Rosebud Complex Update August 4, 9:30 PM
Incident: Rosebud Complex Wildfire
Released: 8/4/2012
Start date: August 1, 2012 Contact: Jack Conner,
New Phone Number: 406-347-5560 Mariah Leuschen
Location: 6 different fires located 4-30 miles south of Rosebud, Montana Vickie Guthrie
Current Size: Estimated at approximately 174,237 (cumulative), 6 fires Containment: 20%
Resources Assigned: 46 engines, 3 Interagency Hotshot Crews, 18 water tenders; 14 dozers, 13 twenty-person crews and 4 helicopters.
Closures: No closures at this time. Hwy 212 and Hwy 39 from Lame Deer to Crow Agency and Lame Deer to Colstrip respectively are open. Voluntary evacuation notice for residents around Lame Deer has been lifted.
Current Status: Six fires are currently burning south of Rosebud, MT with the Chalky Fire S/SW of Colstrip the largest at 138,636 acres followed by the Sand Creek at 19,115 acres. These two fires continued to make active runs in continuous fuels with single and group tree torching. Burning intensity increased into the early evening.
Planned Actions:
- Beaver (1,437 acres) - 100 percent contained; patrol status.
- Juniper (4,395 acres) - Fully lined; continuing mop up operations and 80% containment.
- Sweeney/Hay Creek (9,736 acres) - Continue to construct direct and indirect line and begin mop-up operations; 40% containment.
- Sand Creek (19,115 acres) - Continue structure protection, tie in fire line and burnout to secure portions of line along the north flank of this fire, 40 % containment.
- Big John (918 acres) - Crews are mopping up 200 ft. interior, 90% containment..
- Chalky (138,636 acres) - Establish anchor points and build fire line. Burn out as necessary to secure fire lines along the northeastern edge. Continued structure protection and clean out any unburned fuels around homes to secure fire perimeter and structures.
Weather: Fire activity is expected to increase in the next few days as temperatures rise and humidity decreases. Expect highs on Sunday in the 90's with relative humidity in the teens.
Remarks: 2 primary residences and 1 outbuilding are confirmed lost in the Chalky Fire, 1 outbuilding confirmed lost in the Prairie Rose subdivision on the Juniper Fire; the Wild Horse subdivision remains threatened.
Cooperating Agencies: Montana Department of Natural Resources, Rosebud County, Northern Cheyenne Nation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Nation, local and rural volunteer fire departments, and the Bureau of Land Management, Eastern Montana/Dakotas District.
The fire will be listed on Inciweb: http://www.inciweb.org/
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