Friday Sept. 14th 7:30 AM Update-- Closures Rem
Incident: Jocko Lakes Wildland Fire
Released: 9/14/2007
Although fire activity has diminished, closures remain on lands surrounding the Jocko Lakes fire, in order to protect public safety. Generally, National Forest and private lands west of Hidden Lake and south of the Lake Elsina/Fawn Creek Road remain closed.
The Jocko Lakes Road to Arlee, the Boles-Finley Road, the Archibald Loop, and the areas accessed by these roads remain closed until further notice because of fire-related hazardous conditions. Fellers are working clearing snags from these roads for at least the next week.
Hazards remain severe inside the burned area. All firefighters must wear their hard hats and other personal protective gear while near the fire. At this time, the general public is not allowed in the fire area.
As the fire's Type 3 management team enters its third week of work, their replacement will be a Type 2 team only because few Type 3 resources are available. The new team will continue management of rehabilitation of the fire area. Fire suppression activity is very minor.
Since the first day of September, fire activity has been limited to interior burning and one ten-acre spot fire. Air resources were used Wednesday only to protect a powerline from interior burning. No air resources were needed Thursday except for a reconnaissance flight. Rehabilitation work, though, is busy. Fifteen excavators and four dozers are working on rehabilitation Friday.
"The fire that produced Thursday's smoke was in very high country north of Jocko Divide, almost surrounded by bare rock, talus, and previously burned areas," said Operations Chief Steve Underwood. "It's no issue for the folks in town at all."
The public may see similar smoke from interior burning of the 36,060 acre fire for weeks to come.
