August 30th Morning Update
Incident: Elevation Mountain Wildfire
Released: 8/30/2012
August 30, 2012 9:00 AM
Message Phone: 406-825-9265 http://www.inciweb.org/state/27/
What: Wildland Fires
Location: Elk Creek area of Garnet Mountains (Elevation Mountain) and Bearmouth area east of Missoula near I-90 (Felan Gulch), about two miles north of the Elevation Mountain Fire (Your Name Creek Fire)
Started: August 21 (Elevation Mountain), August 23 (Felan Gulch), August 27 (Your Name Creek)
Jurisdiction: Elevation Mountain and Your Name Cr: Bureau of Land Management
Felan Gulch: MT DNRC SWLO, Missoula Unit and Granite County Sheriff's Office, Unified command
Protection Agency: Montana DNRC Southwestern Land Office, Clearwater Unit and Missoula Unit
Elevation Mountain Fire
Narrative: On Wednesday, winds were not as strong as the Red Flag conditions forecasted resulting in a good day for firefighting. As conditions permitted, crews engaged in direct line construction along the east side of the fire. Crews also continued constructing and shoring up line along the south and east side of the fire to prepare for today's planned burn out operation. Crews plan to conduct firing operations to remove unburned fuels between the fire and the fire line on the south side and north east corner of the fire. Adjacent communities will see more smoke from the fire area as a result from the burn out. Fire crews will be using dozers and a feller-buncher to construct line between the fire and the Wilderness Study Area boundary on the northwest side of the fire.
The Your Name Fire is in patrol status and is now part of the northern division of the Elevation Mountain Fire.
Current Size: 585 acres
Containment: 35%
Personnel Assigned: 299
Cause: Lightning
Resources on Fire: Resources Assigned: six crews, seven engines, four helicopters, two dozers, two feller bunchers, and eight water tenders
Special Events: On Wednesday evening, a community meeting was held at the Helmville Community Center. An Area Closure order was initiated for the area surrounding the Elevation Mountain Fire (Township 13 North, Range 13 West, sections 13-16 and 19-36). The closure order and map can be accessed by visiting the Elevation Mountain Fire site at Inciweb.org.
Be aware of increased fire traffic on the Bear Gulch, Rattler Gulch, and Elk Creek Roads and use caution if on these roads. Traffic will be especially heavy in the mornings and evenings as firefighters are travelling between the fire and fire camp.
