Afternoon 9-19 Fire Update
Incident: Condon Mountain Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/19/2012
Current Status: Today, Wednesday, September 19th, the f ire is highly active and growing. The fire is spotting into and making runs in the Smith Creek drainage. The fire is also growing towards Smith Creek Pass; however it has not reached the pass. The fire is also backing down the west face of the mountain between Condon and Smith Creeks, with occasional single tree torching occurring, as is visible from Condon.
Fire managers are using five helicopters and Super Scooper airplanes to put water on the fire in order to limit growth. The aerial resources are focusing efforts on the west face of the fire and in Smith Creek, slowing its growth downhill.
A shaded fuel break line is continuing to be constructed on the road system below the fire, along Forest Road 9762 to Cooney Mountain Lookout. Resources working on this fuel break include heavy equipment, such as two excavators, a harvester, and a feller-buncher, four engine crews, a hotshot crew, and a 10 person hand crew. Water pumps with hose and sprinklers are being set up along this fuel beak. Fire managers do not plan to burn out along this fuel break until absolutely necessary.
For those concerned about possbile evacuations in the Falls Creek area; there are no evacuation orders in effect. An evacuation plan has been drafted, if in the event it is needed in future days. The Missoula County Sherriff's office and the Missoula County Emergency Service Office will coodinate any evacuation. A Ready, Set, Go, concept will be utilized if an evacuation is needed. To learn more about evacuation preparedness, please visit the following websites:
http://www.readyforwildfire.org/ http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/oes/
Fire engine crews will be monitoring and patroling the fire area overnight, relaying updates to fire managers.
