Published Sunday, July 31, 2022, 1800 hours PT – NEW WILDFIRE!
==== INCIDENT SUMMARY ====
The ELMO FIRE is located off of Highway 28 around mile marker 39, west of Elmo, Montana, which started in the grass and then spread to nearby timber, north of the Highway on July 29th around 1600 hours.
The cause is unknown and under investigation.
==== PRE-EVACUATION ORDERS ARE IN PLACE ====
Pre-evacuation orders are in place for the residents south of Lake Mary Ronan Road and west of Highway 93.
The evacuation orders for Chief Cliff Estates were lifted earlier today.
==== PUBLIC COMMUNITY MEETING ====
A Public Community Meeting will be held on Monday, August 1, 2022, at 1900 hours (7pm) at the Elmo Pow Wow Ground on Highway 93.
==== CURRENT FIRE STATUS ====
“Yesterday, engine crews from local volunteer fire departments and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes were able to hold the fire north of Hwy 28. Smoke jumpers and hotshot crews worked the west and east sides of the fire as heavy machinery constructed indirect fireline. Multiple aircraft were utilized to support ground resources with water and retardant drops. The majority of the active fire was on the north/northwest end.
Today, firefighters will focus on areas where the fireline is located directly along the fire’s edge. On-the-ground efforts will include holding fireline currently in place, constructing direct fireline where possible, and scouting for future opportunities. Air resources will continue to aid firefighters on the ground with water and retardant drops.” – USFS
The wildfire has burned through 10,923 acres of grass and timber. It has a 0% containment status.
==== FIRE COMMAND ====
The Fire is being managed by a Type 2 IMT, the Northern Rockies Team 7 by Incident Commander (IC), John Thompson who assumed command today at 0600 hours.
==== INCIDENT COOPERATORS ====
CITY OF POULSON FIRE DEPARTMENT
FLATHEAD AGENCY (BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS)
POULSON MONTANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – ” This group includes crews from Chief cliff/ Tribal Division Fire Districts, Rollins Fire, Hot Springs Fire, Polson City and Rural Fire, Ronan, Fire, Finley Point/Yellow Bay Fire, and Mission Fire Departments. Aviation teams and Smoke Jumpers out of Missoula, Polson Ambulance, Tribal Police, and Lake County Sheriff’s Department are also assisting and joining in the effort to protect homes and property and keep people and animals safe.
Additionally, we have connected with Red Cross and will be providing free pancake breakfasts to the displaced families staying at Linderman. No donations or additional volunteers are needed at this time, but that may change depending on how the fire conditions and developments progress throughout the days ahead.
There is a tremendous group of firefighters and emergency services units in this county, and we are so very honored and grateful to call them our neighbors and friends.” (7/30/2022)
MISSOULA SMOKEJUMPERS – they are currently engaged on the fire line.
MARION FIRE DISTRICT AND DEPARTMENT – On Saturday, July 30th, Marion FD&D firefighters and resources responded last night (2136 hours) with additional Flathead County resources.
NCC HOTSHOTS – “RMFC/NCC Environmental Services Alpha and Bravo crews will be dispatched to the Elmo Fire that started on Friday evening local time. They will properly meet up with the CSKT crews and management who they previously worked with on the #RattleSnakeFire in 2018.”
SOMERS/LAKESIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT
UPPER WEST SHORE ALLIANCE – They are a nonprofit located along the Upper West Shore of the beautiful Flathead Lake in Montana.
==== SIGNIFICANT EVENTS ====
- Pyrotechnic cumulus clouds were observed on Friday evening, which exploded after merging with the Eagle Mountain Fire (media sources reporting).
=== HASHTAGS ====
Fire names being used by Social Media is ELMO FIRE and ELMO 2 FIRE.
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