Rombo Mountain Fire Update 8/24/07 @ 5:00 PM
Incident: Rombo Mountain Wildland Fire
Released: 8/24/2007
Residents in the Big Hole Valley will once again see smoke in the air on Friday evening and Saturday as temperatures rise and the relative humidity drops. Incident Commander Mike Quesinberry says the smoke is to be expected and firefighters are implementing a strategy developed to manage the Rat Creek Fire over the next few days.
"We've had a few good days to get some things in place that will help make the fire more manageable," he said. "With high winds in the forecast for Saturday, vigilance will be the word of the day."
Cooler temperatures allowed firefighters an opportunity to work closer to the Rat Creek Fire to put in firelines before the hotter, drier temperatures and gusting winds forecast for Saturday arrive.
Location: 25 miles west of Wisdom, Montana
Date and Time of Fire Start: August 9, 2007 at 7:04pm Cause: Lightning
Fuels: Lodgepole pine, Sub-alpine fir, and Douglas fir with heavy dead and down fuels
Cooperating Agencies: Beaverhead County, Montana DNRC, Montana DOT, BLM, Forest Service, Big Hole National Battlefield (NPS), Town of Wisdom
Estimated Fire Size: 19,300 Acres Estimated Fire Containment: 15%
Committed Resources: 221 total personnel including 6 Fire Crews, 4 helicopters, 15 Engines, 2 Dozers, 3 Water Tenders, and fire support personnel
Structures Threatened: 38
Structures Damaged: 0 Structures Destroyed: 0
Fire Activity: Fire activity is picking up as temperatures rise and winds pick up. The northeast side of the fire has burned into the 2000 Mussigbrod Fire slowing its forward spread. The change in fuel type in the 2000 fire area, combined with cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity has contained the fire in the same location for the past six days, but forecasted conditions for the weekend may result in some growth.
Fire Restrictions and Closures:
- Highways 43 and 93 are open.
- An area closure remains in effect north of Highway 43, from Chief Joseph Pass up the Continental Divide, east down the Bender Creek-Hell Roaring Creek divide to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest boundary, and south to Highway 43.
- Due to public safety concerns, the Forest has closed the May Creek campground and two rental cabins (May Creek and Gordon Reese cabins).
- The Big Hole National Battlefield is open to the public during normal business hours (9:00am-6:00pm) but remains ready to evacuate if necessary.
- The historic Hogan Cabin on Trail Creek Road has been wrapped for protection.
- Neighboring Bitterroot National Forest to the west has closed nearby lands and roads leading to the west side of the Continental Divide, including the Gibbons Pass and Schultz Saddle roads.
Visitors are reminded that southwest Montana is in Stage 2 fire restrictions which include no campfires or smoking outside of a vehicle or building - except in cleared, designated areas.
Evacuations: Fire managers lifted the North Fork Ranch evacuation order and returned the ranch to Stage 1 precautionary evacuation notice. Several other ranches and the Battlefield are also being monitored and are on pre-evacuation notice.
