Fire start tree
Tree that was hit by lightning and the likely start of the Peoples Creek Fire
Photo Credit: Risa Lange-Navarro
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Tamarack Fire
Light fire activity on Saturday, August 19 on the Tamarack ridgetop.
Photo Credit: Steve Croy
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Feller-Buncher
A feller-buncher removes trees along a roadway to secure the perimeter of the fire.
Photo Credit: Incident
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Tamarack & People Creek Fire update – Aug. 20, 2017
August 21, 2017
Peoples Creek Fire: 77 acres, 95% contained, mop-up
Tamarack Fire: 407 acres, 50% contained
The Tamarack and People’s Creek wild fires are burning on the Kootenai National Forest and Weyerhaueser lands southeast of Libby. The Tamarack and Peoples Creek fires were detected on Saturday, August 12, 2017, caused by lightning. Fire suppression responsibilities fall to Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). The strategy for both fires is full suppression. Incident Commander is Diane Hutton.
The People’s Creek Fire is located about six air miles east of Libby and three air miles south of the Canoe Gulch Ranger Station, in the Fisher River drainage. It is currently about 78 acres and is 90% contained. Crews are continuing to mop-up and extinguishing hot spots within the fire perimeter and patrolling for heat that could cause spot fires.
The Tamarack Fire is the bigger fire, 407 acres, 50% contained. It is located about ten air miles southeast of Libby, nine miles northeast of Happy’s Inn and Hwy 2. It is about 2 miles east of Calx Mountain Lookout, between Wolf Creek and the Pleasant Valley Fisher River. High humidity and extensive cloud cover have helped to keep this fire relatively quiet. Fire crews are continuing to build fire line around the perimeter, putting out hot spots, and doing mop up. Crews constructed a heli-spot on the remote south end to facilitate delivery of supplies and to provide an evacuation area in the event of an injury. There is a temporary road closure in effect in the area. Tamarack Fire Road Closure map
Total Resources:
274 Personnel
8 Hand Crews
10 Engines
17 Heavy Equipment (dozers, skidgines, water tenders)
1 Type 1 Helicopter
2 Type 2 Helicopters
1 Type 3 Helicopter
State and Montana Army National Guard helicopters will continue to assist with water bucket drops, when needed.
FIRE INFORMATION
(406) 647–0407
Tamarackfire2017@gmail.com
INCIWEB:
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5498
FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/Tamarackfire/
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