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Flathead National Forest |
News Release |
September 5, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dale Luhman 406-758-5376
Fire Activity Allows Some Areas to Reopen in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex
The Flathead, Lewis and Clark, and Helena National Forests are re-opening some of the areas in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex that have been closed due to fire activity. These re-openings are effective September 6. They are due to the slower growth of some of the fires over the past few days, anticipated cooler weather, lack of fires in some areas, while still being concerned for public safety.
On the Flathead National Forest, the existing closure from the northern section of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex Area, including the entire South Fork Flathead River Drainage on Spotted Bear Ranger District remains in effect. However a portion of the Danaher in the southeast section of the South Fork Flathead River will re-open. Also, in the Spotted Bear River drainage, generally the area north of Spotted Bear River outside of the Wilderness will be reopened, while the area south of Spotted Bear River remains closed. The Spotted Bear River drainage and Dean Creek drainage inside the Wilderness remain closed. Outside of the wilderness on the Spotted Bear Ranger District, the West Side Road 895 remains closed because of numerous fires. The East Side Road 38 and the east side of the Hungry Horse Reservoir remain open.
On the Lewis and Clark National Forest on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District, the Upper South Fork Sun River drainage area closure west of Benchmark Trailhead is rescinded. The Indian Creek and Ahorn area closure east of White River Pass remains closed. The Falls Creek Area north of the Snow Talon Fire remains closed.
On the Helena National Forest on the Lincoln Ranger District, the Scapegoat Wilderness west of Sourdough Creek and Trail 479 has reopened. The eastern portion of the Scapegoat Wilderness on the Lincoln Ranger District remains closed.
For those visitors intending to use self-contained wood stoves, a permit is needed for those people intending to camp in areas west of the continental divide on the Spotted Bear, Seeley Lake and Lincoln Ranger Districts. They are available at these district offices. A permit is not required on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District. The requirements for use of woodstoves are the same however. The stove must be in good working condition with no holes; a spark arrester with a mesh no larger than ¼ inch on the stovepipe is required, the camp shall have an axe, shovel, and bucket available for fire fighting; a location without fine fuels within 20 feet of the stove is required, but vegetation should not be dug up to achieve this; the camp shall be attended while the stove is in use; and if you can put your hand into the stove ashes without being burned, then you can leave the wood stove unattended.
More specifically on the Spotted Bear Ranger District, the Danaher Area that is reopened includes an area east of a line from Scintilla Mountain, Emerson Peak, Jumbo Mountain, Black Mountain, and Moser Mountain. Open trails include - East Side South Fork Trail 126 from Dry Fork Flathead Divide to the junction with Catchem Creek Trail 269, Camp Creek Pass Trail 233, Foolhen Creek Trail 142, Alloy Creek Trail 265 is open to 2 miles west of Grace Mountain, Rapid Creek Trail 139, and Bar Creek Trail 140.
In the Spotted Bear River Drainage, the main Spotted Bear River Road 568 is now open. Seasonal closures effective September 1st, close the road east of Beaver Creek Campground. Big Bill Road 9856 is also closed. Access is open to Blues Lakes at the end of the Spotted Bear River Road. South Creek Trailhead and the trails in the Middle Fork of the Flathead River in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex remain open. Access is open to Spotted Bear Lake. The South Fork Flathead River is open to float from Spotted Bear River down to the reservoir.
We are aware that everyone is anxious to access hunting areas for bow season September 6 and early rifle season September 15. We are accommodating public use in the open areas as best we can, but we are also concerned with public safety during these extreme conditions.
Trails and areas affected by the fires will be reopened as soon as trail crews can remove debris and ensure that traveling in the area is safe. Please be aware that your safety is our number one concern and that we can only open these areas when we are assured that there is no threat to public safety still exists.
Current
maps of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex trail closures can be found
at the websites below. For more information about closures associated with
these fires, please call the Spotted Bear Ranger District at 406-758-5376
or visit the following websites:
http://www.fs.fed.us/nwacfire/
http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/flathead/fire/new/fire_index.htm
http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/helena/news/index.shtml