Goat Rock Complex update - August 30, 2015
Evacuation Notice rescinded – residents on Pre-evacuation Notice
by Kootenai National Forest
August 30, 2015
What: Goat Rock Complex (numerous fires)
Location: Numerous fires located in the Kootenai National Forest, Cabinet Mountains Wilderness and Berray Mountain Area south of Libby, Montana
Cause: Lightning
Jurisdiction: Kootenai National Forest (KNF) Cabinet and Libby Ranger District
Contact: Public Information Officer: Carmen Thomason, goatrocks2015@gmail.com
Fire Information Phone: (406) 293-6783
After meeting this morning (Sunday, August 30th) with members of the fire management team, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office has decided to rescind the evacuation notice for all residents of Lower Granite Lake Road, Granite Creek Road, Willow Road, Prospect Creek Road, Winchester Drive and Granite Lake Road. Those residents are now a pre-evacuation areas. All residents who were evacuated yesterday can return home and notifications by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office are underway.
Pre-evacuation notices remain in effect for all residents and businesses west of Highway 2, starting from Pearl Street near Atkins South Gas Station and extending south to and including Bear Creek Road. This also includes all residences on Snowshoe Road south of Hogan Drive.
Residents are asked to remain vigilant and ready to evacuate in the coming days as warmer weather will increase fire activity again. Pre-evacuation residents should have a plan in place to be evacuated if notified by the Sheriff's Office. Cooler weather has influenced fire behavior and lessened the threat of the Klatawa fire. Overall cooler conditions will transition slowly to warmer temperatures over the next week. High temperatures will not be as warm as previous days but will trend upwards as the region remains under the influence of a low pressure system.
Only residents will be allowed past the road closure at the intersection of Flower Creek Road and Granite Lake Road. There is a sheriff's deputy at this point. If you are not a resident please stay clear of the area so firefighting operations can continue and residents can return to their homes and property.
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.
The Goat Rock Complex is approximately 6,744 acres and is a collection of the following fires:
Klatawa (KNF): 3,758 acres Vimy (KNF): 47 acres
Berray Mtn. (KNF): 1,922 acres Chippewa (KNF): 231 acres
Pine Ridge (KNF): 1 acres Poplar Point (KNF): 741 acres
Dad (KNF): 44 acres
(Some acres are estimated due to inaccessibility of the fires and smoke hampering aviation mapping operations)
Yesterday’s Activities: Weather conditions were good for fire activity yesterday. The Klatawa fire grew to the south and east toward the Granite Creek trailhead. Evacuations were ordered in the area and crews worked to install fire line and other features to protect private property and other valued resources. Helicopter bucket operations on the east side of the fire did occur.
The Berray Mountain fire made a significant run to the North but did not require any evacuations or notices. The fire continues to slowly back down into the Highway 56 corridor. Fire crews used heavy equipment to install fireline along the south and west sides of the Berray Mountains to provide structure protection.
The Vimy, Dad, 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 monitoring the pre-evacuation areas. Wildland firefighters will also continue to assess options for checking and containing the Klatawa fire which is projected to move east.
Additional fire engines continue to arrive from as far away as Arizona and New Mexico. With cooler temperatures, which should moderate fire behavior, crews are hopeful that today will be a productive day for taking strategic action on these fires.
Forecasted Weather: Today’s weather will still be windy but with much cooler and wetter conditions. Excellent chances for wetting rains exist which should help with smoky conditions in the area as well as keep fire behavior minimal. The upper level flow will move to the west by Sunday night leaving drier conditions and continued cooler temperatures Warmer weather will start moving back into the area later next week.
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.:
1. Operating any internal combustion engine.
2. Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
3. 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/.
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