Sawtooth Fire 9/10 Evening Update
Incident: Sawtooth Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/10/2012
Northern Rockies
Incident Management Team
Tom Heintz,
Incident Commander
SAWTOOTH
DAILY INFORMATION FACT SHEET
Date: September 10, 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: 2,600 acres estimated Containment : 5%
Incident Commander: Tom Heintz, Northern Rockies Type-II Incident Management Team
Resources: Hand Crews: (2) Type I crews; (3) Type II crews
Equipment: (10) Engines, (2) Dozers, (4) Water Tenders
Air Support: (1) Type 1 helicopter ;(2) Type 3 helicopters. Total personnel: 244
Injuries: 3 Cost to Date: $1,800,000
Fire Update: A stage 2 evacuation notice remains in place for the following area:
All residential and commercial properties West of Westside Road; South of Paradise Trail and Blodgett Camp Road; and North of North Gold Creek Loop. The Ravalli County Emergency Operations Center has a public information phone number that interested parties may call at Ravalli County EOC 406-375-6650. The American Red Cross has established an evacuation center located at the First Baptist Church, 354 Cooper Lane, in Hamilton. That is 3 blocks east of Murdoch's on the south side of town. The phone number for the sheltering and evacuation center information is 406-363-3735. Persons who have been evacuated are asked to check in at the center and sign a registry, even if they do not plan to remain at the shelter.
The forecasted cold front passed over the fire area around noon today and by 2:00 pm the winds over the fire were 40-50 mph. The fire became active with the winds and was pushed easterly toward and up to the contingency line that was constructed over the past couple of days. It did cross that line in a few places, but they were caught using heavy equipment and crews. To give a reference, the fire remains South of the "H" on the mountain West of Hamilton. The structure protection forces have been successful in suppressing spot fires with the structures. No structures have been reported as involved with fire at this point.
Helicopters were utilized early in the day to drop retardant mixed at the on-site batch plant until the winds and smoke made flying unsafe. The helicopters and their fuel support trucks were relocated to the Hamilton airport for the afternoon. They were able to re-engage on the fire late in the afternoon when the weather and visibility conditions allowed their use.
The fire is expected to continue to push north tonight along the contingency line. A night shift will be utilized to continue to take advantage of any suppression opportunities along that line, and continue to provide structure protection.
An Infrared flight has been ordered again for tonight to aid in detecting heat not only from the main fire, perimeter, but any spot fires that are out there undetected. That will also provide a basis for mapping that we will have available for tomorrow.
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, Roaring Lion Trail #124, and Canyon Creek Trail #525, and Blodgett camp ground are 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. Ravalli County EOC has established a recorded phone line with current evacuation information at 406-375-6650.
