Tuesday, August 28th 8 AM Update
Incident: Jocko Lakes Wildland Fire
Released: 8/28/2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - 8 a.m. MDT Daily Update
Jocko Lakes:
- 34,932 acres
- 46% contained
- $22,793,802 costs
- 1,007 personnel
Ovando Point:
- 70 acres
- 100% contained
- $997,389 costs
- no personnel
WHAT'S NEW & EVENTS:
Placid Lake is opening today. The official announcement and time of opening will be made by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department.
Cooperating agencies and fire operations personnel are currently evaluating the need for forest closures. Although risk from the fire is reduced, public safety issues with regards to heavy equipment and air operations remain. Closures will be reduced in areas where public safety will not be compromised; announcements will be made to reflect the changes.
The weather forecast indicates a return to summer-like conditions for Wednesday and Thursday, which means higher daytime temperatures, lower relative humidity, and the potential for increased fire behavior.
Cooperating Agencies are in process of establishing their rehabilitation plans.
Tonight is the last night shift for the Jocko Lakes Fire.
A public meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 8 p.m. at Seeley Lake Elementary School.
JOCKO LAKES FIRE STATUS: Crews were able to take advantage of minimal winds and lower daytime temperatures to improve containment lines on the Jocko Lakes fire. Resources continued to mop-up, cold trail and patrol along the southern, northern and eastern sides of the fire, while the Structure Protection group continued to secure residences inside the fireline. Crews constructed line along the south-southwest portions of the fire, and conducted small burnout operations to clean up the remaining vegetation between the main body of the fire and the line. Hand crews and mechanized equipment made excellent progress constructing line on the western perimeter, also using burnout operations to remove potentially hazardous fuels.
Today, crews and equipment will continue with mop up and construct additional line on the northwestern and southwestern flanks, supporting the line with burnout operations as needed. Resources will continue to scout and determine the best line locations and strategies for tying in the NW and SW lines. Additional resources will continue gridding, patrolling and pulling interior hose on the NE-E flank; improving dozer line on the SW corner and continue with hand and dozer line construction from the SW flank working N.
The large spot north of Deer Creek is fully contained and mopped up and in patrol status.
OVANDO FIRE STATUS: No personnel assigned today; helicopters will monitor this fire by air.
RESOURCE CONCERNS: Historic lookout (Double Arrow), Native American cultural sites, fish and wildlife habitat, including habitat for grizzly bears, Canada lynx and bull trout.
SAFETY CONCERNS: Air operations, driving hazards, hazard trees, stump holes and bears.
FIRE FACTS: Started: August 3, 2007; Cause: Lightning; Location: west of Seeley Lake; Resources: 25 hand crews, 6 helicopters (an additional heavy helicopter coming in today), 44 engines, 12 dozers, 25 water tenders, 1 camp crews, and 338 overhead.
WEATHER: Smokey in the morning, then mostly sunny. Temps 67 to 71 ridges and 76-80 lower valleys. Rh 16-20% valleys to 18-22% ridges. Ridgetop winds NW 8-10 mph. A strong inversion is expected to break around 11 a.m.
COOPERATING AGENCIES & PARTNERS: Montana DNRC, The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Lolo NF, Missoula County Sheriff's Office, Seeley Lake Fire Department, Missoula Rural Fire, Missoula County, Montana National Guard, Montana Dept of Transportation, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
