Incident: Chippy Creek
Released: 9/6/2007
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 Incident Management Team is fighting the fire.
The Chippy Creek fire is 100% contained.
Yesterday’s Activities: The fire demonstrated limited activity, primarily smoldering and creeping within the fireline perimeter and holding heat in heavy, dry fuels. Good progress was made in mopping up along Alder Creek on the southeast side of the fire, and firefighters put out an isolated spot fire in the northeast portion. Personnel patrolled the perimeter looking for any activity along the fire’s edge. Rehabilitation operations are ongoing on the south, west and north firelines. A public meeting was held in Hot Springs, MT, to update the community on the progress of fire suppression work and share information on the long term management of the fire.
Today’s Planned Activities: Patrol and rehabilitation of the fireline remains the emphasis today. However, mop up will continue in the Alder Creek and Teepee Creek drainages. Aerial resources remain ready to assist ground personnel where needed. Crews will continue to remove excess water pumps, fire hoses, and other firefighting supplies.
Resources assigned: 3 hand crews (20 people each), 20 engines, 2 dozers, 13 water tenders, and 2 helicopters for a total of 398 personnel.
Weather Forecast and Fire Behavior: Partly sunny. Temperatures on ridge tops will be in the low 70’s and humidity 26 to 32 percent. Ridge top winds will be west 6 to 10 mph with guests to 20 mph. Partly sunny with brisk northwest winds is forecasted for Friday. Smoke will continue to be produced from fires smoldering and creeping in dry, unburn fuels within the fire’s perimeter.
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. Closures will be re-assessed in the near future. 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: No public meetings are currently scheduled.
Temporary Flight Restrictions: The temporary flight restriction has been lifted.
Other information sources: Chippy Creek Fire information is posted on the Lolo National Forest website: www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo, and on: 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.
