Pattengail Creek Fire Update, August 1, 2007
Incident: Pattengail Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 8/1/2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Susan Zornek-Stevens, Information
Date: Wednesday, August 1, 2007, 2007 PM Phone: 406-832-3178 (Wise River District)
Fire Start: July 13, 2007 Cause: Lightning
Total Acres: 4,295 acres Containment: 16%
Location: 11 miles southwest of Wise River, in the West Pioneer Mountains, about 40 miles southwest of Butte, Mont.
The hot dry weather should have brought the fire to life today. But a heavy smoke layer covering the fire helped to keep the humidity level up just enough to prevent any major runs.
Aerial reconnaissance reported the fire is relatively inactive with no observed spotting, but there is interior torching, which accounts for the heavy smoke seen in the region. The helicopter continued to drop water through out the morning on the west side of the fire, in an effort to extinguish hot spots near the perimeter.
The helicopter assigned to the Pattengail Fire helped support the Rabbia Fire by delivering pumps and hose to smoke jumpers who were performing initial attack.
Weather: Forecasts for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge region for Thursday call for sunny weather in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon due to smoke conditions. There is also a chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Temperatures will range in the lower 90's in the valleys, and in the middle to upper 80's on the ridges. Humidity should be around 20% Winds in the lower elevations will be out of the west, from 5-10 mph. Winds in the higher elevations will be out of the south, then move southwest, from 5-10 mph. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms Thursday evening into Friday morning.
Fire Restrictions and Closues: Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place on public lands in southwest Montana. For public safety
The north end of the West Pioneer Mountains is closed.
Check http://www.inciweb.org/ or www.fs.fed.us/r1/bdnf/ for more detailed information.
