Daily Update for August 4, 2007
Incident: Sawmill Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 8/4/2007
Sawmill Complex
DATE: August 4, 2007 TIME: 9:00 am
INCIDENT COMMANDER: Tom Heintz
LEAD INFORMATION OFFICER: Pat McKelvey
PHONE: (406) 859-6003
LOCATION: Rock Creek Drainage
JURISDICTION: Lolo National Forest, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
AGENCIES: Clinton RFD, Lolo National Forest, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, MT-DNRC, Missoula County, Granite County, Montana Dept of Military Affairs, NOAA
RESOURCES:
PERSONNEL: 382 ENGINES: 18 WATER TENDERS: 7 HELICOPTERS: 2
The National Weather Service in Missoula has issued a Red Flag Warning for Saturday, which includes the Sawmill Complex area.
Wyman 2 fire, 6,040 acres: Fire activity increased significantly with the passage of a cold front in the afternoon, nearly doubling the size of this fire - pushing it to the north, east toward Rock Creek Road and southeast toward Shively Creek. An infrared flight flown near 11:30 pm produced updated mapping data for all three fires that is being processed this morning. Spotting is an ongoing concern as well as pursuing containment opportunities in the Stony Creek drainage. The Granite County Sheriff's Office ordered mandatory evacuations Friday afternoon for residents in the Williams Gulch and Wild Rose Loop subdivisions. Night operations continued yesterday. The team will begin a full night operational shift beginning tonight.
Fisher Point fire, 1,130 acres: Although fire activity increased in other areas of this fire with a 200 acre gain in size, crew members made good progress strengthening and improving containment line on the western flank. Today that crew will be relocated to the Wyman 2 fire to assist with operational efforts on that fire.
Sawmill fire, 1270 acres: This fire gained 500 acres in size with yesterday's increased fire activity. Another community meeting was held at Elkhorn Lodge, where fire behavior and evacuation procedures were discussed. The Granite County Sheriff's Office ordered immediate mandatory evacuations between Norton Campground north to ½ mile south of Brewster Creek. The Missoula County Sheriff's Office assisted Granite County Sheriff's Office with the evacuations. While most residents obeyed the evacuation order, some chose to stay. The Rock Creek homeowners group has established a citizen telephone number dedicated to local information concerning the fire and related concerns; it is staffed by local volunteers and can be reached at 825-2120. Fire information is available at the Rock Creek Mercantile and the Elkhorn Ranch Lodge for area residents and the public.
ROAD CLOSURES: Rock Creek Rd., beginning at the intersection with I-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. The Montana National Guard is assisting with roadblock and security efforts.
SPECIAL CONCERNS: Residents displaced by the evacuation orders due to threatening fire activity. Those who have evacuated will be allowed to re-enter the areas to recover items and check their property status for as long as this is possible. Personnel at the road closures will advise them of the time when they will need to be back out of the area. The area contains archeological and historical sites, which are being identified; the Rock Creek fishery; the Welcome Creek Wilderness; and a wilderness study area.
WEATHER: Continued above normal temperatures and dry following the passage of a weak cold front Friday afternoon. Winds will be southwest to northwest, 10-15 mph, gusting to 25 mph.
Media requests for visits to the fires in this complex need to be coordinated with Incident Information by calling the Incident Command Post Information phone number, 406-859-6003.
Additional national fire information can be found at http://www.inciweb.org/
