Sunday PM September 16, Pattengail Creek Fire Upda
Incident: Pattengail Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 9/16/2007
NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Vance Persing, 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: 4 Acres: 15,300 Containment: 35%
The Pattengail Creek Fire: There is a Red Flag Warning currently in effect until 9:00 PM for gusty winds and low humidity. The rehab on the fireline and the spike camp near Stone Lake is finished. A 5 person crew will hike the contingency line tomorrow for a general cleanup of the area; and to remove any slash with the potential to block culverts. The excavator has completed it's objectives on the contingency line; constructing water bars, and stacking slash.
Today's fire behavior: Smoke was visible in the areas of Squaw Creek and Papoose Creek today as the fire continues backing in those locations. Backing fire is also visible on the west flank of the fire east of Dolittle Creek. There could be some occasional single tree torching and spotting associated with the torching, depending on the fuel loading and alignment with the slope.
Tomorrow's Weather: The forecast calls for a 40% chance of precipitation tomorrow afternoon. Winds should be west-northwest 6-8 mph.
Fire Restrictions and Closures: The Forest Service has opened portions of the Pattengail Fire closure for Day Use. Overall closure boundaries remain unchanged. Effective yesterday, September 15, day use is allowed in portions of the Bryant Creek, Alder Creek, Meadow Creek, Harriet Lou and Dolittle Creek drainages. Hunters and others are allowed to use these areas from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm. No Camping is allowed in the area.
For public safety, some forest lands in the north half of the West Pioneer Mountains may remain closed at least through September, until soaking rains come for several days in a row.
Stage 1 fire restrictions are currently in effect. Campfires are banned outside of designated recreation sites. Fires are also banned in wood burning stoves in canvas tents and in stone fire rings. Smoking is prohibited except in buildings, vehicles, and areas cleared of vegetation in a three-foot diameter.
Hunting areas remain open around the Beaverhead-Deer lodge National Forest in spite of the limited closures. The east Pioneers, the south side of the west Pioneers, Anaconda Range and Big Hole will all be open in the Wise River District.
For more information on the fire and the closure check at http://www.inciweb.org/.
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