Tuesday AM September 18, Pattengail Creek Fire Upd
Incident: Pattengail Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 9/18/2007
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 was minimal precipitation reported on the fire yesterday. There will be a crew assigned to monitor the fire today. A grader will begin working on the BLM portion of the contingency line.
Today's fire behavior: Smoke may be visible for weeks as the fire continues backing in several locations. The fire is continuing to consume heavier fuel concentrations around Foolhen Mountain and Papoose 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.
Today's Weather: There is a 20% chance of isolated thunderstorms this afternoon. High temperatures are expected to be in the high 50s to the low 60s. Relative humidity will lower to around 30%, with good humidity recovery expected tonight. There is a 40% chance of rain or snow tonight.
Fire Restrictions and Closures: The Forest Service has opened portions of the Pattengail Fire closure for Day Use. Overall closure boundaries remain unchanged. Effective, 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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