Approximate Location
Incident Overview
The Sand Basin Fire, which has been relatively inactive for several weeks, began burning more actively Monday afternoon because of the winds, low humidity and relatively warm temperatures.
A lookout is monitoring the fire.
A cold front predicted Tuesday is expected to bring strong winds and dry air during the afternoon and early evening. Precipitation is not expected before Wednesday.
The Sand Basin Fire was started by lightning in the Sapphire Mountains Wilderness Study Area, 23 miles southeast of Philipsburg, MT on Aug. 22.
The Anaconda Job Corps crew finished a contingency line over the weekend near Mount Emerine and were released on Sunday, August 30.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Saturday August 22nd, 2009 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Location | 23 miles SW of Philipsburg, MT |
| Incident Commander | Joe Brabender |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 10 |
|---|---|
| Size | 320 acres |
| Fuels Involved | Heavy logging slash. subalpine fir, lodgepole, Douglas-fir, Grass and large concentrations of blow-down. |
| Fire Behavior | The fire became active Monday because of strong winds, low humidity and relatively warm temperatures. Tuesday, a predicted cold front is expected to bring strong winds and dry air during the afternoon and early evening. Precipitation is not expected before Wednesday. |
| Significant Events | The fire may make short runs when the winds line up with canyons and ridges. Crew finished contingency line on Aug. 29 near Mount Emerine. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Closure order rescinded effective August 31. Fire is not out and will continue to be monitored on a daily basis. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | Moderate |
| Terrain Difficulty | High |
| Remarks | Updates will be made only when there are significant changes. |
