Daily Fire Update 9-11-2012
Incident: Moose Mountain Wildfire
Released: 9/11/2012
Fire Information - Moose Mountain
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 7:00 AM
Cause: Lightning
Detected: September 8th, 2012
Location: Approximately 6 miles SW of Neihart, MT
Legal Description: Lat. 36° 50.43, Long. 110°48.36
Current size: 41 acres
Jurisdiction: USDA-FS, Lewis and Clark National Forest, White Sulphur Springs Ranger District
Current Status: Today, Tuesday, September 11th the fire is listed at 15 percent containment.
The addition of three hand crews yesterday to bolster the efforts of the initial attack forces consisting of 16 smokejumpers and two USFS engines resulted in getting a line around the majority of the fire despite the breezy conditions. While the fire is still listed at 41 acres the threat still exists for movement of the fire to the east and north east. There are eight residences in the Moose Creek subdivision 3.5 miles SW of the fire and the Showdown Ski area is four miles east of the fire.
The fire is burning in continuous stands of lodgepole pine with an understory of subalpine fir. Approximately 35% of the timber consists of beetle kill and a large amount is standing dead with snags.
A spike camp has been established near the fire to shorten the commute time for crews from the Incident Command Post located at White Sulphur Springs. This will eliminate the hour long drive and enable crews to get onto the fireline earlier and to stay later in the shortened daylight of this late season fire.
The use of aircraft has been critical to keeping this fire small as resources were ordered and traveled to the fire. Some hand crews traveled from Missouri and other personnel from as far away as Arizona were deployed. Resources have been difficult to obtain with the amount of other larger fire activity in the state of Montana.
On Sunday during the initial attack phase of this fire fixed wing aircraft delivered 10 loads of retardant and the helicopters that were available dropped over 35,000 gallons of water on the head of the fire to control the spread and give hand crews time to assemble to begin digging a containment line around the fire.
Resources: Today, Two helicopters, three 20-person hand crews, 2 engines, 16 smokejumpers and approx. 21 overhead.
Closures: There is a large area that is temporarily closed because of the Moose Mt. Fire. There is a closure order and a map attached outlining the area. This closure order covered a large area as this fire had potential to move very quickly in the fuels and with the expected wind conditions. The order will be revised as conditions permit.
Contacts: US Forest Service, White Sulphur Springs Ranger District 406-547-3361
The Jefferson Division of the Lewis and Clark National Forest has entered into Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. This covers the Judith, Belt Creek, White Sulphur Springs and Musselshell Ranger Districts. Campfires and charcoal fires are only allowed at designated recreation sites and campgrounds.
