September 3, 2012 Pine Creek Fire Morning Update
Incident: Pine Creek Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/3/2012
Contact: Fire Information 406-333-9884
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 29, 2012
CAUSE: Human (under investigation)
CURRENT SIZE: 7,800 acres (decrease due to improved mapping)
CONTAINMENT: 40%
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: With the decreased fire activity, firefighters were able to construct some direct fireline on the southern part of the fire near George Creek. Engines continued to make progress working to put out hot spots and clearing hazards around the structures in Pine Creek. Timber in the south fork of Deep Creek was cleared using logging equipment. Fire personnel flew over the ridge between Davis Creek and Deep Creek to assess the fire in that area. There was very minimal activity in those areas, with the moisture received the last couple of days.
Helicopters assisted firefighters on the ground by dropping water on hot spots in the Deep Creek and Barney Creek areas. Very little fire activity was seen on the ridge between Deep Creek and Davis Creek, and helicopters were dropping water on those smokes they could see. Firefighters worked to build fireline on the southern edge of the fire between Pine Creek Campground and Barney Creek. In Pine Creek, firefighters continued to mop up hot spots and lessen the risks of hazards.
TODAY'S WEATHER AND PLANNED ACTIVITY:
Weather will continue to be dry and breezy today and in places, the fire may become more active as fuels continue to dry out from the moisture received on Saturday. Today, crews will be constructing fireline along the fire's edge from the Pine Creek Campground working south, with continued mop up in Pine Creek Campground and Luccock Park. Engines will continue their work in the lower Pine Creek area, mopping up hot spots and clearing hazards. In the Deep Creek area, firefighters will look to construct fireline where it is safe, supported by helicopter bucket drops to check fire spread northward. There is currently no fire on the north side of the North Fork of Deep Creek. Fire officials will fly Davis Creek in the morning to look at opportunities to put firefighters on the ground. The fire is in the cirque basin at the head of Davis Creek in light fuels; bucket drops will be used if needed.
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 396 personnel assigned, including 11 crews, 19 engines, 5 water tenders, 3 dozers, and 5 helicopters (2-type I, 2-type II, 1-type III).
SPECIAL CONCERNS: Fuels in the area are extremely dry and receptive to burning
EVACUATIONS & CLOSURES: The East River Road is open to residents only from Carter's Bridge to south of George Creek. The southern roadblock has been moved to the north side of George Creek. There is also a road block on the Pine Creek Road. Residents are urged to limit driving between 0800-1000 and 1800-2000 because of increased fire vehicle traffic.
Effective at 8:00a.m. on September 3, 2012:
Roadblock locations will be
·- East River Road and just north of George Creek Road
·- Highway 89 and East River Road
·- Pine Creek Road
Those residents that live on Deep Creek Road and Lower Deep Creek Bench Road are still under a mandatory evacuation.
The areas that have been changed to a pre-evacuation notice are:
·- Lower Luccock Park Road
·- Barney Creek Road
·- Pine Creek Road area
Only residents will be able to access these areas through the road block.
Residents will need to go to the Pine Creek Fire Station to check in with the Sheriff's Office before entering through the road block tomorrow morning.
There will be no access to Luccock Park Road beyond the last residence.
Residents that are returning to their homes are encouraged to stay at their property.
Residents are also encouraged to stay off the roads during the early morning and early evening hours to prevent interfering with firefighters accessing and leaving the fire area.
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.
For further information, go to www.inciweb.org.
Follow the Northern Rockies IMT on Facebook (Northern Rockies National IMT) or Twitter@Poncin IMT.
Park County Emergency Phone: 406-224-0808
