September 3 Update
Incident: Sawmill Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 9/3/2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sawmill Complex
September 3, 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:
Monday, September 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Elkhorn Lodge
A local red flag warning is in place for today. The forecast is for winds above 20 miles per hour and humidity below 20%. These conditions can lead to rapid fire growth and extreme fire behavior.
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 on fire activity
Complex Wide: On Sunday, the fires showed a slight increase in activity over Saturday. Today, conditions are expected to be warmer and drier with gusty winds, resulting in red flag conditions. An increase in fire activity is expected, with a possibility of torching and runs. Closures remain in effect due to the increased hazards of falling trees, smoke, rolling rocks and increased traffic from fire personnel. Helicopters will continue to use water drops to cool critical areas of the fire. Aircraft will also continue to monitor the western portions of the fires.
Fisher Point Fire (13,647 acres, date of origin 7/28/07) continues to be the most active fire, although growth was minimal yesterday. The fire has not crossed Upper Willow Creek or Elkhorn Creek. There was one spot in the meadow west of the creek which was controlled quickly. The potential for spotting on the east side of the creek continues to be a threat. Crews will be working to extinguish several areas with heat near the edges of the fire, including on the state land. Ranchers with cattle in the Upper Willow and Black Pine Ridge locations should continue to monitor the fire activity.
Wyman 2 Fire (34,805 acres, date of origin 7/29/07) showed little growth on Sunday except in a small area in the headwaters of Stony Creek. Late yesterday a small interior flare-up occurred which posed no threat to the line. Crews continue to monitor, mop up and patrol along Rock Creek and the lower part of Stony Creek.
Sawmill Fire (11,313 acres, date of origin 7/15/07) continues to burn down into the unnamed drainage south of Welcome Creek. The fire is also backing down slope toward Rock Creek Road. Crews will continue to work on containing the fire west of this road. Monitoring, mop-up and patrol continued.
Sawmill Complex Statistics at a Glance:
- Date Complex Formed: July 31, 2007
- Location: 22 miles southeast of Missoula MT
- Cause: Lightning
- Fuels: Timber, litter, and grass
- Size: 60,058 acres.
- Containment: 22 %
- Cost: $16,875,000
- Resources: Crews - 5; Helicopters - 4; Engines - 22; Personnel - 456
The reallocation of resources between the three fires will be continuing as well as the release of excess resources.
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 the 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' websites 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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