Mustang Complex Update for 9/2/12
Incident: Mustang Complex Wildfire
Released: 9/2/2012
Fire Information: 208-865-2207
E-mail: scnf.fire.info@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
Start Date: July 30, 2012 Cause: Lightning
Current Size: 210,727 acres Containment: 16%
Location: North of the Main Salmon River, currently 8 miles west of the community of North Fork, Idaho. Jurisdiction: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Salmon-Challis National Forest
Resources: 933 personnel, including 13 hand crews, 77 engines, 5 dozers, 10 water tenders, and 2 helicopters.
Forecast: Drier air moving into the region will lower relative humidity and produce mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the lower 80s. Westerly winds will be 10-15 with gusts to 20 mph. Winds will be greater where canyons align with wind direction. The inversion will break at the ridge tops around noon today; the valley inversions will disperse closer to 2:00 p.m.Fuels remain extremely dry and available for ignition. The Haines index for today is 5, thus the atmosphere is more unstable and rapid fire growth is more likely than yesterday.
Remarks: On Saturday, fire activity was less than in previous days. Through last night, the fire was most active within the interior, while the fire perimeter was relatively inactive, with smoldering and creeping observed. The fire continues to be active to the east in the area of Malfunction Junction and east and south of Indian Creek during the prime burn period, which has been about 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The fire is also well established in the upper drainages of Hull and Hughes Creeks, and continues to spread to the north and northeast further into Montana towards Hughes Creek, Montana. Although Saturday's fire behavior and acres burned was less than in previous days, the fire is expected to move east towards the Highway 93 corridor. On the west side of the complex, the Lost Packer Fire may eventually connect with the Mustang Fire. Farthest to the west and not part of the Mustang Complex, the Cabin Springs Fire has burnedto the Salmon River. This fire may work its way north in some adjacent canyons over time connecting with the higher elevation Hamilton Fire later this month. Both of these fires are located in the River of No Return Wilderness area.
Evacuations: Evacuations continue for areas within the North Fork Fire District in Idaho. The current evacuation orders and map for the Mustang Complex can be found on Inciweb (http://inciweb.org/). The Idaho National Guard will be assisting with 24/7 check point security in evacuated communities.
Contingency Work: About 85 percent of contingency work requiring installation of water storage bladders, hose lays, and sprinkler systems, has been completed along the Highway 93 corridor. Properties where sprinkler systems have not been installed will receive fire engine protection if and when the fire threat becomes imminent. Contingency work is also inprogress around homes in the Hughes Creek, Montana area. Contingency work at the Lost Trail Pass ski area will be occurring this week.
For information on the National Forest road, trail and area closures, visit http://www.inciweb.org/incident/closures/3100/.
For more information follow us on Twitter at scnf fire info http://inciweb.org/incident/3100/ www.flickr.com/salmonchallisnf
###
