Bear Creek Fire Update 8/16/15

Release Date: Aug 16, 2015

Bear Creek Fire Update
August 16, 2015 -- 10:30am
Fire Information -- 406/758-3458

FIRE SUMMARY
The Bear Creek Fires are the non-wilderness fires located near Spotted Bear, in the Flathead National Forest. Other fires are burning on the Spotted Bear Ranger District within the wilderness as well. Management actions will be taken to confine the fires where appropriate and as resources are available, with firefighter and public safety as a priority, as well as to minimize impacts to recreationists, the local outfitter & guides and resorts, and the Spotted Bear Ranger Station facilities.Location: Spotted Bear MT, 53 miles south of Hungry Horse, MT. Bear Creek is approximately 5.5 miles southwest of Spotted Bear.

Legal Description: T24N, R16W, Sec 13
Lat/Long: 47° 50.826 x 113° 35.346
Detected: August 12, 2015, with continuing new starts through August 15th Cause: Lightning
Total Acres: 2741.24 Total Containment: 0%
Resources Assigned: Total Personnel: 24; 1 helicopter, 1 dozer and 1 excavator, and 1 water tender. Multiple resources area being loaned to the fire on a day by day basis.

FIRE STATUS
Yesterday, August 15th, the fires had mild to moderate fire behavior due to the cooler weather in the area. Firefighters were sent to staff the highest priority fires, and a helicopter was used to shuttle supplies and equipment. Today, August 16th, firefighters and heavy equipment will be used to staff and build fire line on the highest priority fires, as well as remain prepared to staff new start fires and support the wilderness fires in the area as needed. Monitoring of unstaffed fires will continue. Road, trail and area closures are in place. Multiple other fires are burning on the Spotted Bear Ranger District, including in the upper Middle Fork and upper South Fork. There were 3 new starts which were holdovers from the August 14th lightning storm.

Bear Creek Fire – Size: 200 acres Status: Monitor. This fire is burning in the 2000 Chipmunk Creek Fire area. Trail closures in place.
Cinnabar Creek Fire – Size: 1/4th acre Status: Staffed with one module of firefighters constructing fire line.
Late Creek Fire – Size: 1 acre Status: Active fire behavior, 6 person fire module working to build fire line.
Trail Creek Fire – Size: 2500 acres Status: Monitor and prevent fire from crossing the Spotted Bear River Road. Road, trail, and area closures in place.
Flat Creek Fire – Size: 40 acres Status: Use an excavator and dozer to improve access to the fire and build fire line, along with firefighters building fire line by hand.

CLOSURES
- The Spotted Bear River Road #568 is closed, as well as the trailheads and trail systems which start from this road.
- An extensive area closure for the Trail Creek Fire is in place in the upper Middle Fork from the Spotted Bear River Road and the Eastside Reservoir Road around Upper and Lower Twin Creek, eastward to Dolly Varden Creek.
- Trail closures are in place for the Bunker Creek Trail system and Chipmunk Creek Trail.
- A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place, 4 nautical miles around the Bear Creek Fire. This does not affect the public airstrips in the area.

Bear Creek Fire Update 8/16.pdf