Lolo Peak Fire now 4792+ acres
The Lolo Peak Fire, burning northwest of Florence, was listed at 4,792 acres as of Monday afternoon. The lightning-caused fire started in remote backcountry in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness on July 15. Incident Commander is Greg Poncin of Northern Rockies Team 1. A total of 427 people are assigned to the fire, which has been spreading towards the Hwy 12 and Hwy 93 corridors, causing some concern. Crews on Monday were reinforcing retardant lines on the west ridge of South Fork Lolo Creek on the northern end.
Fire officials are still very concerned about the fire potentially crossing Lantern Ridge, at which time orders will be placed for additional line resources. The fire was noticeably more active on Monday and that increased activity was anticipated for Tuesday, with the wind expected to shift from west southwest to northeast, with hot, dry conditions to continue.
Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect for Missoula and Ravalli Counties and across the Lolo and Bitterroot National Forests.
Highway 12 remains open, but closures were amended on July 27 and now include the following roads and trails as well as those encompassed by the area closure intersecting with open roads and trails: Elk Meadow Road (NFSR #451) from Junction US Hwy 12 to the Clearwater National Forest Boundary, West Fork Butte Road (NFSR #37 ) from the West Fork Butte Lookout to the intersection with the Elk Meadow Road (NFSR #451), Mormon Peak Road (NFSR #612), South Fork Lolo Creek Road (NFSR #2160), Small Creek Road (NFSR #4292), West Fork Butte Trail (NFST #320), Mill Creek Trail (NFST #1310), Sweeney Trail (NFST #393), and Bass Creek Trail (NFST #4). For specific road, trail and area closure information visit the Inciweb website.
The temporary flight restriction has been expanded to include a much larger area surrounding the fire.
The fire is under the jurisdiction of the Lolo and Bitterroot National Forests and the Montana Department of Natural Resources (MTDNRC).
Residents in Ravalli County can download the Ravalli County Sheriff’s app to their mobile devices to receive critical information notifications. Missoula County residents can receive emergency notifications of critical alerts via their choice of text, phone and/or email by signing up at Smart911.com. Additional fire information is available by calling (406) 272-5433 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Other sources of information are website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5375/; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lolonationalforest/; Interactive Fire Map: http://tinyurl.com/yacsw2cv.
On the Bitterroot National Forest, firefighters responded to nine lightning caused wildfires last week. Due to the quick response of initial attack crews, all of the fires were kept small, under a half acre. Crews remained on one fire on Monday afternoon on the West Fork Ranger District. The ¼ acre Indian Hill fire is located seven miles NW of Nez Perce Pass. Due to its remote location, five firefighters had to be flown in by helicopter. The fire was expected to be contained late Monday.
Dominic Butte
Dominic Butte Fire did not grow in size over the weekend and remains at 55 acres. The lightning caused fire located on the Stevensville Ranger District in the Sapphire Mountains east of Corvallis is now 75 percent contained.
Fire activity is limited to hot spots on the northern edge of the fire in the old Dominic Point burn. Fire managers will continue utilizing helicopters for water drops to contain any active torching that occurs in this area.
Firefighters will continue monitoring the fire this week especially with the weather forecast calling for continued hot and dry conditions with active fire behavior on existing fires.
Closures remain in place for Willow Creek Road and area trails. The closure will be re-evaluated at the end of this week. For more information visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5396/
Tin Cup
Tin Cup Fire on the Darby/Sula Ranger District at the head of Tin Cup drainage remains at 35 acres in size. Smokejumpers have secured the fire by constructing line around it confining the fire into the rocks. The fire is being monitored daily by a remote camera and also by recon/air patrol flights. There are no structures threatened, but a closure remains in place for Tin Cup Trail #96.
White Cap & Vance Mountain
White Cap & Vance Mountain Fires are located on the West Fork Ranger District in Idaho’s Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness three miles west of Tin Cup Lake. The White Cap fire remains at 5 acres in size and Vance Mountain is now estimated at 70 acres. Both are lightning-caused and are remote with no access. They’re located in extremely steep, rugged, and rocky terrain. These fires are not staffed as firefighter safety is the number one priority and they are not threatening any structures. The fires are being managed for resource benefits and monitored by staffed lookouts and daily recon/air patrol flights.
Fire danger on the Bitterroot National Forest is “Very High”. When fire danger is very high, fires will spread rapidly and have a quick increase in intensity, right after ignition. Small fires can quickly become large fires and exhibit extreme fire intensity, such as long-distance spotting and fire whirls. The fires can be difficult to control and will often become much larger and longer-lasting fires.
Stage II Fire Restrictions went into effect in Ravalli County and on the Bitterroot National Forest last week. This means campfires and all other fires are prohibited along with operating motorized vehicles off designated trails. Firewood cutting is also prohibited after 1 p.m. and smoking is not allowed unless in enclosed vehicles, buildings, or flammable-free areas. Camping stoves (liquid petroleum) that can be turned on and off are allowed.
Continued hot and dry conditions are forecast for this week. A cold front was expected to move through on Tuesday night into Wednesday with wind gusts of 25-35 mph expected. The cooler temperatures and change in wind directions will have mixed results on smoke impacts across the region. According to the National Weather Service, Missoula has received no measurable rainfall in the month of July making it the driest July ever, since records began in 1893.
