Fire Update, 9/3/12 at 5:30 PM
Incident: East Fork Wildfire
Released: 9/3/2012
EAST FORK FIRE
FIRE INFORMATION FACT SHEET
Date: September 3, 2012 Time: 5:30 p.m.
Information Officer: Kathy Bushnell, 406-422-7164
Incident: East Fork Fire
Detected/Reported: August 22, 2012
Cause: Lightning
Origin: T16N, R10W, Section 36 on the Helena National Forest-Lincoln Ranger District
Incident Commander: Beau Macy
Approximate Size: 1,123 acres
Fire Update:
Due to yesterday's fire growth and updated GPS data gathered this morning by fire managers during a recon flight, the fire size has been updated to 1,123 acres. The fire is burning in contiguous sub-alpine fir-a fuel type that is known for prolific spotting-and dense, dead timber.
Six firefighters were flown in by helicopter a spot fire that was detected outside of the Wilderness boundary in the head of the Copper Creek drainage. These firefighters are fully suppressing this 1-1/2 acre spot, as well as gridding for and responding to other spot fires that might be detected outside of the Scapegoat Wilderness.
The fire has also spotted into the upper end of the Sourdough Creek drainage which is within the Scapegoat Wilderness. This spot will not be suppressed as it is part of the head of the fire where there is active flame and growth.
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 manage this fire for suppression within the Wilderness boundary, primarily containing the southern flank and preventing spread to the south.
Due to the weather, wind and fuel conditions, it is anticipated that the East Fork Fire will remain active and spread further to the east today within the Wilderness boundary. 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.
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
