Tuesday Morning, Sept. 4, Pattengail Creek Fire Up
Incident: Pattengail Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 9/4/2007
NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Melva Barton, Information Officer
Cause: Lightning Fire Start: July 13, 2007
Location: 10 miles southwest of Wise River, Montana, in the west Pioneer Mountains
Cooperating Agencies: Beaverhead County, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, Butte-Silver Bow County, Bureau of Land Management, MT Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, MT Department of Transportation, USDA Forest Service
Total Personnel on Fire: 47 Acres: 13,974.
The Pattengail Creek Fire was active Monday, particularly on the west and northwest flanks. The fire is burning along a 6 mile fire perimeter that is backing toward the Big Hole Valley. The fire remains approximately 2 miles within the Forest Boundary. According to last night's aerial observation, the fire did not spot west of Papoose Creek. A 200 acre flare up occurred on the far southeast corner of the fire.
Today's fire behavior may show continued backing fire along the 6 mile front toward the west with occasional short crown runs and short range spotting. Additional resources have been received and strategically positioned.
Weather today calls for a relative humidity in the 28 to 40% range above 7000 feet. A trough of low pressure will move into the region this afternoon with an associated cold front moving through about 3:00 p.m. There's a possibility of isolated showers late in the day. Scattered rain showers will move in during the evening. This predicted moisture is sure to give the firefighters a hand with the fires. With the approaching cold front, firefighters will have to be alert to the winds and the possibility of spotting.
Wise River Community Meetings: The next Wise River community meeting will be tomorrow, Wednesday, September 5th at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center.
Fire Restrictions and Closures: 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-Deer lodge 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.
For more information on these fires check at www.inciweb.org.
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