Pattengail Creek Fire Update, August 9, 2007
Incident: Pattengail Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 8/9/2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Susan Zornek-Stevens, Information
Date: Thursday August 9, 2007 Phone: 406-832-3178 (Wise River District)
Fire Start: July 13, 2007 Cause: Lightning
Total Acres: 3900 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
Aerial observations of the Pattengail Creek Fire on Wednesday revealed that the spot fires continue to slowly increase in size, moving through the heavier fuels. Fine fuels, such as grasses, are green, and are not contributing to fire spread. No hand crew personnel were installed on the fire, due to the unavailability of helicopters to transport them. There will be an exchange of field observers today, and we will again try to insert crewmembers on the fire to establish hand lines around these spot fires.
The public meeting last night again showed active community interest, with fifty four local people attending.
Weather: A fire weather watch is posted for this afternoon through this evening. Sunny skies, with some areas of smoke in the afternoon are forecast. There will also be a chance of afternoon thundershowers. . Maximum temperatures today will reach 79-87 in the valleys, 70-77 on the upper ridges. Relative Humidity will range from 14-23%. Winds are predicted to be 5 to 15 MPH out of the southwest.
Public Meeting: The next public meeting is scheduled, at the Wise River Community Center, Saturday, August 9, 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.
