Evening Update, 8/27
Incident: Pattengail Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 8/27/2007
Progress continues on Pattengail Creek contingency line: Firefighters continued to work on a contingency line running between Bryant Creek and Tie Creek on Monday. This line is over 5 miles long and serves as a place that fire crews could try and stop the Pattengail Creek Fire if it began to threaten homes along the Big Hole Valley. The contingency line basically ties together existing roads and thins out the trees along those roads.
Wise River Community Meetings: There will be another Community Meeting this Wednesday at the Wise River Community Center beginning at 7:30 pm. Members of the Incident Management Team will give a report of the fire's status as well as answer questions from the community. These meetings have gone on for several weeks and have been well attended, building a good line of communication between firefighters and residents.
Tomorrow's planned activities include continuing to build the contingency line to protect homes in the Wise River area, monitoring the fire activity and assessing any changes in the fire's perimeter.
Tomorrow's weather is forecast: Light winds from the north/northwest, temperatures in the mid-seventies with the humidity ranging from 16-26%. The extended forecast calls for warm, drying temperatures for the next two days.
Fire Restrictions and Closures: Tie Creek Road remains closed as equipment works on the contingency line. For public safety, Forest lands in the north half of the West Pioneer Mountains, north of Lacy and McVey Creeks, may remain closed at least through September, until soaking rains come for several days in a row.
When hunting season begins, lots of other great hunting areas will remain open around the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The east Pioneers, the south side of the west Pioneers, Anaconda Range and Big Hole will all be open in the Wise River District alone.
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.
