Approximate Location
Incident Overview
Missoula, MT. August 5, 2009- The Yellowjacket Creek Fire 15 miles east of Seeley Lake on the Seeley Lake Ranger District remains at approximately 30 acres. Yesterday the fire showed occasional tree torching, but the fire remains primarily a creeping ground fire. Winds of up to 25 miles per hour yesterday did not push the fire significantly.
The fire presents no immediate threat to people, structures, or property. The Seeley Lake Ranger Station has closed a five mile section of the Fenn Mountain Trail (Trail # 88) for public safety reasons. The trail is east and north of the Yellowjacket Creek Fire. For details on the trail location please see the map posted here under Images, or contact the Seeley Lake Ranger District at (406) 677-2233
The Yellowjacket Creek Fire is lightning caused and burning on a steep slope in subalpine fir and ground vegetation. Though fire activity is low to moderate the fire may produce smoke that is visible to the north from Ovando and to the east from Highway 83. Fire managers are continuing to develop long-term management strategies for the fire to allow the fire to provide resource benefit while also ensuring the fire does not move beyond an established management perimeter. In the event the fire moves near a specified location - or Management Action Point -- fire managers are prepared to take suppression action on the fire. Allowing fire to play its natural role in the ecosystem provides benefit to soils and vegetation and also reduces fuel accumulation. Resource advisors such as wildlife and fish biologists are also assigned to the management team for this fire to monitor potential resource impacts. For additional information please call (406) 329-1024.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Sunday August 02nd, 2009 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Location | 15 miles east of the town of Seeley Lake |
Current Situation
| Size | 30 acres |
|---|---|
| Fuels Involved | Mixed, heavy timber, thick vegetation. |
| Fire Behavior | Low to moderate. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Monitoring of fire activity and long-term planning for managing this fire for resource benefit. |
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