Next Few Days May Bring Cooler Weather, Calmer Fir
Incident: Fool Creek Wildland Fire Used for Resource Benefit
Released: 7/31/2007
8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Mike Munoz Phone: 406-466-5341 (Rocky Mountain RD Office)
Acres treated: Approximately 11,000 acres: 6,200 in the Lewis and Clark NF, 4,800 in the Flathead NF.
Public Meeting: 5 p.m., July 31, in the Pavilion at the Choteau City Park, 1st Ave. NE and 1st St. NE. Officials from the Rocky Mountain Ranger District and the fire management team will be available to discuss activities on the Fool Creek, Ahorn, and Skyland fires.
Management and Status: Fire activity moderated Monday. The northern arm grew more slowly after it burned into the area of the 1998 Bowl Mountain fire. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity predicted Tuesday and Wednesday should continue to dampen fire activity.
Today's Activity: A crew plans to install a water tank near the West Fork of the Teton River where large helicopters can fill their buckets to slow the fire if it threatens to cross the Continental Divide. Lookouts will continue to monitor the fire's expected growth from the Bowl Creek drainage toward the Divide. Wilderness rangers staying at remote cabins are continuing to wrap the cabins with protective foil and to make sure that pumps are ready to water the area around them. They're also performing 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. Four helicopters and one engine also are assigned to the fire.
Air Quality: Anyone wanting information about air quality can contact the Teton County Health Department (406) 466-2562. Information on air quality in areas affected by forest fires in Montana is available at: http://www.deq.state.mt.us/FireUpdates/index.asp.
Continental Divide Trail: A long portion of the officially designated Continental Divide National Scenic Trail remains closed because of the Fool Creek, Ahorn, and Skyland fires burning on the Lewis and Clark NF. 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.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.
