Fire Update, 9/3/12
Incident: East Fork Wildfire
Released: 9/3/2012
EAST FORK FIRE
FIRE INFORMATION FACT SHEET
Date: September 3, 2012 Time: 10:00 a.m.
Information Officer: Kathy Bushnell, 406-422-7164
Incident: East Fork Fire
Detected/Reported: August 22, 2012
Cause: Lightning
Location: T16N, R10W, Section 36, approximately one mile inside the southern boundary of the Scapegoat Wilderness on the Helena National Forest-Lincoln Ranger District
Incident Commander: Jarel Kurtz
Approximate Size: 550 acres (which includes the spot fire)
Fire Update:
The East Fork fire remains active due to the prevailing westerly winds and warmer-than-normal temperatures. The fire continues to burn in sub-alpine fir and dense, dead timber within the Scapegoat Wilderness boundary; however a spot fire was detected outside of the Wilderness and fire managers are currently flying over the spot fire to assess the situation and select the safest and most effective tactic for suppression. More details will be shared once that decision is made.
Fire personnel will monitor the main fire throughout the day, but for safety purposes there will be no direct attack on the fireline of the main fire. The strategy remains to safely manage this fire for suppression within the Wilderness boundary, primarily containing the southern flank and preventing spread to the south.
The smoke is still visible to the surrounding areas; however, it is not threatening any structures. The trail closures remain in effect for public safety reasons.
Weather conditions will remain similar to what has occurred over the past few days: sunny, warmer-than-normal temperatures, low relative humidity levels and windy. Temperatures could reach the mid-70s with westerly winds at 5-15 mph and relative humidity levels will remain low at 16-21%.
Closures: Below is a list of current trails closures due to the East Fork Fire activity:
· Arrastra/Porcupine Basin Trails #482 & #488: entire trail of both beginning in T15N R10W Section 25 & T15N R10W Section 23
· Dry Creek/Meadow Cr Trail #483: from the beginning in T15N R10W Section 17 to junction of Mainline Trail #481 in T16N R9W Section 8
· Bugle Meadow Cut-across Trail #480: entire trail beginning at Meadow Lake T16N R9W Sec. 18 and ending in T16N R10W Section 1
· Sourdough Trail #427: entire trail beginning in T16N R9W Section 8 at the junction of Mainline Trail #481
Fire danger level: High
More information: Visit Inciweb at http://www.inciweb.org/ or call Kathy Bushnell at 406-422-7164
