Chippy Creek Fire Update 08/24/2007 7:00 AM
Incident: Chippy Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 8/24/2007
The Chippy Creek Fire is located 20 miles north of Plains and 12 miles north/northwest of Hot Springs, Montana. Wally Bennett's Type 1 Northern Rockies Interagency Incident Management Team is fighting the fire. The fire is reported to be at 96,828 acres with 40 percent containment.
Yesterday's Activities:
Burnout was completed on the southwest corner of the fire in the vicinity of the North Fork of the Little Thompson River and burnout started on the northwest side of the fire in the vicinity of Big Rock Creek. Crews were able to continue to build direct line on the north and northeast sides of the fire and have nearly completed line construction around the fire. In many places mop up operations have begun. All crews working on the north side of fire are now staying at the fire camp at Marion. Approximately 30 people attended the open house and tour at the Plains fire camp.
Today's Planned Activities:
Firefighters plan to complete the burnout on the northwest corner of the fire near Big Rock Creek and begin burnout operations in the northeast corner of the fire south of Hubbard Reservoir. Mop up will continue on the southwest corner where burnout has been completed. Firefighters will continue their efforts to seal off the Alder Creek portion of the fire. Crews will only conduct burnout operations when conditions are favorable and safe to proceed. They will continue to look for opportunities to build direct (right next to the black) fireline whenever possible to do in a safe manner to limit the amount of burnout necessary. All spots will be lined and mopped up completely. Rehab efforts are in the planning stages. Today is the last day for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Information Trailer at Lonepine and delivery of fire information updates to locations along Hwy 93 between the communities of Elmo and Lakeside.
Resources assigned: 11 hand crews (20 people each), 31 engines, 32 pieces of heavy equipment, 15 water tenders and 4 helicopters for a total of 629 personnel.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Slightly higher temperatures (lower70s over the fire) and lower humidity (mid 20s) are forecast for today. The fire may be more active than yesterday as conditions continue to become warmer and dryer. Opportunities for direct attack may still be favorable on north and east aspects. Sunshine today will produce slightly higher fire activity on the south and west aspects.
Evacuations: Residents along the Hubbard Dam Road from the junction with the Niarada Road north to the Hubbard Dam subdivision remain under an evacuation order.
Temporary Flight Restrictions: The temporary flight restriction remains in place over the fire. Pilots should be aware that numerous aircraft are working this incident and many more are in the air over fires within the region.
Other information sources: Protecting your property from wildfire at http://www.firewise.org/fw youcanuse/index.htm .
Chippy Creek Fire information is posted on the Lolo National Forest website: www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo, For other wildland fire activity see: http://www.inciweb.org/ or http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/siterprt.pdf .
Cooperating Agencies: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Sanders, Flathead and Lake Counties, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Lolo National Forest, and Plum Creek Timberlands.
