Final News Release - Bob Marshall Area Joint Information Center
Incident: Ahorn Wildland Fire
Released: 9/24/2007
Road Work
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 roads should watch-out for heavy equipment on the roadway.
Forest Closures
Friday, September 21, 2007, the Lewis and Clark, Flathead, Helena and Lolo National Forests opened some areas previously closed due to fire activity. Some trails and areas remain closed. Some restrictions on camping will remain in other specific areas. Restrictions on stock use and motorized travel are intended to protect important fish habitat that was affected by intense fire. Although trails within fire areas are now open to the public, many trails have not been cleared and may be impassable due to downed timber. Visitors should be alert to a number of potential hazards created by recent fire activity including falling snags or trees, rolling material such as rocks or logs, extensive downfall and holes from burned out stumps and roots. Even on cleared trails it is likely that trees will continue to fall throughout the season. All temporary flight restrictions (TFR) have been removed from the fire areas. Benchmark airstrip is open.
Fire Restrictions
Fire restrictions have been lifted on most public lands within and immediately adjacent to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex in north-central Montana. The Flathead, Lewis and Clark, Helena, and Lolo National Forests have lifted fire restrictions on all National Forest lands, with the exception of the non-wilderness portion of the Seeley Lake Ranger District on the Lolo National Forest. The Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena will lift its fire restrictions effective September 25, 2007.
Timber Sale
The Lewis and Clark National Forest will have a bid opening on October 18th for timber harvested from the Ahorn Fire during fire suppression activities. If you are interested in bidding on this timber, call 406-466-5341 for additional information.
The Joint Information Center will close down today at 6:00 pm. The web page will remain active and updated when conditions merit. Additional information will be available at the following Forest Supervisor's offices: Lewis and Clark (406)791-7700, Flathead (406)758-5200, Helena (406)449-5201 and Lolo (406)329-3750.
