Approximate Location
Incident Overview
The Rapid Creek Fire burned into the Elbow Pass Fire on July 30, 2012; For Further Information, refer to Elbow Pass Complex entries.
The Rapid Creek Fire was detected by Jumbo and Patrol Lookouts on Sunday July 29, 2012. The fire is burning within the Bob Marshall Wilderness on the Spotted Bear Ranger District. The fire grew rapidly from the initial size-up of approximately 1/4 acre to currently over 1000 acres. The fire started in the upper Rapid Creek drainage and is burning in heavy timber that includes areas that were killed by mountain pine beetle. The winds and topography have pushed the fire to the east where it has reached the Flathead Forest and Lewis & Clark Forest boundaries becoming established on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District. The Rapid Creek fire has burned into the Elbow Pass Fire on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District. There is an additional fire in the area (Triple Divide Fire)also on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District and it is likely that all of these fires will be managed jointly. These fires are being managed for suppression.
There are trail closures in place for public and fire fighter safety. Please see the attached map for details. Summary of closures includes: Rapid Creek Trail # 139, Fiction Creek Trail # 272, Obervation Pass Trail # 246, South Fork of the Sun Trail # 202, Ellis Creek Trail # 227. Note there are other closures in place from the Elbox Pass Fire. Crews are on the ground making contact with parties for options on travel routes.
Areas to the south including Danaher Meadows is open. Good camping spots are abundant, however Wilderness users are urged to use caution and be aware of fires burning in the area.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Sunday July 29th, 2012 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Location | 27 miles west of Augusta |
Current Situation
| Size | 1,000 acres |
|---|---|
| Fuels Involved | Fuel Model 10. Heavy/High mortality due to Mountain Pine Beetle activity in the lodgepole pine. |
| Fire Behavior | Sustained Crown Runs |
| Significant Events | Trail Closures in place for public safety and firefighter safety. See attached map. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Trail closures. See attached map. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | High |
| Terrain Difficulty | High - remote access in the wilderness, steep conditions |
Current Weather
| Wind Conditions | 5 - 10 mph W |
|---|
