Pine Creek Fire Morning Update 9/11/12
Incident: Pine Creek Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/11/2012
FIRE UPDATE
Pine Creek
Update: September 10, 2012 @ 9 a.m.
Contact: Fire Information: 406-823-6079
Karen Tuscano 406-223-2028
Jeff Gildehaus 406-425-2563
DATE OF DETECTION: August 29, 2012
CAUSE: Human (under investigation)
CURRENT SIZE: 8,047 acres
CONTAINMENT: 51%
LOCATION: Pine Creek on the east side of Paradise Valley
AGENCY: Park County, Gallatin National Forest
IMT: Type III Incident Management Team, Greg Juvan, IC
YESTERDAY'S ACTIVITY: Cloud cover and higher than predicted relative humidity helped to keep fire activity minimal yesterday. Helicopters put water drops on smokes that were seen yesterday morning in the North Fork of Deep Creek. Helicopters also worked in the Pine Creek area. Smoke from the Millie Fire and fires to the west of Livingston blanketed the area and the north end of the Paradise Valley into the evening.
TODAY'S WEATHER AND PLANNED ACTIVITY: Today is another critical fire weather day, with breezy and dry conditions predicted. The wind will be less than yesterday, but still breezy at times. The high today will be 70 degrees, and a minimum relative humidity of 13%. Winds will be out of the west-northwest at 10-15 mph, with gusts to 20 mph.
Firefighters are being flown into the portion of the fire that is on the ridge between North Fork of Deep Creek and Davis Creek to mop up the hot spots, and helicopters will be assisting them with water drops. Helicopters will also be dropping water on hot spots in the North Fork of Deep Creek. On the south side of the fire, firefighters will patrol and mop up remaining hot spots that are well inside the perimeter but continue to smoke and burn.
PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES ON THE FIRE: There are approximately 130 personnel assigned, including 2 crews, 8 engines, 1 water tender and 2 helicopters.
SPECIAL MESSAGES & OTHER INFORMATION: Fuels in the area are extremely dry and receptive to burning. 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 which is causing serious safety hazards. Loch Leven fishing access site on the Yellowstone River is now the location of the fire's Incident Command Post and is closed to the public.
All pre-evacuation notices associated with the Pine Creek Fire have been lifted in all areas. The fire will continue to burn until it receives significant moisture, but fire and Park County officials feel that the risk of the fire impacting residents has decreased. People should expect to see smoke coming from the fire area for the next few weeks.
People are urged to travel slowly and cautiously with the increased fire traffic during the early morning and early evening hours, and school buses on the roads. Be sure to obey all traffic signs and drive defensively.
Residents should be aware that helicopters could still be flying overhead, as they are assisting firefighters on the ground.
Roads closed to travel by the general public include Deep Creek Road and Upper Luccock Park Road.
The area closure on the Gallatin National Forest is still in effect, including the Pine Creek Campground and Trailhead.
A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area in order to safeguard aerial fire operations.
A Burned Area Emergency Response team will begin assessing rehabilitation efforts on private land tomorrow.
For further information, go to www.inciweb.org.
Visit the Park County DES website at www.parkcounty.org
