Lily Lake Fire Update Sept. 27
Incident: Lily Lake Wildfire
Released: 9/27/2009
FACT SHEET LILY LAKE FIRE September 27, 2009 Information Contact: Arlee Staley Wisdom Ranger District Phone (406) 689-3243 What: Lightning-caused fire. Started: The Lily Lake Fire was first detected Thursday evening, August 13. Update: Yesterdays expected wind speeds were not as high as predicted. The fire did burn actively to the east and has reached Sand Lake. Fire burning will likely continue within fire perimeter but the spread will be slowed with the decrease in winds. Fire will be topography and fuels driven. Location: The fire is NE of Wisdom, 1/2 mile east of Lily Lake on the ridge top. Township 2 South, Range 14 West, Section 27. Current Size: aprox. 1300-1400 acres. Fire Behavior: Active burning will likely continue within fire perimeter but spread will slow with the decreasing winds. Fire will be topography and fuels driven. Expect burnout of interior surface fuels ignited by yesterday's crown runs and long range spotting. Torching and short runs in the tree crowns are likely in steeper terrain. Fuels: The general fuel types in the area are lodge pole, conifer, subalpine fir with some spruce along wet areas. Fuel moistures are 8-12%. Fuel is heavy as the last large fire in the area was over 125 years ago. Objectives: Firefighter and public safety is always recognized as the first priority for work within the fire environment. Allow fire to function as a natural process where appropriate. Where the values at risk are low, manage the fire for resource benefits to improve wildlife habitat, whitebark pine regeneration and to reduce hazardous fuels; within the West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area. Incident requirements include: Monitor fire growth and base all actions on current and expected fire behavior. Slow fire spread to the south and east. Activate sprinklers and hoses around the historical site at Maynard Mine and southeast side of Lily Lake. Weather: Mostly sunny, max temps 60-65, humidity 20-25%, west winds 10-15 mph in the morning becoming northwest and decreasing to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of wetting rain 0%. Monday: mostly sunny, temps 65-75 on the ridge tops, humidity 11-21%, south winds 5-15 mph. Tuesday: cooler, mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers, temps 60-70, southwest winds 10-20 mph. Personnel: 45 Closures: Area closure described bounded by Steel Creek Trail #3010, Trail #2259, Pattengail Trail #2245, Demijohn Creek Trail #2162, and Eastside Overland Trail #3378 is closed to all unauthorized occupancy for public safety. Trail guards are posted on the Pioneer Scenic Byway at Lacy Creek, Odell Trailhead, and Pattengail Trailhead to keep the public informed of current fire conditions and closures. Steel Creek Campground and Trailhead and the south Fork of Doolittle Road #2421 remain open to public use. Additional Fire information: www.inciweb.org or Wisdom Ranger District (406) 689-3243
