Placid Lake Evacuation Update 9:00 PM Sunday
Incident: Jocko Lakes Wildland Fire
Released: 8/19/2007
This afternoon winds to 35 mph resulted in extreme fire behavior and poor visibility. Firefighters were forced to withdraw from the fire lines to safety areas in the Finley Creek Area this afternoon. The fire crossed containment lines and progressed to the Southeast. The Missoula County Sheriff's Office issued a mandatory, precautionary evacuation of the Placid Lake Area. The evacuation was carried out within 45 minutes with excellent cooperation from the affected residents. No structures were lost or imminently threatened. Crews are returning to the lines this evening and will begin construction of new containment lines. Fire officials will reassess the evacuation as more information of the threat to residents becomes available. Residents will be allowed to re-enter once the area is judged to be safe. The lines held on the eastern flank near Seeley Lake. Other areas previously evacuated including Eagle Point, Snowmass, and Shining Shirt Road area were not threatened today.
