Update for August 26
Incident: Sawmill Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 8/26/2007
Sawmill Complex
DATE: August 26, 2007 TIME: 8:00 am
INCIDENT COMMANDER: Glen McNitt
LEAD INFORMATION OFFICER: Pat Cross
PHONE: (406) 859-6003 8:00 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 upper Rock Creek residents at the Clark Ranch on Sunday, August 26 at 7:30pm.
The Rocky Mountain Area Interagency Incident Management Team A arrived yesterday and will be shadowing the Northern Rockies team today. Don Angell, Incident Commander of the Rocky Mountain Area Interagency Incident Management Team A will assume command of the incident at 0600 on Monday, August 27, 2007.
RESOURCES:
PERSONNEL: 588 ENGINES: 51 WATER TENDERS: 14 HELICOPTERS: 6
TOTAL ACREAGE FOR COMPLEX: 56,400 INJURIES TO DATE: 5 COST TO DATE: $11,921,931
Potential for significant fire activity including crown runs with short and long range spotting remains high today due to gusty winds up to 30mph. Heavy smoke settling into the valleys will greatly reduce visibility. There is a high probability of falling trees which may obstruct roads within the fire area.
Yesterday afternoon a 12-hour mandatory evacuation was issued for Upper Willow Creek Road (Granite County) from the 8 mile marker north. A potential for mandatory evacuation exists for additional areas in the vicinity of Upper Willow Creek (Granite County) and Rock Creek. Residents in these areas are strongly advised to take precautionary measures.
Wyman 2 Fire - 33,742 acres: Yesterday fire activity increased in upper Stony Creek and Little Stony Creek drainages. Today crews will continue to use water via hoselays and waterdrops to cool off pockets of heat within the spot fire south of Stony Creek. Firefighters will monitor and patrol the Rock Creek Road and Eagle Creek/Hutsinpilar Creek area. Tactics will be reassessed based on current fire behavior. The Wyman 2 Fire has the potential to push south toward the fuel break lines in upper Stony Creek and to continue its movement to the North and west into the Bitterroot drainage.
Sawmill Fire - 10,418 acres: Yesterday, fire activity increased in the Solomon Creek drainage. Division S patrolled, monitored and mopped up the south end of the fire along Rock Creek Road. Division N continued rehab, gridding for spots, and mop up. Divisions O and P are close to completing contingency line along Gilbert Creek. Aviation resources utilized to slow perimeter growth and assist ground crews mopping up hot spots.
Today all divisions will assess needs and implement burnout operations as weather and fire behavior dictate. Firefighters will complete plumbing operations in Divisions O and P. Resources assigned to Divisions N and S will continue holding, perimeter protection, mop up and rehab. Firefighters will reassess tactics as needed based on current fire behavior. The Sawmill Fire growth continues to move north through the Solomon Creek drainage. The slopover east of Rock Creek still has potential for fire growth to the east.
Fisher Point Fire - 11,931 acres: The fire has the potential to expand further east towards Upper Willow Creek approaching Willow Creek Road and north to Ranch Creek. Yesterday, crews worked to secure the perimeter by burning out sections of road #4325. Extensive air support was used to mop up spots east of road #4325. Today crews will attempt to hold the fire west of road #4325. Air resources will be used to slow fire spread within the Elkhorn drainage east of Rock Creek. Crews may also have to implement perimeter protection activities. Heavy smoke is expected to occur in the upper portion of the valley and may extend into the low portion
Today, firefighting resources withdrew all resources from the 4325 Road as fire behavior increased and pulled back to the Willow Creek Road to provide structural point protection. The east perimeter of the fire experienced increased fire behavior and growth with crown runs, torching and mid range spotting. Tomorrow firefighters will assess tactical options based on current fire activity. Aerial resources will be used for suppression and reconnaissance. The Fisher Point fire is expected to continue its movement toward the east and northeast.
Signal Rock 07 Fire - 293 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 closed to non-residents from I-90 to the intersection with County Road 348. Rock Creek Road is closed to all traffic, including residents, from Mile Marker 12 to Miller Flats. The alternate route for Miller Flat residents is along the Rock Creek to the south.
Yesterday afternoon a 12-hour mandatory evacuation was issued for Upper Willow Creek Road (Granite County) from the 8 mile marker north. The Upper Willow Creek Road (Granite County) is open to residents only.
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.
Due to water conditions and fire operations Rock Creek is closed to fishing from Skalkaho Highway Bridge to the Clark Fork River.
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.
Trail #313 (Sapphire Divide) from the Skalkaho road to Sawmill Saddle has been closed.
Attention Hunters: Additional sections of the Lolo National Forest have been closed due to the current fire activity. Please check the Lolo National Forest website, http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo/ for the most up today closures before proceeding to traditional hunting spots.
WEATHER: Today will be partly cloudy with temperatures in the 60s to low 70s. Winds will be 9-16 mph out of the southwest with gusts up to 30mph. Relative humidity will range from 27-40%.
