Pattengail Creek Fire Update, August 5, 2007
Incident: Pattengail Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 8/5/2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Susan Zornek-Stevens, Information
Date: Sunday, August 5, 2007 Phone: 406-832-3178 (Wise River District)
Fire Start: July 13, 2007 Cause: Lightning
Total Acres: 3700 acres Containment: 25%
Location: Fire start was 11 miles southwest of Wise River, in the west Pioneer Mountains, about 40 miles southwest of Butte, MT
After days of showing little activity, the Pattengail Creek fire, influenced by changing weather, has shown increased activity the past two days. Two separate spots formed Friday on the eastern flank. The heavy helicopter lent to the fire Saturday, doused these new spots with water, until it was called back to Idaho to respond as initial attack on new fires there. The high gusty winds late yesterday afternoon blew these two spots together. An flyover late in the day showed new spot fires on the western side of Stine Mountain. Three spot fires have been growing on the north side of Effie Creek, north of the main fire. The heavy helicopter has been requested to return today to help retard the growth of the spot fires.
Weather: Today's weather calls for mostly sunny skies, with areas of smoke. There will be a chance of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Maximum temperatures today will reach 80-90 in the valleys, 72-81 on the upper ridges. Relative Humidity will range from 14-24 %. Winds in the lower elevation will be light and variable, becoming southwest 8-16 mph in the valleys. On the ridge tops, winds will be out of the east 4-7mph, becoming southwest later in the day.
Public Meeting: The public meeting last night was well attended, with positive feed back from local residents. The next public meeting is scheduled for the Wise River Community Center on Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at 7:30 PM
Fire Restrictions and Closures: Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place on public lands in southwest Montana. For public safety, the north end of the west Pioneer Mountains has an Area Closure.
Check http://www.inciweb.org/ or www.fs.fed.us/r1/bdnf/ for more detailed information.
