Approximate Location
46.931 latitude, -110.8 longitudeSummary
The Harley Creek Fire is located 2.5 miles west of Neihart, Montana on the Belt Creek Ranger District of the Lewis and Clark National Forest. The fire, which was spotted on 7/26, was estimated to have reached 167 acres by 7/27. However, more accurate mapping on 7/29 led to the size of the fire being downsized slightly to 143 acres. The fire is believed to be lightning caused from a storm that passed through the area late last week.
Although some interior burning was observed on 7/29 and 7/30, the fire did not grow in size or expand its perimeter on either day. As of 1745 on 7/30 the fire has not grown in size or crossed any containment line today. Strong winds associated with a Red Flag conditions in the area did not have any noticable effects other than occassional and isolated torching of trees within the fire's interior.
Containment lines are largely in place on the E, N, and W flanks of the fire. Crews continue to patrol, strengthen, and mop up along these lines. Portions of the S flank cannot be readily accessed by crews to due to extremely rugged, steep, and rocky terrain. Helicopters continue to support crews with bucket drops of water, particluarly in those area where the extreme terrain and accompanying safety concerns restrict access by hand crews.
The fire remains north of Harley Creek.
A member of the Chief Mountain Hotshots was struck by a falling snag on 7/29. The individual was medivac'ed from the fire and evaluated, treated and released with minor injuries from a local hospital.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildland Fire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Saturday July 26th, 2008 aprox 02:00 PM |
| Location | 2.5 miles west of Neihart, Montana |
| Incident Commander | Marc Hamlen |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 143 |
|---|---|
| Size | 167 acres |
| Percent Contained | 51% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Saturday August 02nd, 2008 aprox 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | 10 Timber (litter and understory) Heavy dead and down Lodgepole pine and sub-alpine fur. |
| Fire Behavior | Single and group tree torching surface fire in heavy fuels. |
| Significant Events | Containment line completed on NE and SW perimeters into Harley Cr. One medevac. |
Outlook
| Planed Actions | Continue to secure lines and mop up most critical areas which could threaten lines. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | High |
| Terrain Difficulty | high |
| Remarks | Segment of perimeter on south flank is not staffed due to extremely hazzardous, steep, rocky terrain. In this segment of the perimeter, the fire is burning into natural barriers and will be monitored using remote cameras. Suppression action utilizing helicopter bucket work will be utilized if necessary. |
Weather
| Current Wind Conditions | 24 mph SW |
|---|---|
| Current Temperature | 70 degrees |
| Current Humidity | 23 % |
