Dahl Fire Update - July 2, 2012 8pm
Incident: Dahl Fire Wildfire
Released: 7/2/2012
Dahl Fire Update
Contact: Fire Information Phone: 406-493-5934
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 2, 2012 8:00 p.m.
FIRE NAME: Dahl Fire
DATE OF DETECTION: June 26, 2012
CAUSE: Lightning
CURRENT SIZE: 22,045 acres
CONTAINMENT: 95%
EXPECTED CONTAINMENT: July 4, 2012
LOCATION: 12 miles southeast of Roundup, Montana
AGENCY: Montana Department of Natural Resources
FIRE MANAGEMENT TEAM: Unified Command: Northern Rockies Incident Management Team, Incident Commander Greg Poncin, and Musselshell County, Incident Commander Jeff Gates.
TODAY'S ACTIVITY: A strong contingent of engines, aircraft, and overhead personnel attacked hot spots on the fire today and will continue to work toward final suppression of the Dahl Fire. Because the lines held against yesterday's strong winds from multiple directions, fire managers began releasing some resources to assist with suppression of other fires which were ignited or spread by last night's lightning and gusty winds.
The updated structural assessment reports 223 structures lost, including 73 residences and 150 other buildings.
The Hawk Creek fire is now 100% contained and remains at 1540 acres.
The next frontal passage with thunderstorms is expected Tuesday, followed by extremely hot and dry weather.
PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES ON THE FIRE: There are 251 fire personnel assigned to the Dahl Fire this evening, after a day of assigning resources to other incidents. Demobilization is in process.
TOMORROW'S ACTIVITY: About 50 personnel and various equipment will remain on the Dahl fire to mop up and respond to hot spots: 1 medium helicopter, 1 20-person crew, 1 dozer, 1 skidgine, 10 engines, one water tender and several supervisory personnel. Poncin's Incident Management Team will be assigned to the Horse Creek Fire near Colstrip.
SPECIAL CONCERNS: Vehicle traffic on US Highway 87 remains a major safety issue for firefighters and residents as firefighting equipment enters and exits side roads from the highway.
CLOSURES: The temporary flight restriction (TFR) for the fire area remains in effect beyond the fire perimeter and 10,000 feet above the fire in order to safeguard aerial operations.
SPECIAL MESSAGES: The voluntary evacuation order has been lifted, but access is still limited to residents only.
The speed limit on US HWY 87 is 35 mph. Drivers are not allowed to stop or pull over. Only residents and firefighters are allowed on the side roads.
Tuesday morning will be the last update from fire information concerning the Dahl and Hawk Creek fires. For fire information after Tuesday morning, please contact Musselshell DES at 406-323-2777.
For the latest closure details, fire information, along with maps and photos visit www.inciweb.org, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dahlfire or on the Roundup DES Facebook page.
