Update for August 24
Incident: Sawmill Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 8/24/2007
Sawmill Complex
DATE: August 24, 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 for lower Rock Creek residents at the Elkhorn Ranch on Friday, August 24 at 7:00pm.
A community fire information meeting is scheduled for upper Rock Creek residents at the Clark Ranch on Sunday, August 26 at 7:30pm.
RESOURCES:
PERSONNEL: 604 ENGINES: 53 WATER TENDERS: 14 HELICOPTERS: 6
TOTAL ACREAGE FOR COMPLEX: 55,000 INJURIES TO DATE: 4 COST TO DATE: $10,675,442
Fire spread was minimal on Thursday after another cool day. Active surface fires under heavy canopies are beginning to spread into open, light fuels. Intermittent crown runs and single and group tree torching were also observed, as well as areas of smoldering fuels. Fire activity will gradually increase as fuels dry out due to warmer temperatures. Over the next 24 hours moderate potential for growth exists due to the amount of uncontrolled line. Fire spread will be fuels and terrain dependent. Fire activity will likely continue until the area receives season-ending precipitation. The windy dry cold front predicted for Saturday is now expected to arrive Sunday morning. Firefighters are working around-the-clock to confine and contain these fires. Night operations are focusing on structure protection, patrol and monitoring, evening burnout operations when necessary, and mop up of day shift burnout operations.
Wyman 2 Fire - 34,000 acres: The spot fire south of Stony Creek was fully contained on Thursday. Fire continues to roll downhill on the southeast perimeter of the fire. On the north end of the fire, firefighters conducted a burnout operation from Eagle Creek to Hutsinpilar Creek. Crews in the Miller Flats area continued assessing structures. The Wyman 2 Fire is expected to continue to push south toward fuel break lines in upper Stony Creek and to continue to move toward the North and West into the Bitterroot drainage. Today firefighters will work to mop-up the spot fire south of Stony Creek. On the north perimeter, firefighters will monitor burnout operations and mop-up.
Sawmill Fire - 10,300 acres: Yesterday helicopters dropped buckets of water to help confine the spot fire east of Rock Creek. Crews continued burnout operations along Rock Creek south of Welcome Creek trailhead. On the northeast perimeter of the fire, crews continued rehabilitation work along the trail in the Sawmill Creek area. North of the fire, crews continued fuel modification along Gilbert Creek and continued to open and improve roads from Schwartz Creek into the Gilbert Creek area. On the southeast perimeter, firefighters conducted burnout operations west along Rock Creek Road. The Sawmill Fire is expected to continue to move north along Rock Creek toward crews that are positioned on the east flanks. Today aviation resources will support firefighters on the ground to hold the fire south of Solomon Creek. Perimeter and point source protection will continue for residences in the Rock Creek drainage. Crews will continue fuels modification and position equipment in the Gilbert Creek drainage in preparation for possible burnout operations. Firefighters will continue to mop up and confine the spot fire east of Rock Creek. Burnout operations will occur as necessary along the west side of Rock Creek. Crews will monitor fire spread south of Welcome Creek. Patrol and mop-up will continue. Firefighters are prepared to implement perimeter protection in the Ranch Creek drainage as needed.
Fisher Point Fire - 10,400 acres: Yesterday crews continued mop up east of the 4325 Road and attempted to hold the fire west of the road. Crews also cleared brush along the 4325 Road in preparation for a possible burnout. Structural protection continues. Spot fires were identified and monitored. Air resources checked for fire spread south of Elkhorn Creek. The Fisher Point Fire is expected to continue its movement in two fingers toward the East and Northeast. Today crews will patrol and mop up east of 4325 Road. Crews will continue fuels mitigation work in the Willow Creek Drainage and will monitor the fire as it backs down into Willow Creek. Aviation resources will drop buckets of water to help slow the spread of fire within the Elkhorn drainage west of Rock Creek.
Signal Rock 07 Fire - 300 acres: The Signal Rock 07 Fire is on the Pintler Ranger District and continues to be monitored from the air. It consists of several smoldering stump holes within an old burn.
ROAD, TRAIL, & RIVER CLOSURES:
Rock Creek residents are still under a 24-hour pre-evacuation notice. Rock Creek Road is open to residents only. Road maintenance will be done on Rock Creek Road, including application of magnesium chloride for dust abatement. Vehicles that travel this road while magnesium chloride is being applied should be washed afterwards. From Mile Marker 12 to Miller Flats Rock Creek Road is closed to all traffic, including residents. The alternate route for Miller Flat residents is along the Rock Creek to the south.
Upper Willow Creek (Granite County) residents are still under a 24-hour pre-evacuation notice. The Upper Willow Creek road is open to residents only.
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. (Granite County) #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.
Trail #313 (Sapphire Divide) from the Skalkaho road to Sawmill Saddle has been closed.
The Skalkaho Road is not affected by these closures.
Due to water conditions and fire operations Rock Creek is closed to fishing from Skalkaho Highway Bridge to the Clark Fork River.
WEATHER: Today will be mostly clear becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. Temperatures will be slightly warmer, in the upper 60s to lows 80s. Winds will be out of the west with gusts up to 7mph. Relative humidity will be slightly lower, ranging from 17-27%. A dry cold front to impact the area this weekend, with wind gusts up to 20mph, out of the southwest on Saturday and north/northwest on Sunday.
