Fire Update for Aug 29
Incident: Sawmill Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 8/29/2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sawmill Complex
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A
Laura McConnell, Public Information Officer
Phone: 406-859-6003
Website: http://www.inciweb.org/
COMMUNITY MEETINGS SCHEDULED:
Wednesday August 29 2007 at 7:00 p.m.Location: Elkhorn Ranch
Thursday August 30 at 7:30 p.m. Location: Clark Ranch, Upper Rock Creek
Saturday September 1 at 8:00 p.m.Location: Hall Elementary
A 12-hour mandatory evacuation is in effect 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.
Rock Creek residents are still under a 24-hour pre-evacuation notice. Rock Creek Road is closed to non-residents from mile post 1 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 Road to the south.
Complex Wide: Fire activity was mostly surface with some torching. Crews attacked spot fires and provided point protection. Air resources were used to help slow the growth on the perimeter of the fires. The potential for the fires to spread continues to be a threat. Today's weather will be warmer and drier resulting in a little more fire activity from yesterday. Short to moderate duration runs 300-600 feet may occur with possible group torching. Smoke plumes may develop due to an unstable air mass. On Thursday a weather system is projected to move into the area with the possibility of dry lightening. Falling snags and additional traffic due to fire efforts continue to be significant hazard.
Fisher Point Fire (11,990 acres) Crews will continue to construct perimeter control line on State and Forest Service lands while trying to hold the fire north of Beaver Creek along the State Haul Road, west of Upper Willow Creek along Standish Haul Road and south of the Upper Willow Tributary.
Wyman 2 Fire (33,956 acres) Crews will continue to monitor, mop up and patrol along Rock Creek. Eagle Creek continues to smolder and burn out. A smoke plume was visible yesterday but it was from interior burning.
Sawmill Fire (10,790 acres) Air support will continue to work the north end of the fire to support crews and secure spots along Rock Creek. By the end of yesterday, the spot fire on the east side of Rock Creek was 100% contained with black on all sides
Sawmill Complex Statistics at a Glance:
- Date Complex Started: July 31, 2007
- Location: 22 miles Southeast of Missoula MT.
- Cause: Lightning
- Fuels: Timber, litter, and grass
- Size: 57,029 acres.
- Containment: 20 %
The reallocation of resources between the three fires will be continuing as well as the release of excess resources.
Personnel working the incident include crews from Canada and Mexico, making this an interagency and international effort.
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.
The Bitterroot National Forest has closed Trail #313 (Sapphire Divide) from the Skalkaho road to Sawmill Saddle.
Attention Hunters: Additional sections of the Lolo, Beaverhead-Deerlodge, and Bitterrroot National Forest have been closed due to the current fire activity. Please check the National Forests' website for the most up to date closures before proceeding to traditional hunting spots.
Lolo NF: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo/
Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/b-d/
Bitterroot NF: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/bitterroot/
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