Chippy Creek Fire Update 9/2/2007
Incident: Chippy Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 9/2/2007
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 remaining in heavy burning fuels near containment lines and unstable weather have changed the estimated date of containment to Monday, September 3, 2007. Yesterday’s Activities: Fire activity moderated Saturday following light overnight showers. Increased fuel moisture, cooler temperatures, and higher relativity humidity provided fire fighters an opportunity to make good progress in securing the fire’s perimeter and attacking isolated hot spots. Pockets of heavy, dry fuels still contain significant heat and continued to smolder and creep. The north-central perimeter of the fire and Alder Creek drainage, in the southeast corner, were the most active areas. Crews continued to secure the fire’s perimeter by mopping up any fire within 120 feet of the established fireline. Rehabilitation of dozer lines and other fire-related ground disturbances continued in all areas of the fire. Today’s Planned Activities: The north edge of the fire received light precipitation overnight from a passing storm cell. Mop up of firelines and hotspots will continue. Aerial resources will support crews where needed. Rehabilitation will continue in the southern, western, and northern areas of the fire. Resources assigned: 8 hand crews (20 people each), 28 engines, 7 dozers, 20 water tenders, and 5 helicopters for a total of 596 personnel. Weather Forecast and Fire Behavior: Mostly sunny and warmer. Temperatures will be in the upper 70’s on ridges, with humidity ranging from 24 to 30 percent. Afternoon winds will be from the west at 8 to 12 mph, with 20 mph gusts. The next frontal passage is expected on Tuesday. Smoke will be seen in most areas of the fire as it continues to smolder and creep 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 will be 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.
