Fact Sheet - August 31, 2012 8:30 Am
Incident: Wedge Creek Fire Wildfire
Released: 8/31/2012
As we head into a three-day holiday weekend, fire danger remains at extreme. With archery and other hunting seasons beginning tomorrow Saturday, September 1st, Forest officials are reminding hunters and Forest visitors that fire season is still underway and Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect except in the Wilderness and the Montour Addition to the Bob Marshall Wilderness on the Seeley Lake Ranger District.
On the Lolo National Forest, campfires are not permitted at dispersed camping sites that do not have a Forest-provided metal fire ring. Smoking is permitted only within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area cleared of all burnable vegetation at least three feet in diameter. The Stage 1 fire restrictions do not apply to stoves using liquid petroleum or LPG fuels of which are allowed. All hunters are reminded to contact your local Forest Service office for up to date fire and closure information.
Date Started: August 8, 2012
Cause: Lightning
Size: The fire has been GPS'ed from aircraft at 1,247 acres.
Percent Contained: 0%
Resources: One Light Helicopter
Structures Threatened: Two FS Remote Cabins & Two Trail System Bridges
Cooperating Agencies: Powell County Sheriff Department
Wedge Creek Fire: 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.
Closures:
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.
