Fire Update for Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 8am
Incident: Ash Creek Complex Wildfire
Released: 7/10/2012
Greg PoncinIncident CommanderSE Montana Complex
Tom Heintz, Incident Commander on theAsh Creek Fire
FIRE UPDATESoutheastern Montana Complex
Update: July 10, 2012
@ 8 am
As of 3 pm on July 4th, the following fires were placed under joint management to provide for rapid mobility and flexibility of fire personnel and equipment where needed within Southeastern Montana: Ash Creek, Taylor Creek, Powerline, Horse Creek and Coal Seam.
Contact: SE Montana Complex Fire Information
Phone: Fire Information 406-493-5934
406-521-0367
541-554-5293
406-748-3182
FIRE NAME: Ash Creek Fire
START DATE: June 25, 2012
CURRENT SIZE: 249,562 acres
CONTAINMENT: 95%
IMT: Tom Heintz, Type 2 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team
CAUSE: Lightning
FIRE NAME: Taylor Creek Fire
DATE OF DETECTION: July 3, 2012
CAUSE: Unknown
CURRENT SIZE: 62,134 acres
CONTAINMENT: 75%
LOCATION: Started 12 miles southeast of Ft Howes, Montana
AGENCY: Custer National Forest jurisdiction; Bureau of Land Management fire protection
IMT: Greg Poncin, Type 1 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team
FIRE NAME: Powerline Fire
DATE OF DETECTION: July 3, 2012
CAUSE: Unknown
CURRENT SIZE: 5,265 acres
CONTAINMENT: 95%
LOCATION: 25 miles west of Colstrip.....30 miles south of Hysham, Montana
AGENCY: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
IMT: Greg Poncin, Type 1 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team
FIRE NAME: Horse Creek Fire
DATE OF DETECTION: July 2, 2012
CAUSE: Unknown
CURRENT SIZE: 7,575 acres
CONTAINMENT: 95%
LOCATION: 25 miles west of Colstrip....30 miles south of Hysham, Montana
AGENCY: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
IMT: Greg Poncin, Type 1 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team
FIRE NAME: Coal Seam Fire
DATE OF DETECTION: June 25, 2012
CAUSE: Unknown
CURRENT SIZE: 527 acres
CONTAINMENT: 100%
LOCATION: 5 miles northwest of Busby, Montana
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs
IMT: Greg Poncin, Type 1 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team
TODAY'S WEATHER AND PLANNED ACTIVITY:
Yesterday afternoon lightning from thunderstorms southwest of the Taylor Creek fire sparked the Red Fire, about 18 miles from Fort Howes. The fire was quickly contained by firefighters and helicopters from the complex that supported BLM engines in their initial attack. Today firefighters will keep an eye out for any holdover fires from yesterday's lightning. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in the upper 90's to low 100's, relative humidities of 11-12 % and winds out of the south/southeast at 4-10 mph, with gusts to 20 mph. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms after 4:00 pm.
Firefighters on the Taylor Creek fire and the Ash Creek fires will continue mop-up and patrol along fire lines. Rehab of dozer lines continues on the Ash Creek fire. Burned Area Emergency Rehab (BAER) teams are also surveying National Forest System lands and Bureau of Land Management lands for rehab needs. A Rapid Response Group will be available for any initial attack in the immediate area of the fire complex.
Heintz's IMT will be leaving the Ash Creek fire this afternoon as demobilization of resources continues and containment objectives are met. Poncin's IMT will staff the Ash Creek fire.
The Horse Creek, Powerline and Coal Seam fires are unstaffed but checked by air during the day.
PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES ON THE COMPLEX: There are a total of 746 personnel assigned to the fires in the complex, including 15 hand crews, 38 engines, 5 dozers, 6 water tenders, 5 helicopters and 3 skidgines.
CLOSURES: National Forest System lands remain closed north of US Highway 212 on the Ashland Ranger District. A TFR remains in place over the Taylor Creek fire area to safeguard aerial fire operations.
SPECIAL MESSAGES: US Highway 212 is open. Travelers should also be cautious of increased fire traffic on Montana State Highways 484 (to Fort Howes) and 39, including through the community of Colstrip where the incident command post is located.
Feed and water for livestock is extremely important to landowners for the recovery effort and locally that effort is being coordinated by the Powder River DES Coordinator Becky McEuen who can be reached 406-853-4284 or call the Powder River Extension Office at 406-436-2424.
Visit http://agr.mt.gov/agr/Producer/HayHotline/ for information on the availability of reduced-price or donated hay and pastures for landowners impacted by wildfires.
For further information on fires within the Complex, go to www.inciweb.org and click on Southeastern Montana Complex and Ash Creek fires.
