Wednesday September 5, 8am Update
Incident: Jocko Lakes Wildland Fire
Released: 9/5/2007
Jocko Lakes:
- 36,060 acres
- 95% contained
- $27,506,023 costs
- 310 personnel
WHAT'S NEW & EVENTS:
Incident Commander Mike Wiederhold (Type 3 team) assumed command of the fire at 0700 today, transitioning with the Pacific Northwest National Incident Management Team 2. By the end of today approximately 140 personnel will be assigned to the incident.
A public meeting was held Tuesday evening at Seeley Lake Elementary School. Over 70 local residents attended. The meeting included a fire update, questions and answers and an opportunity to meet the new incident commander.
More information on a revised closure area (allowing limited areas of additional access) will be available soon. The current fire area closure will be in effect until that time.
The community expressed interest in a tour of the fire area. It was announced that a tour will be scheduled for Sunday September 16th at 1pm. Interested persons are to meet at the Valley Market parking lot for car pooling. More information will be available about this tour as planning progresses.
A huge thanks to the community of Seeley Lake for your ongoing support during this incident.
JOCKO LAKES FIRE STATUS: Yesterday, crews gridded and patrolled along the western perimeter. An unlined portion of that perimeter will be checked with helicopter water bucket drops due to firefighter safety concerns. Rehabilitation of interior dozer lines continued using two rehab groups. Some residual heat remains in the interior portions of the fire. The heavier fuels will continue to smolder for some time but do not pose a threat to the containment lines. The Temporary Flight Restriction over the fire area was released at midnight 9/4/2007.
Expected full containment of the fire is October 1, 2007.
FIRE FACTS: Started: August 3, 2007; Cause: Lightning; Location: 8 miles west of Seeley Lake; Resources: 5 hand crews, 2 helicopters, 13 engines, 4 dozers, 4 water tenders, 1 camp crew, and 178 overhead.
SAFETY CONCERNS: Steep terrain, snags, bears.
WEATHER: Upper level low pressure will begin moving out of southern Idaho early today which will keep cool and unsettled weather over the fire for Wednesday. Outlook for later in the week is for a northwest flow which will bring a period of cool but mainly dry weather.
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 Dept of Transportation, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Game Wardens.
