Fire Active Late Sunday Afternoon
Incident: Fool Creek Wildland Fire Used for Resource Benefit
Released: 7/30/2007
Contact: Cathie Schmidlin Phone: 406-466-3560 or 406-466-2524
8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Mike Munoz Phone: 406-466-5341 (Rocky Mountain RD Office)
Acres treated: Approximately 9,990 acres. To date, 6,103 acres have been treated on the Lewis & Clark NF and 3,887 acres have been treated on the Flathead NF.
Management and Status: The fire was active again late Sunday afternoon, burning to the north and northeast. Late Sunday, the fire was west of the Continental Divide between the North Fork of the Sun and the West Fork of the Teton Rivers. Northeast winds dropped ash from the Ahorn Fire on Choteau.
Today's Activity: The seven-person crew stationed at the West Fork Cabin will post lookouts to monitor the fire's expected growth in the Bowl Creek drainage as it moves toward the Continental Divide. They will continue to be available if they are needed to protect cabins in the area and facilities at the Teton Pass Ski Area. Wilderness rangers staying at remote cabins will continue to take steps to protect the cabins and perform duties such as trail maintenance while checking to make sure that hikers or horseback riders don't mistakenly enter the closed area.
Personnel/Resources on the Fire: A total of 75 people are assigned to the fire. Two helicopters and one engine also are assigned to the fire.
Continental Divide Trail: A long portion of the officially designated Continental Divide National Scenic Trail remains closed because of the Fool Creek and Ahorn fires burning on the Lewis and Clark NF.
The recent closure of the northern portion of the Badger-Two Medicine area of the Lewis and Clark National Forest means hikers will not be able to travel Trails 101, 137, and 133 to reach Highway 2. Through hikers should consider leaving the trail near Swift Reservoir or contacting the Hungry Horse Ranger District at (406) 387-3800 to discuss possible routes west of the closure.
Because conditions are constantly changing, hikers should contact the Rocky Mountain Ranger District, Spotted Bear Ranger District, or the Lincoln Ranger District for the latest information.
Trail Reopened on Flathead National Forest: The East Fork of Strawberry Creek Trail (No. 371) to Sabido Cabin and a segment of Trail No. 322 from the cabin through Big River Meadows to Gateway Pass have been reopened to travel. The portion of Trail No. 322 from Sabido Cabin south through Gateway Gorge remains closed.
Restrictions & Closures: The northern portion of the Badger-Two Medicine area of the Lewis and Clark National Forest has been closed from Badger Cabin at Trail 102-A north to Highway 2 because of the Skyland Fire that is burning along the Continental Divide in the Flathead National Forest. For more information, call Skyland fire information at (406) 226-4333. An area closure is in place in the Bob Marshall Wilderness east of the Continental Divide. The public is reminded to please call the Rocky Mountain Ranger District Office (406) 466-5341 or the Spotted Bear Ranger District Office (406) 758-5376.
