The Southwest Area Incident Management Team's Objectives have changed considerably since the beginning of this ordeal. They are now:

1. Ensure firefighter and public safety through closures, evacuations, temporary flight restrictions, strategic decisions and tactical actions.

2) Provide accurate information to all interested and affected parties through public contacts, public events and the timely development and dissemination of news releases, Incident Status Summaries and other information.

3) Protect / minimize threats / loss to public and private facilities on Mt. Graham, including critical wildlife habitat, wilderness study area values, Columbine and Turkey Flat Recreation Residence Tracks, Heliograph Electronics Site, Mt. Graham International Observatory, Riggs Flat Campground and other Forest recreation facilities.

4) Contain the complex at a maximum of 50,000 acres, no later than the July 27, 2004, at a total cost not to exceed $12.1 million.

5) Keep the Nuttall Complex:  north of Swift Trail,  within the National Forest System boundary on the north and east,  and east of West Peak.

Two images of the plan map are attached for your information -- this map changes daily as the fire boundaries are updated each evening after an infrared image is taken from aircraft.  Those maps are used the next morning to develop the plan for the day.  This map was generated for July 4, 2004 at 6:00 AM.  The colored areas denote the areas of the fire and are actually bigger than shown as a result of today's fire activity -- but it should give you the concept of the plan.  

The dotted lines on the plan are where fire lines are being cut. They will then back burn the area to reduce the fuel in the direction of the oncoming fire.  In actuality the loop around the observatory will actually follow the old Forest Road 669 which loops south and west of Hawk Peak.  Now if we can keep resources working the plan we should have a great day tomorrow.

John