19 Mile Fire Update 0905 7am
Incident: 19 Mile Wildfire
Released: 9/5/2012
Issue date: September 5, 2012 Start Date: August 28, 2012
Fire Information Phone Number's: 1-877-608-0026
Cause: Lightning
Location: 10 miles south east of Butte, MT
Current Size: 4083 acres Containment: 87%
Resources Assigned: 7-twenty person crews, 29 engines, 12 pieces of heavy equipment, 2 helicopters, 382 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.
Starting today this fact sheet will be issued once daily at 7:00 a.m.
Current Status: Two crews, supported by engines for water, conducted small burnouts to tie in unburned fuels to North Rader Road. Rocky terrain continues to challenge crews in this area. Crews on the west end worked on extinguishing hot spots along a dozer line while rehabilitation was begun along the southwest perimeter. Contingency dozer line near Pipestone has been completed. One helicopter has been reassigned to another incident.
Planned Actions: Patrolling and mopup of interior hotspots will continue throughout the fire area. Heavy duff in rocky areas will continue to be a challenge.
Weather: A high pressure system will exist over the fire today with high temps in the upper 70s and humidity in the mid teens. A cold front is predicted to roll through the area this afternoon and tomorrow possibly bringing gusty winds out of the north and some cloud cover, but little chance of precipitation.
Remarks: Information boards with post fire materials were 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
