Fire Update, Wednesday, July 11, 8 Pm
Incident: Ash Creek Complex Wildfire
Released: 7/11/2012
Greg Poncin
Incident Commander
FIRE UPDATESoutheastern Montana Complex
Update: July 11, 2012 @ 8 pm
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
CAUSE: Lightning
CURRENT SIZE: 249,562 acres
CONTAINMENT: 100%
LOCATION: Started 10 miles east of Lame Deer, Montana
AGENCY: Custer National Forest
FIRE NAME: Taylor Creek Fire
DATE OF DETECTION: July 3, 2012
CAUSE: Unknown
CURRENT SIZE: 62,134 acres
CONTAINMENT: 100%
LOCATION: Started 12 miles southeast of Ft Howes, Montana
AGENCY: Custer National Forest jurisdiction; Bureau of Land Management fire protection
FIRE NAME: Powerline Fire
DATE OF DETECTION: July 3, 2012
CAUSE: Unknown
CURRENT SIZE: 5,265 acres
CONTAINMENT: 100%
LOCATION: 25 miles west of Colstrip.....30 miles south of Hysham, Montana
AGENCY: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
FIRE NAME: Horse Creek Fire
DATE OF DETECTION: July 2, 2012
CAUSE: Unknown
CURRENT SIZE: 7,575 acres
CONTAINMENT: 100%
LOCATION: 25 miles west of Colstrip....30 miles south of Hysham, Montana
AGENCY: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
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
TODAY'S FORECAST AND PLANNED ACTIVITY:
A Red Flag warning has been issued for the fire complex and is in effect from noon through midnight. Temperatures will be 95-100, relative humidity of 11-17% and variable winds that will shift from the northwest to the northeast from 5-10 mph, with gusts to 20 mph. Afternoon thunderstorms, mainly dry and with the potential for lightning, will occur mainly after 2pm.
On the west side of the Ash Creek fire, the focus will be on rehab of dozer lines while mop-up and patrol will continue on the east side. Burned Area Emergency Rehab (BAER) teams will continue their survey of public lands.
On the Taylor Creek fire, crews will focus on mop-up on the northwest side of the fire in order to move toward full containment. Crews have been doing structural assessment within the fire area to determine the extent of damage and loss resulting from the fire. A Rapid Response Group will remain available for any initial attack in the immediate area of the fire complex.
The Ash Creek, Horse Creek, Powerline and Coal Seam fires are 100% contained. Air resources remain available for monitoring and suppression support on all fires.
PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES ON THE COMPLEX: There are a total of 553 personnel assigned to the fires in the complex, including 10 hand crews, 28 engines, 10 dozers, 5 water tenders, 3 helicopters and 2 skidgines.
CLOSURES: National Forest System lands remain closed north of US Highway 212 on the Ashland Ranger District. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) remains in place over the Taylor Creek fire area to safeguard aerial fire operations.
SPECIAL MESSAGES: Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg is organizing an informational meeting on Thursday, July 12 at 6:00 pm at the St. Labre School auditorium in Ashland. Rehberg has invited representatives from the Farm Service Agency, Bureau of Land Management, U. S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and National Resource Conservation Service. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information to affected livestock owners on what resources are available to help them recover from the fires and prevent further losses and damages. Congressman Rehberg's staff will facilitate the meeting.
US Highway 212 is open. Travelers should also be cautious of 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.
