Fire Update Sept. 19
Incident: Fool Creek Wildland Fire Used for Re
Released: 9/19/2007
Quick Fire Facts
Fire Location
30 mi. west of Choteau
Incident Command Post Location (ICP)
Stage Stop Inn in Choteau
Approximate Size
60,038 acres/ approximately 93+ square miles
Increase since last update
0
Fire Containment
40%
Start Date
Detected July 4
Cause
Lightning in late June
Incident Commander
James Grasham
Resources on the Fire
5 engines and 2 helicopters (shared with the Ahorn fire), 1 Type 2 crew
Total Personnel
57
Est. Containment Date
Unknown
Cooperating Agencies
Teton County Sheriff, MT National Guard, BLM, MT DNRC, MT DEQ, MT Dept of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Teton Rural VFD, Lewis and Clark County, Pondera County, DoD
Landowners
Lewis and Clark National Forest (31,272 acres), Flathead National Forest
(28,766 acres)
Yesterday's Activities:
Cloud cover, cooler temperatures, and higher relative humidities kept the fire activity low. Fire behavior was generally smoldering and creeping. Only traces of rain or light snow were reported on the fire.
There have been no smokes found in the southeast corner and east flank of the fire, specifically in the Jones Creek, Teton Road, and Massey Tract areas. Rehabilitation work began along the Teton Road.
Fire activity was the most active along the west flank. The Wrong Creek Cabin remains protected with a sprinkler system.
Weather and Fire Behavior forecast:
Partly cloudy skies with a chance of showers are expected for the next few days. High temperatures will be in the 50's with associated higher relative humidities. With this cooling and moister weather trend, fire activity is expected to be low.
Today's Planned Actions:
Crews will continue conducting hazard tree assessment and mitigation in West Fork of Teton Creek and will continue to grid for hotspots in the Massey tract. The backhaul of excess equipment will continue as fire activity decreases.
Special Driving Safety Warning: Firefighters are experiencing excessive speeds by motorists on the open access roads near the fire area. Travelers using these forest roads should drive with extreme caution as emergency vehicles are still using these roads.
Special Notices:
The Lewis and Clark National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management, and Region 4 of Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks have recently opened a number of areas that had been previously closed due to the Ahorn, Fool Creek, and Skyland Fires.
Stage I Fire Restrictions are in effect within the Bob Marshall Wilderness and on lands outside the Wilderness on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District, State Wildlife Management Areas and on Bureau Land Management Lands adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Front.
