Evening Update From Sawtooth Fire
Incident: Sawtooth Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/7/2012
Northern Rockies
Incident Management Team
Tom Heintz,
Incident Commander
SAWTOOTH
DAILY INFORMATION FACT SHEET
Date: September 7, 2012 Time: 8:00 p.m.
Incident: Sawtooth Wildland Fire Information Phone: 406-363-3556
7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Location: Sawtooth Fire is about 7 miles west southwest of Hamilton, MT
Approximate Size: 570 acres Containment : 5%
Incident Commander: Tom Heintz, Northern Rockies Type-II Incident Management Team
Resources:
Hand Crews: (2) Type I crews; (3) Type II crews
Air Support: (2) Type 1 helicopter ;(2) Type 2 helicopter ;(3) Type 3 helicopter.
Total personnel: 201
Injuries: 3 Cost to Date: $1,013,000
Fire Update: The reported acres increased from yesterday. The fire, however, grew little on the ground. Today the fire perimeter was flown and tracked with a GPS. This gave a more accurate map of the fire which had previously been based on infrared mapping that picks up only hot areas.
The Sawtooth Fire showed a little bit of life today as temperatures warmed and humidity decreased. Smoke from the fire could be seen from the valley in the afternoon. Most of this was a result of the burning of fuel within the fire perimeter. Limited growth downslope on the south side of the fire was observed. Firefighters continued work on the north and east edge of the fire looking for hotspots. Helicopters carrying water and retardant supported that effort.
Additional sprinklers and hoses were installed along Sawtooth Creek and are ready if the fire should advance in that direction. Construction of a contingency line using existing roads and trails on the west slope is beginning. Hand crews cleared brush around the communications towers on Grubstake Road to improve their survivability.
With continuing warm and dry conditions on Saturday, we should expect to see smoke coming off of the fire tomorrow. Crews will continue the efforts they have been doing. This includes locating hotspots on the north and northeast edge and mopping those up; installation of additional hoses and sprinklers along Sawtooth Creek; and working on contingency line construction with dozers and hand crews above residences on the west side.
Saturday's weather is expected to continue to be warm and dry during the day. On Sunday, a cold front will arrive and interact with moisture from the south. This will produce afternoon dry and moist thunderstorms. However, moisture will not be consistent across the area and may not affect the fire. A second dry cold front is expected later Monday into Tuesday and could bring significant southwest to west winds.
The information telephone line at the ICP is 406-363-3556. An information trailer on Highway 93 at Roaring Lion Road will be staffed from noon until 7 pm each day.
Closures: Sawtooth Creek Trail #123 remains closed due to fire activity.
Special Concerns: New fire starts! Attention: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions remain in effect for this area. Information on fire restrictions can be found at http://firerestrictions.us/mt/.
More Information: Visit Inciweb at http://www.inciweb.org/, email sawtoothfire@gmail.com or call fire information 406-363-3556.
