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Flathead National Forest |
News Release |
September 6, 2003 7:00 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dale Luhman 406-758-5376
Fire Activity Closes Areas in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex
The Flathead National Forest is closing the Danaher Area in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Also, the Lewis and Clark National Forest is closing the Upper South Fork Sun River Area west of Benchmark Trailhead. These closures are effective September 7. These areas were open for the past 24 hours. The activity of all of the fires was assessed this morning. The Gordon Fire increased Friday night September 5 from about 2,000 acres to over 9,000 acres. The fire moved 3-4 miles to the east and south, about one mile east of Youngs Creek Ford. We are re-instituting these closures for public safety. We are asking all of those people currently in the backcountry in these areas to leave. We will continue to evaluate the fire activity and areas that might be reopened or closed on a daily basis.
On the Flathead National Forest, in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex Area, the entire South Fork Flathead River drainage, as well as the Spotted Bear River and Dean Creek drainages, are closed to entry. The Middle Fork of the Flathead River drainage remains open and is accessible from Highway 2 and from east side trailheads. Outside of the wilderness on the Spotted Bear Ranger District, the West Side Road 895 and East Side Road 38 remain closed because of numerous fires.
Also on the Lewis and Clark National Forest on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District, 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. The rest of the Rocky Mountain Ranger district remains open.
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.
In areas that are open for public use, for those visitors intending to use self-contained wood stoves, a permit is needed to camp in areas west of the continental divide on the Spotted Bear, Hungry Horse, 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 the actual use of woodstoves are the same west and east of the continental divide 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.
We are aware that everyone is anxious to access hunting areas for bow season that began today, September 6 and early rifle season that begins 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 will open these areas when we are assured that there is a minimal safety risk.
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