Fire Update for Sept 1
Incident: Sawmill Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 9/1/2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sawmill Complex
September 1, 2007
Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A
Don Angell, Incident Commander
Laura McConnell, Public Information Officer
Phone: 406-859-6003
Website: http://www.inciweb.org/
COMMUNITY MEETINGS SCHEDULED:
Saturday, September 1 at 8:00 p.m.
Location: Hall Café
Sunday, September 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Clark Ranch
Monday, September 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Elkhorn Lodge
A 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 open to residents, from Mile Marker 12 to Trout Haven / Miller Flats (approximately Mile Marker 20). However, this section of road is subject to various restrictions or closure without notice depending of fire activity
Complex Wide: Today, fire activity is expected to be light today due to increased humidity and cooler temperatures. Closures remain in effect due to the increased hazards of falling trees, smoke, rolling rocks and increased traffic from fire personal.
Fisher Point Fire (13,438 acres, date of origin 7/28/07) Fisher continues to be the most active fire with the greatest growth. Crews have been successful at holding the fire west of Upper Willow Creek. The potential for spotting on the east side of the creek continues to be a threat. Ranchers with cattle in the Upper Willow and Black Pine Ridge locations are encouraged to begin taking precautionary measures.
Wyman 2 Fire (34,795 acres, date of origin 7/29/07) Crews will continue to monitor, mop up and patrol along Rock Creek. Eagle Creek continues to smolder and burn out. The fire has moved south past Stony Creek.
Sawmill Fire (11,275 acres, date of origin 7/15/07) the fire continues burning down into the unnamed drainage south of Welcome Creek. Crews will continue working to hold the line on the south end. On the northeast side the fire moved down towards Rock Creek. Air support continues to monitor the north side of the fire.
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: 59,801 acres.
- Containment: 22 %
- Cost: $16,017,000
- Resources: Crews 10; Helicopters 4; Engines 33; Personnel 617
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 Mexico, making this an interagency and international effort.
The Montana National Guard is assisting with road blocks and security efforts. Fire Passes are being issued at road blocks to residents affected by the closure. To obtain a pass, residents need to provide proof of residency.
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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