Dahl Fire 8pm Update, 6-28-2012

Incident: Dahl Fire Wildfire
Released: 2 hrs. ago

Dahl Fire Update – June 28, 2012 8 p.m.

Contact: Fire Information Phone: 406-493-5934

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UPDATE: June 28, 2012 8:00 p.m.

FIRE NAME: Dahl Fire

DATE OF DETECTION: June 26, 2012

CAUSE: Lightning

CURRENT SIZE: 20,000 acres

CONTAINMENT: 25%

LOCATION: 12 miles southeast of Roundup, Montana

AGENCY: Montana Department of Natural Resources

IMT: Northern Rockies Incident Management Team, Incident Commander Greg Poncin

TODAY’S ACTIVITY: On the west end of the fire, firefighters successfully caught a 10-acre slop over and were firing out unburned vegetation between the fire and the fireline. Hand line and dozer line are being constructed on the north side of the fire in the Eagle Ridge Road area. On the south side of the fire, crews are currently working on another slop over and were assisted by aerial retardant and dozers during the day. The fire is burning in stringers of trees on the southeast side of the fire (west of US Highway 87), but generally not into the wheat fields. Firefighters are particularly concerned about the fire moving north and south from its current location. On the east side of U.S. Highway 87, crews are continuing mopup. On the Hawk Creek Fire crews mopped up 50-100 feet into the fire from the firelines.

Late in the afternoon, U.S. Highway 87 was re-opened for through traffic only.

Completion today of a property assessment within the fire perimeter has identified 64 structures lost in the fire, including 32 residences and one commercial building.

TOMORROW’S WEATHER AND PLANNED ACTIVITY: Crews will be working with skidgines and dozers as they continue line construction on the north side of the fire and anchor the west side of the fire. Stringers of pine trees on the south side of the fire will continue to be a concern until line is completed in that area, and will be another focus for tomorrow’s work. East of U.S. Highway 87 crews will continue mopup operations.

On the Hawk Creek Fire, engines will be provided to support local resources in their continuing mopup operations. Tomorrow’s weather forecast calls for similar temperatures (low 90’s) and low humidity.

PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES ON THE FIRE: There are currently 228 fire personnel assigned, including three 20-person crews, 5 helicopters, 28 engines and one skidgine. An additional Type 1 twenty-person crew arrived this evening and will be available for work on the fire tomorrow. Three additional skidgines have been ordered.

SPECIAL CONCERNS: Additional vehicle traffic as a result of opening US Highway 87 will become a major safety issue as firefighters and equipment enter and exit side roads from the highway. Steep rugged terrain, heavy fuels and numerous snags will remain as safety concerns for fire crews.

CLOSURES: The temporary flight restriction (TFR) for the fire area has been increased to 10 miles around the fire perimeter and 10,000 feet above the fire in order to safeguard aerial operations.

SPECIAL MESSAGES: Local law enforcement will be patrolling the fire area and asks those residents not directly affected by the fire to refrain from entering the area to ensure their safety. Those traveling on Highway 87 should heed the 35 mph speed limit and refrain from stopping or pulling off to the roadside.

For the latest closure details, fire information, along with maps and photos visit http://www.inciweb.org, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dahlfire or on the Roundup DES Facebook page.