Sept 30 Update
Incident: Lily Lake Wildfire
Released: 9/30/2009
FACT SHEET LILY LAKE FIRE September 30, 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: During the Red Flag warning yesterday of high winds, the fire grew substantially to the north and east. Today the fire is under 2-4 inches of snow. The Type-3 organization turned the fire back to the District and all off District personnel will be demobed this morning including the medium helicopter. 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. 2100 acres. Fire Behavior: Fire activity will be minimal Wednesday thru Friday. Smoldering and surface burning of heavy fuels with occasional single/group tree torching in timber fuels are the most likely activity to occur on the fire. Spotty or incomplete burns within the fire interior have the potential for additional burning. Expect surface fire to creep slowly along Steel Creek and Maynard Mines. The area north of Sand Lake that experienced crown fire runs on Tuesday will also have low level activity with smoldering and creeping. 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. This fire is being managed for long term resource benefit while maintaining wilderness characteristics in the West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area. Incident requirements include: Dismantle remaining hoses, sprinklers and pumps and haul down off hill. Weather: Today-Snow likely. Max temps 35-40, humidity 64-69%, northwest winds 8-10 mph, chance of wetting rain 60%. Thursday-mostly cloudy, chance of snow showers, temps 40-45 on the ridges, west winds 5-15 mph. Friday-mostly cloudy, slight chance of snow showers. Lows 25-35, highs 45-55, southwest winds 5-10 mph. Personnel: 12 Money spent locally: approximately $1600 per day was spent at local Wisdom businesses, for meals, fuel and miscellaneous supplies. 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. The closure order will be evaluated and rescinded when it is deemed safe for the public in the fire area. Steel Creek Trailhead and Campground are open. The south Fork of Doolittle Road #2421 is open to public use. Additional Fire information: www.inciweb.org or Wisdom Ranger District (406) 689-3243 This will be the last update unless significant changes occur.
