InciWeb the Incident Information System: Lily Lake

INCIDENT UPDATED 10/3/2009

Approximate Location

45.624 latitude, -113.317 longitude

Incident Overview

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Lily Lake Fire personnel awoke to 2-3 inches of snow on Wednesday morning. The weather forecast for the next several days is cloudy with rain and snow likely. The helicopter and personnel were demobed. A few Wisdom District people will clear off and clean up the equipment left out on the fire. The fire was turned back to the District Wednesday morning.

This fire, burning since August 13, is being managed for long-term resource benefits, including maintaining natural processes and wilderness characteristics in the West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area.

Hose, sprinklers and pumps have been dismantled and are being hauled off the mountain.

Fire activity has been dampened by the recent weather, but may increase during the afternoon as temperatures and winds increase and humidity decreases. Smoke could still be visible in the fire area.

Area closure order, #2009-D3-036, has been rescinded and the area is once again open to the public. Trail #3380 between Lily Lake and Sand Lake remains closed. Burned trees could fall and rocks and debris could roll downhill at any time so visitors to the area should use extreme caution when in the burned area.

Visitors are advised to call the Wisdom Ranger District (406) 689-3243, for updates on the trails within the West Pioneer Area.

This will be the last update unless significant events occur.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	Thursday August 13th, 2009 approx. 12:00 AM
Location	10 miles northeast of Wisdom, MT
Incident Commander	Jonathan White

Current Situation

Total Personnel	12
Size	2,100 acres
Fuels Involved	Cured vegetation, large downed dead trees below the timber canopy. Fuel moistures are 12%. Downed fuels are heavy as the last large fire in the area was over 125 years ago.
Fire Behavior	Expect fire activity to be minimal Wednesday thru Friday. Smoldering and surface burning of heavy fuels with occasional single/group tree torching in timber fuels are the most likely activity to occur on the fire. Spotty or incomplete burns within the fire interior have the potentail for additional burning.
Significant Events	Snow/rain mixture will quiet the fire activity. Fire will be turned back to the District and off District personnel will be demobed Wednesday morning. Helicopter has also been released.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Break down hose lay and sprinklers at Lily Lake. Hoses and pumps from the Maynard Mines and Stone Lake are dismantled and off the fire.
Growth Potential	Low
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme (No roads, rough terrain)
Remarks	Based upon the weather prediction for precipitation, the Type 3 organization will transition back the fire to the District starting Wednesday morning.