Kootenai National Forest fire update – August 23, 2015
by Kootenai National Forest
August 23, 2015
LIBBY, MONTANA, 4:00PM, 8/23/15:
Lightning strikes from Friday evening and the early hours of Saturday morning ignited 10 new fires across the Kootenai National Forest, including one fire in the Libby Superfund Site. Aggressive initial attack kept all of these fires to less than one acre. Additional area closures have been put in place across the forest due to fire activity and more closure orders will be implemented in the coming days. Please visit the Kootenai National Forest website listed at the end of this release to view the complete collection of closures listed under alerts on the right side of the homepage.
For clarification purposes, when a fire is described as contained, that means that fire line has been constructed around the perimeter of the fire. It may still be actively burning, but it has a low likelihood of escaping the boundary imposed upon it. A fire is described as controlled when it is both contained and mopped up. This means that the fire is no longer burning actively, although fire personal continue to monitor it and crews may still be checking parts of the fire for hot spots that need additional work. When a fire is described as out, it has been completely suppressed and no longer requires staffing by fire personnel.
Following is an update on wildfire activity by district on the National Forest and state land:
Location: Trout Creek Ranger District
Jurisdiction: United States Forest Service
Fire Activity: Fires on the Kootenai included in the Clark Fork Complex experienced activity last night. Fire line constructed along the Bull River side of the fires was strengthened. An infra-red flight detected that the Napoleon1, Napoleon 3, Hamilton, and Star Gulch Fires have grown together to the west of Highway 56. The Government Fire has shown increased activity which may continue today. District employees and members of the local Type III Team continue to support the efforts of Hutton’s Type II Team managing the Clark Fork Complex. The Grizzly Complex, currently burning on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, may cross over onto the Trout Creek Ranger District today as well; it will continue to be managed by the Type II Team already assigned to it. The Kootenai National Forest 31374 US Highway 2 Libby, Montana 59923 Web: fs.usda.gov/kootenai News Release Media Contact: (406) 293-6211 wsykes@fs.fed.us Team and the Sanders County Sheriff’s Department are considering allowing evacuees from the Bull River area back into their homes at some point this week.
The Rocky Mountain Red Type II Team is now managing the Berray, Poplar Point, Chippewa, and Vimy Fires, as well as the Klatawa Fire on Libby District. All of these fires are in or near the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness and are now being referred to as the Goat Rock Complex. This complex is being supported by aircraft. The two new fires detected on the district are in or near the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness. The Berray 3 Fire and the Pine Ridge Fire are both 0.25 acres. Ground support is assisting with Berray 3 and air support is assisting with Pine Ridge.
Location: Rexford/Fortine Ranger District
Jurisdiction: United States Forest Service
Fire Activity: Crews are making good progress on their efforts against all fires in this complex. The Sunday Fire (52 acres) is in the mop-up stage and some resources may be able to transfer from this fire to the Marston Fire at some point today. Marston is holding at 3,200 acres, although the weather could cause an increase in activity; line construction is continuing. The Barnaby Fire (42 acres) continues to receive air support due to the steepness of the terrain it is burning in, making it too dangerous for ground crews.
Suppression efforts are continuing on the Ural 3, Pinto Point, and Tween Fires, as well as on the two new fires on the district, the Sterling Fire (0.2 acres) and the Notagain Fire (0.1 acres).
Location: Troy Ranger District
Jurisdiction: United States Forest Service
Fire Activity: The Tepee Mountain Fire is 307 acres and growing slowly. It is being managed by 17 fire fighters and equipment, although the terrain is too steep in some areas to use equipment effectively. Tankers are dropping fire retardant on it today. The Caribou Fire is 75% contained with fire fighters managing it today. The Cyclone Fire is contained and continues to be monitored. A closure order for Ross Creek Cedars, Bad Medicine Campground, and Little Spar Lake will be put into effect in the next 24 hours due to activity on the Sawtooth Fire (2,129 acres) which is being managed as part of the Clark Fork Complex.
Due to Stage II fire Restrictions and current fire conditions; the Troy Gun Range is closed until further notice.
Location: Libby Ranger District
Jurisdiction: United States Forest Service
Fire Activity: The district detected one new lightning caused fire in the Libby Superfund Site. This fire received aggressive initial attack with fire line constructed yesterday and more being constructed today. The Rocky Mountain Red Type II Team is now managing the Klatawa Fire as part of the Goat Rock Complex. The Rocky Mountain Red Team has a fire camp set up at J. Neil’s Park, but the park is still open to the public.
Due to Stage II fire Restrictions and current fire conditions; the Libby Gun Range is closed until further notice.
Location: State Office, Libby
Jurisdiction: Department of Natural Resources
Fire Activity: The state office detected four new fires yesterday, including Snell (0.5 acres), Horseshoe (0.1 acres), South Portal (0.1 acres), and Tamarack (0.1 acres). South Portal is contained, Tamarack and Snell are controlled, and Horseshoe is completely out.
Updates will be released as more information becomes available.
To register for the Lincoln County Emergency Alert system, visit: http://www.lincolncountymt.us/
Kootenai Interagency Dispatch Website
http://gacc.nifc.gov/nrcc/dc/mtkdc/INDEX.HTM
InciWeb – Wildfire Information
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/27/
Kootenai National Forest
http://www.fs.usda.gov/kootenai/
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