at this time, but may consider minimal action next spring.

The County will work with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to assist with an Emergency Watershed Protection grant to help private landowners mitigate fire damage in the severely burned areas near Jamestown.

The Aftermath - October 30, 2003

Kevin, Heil Valley Ranch's caretaker reported seeing elk, deer, bear and mountain lion tracks, an Abert's squirrel with a singed tail, woodpeckers and other birds in the burned area already.

Burned area in foreground

Burned ridge south of Geer Canyon

Flare up above Geer Canyon