Thursday August 23 8:00 AM Update
Incident: Pattengail Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 8/23/2007
Scattered smokes swirled on the northwest and north sides of the fire Wednesday. Citizens driving Highway 43 northwest of Wisdom could see smoke coming from the Papoose and Squaw Creek drainages in the afternoon. The fire did not move closer to Wise River than the top of Osborne Creek.
Firefighters building a contingency line, to stop potential fire spread, continue both east and west from Tie Creek Road. A dozer, two feller-bunchers, two skidders, a masticator, saw teams and other resources are working. A helicopter and field observers are at the Pattengail Creek fire.
Mike Quesinberry's Type 1 team began managing the fire Wednesday. At an evening public meeting in Wise River, Quesinberry and Wisdom District Ranger Dennis Havig explained why crews are working on firelines near the valley rather than on the mountaintop. Where the fire is burning with ragged edges, the remote difficult terrain and heavy dead timber create dangerous conditions for firefighters. No safety zones exist all the way down to the valley, the audience acknowledged.
Both managers shared optimism that their preparations, or autumn weather, may check the fire before it reaches homes. The contingency lines crews're building will help protect more than 50 homes on this fire and for years to come, Havig said.
Firefighters are keeping noxious weeds out of the Big Hole Valley by using one of three separate pressure washing stations before they travel from fire to fire.
Weather: A warming, drying trend continues for seven days ahead. Humidities drop to 16 % invalleys Thursday. A 10% chance exists for isolated thundershowers Thursday afternoon, with sunnyweather Friday and Saturday.
Fire Restrictions and Closures: Tie Creek Road remains closed. Heavy equipment is constructing
a contingency fire line there. For public safety, Forest lands in the north half of the West Pioneer
Mountains, north of Lacy and McVey Creeks, have been closed. Southwest Montana remains in
Stage 2 fire restrictions which prohibit smoking outdoors except in cleared, designated areas, and
prohibit all open flame except gas stoves.
Http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/ provides current road information. All highways are open locally,
including the Pioneer Mountains National Scenic Byway. Campgrounds there are beautiful this week.
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