Daily Update for August 5, 2007
Incident: Sawmill Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 8/5/2007
Sawmill Complex
DATE: August 5, 2007 TIME: 9:00 am
INCIDENT COMMANDER: Tom Heintz
LEAD INFORMATION OFFICER: Pat McKelvey
PHONE: (406) 859-6003 06:00 am-10:00 pm
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: 418 ENGINES: 26 WATER TENDERS: 9 HELICOPTERS: 2
TOTAL ACREAGE FOR COMPLEX:10,340 INJURIES TO DATE: 2 (reportable) COST TO DATE: $1,255,000
Wyman 2 fire, 7,290 acres: The fire moved southeast yesterday with some running and spotting ahead in the Stony Creek area. Last night, it behaved very well with continued slow, backing movement. Line around the Williams Gulch subdivision continues to be strengthened today. Spot fires are an ongoing concern as well as pursuing containment opportunities in the Stony Creek drainage. Williams Gulch and Wild Rose Loop subdivisions remain evacuated. As of today, no structures have been lost. A Community Meeting will be held at the Clark Ranch tonight @ 7pm.
Sawmill fire, 1,570 acres: Additional engines are assigned to this fire to assist the preparation for the fire's approach to structures and Rock Creek. A mandatory evacuation took place last evening in the Bear Gulch area extending the evacuated area. 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 406-825-2120. Fire information is available at the Rock Creek Mercantile and the Elkhorn Ranch Lodge for area residents and the public.
Fisher Point fire, 1,480 acres: This fire is unstaffed, but is being monitored from the air, due to the critical resource needs of the Sawmill and Wyman 2 fires where structures are directly threatened.
ROAD CLOSURES: Rock Creek Rd. beginning at the intersection of 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.
Tom Heintz told the firefighters at the morning briefing, "when we see Aspen and Willows reacting to spotting by propagating more fire, you know that we are seeing unprecedented fire behavior. Situational awareness of what these fires are capable of, due to the environmental and fuel conditions, is utmost for us all, and the public to have in our minds."
WEATHER: Cooler temperatures and a chance for afternoon and evening thunderstorms with ridgetop winds of 8-12 mph with gusts to 15. Thunderstorms may bring dangerous, unpredictable winds.
Media requests for visits to these 3 fires in this complex need to be coordinated with Incident Information by calling the Incident Command Post Information phone number, 406-859-6003. Information escorts will be provided. Personal protective equipment is required of all media entering the fire areas.
Additional national fire information can be found at http://www.inciweb.org/
