Fact Sheet - September 3, 2012 8:30am
Incident: Wedge Creek Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/3/2012
Wedge Creek Fire: This fire continues to burn in steep terrain, heavy timber and around rock outcroppings in the Montour Addition to the Bob Marshall Wilderness, a remote un-roaded area south of the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat Wilderness boundary. The fire is producing a smoke column visible from highway 200. The fire is burning into Hayden Creek, as burning logs and debris have rolled downslope from Fenn Mountain area. Wind driven spotting is causing isolated group tree torching and short sustained crown runs toward Omar Mountain. Active burning is occurring between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm. The fire has burned into the edge of the previously burned Conger Fire area that occurred in 2007. The weather today will be sunny with southwest winds at 6 to 11 mph with gusts to 22 mph. Tonight the winds will become light from the west northwest at 5 to 10 mph. 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. On the Lolo National Forest Seeley Lake Ranger District, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
· are in effect
except in the Scapegoat Wilderness and the Montour Addition to the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
Today's Plan: Reconnaissance flights were halted as of yesterday because the light helicopter assigned to this incident has been diverted for initial attack work elsewhere on the Forest and should return today or tomorrow. 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.
· More information about Stage 1 Fire Restrictions can be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5388694.pdf
