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Crazy Horse Fire |
August 29, 2003 8:30 a.m.
Contact: Information Officers Ted Pettis, Joe Stringer, & Sarah Cooper
Fire Information; Hours 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.: 406-754-4620
What: Wildland fire, lightning-caused
Started: August 10, 2003
Location: Eight miles south of Condon, MT
Latitude/ Longitude: 47 25’ 1” by 113 49’ 55” in Missoula County
Jurisdiction: Flathead National Forest & Montana–DNRC
Cooperating Agencies: Swan Valley Fire Company, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Plum Creek Timber Co.
Current size: 10,200 acres Containment: 50%
Estimated Containment Date: unestimated
Structures Threatened: none at this time
All evacuation orders for the Swan Valley homes associated with the Crazy Horse Fire have been lifted.
Injuries to date: 2
Resources on Fire: There are 410 people, including nine 20-person hand crews, assigned to the fire. Equipment includes five helicopters, twenty-eight engines/water tenders, and sixteen pieces of heavy equipment. A Northern Rockies Incident Management Team from North Idaho, under the leadership of Incident Commander Allen Chrisman, is assigned to manage this fire. The IMT will continue to provide initial attack response and support on the Flathead National Forest and Montana-DNRC, as agreed. The Incident Command Post is located on the Gordon Ranch property, 8 miles south of Condon, MT.
Yesterday’s Activity: All fireline construction and necessary burnout operations have been completed on the east flanks of the fire outside the Wilderness. These burnout operations created the needed ‘burned out’ buffer area of minimal fuels that firefighters will use as an anchor point to check the fires advance and provide a safety zone for future operational activities. Many portions have had extensive mop-up completed. The fire was active in upper Red Butte Creek but posed no treat to west ridge.
A public meeting hosted by Chrisman’s IMT at the Swan Valley Elementary School has been scheduled for Saturday, 8/30 at 6:30 p.m. to update community of the current fire situation.
Today’s Plan: A stronger high-pressure system will rebuild with a cool airmass from Canada moving into area. Cooler temperatures with moderate relative humidities will help crews with mop-up operations on the north, east, and south flanks of the fire outside of the Wilderness. Crews will continue to hold and improve all these constructed lines. Rehabilitation of firelines has begun on these portions of the fire area.
Crews and helicopters will work hotspots on the north and south portions on the west flank, inside the Wilderness. Burnout operations will begin at the head of Red Butte Creek today to help confine the fire in that drainage. The upper end of Hemlock Creek will be evaluated for similar opportunities to be implemented a few days later.
Special Concerns: Safety is always #1 among all firefighting agencies. Burned-through green trees and snags continue to be a hazard. Bees have just recently become a problem.
Prevention Message: The fire danger in western Montana is very high to extreme. All federal, state, and private lands have moved into Stage II fire restrictions effective Monday, July 28. These restrictions prohibit:
For additional information on this and other fires, Forest Closures, or Stage II fire restrictions, call the Northern Rockies Incident Information Office at 1-800-781-2811 or visit their website at www.fs.fed.us/r1/fire/2003fires.shtml or the Northwest Montana Area Command website at www.fs.fed.us/nwacfire
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