Incident: Jocko Lakes
Released: 9/15/2007
Fire activity increased a bit near the ridge north of Jocko Lakes. Drops from a heavy "Skycrane" helicopter, which can carry 2000 gallons of water, slowed the fire. Minimal fire activity was seen elsewhere, with an occasional tree torching this afternoon in areas of the 36,310 acre fire.
When live and dead trees and grass are as dry as they are this September, temporary water from overhead doesn't put out a timber fire, without the help of muscle on the ground to stir and mix the water into hot fuels. South of Jocko Lakes, 30 to 40 water drops of 2000 gallons each did not quench a hot ravine on Saturday. The water only reduced the fire intensity enough to plan for a crew to bring hose into the area Sunday or Monday, and then be able to work safely.
Wildfire also does not burn evenly; a fire only looks uniform when drawn on a map. Instead, fire burns severely or gently depending on the specific vegetation, weather, and topography at any spot. Saturday, Bob McCrea, Fire Operations Supervisor of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, accurately predicted that open flames would die, even with low 15% humidity, when they reached a certain stand of green 15-year-old trees.
Safety Officer Boyd Gossard reminds citizens to stay out of the closed fire area for their own safety. Heavy equipment operators and sawyers do not want to find the public in danger pleading that "they didn't know," he said. The Jocko Lakes Road to Arlee, the Boles-Finley Road, the Archibald Loop, and the areas accessed by these roads remain closed.
The current Type 3 Incident Management Team is transitioning with Glen McNitt's Type 2 team. McNitt's team will take over management of the fire at 8:00 p.m. Sunday night. Though the fire is 95% contained, the remaining 5%, located along the western perimeter, poses more complex challenges that go beyond the available resources of a Type 3 team.
WEATHER: Saturday was sunny and warm with mild westerly winds. There's a slight chance of thunderstorms Sunday afternoon with a 10% chance of wetting rain.
COOPERATING AGENCIES & PARTNERS: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation; the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation; Bureau of Indian Affairs; Lolo National Forest; Missoula County Sheriff's Office; Seeley Lake Fire Department; Missoula Rural Fire; Missoula County; Montana Department of Transportation; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; National Weather Service.
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