Thompson-Divide Complex fire Update – Aug. 27, 2015
Sheep and Granite Fires on the Flathead National Forest and the Thompson Fire in Glacier National Park
by Northern Rockies Type II Incident Management Team
August 27, 2015
Daily Fact Sheet Thursday, Aug. 27, 7:00 p.m.
Fire Information: (406) 387-4854/ (406) 314-1669, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Incident Commander: Irv Leach
Resources - Total Personnel: 335
Injuries: 1
Structures Lost: None
20-Person Hand Crews: 1 type 1 and 4 type 2, 1 Wildland Fire Management Module, 1 Helitack Crew (10)
Air Support: Helicopters (1 Type-1 & 2 Type-3),
Engines: 16
Heavy Equipment: 4
The Thompson-Divide Complex is comprised of the Sheep and Granite Fires on the Flathead National Forest and the Thompson Fire in Glacier National Park. The Sheep fire is the incident priority as it is approaching US Hwy. 2 and the BNSF railway and is threatening the community of Essex.
Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry has ordered a mandatory evacuation of Essex and the surrounding area because of increased activity on the Sheep Fire. Sheriff’s Deputies have been contacting residents who are affected by this order. For more information on the evacuation, call the Flathead County Office of Emergency Services at 406-758-2111.
At this time, Highway 2 is closed and trains are not running. An evacuation center is being established by the American Red Cross at the West Glacier Elementary School. Call 511 or visit http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/alerts.shtml for current road status. For more information on Amtrak call 1-(800) 872-7245.
There will be a public meeting tonight at the West Glacier Elementary School at 8:00 p.m. It will be held in the gym of the school at 160 Old Bridge Road in West Glacier.
Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect for northwestern Montana.
Visit http://svc.mt.gov/deq/todaysair/ for air quality info.
Closures are in effect for some trails in the vicinity of the fires for Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest. For more info, please see the Glacier NP page http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm or for Flathead NF call Hungry Horse Ranger District (406) 387-3800.
Today saw increased fire activity on the Granite and Sheep fires due to increased winds and a partial lifting of the inversion. Weather conditions will be changing going into the weekend. A cold front is approaching, with dropping temperatures Sunday. In advance of this front, winds are expected to increase Friday and Saturday. There is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms with this advancing front. Winds will be from the southwest increasing to 15-20 mph with gusts of 25-35 on the ridges possible on Saturday. With the passage of the front, temperatures will drop 10-15 degrees with an increase in humidity.
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