Mustang Complex News Release Thursday Sept. 13
Incident: Mustang Complex Wildfire
Released: 9/13/2012
Location: North of the Main Salmon River, currently 0.5 miles west of the community of North Fork, Idaho.
Jurisdiction: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Salmon-Challis National Forest
Resources: 1,101 personnel, including 15 hand crews, 90 engines, 3 dozers, 12 water tenders, and 5 helicopters.
Forecast: Low relative humidity, dry conditions and light south winds are expected again today. As a result of a strong inversion, smoke will remain close to the ground causing possible visibility issues for firefighters and aircraft. Temperatures are predicted to be 64 to 76 at higher altitudes, and 72 to 82 at lower elevations. Relative humidity should be between 6 and 12 percent. Valley bottom and mid-slope winds between 3 and 6 mph, and ridge top winds south at 5 mph. Haines Index 4.
Remarks: The Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team is transitioning out today and the Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team assumed command of the Mustang Complex Fire today.
Idaho: Firefighters had a successful day on Wednesday due to light fire activity and favorable weather conditions. Stable air and light winds allowed for successful burnout operations between Hull Creek and Hughes Creek, Idaho, to the east of the fire, and north of the Salmon River Road near Deadwater. As a result of the burnouts, the acreage increased 3,541 acres to 297,949 acres. Fire activity in lower elevations will remain light throughout the day with an increase in activity at the higher elevations. Primarily backing and flanking fire behavior will be observed. The fire will continue to move toward the Highway 93 corridor between Hull and Hughes Creek. As the fire transitions from lodge pole pine to ponderosa or grass, fire behavior will decrease. This should allow crews to work more efficiently in some areas and use a direct attack approach in the residential communities. The public is asked to avoid unnecessary travel along Highway 93, as firefighter personnel and equipment will be staged roadside and in adjacent neighborhoods.
Montana: Crews working around Gattin Ranch continue mopping up. In the Johnson Creek area yesterday fire activity was minimal, consisting primarily of surface fire with occasional single-tree torching. The fire was even less active in the Mine Creek area further to the east. Today crews will remain in structure-protection mode along the Hughes Creek Road and will continue to improve existing roads and trails in an effort to create a continuous fuel break that will connect July's Chrandal Fire to the West Fork River.
Evacuations: Level 2 evacuation is in effect for Indian Creek, Idaho, west of North Fork. Level 3 evacuation remains in effect within the Highway 93 corridor from North Fork Fire Station to Quartz Creek just north of Gibbonsville. Ten forest area closures are in place including portions of both the Salmon-Challis and Bitterroot National Forests. The Idaho National Guard continues to assist the National Forests by staffing traffic control points around the fire. Travel along Highway 93 may be slowed at times where firefighters are conducting roadside burnout operations.
For information on the latest Salmon-Challis National Forest area, trail and road closures, visit http://www.inciweb.org/incident/closures/3100/.
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