Sawtooth Fire Morning Update 9-13-12
Incident: Sawtooth Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/13/2012
Fire Update: A re-entry provision was made by Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman yesterday afternoon after conferring with Sawtooth IC Tom Heintz. It is important to realize that there is still a threat to the area west of Hamilton. We have been receiving comments that this fire has "done its thing." The fire, and the history of fire in the Bitterroots, do not support that as a fact. There is still fire spread occurring on both the north and south perimeters of this fire. Please honor the fact that we remain in a Stage 1 evacuation over much of the residential area near the fire; Stage 2 evacuation remains in place for those neighborhoods where the fire threat has closer proximity.
Fire fighters had another good day yesterday. There was little movement in the cliffs to the north. Crews continued to improve the fireline, mop up, contained and controlled all spots and slop overs along the eastern flank between Sawtooth Creek north to Downing Mountain Fire of 2010, near Sawtooth Creek.
Along the eastern edge, lines were completed for a contingency line to the north and direct fire lines were tied off along the border of the Downing Mountain 2010 fire. On the fire border on Spring Creek and Sawdust Creek crews were mopping up into the burned area for 100 feet. On the Southeast edge of the fire the direct fire line at the lower end of Sawtooth Creek was holding, but still has hot spots. The fire crossed Sawtooth Creek along the south western flank and burned half way up the slope.
Today crews will be completing firelines coming up from the bottom of Sawtooth Creek. A dozer contingency line will be put in from Judd Creek to Gold Creek, to be used if fire should come out of the Canyon. Mopping up will be done 300 feet along the eastern edge of the fire.
Weather will be sunny today with temperatures in the mid 70's. Winds will be light today. Tommorrow will be a fire weather watch day with winds picking up to 20 miles per hour. A Type 1 Incident Management Team has begun to arrive at the ICP to assume management of this fire. The transition of the incident management is projected to occur tomorrow, after a day of shadowing with this team. Management of the fire will actually change at 6:00 a.m. on Friday. The incoming team is a Northern Rockies IMT, like ours, with Greg Poncin as the Incident Commander.
An information trailer on Highway 93 at Roaring Lion Road will be staffed as needed each day while this fire is active. Over 200 residents attended the community meeting last night in Hamilton.
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.
