Pine Creek Fire Morning Update
Incident: Pine Creek Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/7/2012
Greg Poncin Incident Commander
FIRE UPDATEPine Creek
Update: September 7, 2012 @ 9 a.m.
Contact: Fire Information 406-333-9884
Phones: Terina Mullen 406-208-0934
Karen Tuscano 406-223-2028
FIRE NAME: Pine Creek
DATE OF DETECTION: August 29, 2012
CAUSE: Human (under investigation)
CURRENT SIZE: 8,000 acres
CONTAINMENT: 45%
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 wind lighter than expected in the fire area, minimal activity was observed. Crews on the southern edge worked their way more interior of the fire, locating and putting out hot spots. The structure protection group mopped-up hot spots near structures and assisted other resources on the fire. The Deep Creek drainage showed a few smokes with the northeast wind, but no helicopter drops were needed. On the northwest edge of the fire, crews continued mopping-up hot spots.
TODAY'S WEATHER AND PLANNED ACTIVITY: Warmer and dryer weather is predicted, starting today and lasting through the weekend. The high today will be 73 degrees with a minimum relative humidity of 19%. Winds will generally be light out of the north-northeast, but could increase later in the day to 5-10 mph, with gusts up to 15 mph.
All resources on the western side of the fire will be patrolling for hot spots and mopping up areas of heat that are detected. In the Deep Creek and Pine Creek drainages, helicopters will be available to drop water if the fire activity increases. Demobilization of extra resources no longer needed for suppression operations will continue.
PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES ON THE FIRE: There are approximately 348 personnel assigned, including 9 crews, 15 engines, 4 water tenders, and 3 helicopters.
SPECIAL MESSAGES: Fuels in the area are extremely dry and receptive to burning. People are urged to travel slowly and cautiously with the increased fire traffic and school buses on the roads. Be sure to obey all traffic signs and drive defensively. People who are interested in viewing the fire are encouraged to use Mallard's Rest fishing access site on Highway 89, and refrain from stopping on East River Road.
Pine Creek Fire - Pre-evacuation order to remain in effect
Firefighters continue to work on securing fireline around the Pine Creek fire. The fire is in pretty good shape; however, the threat has not been completely removed.
Areas currently under a pre-evacuation notice (Deep Creek, Upper Deep Creek Bench, Swingley, West Boulder, George Creek, Pool Creek, Pine Creek, Barney Creek and Lower Luccock Park) will remain in that status until the threat is completely removed.
The pre-evacuation notice encourages residents to keep their bags packed and ready to go in the event the fire activity picks up again, given certain fire behavior conditions (weather, drying of fuels, topographic alignment).
Roads closed to travel by the general public include the following:
·- Deep Creek
·- Deep Creek Bench
·- Lower Deep Creek Bench
·- Upper Luccock Park
For a more detailed description of the pre-evacuation notice and the rationale for the decision, please contact Fire Chief Dann Babcox or Greg Coleman with the DES office.
Other important information:
The area closure on the Gallatin National Forest is still in effect.
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.
Residents should be aware that helicopters could still be flying overhead, as they are assisting firefighters on the ground on the southern and northern portions of the fire.
Parents of children riding a school bus should escort their children to the bus stop and stay with them until the bus arrives; parents should meet their students at the end of the school day at the bus stop.
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
