Kootenai Creek Fire Update 10-01-09
Incident: Kootenai Creek Wildfire
Released: 10/1/2009
Kootenai Creek Fire Update October 1, 2009
Incident: Kootenai Creek Fire Wildfire
Released: 10/01/09 4:30 pm
Start date: July 12, 2009 Cause: Lightning
Contact: Clare Delaney, Information Officer Phone: (406) 777-5461 or (406) 544-1084
NOTE: This will be the last update issued by the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team. Further questions can be directed to the Stevensville Ranger District at (406) 777-5461
Location: Approximately 7 miles NW of Stevensville, MT.
Containment: 10%
Current Size: 6487 Acres on the Stevensville Ranger District, Bitterroot National Forest.
Resources Assigned: 89 firefighters and support personnel are assigned to the incident including 3 crews,
1 helicopters, and 2 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. The clean-up of the pump sites and staging areas will continue.
Planned Actions: The Northern Rockies Incident Command Team will transfer command of the fire to a local ICT 3 - Bruce Windhorst with Jackie Parks as an ICT 3 trainee tomorrow. Additional fire fighting resources are readily available if fire activity increases at any point prior to a season ending weather event.
Crews will continue to mop-up and rehab existing firelines. Helicopters will be used if needed.
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 recent rains.
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 45-55 degrees in the valley and 40-45 degrees on the fire with a slight chance for snow showers today. Winds ridge top should be 10-20mph out of the west. 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
