Goat Rock Complex Wildfire Update & Fact Sheet – Aug. 29, 2015
Wildfires burning south of Libby, Montana
by Kootenai National Forest
August 29, 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
An evacuation notice has been issued for less than 20 residents of Lower Granite Lake Road, Granite Creek Road, Willow Road, Prospect Creek Road, Winchester Drive and Granite Lake Road. Officials ask all residents to be out of their homes by 1:00pm today, August 29, 2015.
Pre-evacuation notice has been issued for all residents and businesses west of Highway 2, south of Pearl Street near Atkins South Gas Station (which includes Woodland Heights subdivision off of Snowshoe Road) down to Bear Creek Road.
Pre-evacuation and evacuation notices are being coordinated by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
A public meeting will be held tonight at the Libby Senior High School, 150 Education Way, Libby, MT 59923 at 7:00 p.m.
A Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team assumed command of several fires on the Kootenai National Forest on August 23 and will manage them as the Goat Rock Complex under the command of Chuck Russell.
Klatawa (KNF): 1,932 acres Vimy (KNF): 3 acres
Berray Mtn. (KNF): 1,705 acres Chippewa (KNF): 231 acres
Pine Ridge (KNF): 47 acres Poplar Point (KNF): 530 acres
Dad Fire (KNF): 44 acres
The Goat Rock Complex is approximately 4,492 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)
Yesterday’s Activities: The Klatawa fire grew to the south. The fire crossed Granite Creek to the south and pushed upslope to the top of Mount Snowy. Klatawa also pushed into Horse Creek in the northeast. Crews remained in the area overnight patrolling the fire. Additional engines have been ordered and will start arriving soon to support wildland firefighters already working.
The Berray fires have combined into one fire which continues to actively back down to Hwy. 56. The fires edge has reached Forest Road 410 on the northeast side.
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.
Today’s Planned Actions:
Crews will be installing fire control lines, sprinklers and other features around the Klatawa and Berray Fires to protect structures, private property, and other valued resources. Fire fighters will also assist Lincoln County Sheriff's Office in the evacuation and pre-evacuation area. Crew flexibility will be key this afternoon as high winds will create active fire conditions.
Wildland firefighters will also continue to assess options for checking and containing the Klatawa fire which is projected to move east.
Forecasted Weather: A Red Flag warning has been issued for today for winds as a cold front moves in. The upper ridge will break down and winds are forecasted to increase this afternoon especially on the ridge tops. Much cooler temperatures and higher humidites will follow the cold front. Mostly cloudy and widespread showers Sunday afternoon.
Fire Restrictions:
Stage II fire restrictions are in effect for the Libby area. Stage II restrictions include:
1. Building maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire.
2. 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.
3. The following acts are prohibited from 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.:
a. Operating any internal combustion engine.
b. Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
c. Using an explosive.
4. A one hour foot patrol in the work area is required following cessation of all activities as identified in #3 above.
5. Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails.
Additional 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.
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