Incident: Rugby Creek
Released: 7/25/2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Rugby Creek Fire
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Contact: Laura McConnell, Public Information Officer
Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A
Phone: 406-236-5704
Contact: Christine Romero, Acting Public Affairs Officer
Lewis and Clark National Forest
Phone: 406-791-7754
Website: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/872/
Higher humidity and cloudy weather helped firefighters on the Rugby Creek Fire near Neihart Montana Tuesday. Yesterday's cooler weather and light rain showers helped the suppression efforts and gave a much needed break to firefighters. Operations today include continuing to improve containment lines, looking for spot fires outside the fire and mopping up hot spots inside the fire's perimeter.
Approximately 80 firefighters are focusing their efforts on suppressing hot spots that continue to burn within the fire perimeter. "The fire crews should be proud of the great job they have done, fourteen structures were successfully protected due to aggressive fire control efforts" stated Deputy Incident Commander Dean Clark. Overall there was 56,600 gallons of fire retardant dropped from helicopters and fixed wing air tankers during the early stages of the fire.
Residents of the effected area will be allowed to enter on the east side of the fire area today from 10:00 AM to 6:00PM.
The following roads and trails remain closed on the White Sulphur Springs and Belt Creek Ranger Districts due to fire crews working in the area:
- Road #839 - Divide Road - from the junction of the Belt Park Connector Road to the junction of the Deep Creek Trailhead.
- Road #253 Dry Park Road
- Road #3384 - Big Timber Gulch Road
- Road #6435 - Dry Gulch Road located ¼ mile south of the Logging Creek Campground.
- Pilgrim Creek Trail - #304
- Deer Creek Trail - #305
- Timber Gulch Trail - #313
- Tobins Gulch Trail - #315
- Big Horn Trail - #336
- Balsinger Creek Trail - #343
- Taylor Hills Trail - #344
- Taylor to Placer Trail - #351
Rugby Fire Statistics at a Glance:
- Time/Date Started: July 20, 2007
- Location: 12 miles W of Neihart in the Little Belt Mountains
- Cause: Lighting
- Fuels: Timber (litter and under story)
- Size: 130 acres smaller acreage reported do to more accurate mapping.
- Containment:50 %
- Resources Committed: 3 - Type 2 Crews, 6 - Engines, 2 - Water Tenders, Air Support provided from other fires in the area on an as needed basis; Approximately 80 firefighters working the fire.
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