Update August 18
Incident: Sawmill Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 8/18/2007
DATE: August 18, 2007 TIME: 8:00 am
INCIDENT COMMANDER: Glen McNitt
LEAD INFORMATION OFFICER: Pat Cross
PHONE: (406) 859-6003 6:00 am-10:00 pm
LOCATION: Rock Creek Drainage, 22 miles SE of Missoula, MT
JURISDICTION: Lolo National Forest, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Bitterroot National Forest
AGENCIES: Clinton RFD, Lolo National Forest, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Bitterroot National Forest, MT-DNRC, Missoula County, Granite County, Montana Dept of Military Affairs, NOAA, Anaconda Job Corps, Georgetown VFD, Philipsburg VFD
A community fire information meeting is scheduled in the upper Willow Creek residents for Saturday, August 18 at 7:30 pm at the Luthje ranch house.
A community fire information meeting is scheduled for upper Rock Creek residents at the Clark Ranch on Sunday, August 19 at 7:30 pm.
A community fire information meeting is scheduled for lower Rock Creek residents at the Elkhorn Lodge on Monday, August 20 at 7:00 pm.
RESOURCES:
PERSONNEL: 506 ENGINES: 47 WATER TENDERS: 14 HELICOPTERS: 6
TOTAL ACREAGE FOR COMPLEX: 44,267 INJURIES TO DATE: 4 COST TO DATE: $7,860,000
A Red Flag Warning is in effect this afternoon for gusty southwest winds and low relative humidity.
Wyman 2 fire, 28,109 acres: The fire was active north of Stony Creek as it moved toward Little Stony Creek yesterday. Crews are assessing containment opportunities in that area. Firing operations were not conducted in the Stony Creek area yesterday due to fire behavior. The operation would have tied the Stony Creek fuel break line in to open, rocky scree slopes. The fire is expected to continue pushing south toward the fuel break lines in the Stony Creek area. The fire was secured along Rock Creek from Hogback Creek (Drop Point 8) to Stony Creek (Drop Point 10). Crews patrolled along Rock Creek and removed equipment no longer needed. The north side of the fire was active on the top of Green Mtn and into the upper portions of the Eagle Creek drainage. Additional fire activity was along the Bitterroot Divide, where the fire is burning down the west side in Ravalli County. The fire is expected to continue moving to the north in the Green Mountain area.
Sawmill fire, 6,225 acres: A public meeting attended by 75 people was held at the Elkhorn Lodge Thursday night. The Sawmill Fire has moved north to Mecca Gulch, and burnout operations to extend the base of the fire down to Rock Creek will occur today as conditions allow. Bringing the fire down to Rock creek will reduce the chance of rolling material initiating an uphill run. About 80 residences from milepost 6 to 9 on Rock Creek Road remain evacuated, but all residents may travel in and out with the knowledge that road access in the evacuated area and upstream may be curtailed at any time as needed for fire operations. This Sawmill Fire is expected to continue growing on the north and south flanks.
Fisher Point fire, 7,371 acres: The Fisher Point Fire was active yesterday, but only minor growth occurred as it continued to slowly back down Sandstone Ridge toward Upper Willow Creek. Crews began removing wildland fuels to check the fire's spread. Crews also identified occupied structures. The Granite County Sheriff issued a warning of a potential evacuation to Willow Creek residents on August 15, and advised that residents may only have twelve hours notice should an evacuation be issued. The fire is expected to continue burning east and northeast. The northern spread into Ranch Creek and along the ridge above Elk Creek will be slowed using helicopters and retardant if visibility allows. A fire information community meeting is planned in Willow Creek at the Luthje ranch at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Signal Rock 07 Fire: The Signal Rock 07 Fire was added to the Sawmill Complex. The 600-acre fire is on the Pintler Ranger District. The fire will be monitored from the air.
ROAD, TRAIL, & RIVER CLOSURES: Rock Creek Rd. from I-90 south to the intersection with state road 348. Residents have been evacuated along Brewster Creek Road and Rock Creek Road between mile posts 6 and 9. Evacuees will be allowed to re-enter Rock Creek Road with the knowledge that travel between mileposts 6 and 9 may be closed at any time depending on fire conditions. An American Red Cross evacuation center is available for evacuees at the Bonner Elementary School. 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 Willow 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 roadblocks and security efforts. An additional road closure is in place in the Sand Basin Road to limit access to the Signal Rock 07 Fire. Contact the Pintler Ranger District office for details on the Sand Basin closure.
The Skalkaho Road is not affected by these closures. The Willow Creek road is open to residents but access is being controlled in case of rapid fire expansion and possible evacuation orders in that drainage. Recreational activity is discouraged.
Trail #313 (Sapphire Divide) from the Skalkaho road to Sawmill Saddle has been closed.
Due to water conditions and fire operations Rock Creek is closed to fishing from Skalkaho Highway Bridge to the Clark Fork River.
WEATHER: A Red Flag Warning is issued by the National Weather Service for the Sawmill Complex area this afternoon for gusty southwest winds and low relative humidity.
Northern Rockies Region Large Fire Totals
Acreage
Personnel
CRW1
CRW2
HEL1
HEL2
HEL3
ENGS
OVHD
733,146
6,407
18
84
13
14
18
457
2,197
Additional national fire information can be found at http://www.inciweb.org/ or the Lolo National Forest Website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo/
