Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex Update 8-31
Incident: Elbow Pass Fire Complex Wildfire
Released: 8/31/2012
Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex
FIRE UPDATE: Friday August 31, 2012 (See Inciweb maps for locations)
As we head into a three-day holiday weekend, fire danger remains at high. Everyone is asked to be very diligent with campfires and ensure they are dead-out before leaving them. Fire-fighting resources are very tight right now because of all of the fires burning around the region. After a week of warm dry weather we all need to be very careful with all ignition sources. This includes, but is not limited to, carefully monitoring any cooking activities, not tossing cigarettes on the ground and making sure vehicles and trailers are not dragging anything that could create sparks
Elbow Pass Complex Spotted Bear Ranger District, Lewis and Clark National Forest. 20,227 acres
The Wildland Fire Module completed the sprinkler system improvements in Ellis Creek in the South Fork Sun River; it is operational if it becomes necessary to use it. The Incident Commander flew the fire today; there continues to be heat along the southern and western perimeter within the existing burn area creeping and smoldering in unburned fuels. There was increased heat in the South Fork Sun River Thursday. Fire managers assisted with fire size on the Little Calf fire in the Danaher area on the Flathead National Forest.
Fire Update: Warm and dry conditions are expected today as a high pressure builds over the region. Minimum relative humidity is expected to drop to the low teens, although surface winds will remain light. Saturdays weather is expected to be gusty with near critical fire weather conditions. Fire managers will be monitoring fire behavior and activity. Helicopters are prepared to make water drops if needed. Structure protection remains in place for Danaher and Basin Cabins. Safety during all operations is our number one priority. Fire managers are prepared to assist with initial attack. Lookouts are staffed. http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3066/
Wedge Creek Fire Seeley Lake Ranger District, Lolo National Forest, 1247 acres
This fire is burning in steep terrain, heavy timber and around rock outcroppings in a remote un-roaded area about two miles south of the Scapegoat Wilderness boundary. The fire is producing a smoke column visible from highway 200. The weather for today is forecasted to have areas of smoke after noon, mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. The fire is burning more actively in the Hayden Creek area and is bumping the edge of the previously burned Conger Fire area that occurred in 2007. Due to heavy fuel loadings with intermittent bug-killed trees, steep slopes and inaccessible terrain it is unsafe to have crews on the ground. At this time, actions will continue to engage the fire in a way that will not place firefighters in danger. No private structures or property are currently threatened by the fire.
Today's Plan: Reconnaissance flights continue. A GPS perimeter data was not collected yesterday. Actions will continue to engage the fire in a way that will not place firefighters in danger and utilize aircraft to observe and engage the fire as necessary. .Inciweb Wedge Creek
East Fork Fire Lincoln Ranger District, Helena National Forest, 75 acres. Due to more accurate GPS data and mapping, the size of the East Fork Fire has been updated to 75 acres. The fire continues to experience moderate activity with some single and small group tree torching, along with some spotting, moving east within the Scapegoat Wilderness. Today fire personnel will continue to monitor the fire activity, but due to safety purposes there will not be any direct attack on the fireline. No structures are threatened.
The fire remains in contiguous sub-alpine fir and dense, dead timber stands. The strategy remains to safely manage this fire for suppression within the Wilderness boundary, primarily containing the southern flank and preventing further spread to the south.
Weather conditions will be sunny and warm with smoke lingering in the area. Temperatures could reach the low-80s, but the relative humidity levels will remain low at 15-20% with southwest winds that could gust up to at 15 mph. http://inciweb.org/incident/3203/
Stonewall Fire Lincoln Ranger District, Helena National Forest, 12 acres Fire crews continued to make significant progress on the Stonewall Fire yesterday and last night. There was no fire movement and minimal activity yesterday, and it is now 80% contained. Firefighters will continue to do any necessary saw work, dig fire line around the remainder of the perimeter and mop up. Due to the progress of suppression efforts, some firefighters will be demobilized and the fire will transition to a "Type 4" operation, which means it is no longer as active or complex as it was earlier.
Although the predictions call for warm and dry conditions with low relative humidity levels, the weather is not expected to significantly impact continued suppression efforts on the Stonewall Fire. Today temperatures could reach the mid-70s with low relative humidity levels at 14-20% and light southwest winds up to 10 mph.
http://inciweb.org/incident/3214/
FLATHEAD NF
Three new fires were detected in the Spotted Bear Ranger District this week.
Dart Creek - Spotted Bear Ranger District, Flathead NF, 10 acre. Fire burning in heavy timber near the Big Salmon Creek. The lightning started fire was detected Thursday, August 29, and is currently staffed with 33 firefighters, two airplanes (scoopers), a medium and a heavy helicopter for bucket drops, and two light helicopters providing support. Many of the resources were already on forest supporting the Condon Mountain Fire. At this time the Big Salmon Creek trail is open, but trail users should call the Spotted Bear Ranger District (406-758-5376) for the latest information before heading out on the trail. Note: The Trail #29, the Smith-Little Salmon Trail remains closed. Finished structure protection on Pendant Cabin. Installed hose and pumps into the fire.
