Updated:  8/1/13  – 2000 (MST) Hours

FACT SHEET

For Immediate Release Fire Information: (406) 859-6005

August 1, 2013 8 p.m. Office hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Incident: Wildland fire, lightning-caused, reported on July 25, 2013

Location: 18 miles southeast of Philipsburg, MT and 15 miles west of Georgetown Lake, MT

Jurisdiction: Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests

Cooperating Agencies: Other cooperating entities include the Philipsburg Volunteer Fire Department, Montana DNRC, American Red Cross, Granite County Sheriff and DES.

Incident Commander: Shawn Pearson, Northern Rockies Type II Incident Management Team (IMT).

Current Size: 3,400 acres Containment: 30%

Strategy: Full Suppression Structures Threatened: 30

Structures Lost: 0 Structure Protection: Implemented

Today’s Activity: Overcast skies with periods of rain aided fire crews in expanding containment to 30%. By early afternoon, extensive rain with gusty winds and lightning prevailed over the area. Precipitation averaged 0.29 inches across the fire. Crews extended fireline construction along the northeast and southeast flanks of the fire. The northwest and southwest flanks are in mop-up stage. Air support stood down today due to weather forecasts predicting high winds. Firefighters continued to patrol for potential spot fires.

Current Resources: The number of firefighters on the incident is 562. Resources assigned includeseventeen crews, six helicopters, sixteen engines, five water tenders, two dozers, four skidgines, and four feller bunchers support personnel.

Planned Actions: Friday’s forecast is for continued cloud cover with short periods of rain. Cooler temperatures and increased cloud cover will moderate fire behavior facilitating fireline construction and increased containment. Weather permitting; crews will continue fireline construction on the northeast and southeast flanks of the fire moving towards the east. Initial attack resources will be available to put out new fires that could result from predicted thunderstorms.

Special Messages/Closures: The Evacuation Order issued on July 28th by the Granite County Sheriff is still in effect. The Evacuation Order affects the Middle Fork Road, south of the junction with Forest Service Road 5130. Displaced Evacuees may call the Department of Emergency Services at (406) 360-1626. An evacuation shelter has been established at Granite High School in Philipsburg. The fire area is under a Forest Closure Order No. 2013-D8-029 because of concerns for public health and safety. The following trails within the closure area are closed: 8109, 8020, 8162, 8019, and 8161. Trail 313 is open; however, NF lands within the above described boundary to the north of Trail 313 are closed.

For further information, visit: www.inciweb.nwcg.gov; Select “Moose Meadows”

 

2013  The NW Fire Blog