News Release 08/12/07 8:00am MT
Incident: Skyland Wildland Fire
Released: 8/12/2007
- Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2007 · 8 a.m. -
Pacific Northwest National Incident Management Team 3 (PNW Team 3) assumed management of the Skyland Fire at 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 8, 2007.
Quick Fire Facts
Location
32 miles ESE of Kalispell, MT
Approximate Size
39,820 acres
Increase since last update
670
Fire Containment
34%
Start Date
July 23, 2007 - 4:30 pm
Cause
Lightning
Incident Commander
Jeff Pendleton, PNW Team 3
Resources on the Fire
23 crews
5 helicopters
4 dozers
17 water tenders
37 engines
Total Personnel
926
Est. Containment Date
unknown
Cooperating Agencies
USFS
NPS
BIA
Blackfeet Tribe
Montana DNRC
Landowners
USFS
Blackfeet Tribe
Private
Restrictions
Please See Below
Yesterday's Activities:
Helicopters were used to map hot spots with infrared heat detection devices. Helicopters also moved crews and equipment into spike camps on the northern edge of the fire to reduce travel time to the line. Firefighters continued using fireline explosives to build line on the north side of the fire, south of U.S. Hwy 2 as they mopped up the east end of the fire and continued rehabilitation efforts on the west end.
Weather and Fire Behavior Forecast for Today:
A Red Flag warning has been issued from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Relative humidity is expected to be low, from 10-15% below 6,000 feet, and 13 to 18% above 6,000 feet. Warm and clear skies are expected Sunday with valley highs 78 to 83 degrees and highs of 70 to 78 degrees above 6,000 feet. Winds will be south, southwest 20 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph.
Today's Planned Actions:
Fireline explosives will be used to build line on the north side of the fire again today through thick stands of lodgepole pine. Crews will construct direct and indirect line on the southeast corner of the fire south of Cooper Lake. Firefighters will continue scouting fireline from Cooper Lake to Badger Guard Station.
Special Notices, Alerts, Restrictions & Evacuation Levels:
All entrances to Glacier National Park are open. U.S. Hwy 2 remains open with a speed restriction in the fire area. Visit www.nps.gov/glac for more information.
For fire restrictions, visit www.mt.blm.gov/fire/restrictions. Much of the Rocky Mountain Ranger District is closed to public use. There are closures in the Hungry Horse Ranger District as well.
Evacuation Level 1 (notification) is still in effect for East Glacier, and Evacuation Level 2 (preparation) is in effect for the areas south and west of U.S. Hwy. 2 and BIA 2.
Visit http://www.inciweb.org/ and click on Skyland Fire for details, or call the ranger districts - Hungry Horse (406) 387-3800; Rocky Mountain (406) 466-5341.
Prepared by: Information Section, PNW Incident Management Team 3