Little Calf - New start in Danaher area, 1-2 acres. Helicopters were used for bucket drops as well as personnel transport and fire size up.
Fools Hen - Spotted Bear Ranger District, Flathead National Forest, 1/2 acres. Declared out on 8/30.
Prisoner Lake Fire Spotted Bear Ranger District, Flathead National Forest -. Last update was 8-16-12, no further updates until conditions and/or fire behavior significantly changes. Fire history and past information is at: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3065/
Falls Point Fire Seeley Lake Ranger District, Lolo National Forest, 203 Acres -As of August 16th the Falls Point Fire has been added to the Elbow Pass Complex. Elbow Pass Complex fire information: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3067/
Meadow Creek Fire 8/23/12 was the final update for this fire; no further updates unless fire conditions change. Fire history and past information is available from : Inciweb Meadow Creek
Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex - Trail Closures
As of August 31th, 2012
Lewis & Clark National Forest
Trail Closures for Elbow Pass Complex:
- South Fork Sun River Trail # 202 (The portion of the trail south of the South Fork Sun River Pack Bridge)
- Straight Creek Trail #212 (The portion of the trail north of Straight Creek Pass)
- Hoadley Creek trail #226
- Patrol Mountain Lookout Trail #213
- Ellis Creek Trail #227
- East Fork Ahorn Trail # 225 (The portion of the trail south of Grizzly Basin)
- Observation Pass Trail #246
- Elbow Pass Trail # 248
- Cigarette Rock Trail #247
- Green Fork Trail # 228
- Petty-Crown Trail #232
- Crown Mountain Trail #270
- Halfmoon Creek Trail #216
- Telephone Creek Trail #274
Trail closures for the Prisoner Lake fire -
· Trail # 211
Flathead National Forest
Trail Closures: for Elbow Pass Fire Complex fire
· Area Closures are still in effect, refer to Flathead Area Closure map
Trail Closures for Prisoner Lake fire
· Molly Creek Trail # 138,
· So. Fork White River Trail # 380
· Haystack Mtn Trail # 626
Trail Closures for Condon Mtn fire
· Trail #29, the Smith-Little Salmon Trail
Seeley Lake Ranger District, Lolo National Forest
Trail Closures for Wedge Creek and Meadow Creek fires:
· Fenn Mountain Trail #88 the entire trail, beginning in T 16 N, R 12 W, Section 3.
· Conger Point Trail #468 the entire trail, beginning in T 17 N, R 11 W, Section 31.
· Dwight Creek Trail #414 from the junction with Conger Point Trail #468 to Omar Mountain T 17 N, R 12 W, Section 14.
· Conger Creek Trail #403 from the junction with Conger Point Trail #468 T 17 N, R12 W, Sec. 23 to the junction with Canyon Point Trail #1437 T17 N, R 11 W, Sec. 29.
Lolo National Forest:
Description of Closed Areas:
From the North Fork Cabin, T 17 N, R 10 W, Sec. 29, northwest along the Dry Fork trail #31, but not including the Dry Fork trail #31, to the junction with Canyon-Falls Creek trail #16; thence southwest along the Falls-Canyon Trail #16, but not including the Falls-Canyon trail #16 to the Scapegoat Wilderness boundary in T 17 N, R 11 W, Sec. 28; thence north and west along the Scapegoat Wilderness boundary through Canyon Point and Omar Mountain to the boundary with the Flathead National Forest, Spotted Bear Ranger District; thence northeast along the Forest boundary through Danaher Mountain and Concord Mountain to Triple Divide; thence southeast along the Continental Divide through Flint Mountain and Scapegoat Mountain to the junction of Cave Creek trail #1217; thence west and south along the Cave Creek trail #1217, but not including the Cave Creek trail #1217, to the junction with the Hobnail Tom trail #32; thence south along the Hobnail Tom trail #32, but not including the Hobnail Tom trail #32, southwest to the junction with the Cooney Creek trail #406; thence southeast along the Cooney Creek trail #406, and including the Cooney Creek trail #406 to the boundary with the Helena National Forest, Lincoln Ranger District; thence south and west along the Forest boundary through Olson Peak and Galusha Peak to the junction with the East Fork trail #481 in T 17 N, R 10 W, Sec. 27; thence northwest along the East Fork trail #481, and including the East Fork trail #481 to the junction with the Hobnail Tom trail #32; thence west along the Hobnail Tom trail #32 to the junction with the North Fork Cabin.
Helena National Forest
Trail Closures for East Fork fire:
· Arrastra/Porcupine Basin Trail #484: entire trail
· Trail #448: entire trail
· Dry Creek/Meadow Creek Trail #483: from beginning in T15N, R10W, Sec 17 to southern shore of Meadow Lake trail in T16N, R9W, Sec 18.
