Fire Update Sept. 22
Incident: Ahorn Wildland Fire
Released: 9/22/2007
Final Fire Update: This will conclude our daily updates pending a significant change in fire activity. There is minimal fire activity on the Ahorn Fire due to the progress made in managing the fire combined with cooler and wetter weather.
The Joint Information Center (JIC) in Choteau will remain open until 6 p.m. on Monday, September 24th to answer questions related to the fire and closures. Please contact your local Ranger District for questions related to the fire status or closures.
Public Safety/Risks: People traveling in the Ahorn Fire area need to use extreme caution. Visitors walking or riding animals on trails and within the burned area need to watch out for rolling debris on hillsides, holes in the ground where tree roots have burned out, and standing, burned trees that can fall without warning. Also, there may be burning logs, and hotspots within the fire area that could flare up and create smoky conditions. Travelers using forest roads should drive with extreme caution. Forest Service fire vehicles are using these roads.
Yesterday's Activities: Crews pulled the structure protection equipment from Indian Creek Cabin. Crews completed building fireline above Kenck Cabin. Fireline work was also finished in Hoadley Creek. Pumps, hoses and sprinklers were removed from Hoadley Creek.
Weather and Fire Behavior forecast: Fire activity is generally low due to cooler weather and wetting rains and snow. Today's weather should be partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in the morning and a chance of showers in the afternoon.
Today's Planned Actions: Crews will patrol the fire area and conduct suppression activities as needed. Structure protection includes Benchmark, Ford Creek area, Kenck Cabin and South Fork Pack bridge. The rehabilitation of firelines is continuing around structures. Engines will be patrolling Willow Creek. Structure protection is still in place at K Bar L Ranch.
Area Closure: The Lewis and Clark National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management, and Region 4 of Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks have opened a number of areas previously closed due to the Ahorn, Fool Creek, and Skyland Fires.
Road Maintenance: On Monday, September 24, 2007, road graders and water tenders will be doing road maintenance on 16 miles of the Benchmark Road #235, 12.5 miles on the Beaver-Willow Road #233, and 8.3 miles on the North Fork Teton Road # 144. Travelers using these forest roads should watch-out for heavy equipment on the roadway.
