Incident: Ash Creek Complex Wildfire
Released: 1936 HOURS CST
Greg Poncin
Incident Commander
FIRE UPDATE
Southeastern Montana Complex
Update: July 10, 2012@ 8 pm
Contact: SE Montana Complex Fire Information
Phone: Fire Information 406-493-5934
406-521-0367
541-554-5293
406-748-3182
FIRE NAME: Ash Creek Fire
START DATE: June 25, 2012
CURRENT SIZE: 249,562 acres
CONTAINMENT: 100%
CAUSE: Lightning
FIRE NAME: Taylor Creek Fire
DATE OF DETECTION: July 3, 2012
CAUSE: Unknown
CURRENT SIZE: 62,134 acres
CONTAINMENT: 85%
LOCATION: Started 12 miles southeast of Ft Howes, Montana
AGENCY: Custer National Forest jurisdiction; Bureau of Land Management fire protection
FIRE NAME: Powerline Fire
DATE OF DETECTION: July 3, 2012
CAUSE: Unknown
CURRENT SIZE: 5,265 acres
CONTAINMENT: 100%
LOCATION: 25 miles west of Colstrip…..30 miles south of Hysham, Montana
AGENCY: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
FIRE NAME: Horse Creek Fire
DATE OF DETECTION: July 2, 2012
CAUSE: Unknown
CURRENT SIZE: 7,575 acres
CONTAINMENT: 100%
LOCATION: 25 miles west of Colstrip….30 miles south of Hysham, Montana
AGENCY: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
FIRE NAME: Coal Seam Fire
DATE OF DETECTION: June 25, 2012
CAUSE: Unknown
CURRENT SIZE: 527 acres
CONTAINMENT: 100%
LOCATION: 5 miles northwest of Busby, Montana
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs
TODAY’S ACTIVITY:
The Ash Creek, Horse Creek, Powerline and Coal Seam fire are now 100% contained. Today, firefighters on the Taylor Creek fire and the Ash Creek fires continued mop-up and patrolling along fire lines. Rehab of dozer lines continues on the Ash Creek fire. Burned Area Emergency Rehab (BAER) teams are also surveying National Forest System lands and Bureau of Land Management lands for rehab needs. A Rapid Response Group will be available for any initial attack in the immediate area of the fire complex.
Tomorrow, a red flag warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for all of the fire areas in the complex. High temperatures, low relative humidity and wind shift associated with a passing cold front will blanket the area. This front may bring increasing thunderstorm activity with gusty erratic winds, and a potential for lightning.
The Horse Creek, Powerline and Coal Seam fires are unstaffed but checked by air during the day.
PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES ON THE COMPLEX: There are a total of 553 personnel assigned to the fires in the complex, including 10 hand crews, 28 engines, 10 dozers, 5 water tenders, 3 helicopters and 2 skidgines.
CLOSURES: National Forest System lands remain closed north of US Highway 212 on the Ashland Ranger District. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) remains in place over the Taylor Creek fire area to safeguard aerial fire operations.
SPECIAL MESSAGES: Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg is organizing an informational meeting on Thursday, July 12 at 6:00 pm at the St. Labre School auditorium in Ashland. Rehberg has invited representatives from the Farm Service Agency, Bureau of Land Management, U. S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and National Resource Conservation Service. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information to affected livestock owners on what resources are available to help them recover from the fires and prevent further losses and damages. Congressman Rehberg’s staff will facilitate the meeting.
US Highway 212 is open. Travelers should also be cautious of increased fire traffic on Montana State Highways 484 (to Fort Howes) and 39, including through the community of Colstrip where the incident command post is located.
Feed and water for livestock is extremely important to landowners for the recovery effort and locally that effort is being coordinated by the Powder River DES Coordinator Becky McEuen who can be reached 406-853-4284 or call the Powder River Extension Office at 406-436-2424.
Visit http://agr.mt.gov/agr/Producer/HayHotline/ for information on the availability of reduced-price or donated hay and pastures for landowners impacted by wildfires.
For further information on fires within the Complex, go to www.inciweb.org and click on Southeastern Montana Complex and Ash Creek fires.
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