Rombo Mountain Fire Update 8_25_07@8 AM
Incident: Rombo Mountain Wildland Fire
Released: 8/25/2007
Southern Area Incident Command Team
ROMBO MTN FIRE UPDATE
August 25, 2007 @ 8 a.m.
Bitterroot National Forest
Fire Information: (406)821-0082, http://www.inciweb.org/ or www.fs.fed.us/r1/bitterroot
Location: 16 miles south of Conner, Montana and 4 miles northeast of Painted Rocks Lake
Date and Time of Fire Start: July 31, 2007 at 1:40 pm Cause: Lightning
Fuels: Timber (litter and understory) with heavy bug killed timber and dense canopy.
Cooperating Agencies: West Fork and Painted Rocks Rural Fire Departments, Ravalli County Department of Emergency Services, Ravalli County Sheriff's Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources, and Sula Volunteer Fire Department.
Estimated Fire Size: 20,534 Acres Fire Containment: 0%
Committed Resources: 155 total personnel including 2 crews, 12 Engines, 4 Dozers, 5 Water Tenders, 1 helicopter, and fire support personnel
Structures Threatened: 134 Structures Damaged: 0 Structures Destroyed: 0
Fire Activity: Fire activity remained fairly stable yesterday primarily due to winds remaining relatively calm. Fire behavior was mainly backing fire with individual tree and some group tree torching especially in the northwest portion of the fire in the upper Piquett Creek drainage.
Actions: Yesterday crews continued to locate and put out spot fires on the northeast side of the fire in the Bear Creek Saddle area and in upper Warm Springs Creek drainage. Direct and indirect line construction occurred along the northwest and southwest edges of the fire. Helicopter bucket drops and air tanker retardant drops supported this effort. A burnout was successfully conducted late yesterday into the night in the upper Piquett Creek drainage.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect today due to stronger winds, lower relative humidity and warmer temperatures.
Actions planned for today will include holding fire to the east of 5715A road, patrolling for spot fires, and mop up. Direct and indirect line construction will continue in Div Z (Little Boulder Creek south to Angle Creek) and in the Piquett Creek drainage. Crews will continute to search for and extinguish spot fires in the Laird Creek and Warm Springs Creek drainages. Structure protection activities will continue today.
Fire Restrictions and Closures: Highway 93 and West Fork Road are open. The area closure remains in effect starting at the Forest Boundary on Road 49 (Piquett Creek Road) going northeast past Trapper Creek Job Corps Center; then following the Forest Boundary going southeast along Highway 93 to Lost Trail Pass and the boundary line with the Salmon National Forest, then following the Bitterroot National Forest Boundary going west to the Sula/West Fork Ranger District boundary. Continuing to the Saddle Mountain area; then southwest on Trail 606 to the junction with Trail 650; continuing south to Hughes Creek road (9630), continuing west to the West Fork road at Alta and then following the Forest Boundary north to the beginning. This includes Bitterroot National Forest System Lands east of the West Fork road. The area closure excludes Warm Springs and Indian Trees Campgrounds. Forest officials ask the public to cooperate with the closure for public and firefighter safety.
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: All previously issued Stage I Pre-Evacuation Notices remain in effect.
Remarks: The management of the Rombo Mountain fire is assigned to the Southern Area Blue Team, under the leadership of Mike Quesinberry, who is also managing the Rat Creek and Pattengail Creek fires on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