Following a weekend of increased fire activity, air quality worsened in many locations. On Monday, air quality in Hamilton was listed as “Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups.” This means active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
For the latest air quality information visit http://svc.mt.gov/deq/todaysair/. This site displays particulate concentrations and health effects including a daily Wildfire Smoke Update.
Much of the smoke southwest of Hamilton is coming from lightning caused wilderness fires burning in Idaho. The largest is the 2,850-acre Moose 1 Fire on the Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forest which doubled in size last week. Smoke from this fire is impacting Lost Horse Canyon and areas south of Lost Horse (Darby). For more information on this fire and other fires burning around us (Lolo Peak, Sapphire Complex, Meyers/Whetstone Fires) visit http://inciweb.nwcg.gov.
2017 BNF Fire Season
Firefighters have responded to and extinguished 42 wildfires on the Bitterroot National Forest this summer. Due to the quick response of crews, most fires were kept small — under 1 acre in size.
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
Even with last week’s lightning activity across much of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, new fires were minimal, with several being attacked and suppressed without significant growth. However, some fires remain from earlier storms.
Current fire status by district:
Lochsa/Powell Ranger District
The Hidden fire in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness is being managed as a long-term incident for resource benefit. Estimated at 15 acres, the Hidden fire is burning in the footprint of the 2007 42,000-acre Bridge fire. It is primarily burning in dead and downed material, with minimal fire activity.
For more information on fire activity or area closures on the Locsha/Powell Ranger District, call (208) 942-3113.
Moose Creek Ranger District
Three new fires have been detected in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. The Fry Pan 1 (.75 acre) and Fry Pan 2 (.1 acre) fires are in the Fry Pan Creek drainage, and Moe (.75 acre) fire is near Moe Peak. All are being monitored daily by air.
The Moose Creek 1 fire, immediately southeast of the historic Moose Creek Ranger Station, has grown to 2,850 acres, with most of the significant growth being in the Hell Creek drainage. Although some new heat was observed to the north along Moose Creek, no heat was found west of Moose Creek or Selway River. Visitors recreating on the Selway River should expect to see smoke and fire in the area of Moose Creek Ranger Station.
Two Wildland Fire Use modules are on site implementing a point protection strategy to protect buildings and bridges at and near the ranger station. In addition to wrapping structures and installing sprinklers around facilities, some small burnout operations may be conducted to protect structures.
The Mink Peak fire on Mink Peak is 108 acres, with the increase in acreage primarily to the south and southwest. The Lone Pine fire .25 miles west of Lone Pine Point in Marten Creek and 1.5 miles south of the Three Links bridges has grown to 1,715 acres with the most intense heat north of the fire, downslope to the Selway River and to the south end of the Lone Pine Creek drainage
Several trail closures, listed below, are in place for public health and safety.
Trail 4: From the Moose Creek Ranger Station to the junction of the 516 trail.
Trail 430: From the Moose Creek Ranger Station to the junction of the 435 Trail.
Trail 421: From Moose Creek Ranger Station north to the junction of the 620 Trail.
Trail 427: To the trail Junction at Freeman Peak (Junction of 427 and 430 trails).
Trail 438: From the Bridge on the Selway River to the junction with Trail 602.
Trail 436: Trail 436 to the junction of Trail 562.
Trail 626: Trail 626 to the junction of Trail 601.
Trail 555: Trail 555 to the junction of Trail 437.
For more information on fire activity or area closures on the Moose Creek Ranger District, call (208) 926-4258.
Red River Ranger District
The Rattlesnake Point fire in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness on the north side of the Salmon River between Rattlesnake Creek and Deer Creek is estimated at roughly 1500 acres. Fire activity has been minimal over the past several days. Sheep Hill Lookout has been wrapped to protect it from the fire.
Both the Ladder (2 acres) and Bleak (64 acres) fires, also in the Frank Church Wilderness and in the vicinity of Sheep Hill, have been quiet, with no significant growth.
All three fires are being managed for resource benefits using a point protection strategy. Visitors recreating on the Magruder Road and the Salmon River should expect to see smoke and fire in the area of Bargamin Creek drainage.
An area closure is in effect for public health and safety due to activity on the Rattlesnake Point fire. The area closure is described as follows:
Commencing at the intersection Trail 502 and Main Salmon River at Bargamin Bar traveling northeast along Trail 502 to junction of Trail 501, traveling southeast on Trail 501 to Main Salmon River, traveling west along Main Salmon River including Trail 96 back to the intersection at Bargamin Bar. Trail 576 and Trail 577 are within the Area Closure. Travel on these trails as well as the area bound by them, is prohibited.
NOTE: The Main Salmon River is open to the public for boat traffic along the closure area. River right and river left are open to all boat traffic and camping. River users should expect to see smoke and may encounter smoky conditions while on the river
For more information on fire activity or area closures on the Red River Ranger District, call (208) 842-2245.
For general fire information visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov
For information specific to the Moose Creek 1 fire, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5405
Know before you go – Fire and closure information will be posted on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests website at www.fs.usda.gov/nezperceclearwater. The current Fire Danger level across the forest is Very High.