Goat Rock Complex Wildfire update – Aug. 28, 2015
Multiple fires burning on Kootenai National Forest south of Libby, Montana
by Kootenai National Forest - Inciweb
August 29, 2015
Goat Rock Complex Fact Sheet - Friday, August 28, 2015
Contact: Public Information Officer: Carmen Thomason goatrocks2015@gmail.com
Fire Information Phone (406) 293-6783
What: Goat Rock Complex (numerous fires)
Cause: Lightning
Location: Numerous fires located in the Kootenai National Forest, Cabinet Mountains Wilderness and Berray Mountain Area south of Libby, Montana
Jurisdiction: Kootenai National Forest (KNF) Cabinet and Libby Ranger District
As smoke increases in the Libby area it is due to activity in the Klatawa fire. The Klatawa fire has crossed Granite Creek to the south. The fire has pushed up slope and up to the top of Mount Snowy. This has resulted in more smoke in the area. Similar to Tuesday night you may notice ash and pine needles coming down and floating in the air. Firefighters are monitoring the situation and work on the ground continues. Additional resources continue to arrive and will be added to those already building fire lines.
A Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team assumed command of several fires on the Kootenai National Forest on Sunday, August 23 and will manage them as the Goat Rock Complex under the command of Chuck Russell.
The Goat Rock Complex is approximately 4,127 acres and is a collection of the following fires, some acres are estimated due to inaccessibility of the fires and smoke hampering aviation mapping operations:
Klatawa (KNF): 1,932 acres Vimy (KNF): 3 acres
Berray Mtn. (KNF): 740 acres Berray Mtn. 2 (KNF): 763 acres
Berray Mtn. 3 (KNF): 25 acres Chippewa (KNF): 218 acres Pine Ridge (KNF): 47 acres Poplar Point (KNF): 471 acres
Dad Fire (KNF): 24 acres
Yesterday’s Activities (Thursday, August 27th): The Berray Fires continue to slowly back down into the Highway 56 corridor. Crews continued installing fireline and other features to prepare for structure protection operations. The three Berray Fires are active and closing in on becoming one fire. Crews used heavy equipment borrowed from the Clark Fork Complex and began work on firelines to prepare for structure protection operations along the Hwy 56 corridor.
The Klatawa fire continues to grow to the East and South in the Granite Creek Drainage. Air observations determined that the Klatawa Fire has not crossed the Granite Creek Drainage. Some spotting into Treasure Mountain and Horse Creek has occurred.
The Vimy, Dad Fire, Pine Ridge, Chippewa, and Poplar Point Fires continue to burn, but are not threatening valued resources or structures at this time.
The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team continued to gather information and make fire observations. A new fire was also added to the complex, the Dad fire at 24 acres. Fire Planning, risk assessment, and information gathering continued to ensure effective and safe management of the Goat Rock Complex.
Today’s Planned Actions (Friday, August 28th): Construction of the equipment line along Bearry Mountain continues to make good progress. Heavy equipment is removing trees and other vegetation to create a line for potential burnout operations. Crews continue to find locations and develop plans for fire line along the Klatawa fire. Additional resources have started to arrive for implementation.
Air operations are expected today for observation and mapping of the fires as well as installing a radio repeater for improved communications. Due to the expected passage of a cold front, planning continues for all the fires for contingency lines and fire movement.
Forecasted Weather: Continued warm and dry conditions with isolated, dry thunderstorms are possible today. Weather conditions may allow for more active fire conditions during the evening hours. A cold front, with higher winds, is forecasted to pass through the area on Saturday.
Fire Restrictions:
Stage II fire restrictions are in effect for the Libby area. Stage II restrictions include:
Building maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire.
Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
The following acts are prohibited from 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.:
Operating any internal combustion engine.
Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
Using an explosive.
A one hour foot patrol in the work area is required following cessation of all activities as identified in #3 above.
Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails.
Additional fire restriction information at http://firerestrictions.us/mt/.
Closures: For more information on closures, including closed Forest Service Lands listed by Township and Range, please visit the Kootenai National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/kootenai/home or visit Goat Rock Complex on InciWeb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4564/ for a detailed list.
|
