19 Mile Fire Update 0904 7am
Incident: 19 Mile Wildfire
Released: 9/4/2012
Issue date: September 4, 2012 Start Date: August 28, 2012
Fire Information Phone Number's: 1-877-608-0026, 1-877-608-0120, 1-877-608-0020
Cause: Lightning
Location: 10 miles south east of Butte, MT
Current Size: 4,160 acres Containment: 81%
Resources Assigned: 8-twenty person crews, 37 engines, 14 pieces of heavy equipment, 3 helicopters, 452 total personnel.
Closures: BLM has closed OHV trail/connector routes #24, 25, 26 from Whiskey Gulch Trailhead to a point just north of I-90, located T2N R6W, sections 23-26 and 35. The Forest Service has closed Rader Creek/Moose Creek Road #240 from Homestake Pass T2N R7W, Section 13 to Highway 2, T1N R6W Section 16. Fire officials are asking the public to avoid using Highway 2 between Butte and Whitehall to provide for the safety of firefighters and the public.
Evacuation and closure orders were lifted for the public to the interior of the fire on Sunday.
Current Status: Crews are continuing to mop-up hotspots in the west and northwest part of the fire, with mop-up being challenged by rocky terrain mixed with a thick duff layer, as well as deadfall and hazard snags. The crews are being aided by engines and water tenders providing a water source essential to thorough mop-up in these rough and rocky conditions. Infra red flights are being utilized to assist crews on the ground to locate and extinguish hotspots.
Planned Actions: A possible inversion is predicted for today possibly hampering air operations. The focus today will be more mop-up in the interior around structures and green islands. Crews are being moved to the northwest corner to assist to improve the existing line in difficult terrain. One crew has been demobilized from the incident to assist with another fire. Full mop up continues within a 120-130' radius from structures and securing perimeter firelines.
Weather: Morning winds will be light and downslope then transition to upslope winds around noon. Afternoon winds should be out of the west gusting to near 15 mph. Relative humidity will be lower today with high temperatures in the upper 70s and sunny.
Remarks: The team is working to inform residents with post fire living conditions and rehabilitation. Information boards are established at Highway 2 and Toll Mtn., Rader Creek, and Cold Springs Roads. The public is encouraged to stay away from locations where air operations are underway. Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has confirmed 14 primary residences and an undetermined number of additional structures have been lost, along with a camp trailer, a semi-trailer and numerous cars, trucks and ATV's.
Cooperating Agencies: Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Butte BLM, Jefferson County, local and rural volunteer fire departments, MT DNRC.
The fire is listed on Inciweb: www.inciweb.org
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