Moose MT Fire Update 9-12-12
Incident: Moose Mountain Wildfire
Released: 9/12/2012
Information - Moose Mountain
Wednesday, September 12, 2012 11:00 AM
Cause: Lightning
Detected: September 8th, 2012
Location: Approximately 4 miles W of Showdown Winter Sports Area and Hwy 89
Legal Description: Lat. 36° 50.43, Long. 110°48.36
Current size: 27 acres
Jurisdiction: USDA-FS, Lewis and Clark National Forest, White Sulphur Springs Ranger District
Current Status: Today, Wednesday, September 12th the fire is listed at 25 percent contained.
The addition of three hand crews Monday to bolster the efforts of the initial attack forces consisting of 16 smokejumpers and two USFS engines resulted in getting a line completely around the fire despite the breezy conditions.
The fire has been more accurately mapped at 27 acres. Crews are still finding hot spots outside the containment line and will continue to grid the interior of the fire line while searching areas that had been most active for any other hotspots. They will also continue felling any snags or timber that could have become weakened by the fire and fall across the containment lines.
The weather continues to be cool at night with frost reported at the spike camp over the past couple of nights but the days are expected to warm back up to the 80's by this weekend. Winds are expected to gradually increase over the next few days with the potential for strong winds over the Northern Rocky Mountain front on Friday. No precipitation is expected through Friday.
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 Ranger Station. This will eliminate the hour long drive and enabled crews to get onto the fireline earlier and to stay later in the shortened daylight of this late season fire.
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, 16 smokejumpers and approx. 26 overhead.
Closures: Starting at the junction of the Divide Road (FR839) and Hwy 89 North, south to the W boundary of Hwy 89 approx. 9 miles to the Jumping Creek Campground to Forest boundary WNW 6 miles to Sheep Crk Rd. (FR119) North 5 miles to intersection of FR 119 with the Calf Creek Trail (FT724),NNE along eastern edge of TR724 1 mile to junction with the E fork of Calf Crk Trail (FT722 the along SE side of FT 722 3 miles to intersection with Onion Park Rd. (FR 586) East along S side of FR 586 3 miles to intersection with Divide Rd. (FR839) E along S side of FR839 10 miles to junction of FR839 and Hwy 89 North.
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.
