Thursday AM September 6 Pattengail Creek Fire Upda
Incident: Pattengail Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 9/6/2007
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: 15,297
The Pattengail Creek Fire received precipitation slowing down its activity. What looks like a new fire was reported on September 4th 2 miles north of the Pattengail Creek Fire. Weather permitting this new fire will be investigated. Firefighters continue to monitor and scout out the fire area on the ground and by air. They will be ready for initial attack on any spot fires. The fire remains approximately 2 miles within the forest boundary. Its growth potential is low according to fire managers. Some resources will be released due to the cooler weather.
Today's fire behavior: Continued high relative humidity, along with precipitation has helped firefighters to keep the fire at bay. Once again we look for a limited backing fire, with creeping and individual tree torching.
Weather today calls for a relative humidity of 63, temperature at 63 and winds from the west at 0 to 5 miles per hour. A drier northwest flow will develop gradually today. An isolated shower may occur over the Pattengail.
Wise River Community Meetings: Approximately 25 residents along with representatives from the fire management team attended last night's community meeting. They discussed current behavior of both the Pattengail and Rat Creek Fires. A fire video showing the Pattengail Creek Fire and its perimeters gave the public an overview of the fire area. Forecasted fire behavior and weather trends were discussed along with potential fire management strategies. A thank you was expressed to the community for their support and involvement. The next Wise River Community Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 12, 2007 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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