Pine Creek AM Update August 31
Incident: Pine Creek Fire Wildfire
Released: 8/31/2012
Contact: Fire Information
Phones: Terina Mullen 406-208-0934
Karen Tuscano 406-223-2028
Warren Bielenberg 865-919-8663 (media contact)
FIRE NAME: Pine Creek
DATE OF DETECTION: August 31, 2012
CAUSE: Unknown (under investigation)
CURRENT SIZE: 12,000 acres
CONTAINMENT: 0%
LOCATION: Pine Creek on the east side of Paradise Valley
AGENCY: Park County, Gallatin National Forest
IMT: Greg Poncin's Northern Rockies Incident Management Team
YESTERDAY'S ACTIVITY: The fire was active in the afternoon and moved to the south into the Barney Creek area. Dozers constructed fire line along the toe of the slope behind the structures. Air tankers dropped retardant to slow the fire's progress, and helicopters dropped water to assist crews on the ground. Northward movement of the fire into the Deep Creek area was limited. Engines worked through the night to patrol and mop-up any flare-ups around structures in the fire area.
TODAY'S WEATHER AND PLANNED ACTIVITY: Today's forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-80s and minimum relative humidity in the 10-15% range. Southwest winds from 10-15 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph associated with passing thunderstorms, are predicted. A RED FLAG WARNING is in effect through Saturday.
Engines and firefighting crews will work to improve and reinforce constructed dozer lines behind private residences on the west side of the fire. Fire officials will scout for opportunities to remove fuel between the constructed fire lines and the active edge of the fire to the east.
Resources will be available to assist in the initial attack of any new fire starts in the fire area.
PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES ON THE FIRE: There are approximately 150 personnel assigned, including 2 Hot Shot crews, 9 engines, 2 water tenders, 2 dozers and 4 helicopters . Additional resources will be arriving throughout the day.
SPECIAL CONCERNS: Fuels in the area are extremely dry and receptive to burning. There is a RED FLAG WARNING in effect from noon today through Saturday night for low relative humidity, thunderstorms and shifting winds.
EVACUATIONS & CLOSURES: The East River Road is closed to all traffic from Carter's Bridge to Barney Creek. Some residents are allowed to pass through the north roadblock at Carter's Bridge (East River Road and Highway 89S) to access their properties. Those residents along East River Road from Pool Creek to Barney Creek, on Pine Creek Road, on Deep Creek Road, on Deep Creek Bench Road and on Deep Creek Road South Fork are still evacuated and not being allowed back to their residences yet. Closure areas and locations of roadblocks will be assessed daily by the Park County Sheriff's Office, in consultation with fire operations managers.
A forest area closure is in effect for the area from the West Boulder River west to the forest boundary in Paradise Valley, and from the forest boundary south of Livingston to George Lake and east to the Tumble Creek drainage which is a tributary of the West Boulder River.
A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area in order to safeguard aerial fire operations.
SPECIAL MESSAGES: Travelers should be cautious of increased fire traffic on Highways 89.
For further information, go to www.inciweb.org.
