Sawmill Complex Daily Update
Incident: Sawmill Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 8/1/2007
DATE: August 1, 2007, TIME: 9:30 am
INCIDENT COMMANDER: Tom Heintz
LEAD INFORMATION OFFICER: Pat McKelvey
PHONE: This is expected today and will be published ASAP
LOCATION: Rock Creek Drainage
JURISDICTiON: Lolo National Forest, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
AGENCIES: Clinton VFD, Lolo National Forest, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, MT -DNRC; Missoula county, Granite county
RESOURCES
PERSONNEL: 137, ENGINES: 10, WATER TENDERS: 2, AIR TANKERS: Available upon request. Engines and crews from Alaska have arrived and are now assigned on the Sawmill Complex flres.
SITUATION: The Sawmill complex is comprised of three lightning-caused fires: the Sawmill, 760 acres; Fisher point, (actually located nortn of Hogback point) 1,300 acres; and Wyman 2, at over 2,000 acres. All are located south of the Mile Marker 124 fire on 1-90. Sawmll! and Wyman 2 are threatening an estimated 190 residential and seven commercial structures with numerous associated outbuildings. The infrastructure lies primarily along Rock Creek Rd. Yesterday. retardant was dropped on the southwest flank of the Sawmill fire and on the hydrological divide of the Fisher Point fire. Helicopter water drops were made on a spot fire from Wyman 2. On the Sawmill and Wyman 2 fires work continued on point protection and structure assessment. Team coordination with the Mile Marker 124 fire opened doors for the sharing of resources as opportunities arise. We will be taking advantage of their camp for logistical support of our firefighters assigned to the Sawmill fire. This provides for faster access to the fire, and mitigates the risk crews face in traveling to and from the fire area.
ROAD CLOSURES: Rock Creek Rd., beginning at the Intersection With 1-90. south to the intersection with state road 348. Stony Creek Rd. is also closed. The closure is being enforced to all but local residents and firefighting traffic. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has closed portIons of the Goose Gulch Rd. #4325. Otter Creek Rd. #8419, Miners Gulch Rd. #5156, and Upper Creek Rd. #88. These roads are closed to all motorized vehicles, foot, bicycle, and horse activities for public safety due to fire activity-
ACTIONS PLANNED: The team continues to work and plan from a defensive operational posture until more resources arrive. Structure protection and assessment continue along the Rock creek corridor. Crews will continue reconnaissance of the Sawmill Fire to determine access points for containment opportunities in addition to continued point protection efforts. Work will continue on the Wyman 2 spot fire with similar point protection activity and structure triage as on the sawmill fire. Because of Its remote location, we are gathering informatlon on operational opportunities on the Fisher point fire. A squad from the Bitterroot Hotshots will be flown in this morning to begin control lines where strategically possible.
The team is establishing points based on the topography and fire activity on both the sawmill and wyman 2 fires where actions for evacuations will be taken. This is being coordinated with the Granite county Sheriff for any necessary notifications and recent actions. A Public Meeting was held Tuesday night in Phillpsburg, and another Public Meeting is scheduled for tonight at 7 pm, at the Elkhorn Lodge Ranch. Other community meetings will be scheduled as necessary with the residents of upper Rock Cr Who are being impacted by the Wyman 2 fire. Details will be worked out with the "Clark" Ranch for a possible location and for now a tentative time is Thursday evening at 7:30 pm. Notification of the area residentswill b e made using all possible means available.
SPECIAL CONCERNS: The area contains archeological and histircal sites, which are being identified; the Rock Creek fishery, the Welcome Creek Wilderness; and a wilderness study area.
WEATHER FORECAST: Sunny today with a high of 76 - 81; relative humidity in the mid to high teens. Winds are not predictied to be above 10 mph, but ill be variable. As the weather continues to be hot and dry, fires may become plume-dominated, so the public should expect to see the columns develop in the afternoon.
Additional national fire information can be found at www.inciweb.org
