Fact Sheet, September 27, 2012
Incident: Wedge Creek Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/27/2012
Closures that began Saturday September 8th are still in effect.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/lolo/alerts-notices Closure # F12-033 & 034
Updates on this fire will be distributed on Mondays and Thursdays weekly.
Stage I Fire Restriction are in effect across the Lolo National Forest ·
Wedge Creek Fire:
Date Started: August 8, 2012
Cause: Lightning
Size: 1,800 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Resources: One Light Helicopter
Structures Threatened: Two FS Remote Cabins & Two Trail System Bridges
Cooperating Agencies: Powell County Sheriff Department
An aerial reconnaissance of the Wedge Creek fire area was conducted yesterday. The main body of fire activity is in the Falls Creek drainage about ½ miles south of Conger Point and on the southeast slopes of Wedge Creek. Wedge Creek is displaying more activity than it has recently and will require more close surveillance. In Falls Creek fire continues downslope and will also need to be monitored as it approaches the 16T trail. The fire behavior in these areas is moderate; as the fire backs downslope through a thick understory of frost cured brush to the southwest. Smoke color from the air was white in color, with medium volumes of smoke being emitted. In Hayden Creek the fire activity was sporadic with no indicators of uniform or vastly increased fire spread. Overall, the fire has grown about 20-30 acres.
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:
Date Started: July, 30 2012
Cause: Lightning
Size: 380 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 Falls Point fire continues to burn in ground fuels on the southwestern aspect of the fire. The fire has grown around 5 acres in the past week, most spread being in this southwestern vicinity. Overall the fire continues to skunk around in the litter and brush, working its way down the more sun drenched slopes. It has not made any runs or torched many trees in the last week. On the NE flank the fire is within 50 yards of Driftwood Lake and it does not appear that the fire will have enough activity to go around or across the Driftwood drainage.
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.
Long-term 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. Fire managers continue monitoring both fires for increases in fire behavior using aircraft and will engage the fires as needed. No significant fire activity has occurred for either fires over the last seven days.
· More information about Stage 1 Fire Restrictions can be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5388694.pdf
