Smoke and Light Winds Continue to Limit Fire Activity
Incident: Sawtooth Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/17/2012
FIRE UPDATE Sawtooth Update: September 17, 2012 @ 7:00 p.m. Contact: Fire Information 406-363-3556 Phones: Paula Short 406-370-5334 FIRE NAME: Sawtooth DATE OF DETECTION: August 30, 2012 CAUSE: Lightning CURRENT SIZE: 4,869 acres CONTAINMENT: 35% LOCATION: 7 miles WSW of Hamilton, Montana AGENCY: Bitterroot National Forest IMT: Greg Poncin's Northern Rockies Incident Management Team Smoke and Light Winds Continue to Limit Fire Activity TODAY'S ACTIVITY: The inversion thinned enough in the morning to allow air operations to begin sooner than previous days. Most of the fire growth today occurred on the western edge into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Helicopters stayed busy doing bucket drops on persistent hotspots to limit the movement of the fire. Crews on the southern flank of the fire continued to build direct fireline upstream along Sawtooth Creek and continue mop up. A strong high pressure ridge will develop over the region for most of this week. This will result in warm temperatures but minimal winds. These conditions will help firefighters but heavy smoke will continue to linger in the valley all week. Dry conditions will continue. PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES ON THE FIRE: There are approximately 414 personnel assigned, including 11 crews, 9 engines, 5 water tenders, 1 dozer, and 6 helicopters. PLANS FOR TONIGHT: The night shift engines that have been patrolling the residential areas closest to the fire have been reassigned now that the Stage 2 Evacuation Order has been lifted. EVACUATIONS & CLOSURES: The Stage 1 Evacuation Alert & Warning remains in effect. A Stage 1 Evacuation and Alert means that residents may need to keep a close eye on weather conditions and to be prepared to evacuate if conditions suddenly change. Sawtooth Creek Trail #123, Roaring Lion Trail 124, Ward Mountain Trail #208,and Canyon Creek Trail #525 are closed due to fire activity. Blodgett Campground is also closed. For further information, go to www.inciweb.org For updated weather, visit the NOAA website at http://www.noaa.gov/ Follow the Northern Rockies IMT on Facebook (Northern Rockies National IMT) or Twitter@Poncin IMT
