Jocko Lakes Fire Daily Update Saturday August 18,
Incident: Jocko Lakes Wildland Fire
Released: 8/18/2007
Friday's activity on the fire centered on the southeast portion. Crews continued to hold and improve line in that part of the fire nearest to Placid Lake. The strategy here has been to "steer" the fire along Boles Creek toward the Boles Meadow fire, which originally burned in 2003. This area of less fuel loading should slow fire spread significantly. Crews patrolled and burned out small sections of line on the northwest corner of the fire along Deer Creek Road. Later in the day more indirect line was built and burned out on the southeast corner in an effort to complete line from Boles/Placid Lake Road along Boles Creek to the fire scar from the Boles Meadow fire. Mop up and patrol continued on the east and northeast section of the fire, including around houses and structures in the Eagle Point Subdivision and other neighborhoods between the main fire and Seeley Lake.
The team provided overhead and 3 crews to the Ovando Point Fire located 6 miles northeast of Ovando. They will be going direct on the southern edge of the 80 acre fire today.
Eagle Point residents may visit their residences on Saturday August 18, between 10 AM and 1 PM. This time period includes travel time and residents must be back out to HWY 83 by 1 PM. Residents who have returned in the Shining Shirt Road area must stay off the roads from 07:00 - 10:00. Placid Lake, Seeley Lake (the body of water) and Lake Inez remain closed to recreational use to facilitate the employment of helicopters with buckets and water scooping planes in fighting the fire.
RESIDENTS may move their boats off the water of the subject lakes before 9 AM and after 9 PM. They must use the shortest route and complete the task in the shortest amount of time.
WEATHER: A Red Flag Warning for strong winds and low humidity is predicted for today. Partly cloudy, isolated afternoon thunderstorm possible. Temps 75-89F, RH 13-24%, WINDS 10-20MPH
We ask for the public's cooperation in slowing down along Highway 83 in the Seeley Lake area. Please be aware that fire traffic will be entering the highway, drive cautiously and obey all posted limits.
COOPERATING AGENCIES: Lolo NF, Montana DNRC, Missoula County Sheriff's Office, Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, Seeley Lake Fire Department, Missoula Rural Fire, Missoula County, Montana National Guard, Montana Dept. of Transportation.
