Kootenai Creek Fire Update 09-30-09
Incident: Kootenai Creek Wildfire
Released: 9/30/2009
Kootenai Creek Fire Update September 30, 2009
Incident: Kootenai Creek Fire Wildfire
Released: 09/30/09
Start date: July 12, 2009 Cause: Lightning
Contact: Clare Delaney, Information Officer Phone: (406) 777-5461 or (406) 544-1084
Location: Approximately 7 miles NW of Stevensville, MT.
Containment: 10%
Current Size: 6487 Acres on the Stevensville Ranger District, Bitterroot National Forest.
Resources Assigned: 108 firefighters and support personnel are assigned to the incident including 3 crews, 4 helicopters, and 10 engines.
Closures: Access to St. Mary's Lookout and other recreation areas around Charles Waters Campground will be open. Access to the Kootenai Creek Trail head will remain closed.
Current Status: Crews are working on mop-up and rehab. Equipment removal of hoselays, pumps and sprinklers from dozer lines will begin.The clean-up of the pump sites and staging areas. Last night was the final night shift.
Planned Actions: Even though the physical camp has been dismantled, the Incident Command Team will remain on the fire until a significant decrease in fire activity occurs. Additional fire fighting resources are readily available if fire activity increases at any point prior to a season ending weather event. The majority of the firefighting resources which are assigned to the fire are local, and these will remain available to the Incident Command Team. The Forest will provide support to the Team, and local businesses will be utilized for meals and other support services.
Crews will continue to mop-up and rehab existing firelines. Helicopters will be used if needed but weather over the fire may not require their use today. All areas affected by the Stage I advisory are being lifted today. The decision to lift the Stage I is based on weather and predicted fire behavior.
A fire rehabilitation plan is being worked on and will be implemented to address erosion from fire activities (ie. Firelines, dozer lines, etc)
Concerns: Fire resources will be traveling more on the roads. Potential for rocks and trees in the burned areas may impact travel as well as provide slippery hillsides from last night's rain.
Weather: Fire weather predictions call for a continuation of the decrease in temperatures and increase in humidity levels over the next several days. The high today is expected to be 45-50 degrees, while Thursday and Friday temperatures are expected to reach only into the high 50's and low 60's. A second Pacific cold front with showers and light snow is expected again this weekend.
Cooperating Agencies: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Ravalli County, Local fire Districts, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.
For further updates, please visit the national incident web site: www.inciweb.org
