Wedge Creek & Falls Point Update -- Sept. 10, 2012
Incident: Wedge Creek Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/10/2012
Fact Sheet: Wedge Creek Fire & Point Falls Fire Issued: September 10, 2012 10:00 A.M. Stage I Fire Restriction are in effect across the Lolo National Forest ·
Wedge Creek Fire
Date Started: August 8, 2012
Cause: Lightning
Size: 1,760 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Resources: One Light Helicopter
Structures Threatened: Two FS Remote Cabins & Two Trail System Bridges
Cooperating Agencies: Powell County Sheriff Department
The majority of the fire activity continues to be in stringers of timber in the Falls Cr. and Hayden Cr. Drainages. Predominant fire behavior is creeping, smoldering ground fire, with occasional single and group tree torching. Increases in total burned area increased over the weekend by approximately 150 acres. The fire has been increasing in acreage by about 30-100 acres, on average, over the last several burning periods. The active pockets of burning are now more spread out and numerous as the fire continues to expand its perimeter.
Closures: See adjoining map and Closure order: From the junction of Monture trail #27 and Falls-Canyon trail #16, T 16 N, R 12 W, Sec. 17, northeast along, and including Falls-Canyon trail #16, to Camp Pass, T 17 N, R 11 W, Sec. 31; thence northwest along Conger Point trail #468, but not including Conger Point trail #468, to the junction with Conger Creek trail #403, T 17 N, R 12 W, Sec 23; thence north along the ridgeline to Omar Mountain T 17 N, R 12 W, Sec. 14; thence north and east along the Scapegoat Wilderness boundary to the ridgeline in T 17 N, R 12 W, Sec. 10; thence southwest along the ridgeline between Burnt Cabin Creek and Hayden Creek to 100 yards east of the Montour trail #27, T 17 N, R 12 W, Sec. 17; thence south along Montour trail #27, maintaining a 100 yard buffer to the east of the trail, to the junction with Falls-Canyon trail #16, T 16 N, R 12 W, Sec. 17.
Falls Point Fire
Date Started: July, 30 2012
Cause: Lightning
Size: 300 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Resources: One Light Helicopter
Structures Threatened: Two FS Remote Cabins & Two Trail System Bridges
Cooperating Agencies: Powell County Sheriff Department
The fire increased in size over the weekend by about 50 acres and continues to have small increases in acreage during the burning period. When active, the fire is a creeping and smoldering ground fire. Since the initial discovery, the fire has been primarily creeping and smoldering in the surface litter layer, with the occasional isolated tree torching. The primary activity is along the northern perimeter where the fire is slowly backing downslope toward Driftwood Lake.
Closures: See adjoining map and Closure order: From the North Fork Cabin, T 17 N, R 10 W, Sec 29, northwest along the Dry Fork Trail #31, maintaining a 100 yard buffer northeast of the Dry Fork trail #31, to 100 yards southeast of the junction with Cabin Creek trail #80, T 17 N, R 11 W, Sec. 12; thence northeast along Cabin Creek trail #80, maintaining a 100 yard buffer to the southeast of Cabin Creek trail #80, to the sec. boundary between T 17 N, R 10 W, Sec. 6 and T 18 N, R 10 W, Sec. 31; thence west and north along the ridgeline through T 18 N, R 10 W, Sec. 31, then through T 18 N, R 11 W, Sec. 36, then through T 18 N, R 11 W, Sec. 25; thence northwest to the junction with Dry Fork trail #31, T 18 N, R 11 W, Sec. 23; thence west along the ridgeline to Concord Mountain, T 18 N, R 11 W, Sec. 28; thence northwest along the Forest boundary to Triple Divide, T 18 N, R 10 W, Sec. 6; thence southeast along the Continental Divide through Flint Mountain to T 18 N, R 10 W, Sec. 15; thence south along the ridgeline through Hobnail Tom trail #32 and continuing south through Evans Peak, T 18 N, R 10 W, Sec. 33; thence southwest and south along the ridge to the saddle above Sarbo Creek, T 17 N, R 10 W, Sec. 4; thence along Sarbo Creek trail # 377, maintaining a 100 yard buffer to the southwest of Sarbo Creek trail #377, to 100 yards west of the junction with Hobnail Tom trail #32, T 17 N, R 10 W, Sec. 10; thence south and west along Hobnail Tom trail #32, maintaining a 100 yard buffer to the west and north of Hobnail Tom trail #32, to the North Fork Cabin, T 17 N, R 10 W, Sec. 29. Today's Plan for both fires: 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 fires in a way that will not place firefighters in danger. No private structures or property are currently threatened by the fire. Over the next two to three days windy conditions are expected in the fire area and both fires will likely continue to be moderately active during the burning period. Fire managers will be monitoring both fires for increases in fire behavior using aircraft and will engage the fires as needed. High temperatures are expected to be in the mid-50s over the next several days in the fire areas.
· More information about Stage 1 Fire Restrictions can be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5388694.pdf ## This fire is listed on Inciweb: http://inciweb.org/incident/3191 ##
