Chippy Creek Fire Update 9/1//2007
Incident: Chippy Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 9/1/2007
The Chippy Creek Fire is located 20 miles north of Plains and 12 miles north/northwest of Hot Springs, Montana. Jess Secrest's Type 2 Northern Rockies Interagency Incident Management Team is fighting the fire.
The intense heat still remaining in heavy burning fuels near containment lines and unstable weather has changed the estimated date of containment to Monday, September 3, 2007.
Yesterday's Activities: On Friday, the fire demonstrated active surface fire on sun exposed slopes and smoldering and creeping in areas of heavy fuels. Occasional single-tree torching was observed. The north-central perimeter of the fire and Alder Creek drainage, in the southeast corner, continue to be most active. Ground crews continued to secure the fire's perimeter, mopping up to 120 feet inside the fireline. Rehabilitation of dozer lines continued in all areas of the fire as equipment and personnel built water bars across fire containment lines.
Today's Planned Activities: The cold front moved through the area last night, accompanied by showers and thunderstorms. Precipitation over the fire varied from ¼ inch over the north end and 1/10 inch on the southern end. Mop up of firelines and hotspots will continue. Aerial resources will support crews where needed. Rehabilitation will continue in the southern and western areas of the fire.
Resources assigned: 9 hand crews (20 people each), 32 engines, 8 dozers, 23 water tenders, and 5 helicopters for a total of 585 personnel.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Decreasing cloudiness and breezy along the ridge tops. Temperatures are forecast to be in the upper 70's, with humidity ranging from 30 to 40 percent. Afternoon winds will be from the west at 10 to 12 mph with 25 mph gusts. The overnight moisture should help moderate fire activity today, and the next frontal passage is expected on Tuesday. Smoke will be seen in most areas of the fire as it continues to creep and smolder throughout the interior, where unburned islands of fuels actively burn as the temperature increases in the afternoon.
Closures: Although previously evacuated residents along the Hubbart dam road have been allowed to return home, roads north of the fire and south of Hwy. 2 remain closed to the general public due to fire traffic. Closure will be re-assessed as fire spread danger changes. The area and road closure order for National Forest System lands, within the fire area, remains in effect and includes, in part, the following roads: Bold Peak #5583, Big Rock Bassoo #5574, Big Rock Creek #881, Chippy Creek #882, Bear Creek #883, and Little Thompson River #519. For more details, visit the Lolo National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo or call Chippy Creek fire information (406) 854-2187.
Public Meetings: The next community meeting is scheduled at the Hot Springs Elementary School in Hot Springs, Wednesday, September 5, 2007, at 7:00 PM. The public is invited to attend.
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: Chippy Creek Fire information is posted on the Lolo National Forest website: www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo, and on: http://www.inciweb.org/.
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.
