Evening Update for 9-26-2012
Incident: Eagle Creek Wildfire
Released: 9/26/2012
Northern Rockies
Incident Management Team
Tom Heintz,
Incident Commander
Eagle Creek
DAILY INFORMATION FACT SHEET
Date: September 26, 2012 Time: 8:00p.m.
Incident: Eagle Creek Wildland Fire Information Phone: 406-477-7143
Phone normally staffed 0700-10:00pm
Information Officer: Pat McKelvey
Location: Eagle Creek Fire is located in Black Eagle Creek Drainage approximately 11 miles South of Lame Deer, Montana.
Approximate Size: 4,150 acres Containment : 75%
Incident Commander: Tom Heintz, Northern Rockies Type-II Incident Management Team
Resources:
Hand Crews: (1) Type II crew; Engines: 20
Air Support: (2) Type 3 helicopters Bulldozers: 2 Total personnel: 144
Injuries: None Cost to Date: $529,000
Fire Update: The suppression crews had a good day today, even where the fire has shown the most heat on the north edge. The lower temperatures and cloud cover, later in the day, helped in reducing the internal heat. That progress will allow for the reduction of resources from this fire as we begin gaining more ground. Tomorrow's efforts will continue the work of mopping up the hot spots and locating disturbed areas for the rehabilitation work that follows. A division will be assigned with the Northern Cheyenne Tribal cultural advisors to assist in the mapping effort there.
The weather forecast for tonight indicates we still have a chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. It is expected to remain mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind 5 to 7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. Tomorrow we expect the morning to be mostly sunny with isolated rain showers. Then a repeat of the forecast for isolated showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Maximum temperatures should be near 79 degrees which is a little cooler with minimum humidity at 22-27%, a little wetter than it has been. Winds look to be about the same as they have been at 5-10 mph. On the statewide level, due to continued warm, dry weather and persistence of both large fires and new fire starts around the state, Montana DNRC Director Mary Sexton and Forestry Division Administrator Bob Harrington have signed a proclamation extending Montana's fire season indefinitely. Without the extension, the state's designated fire season would end on September 30.
The Northern Cheyenne Reservation, like the rest of the state has "been impacted by the burning of 64,060 acres from 59 fires this season" Terry Spang, Northern Cheyenne Forest Manager, said this morning in a meeting with the fire management. All of the impacts of power outages, radio and communication loss, evacuations, smoke and the health concerns, loss of timber, grazing value loss are many of the issues from this summer fire season. Certainly these are the same conditions and issues that have characterized the Northern Rockies area this summer.
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/. Call 406-477-8264 or 406-477-8267 for inquiries on restrictions and closures for the Northern Cheyenne Reservation land.
More Information: Visit Inciweb at http://www.inciweb.org/, email eaglecreekfire@gmail.com .
