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Crazy Horse Fire |
September 2, 2003 8:00 a.m.
Contact: Information Officers Ted Pettis & 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: 11,100 acres Containment: 70%
Estimated Containment Date: 9/15/03
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: 3
Resources on Fire: There are 260 people, including three 20-person hand crews, assigned to the fire. Equipment includes five helicopters, eighteen engines/water tenders, and thirteen 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 within the Flathead National Forest and Montana-DNRC protection areas, as agreed. The Incident Command Post is located on the Gordon Ranch property, 8 miles south of Condon, MT.
Yesterday’s Activity: The north, south, and east flanks of the fire are contained. Many portions have had extensive mop-up completed, crews continue to patrol and mop-up those areas.
In the upper reaches of Hemlock Creek, the fire reached the trigger point of being west of Hemlock Lake, which made it necessary to implement an additional burnout operation. A burnout was accomplished in lighter fuels that will likely, when utilizing natural barriers, become a portion of the containment line on the west flank.
At the head of Red Butte Creek, aerial ignition was applied below the 300-foot wide area ignited during the burnout operation on August 29. These burnout actions have been successful in helping further secure the west flank of the fire, inside the Wilderness.
A public meeting, hosted by Chrisman’s IMT, was held last night at the Swan Valley Community Center to update the community on the current fire situation and how the Hemlock Creek burnout operation went on September 1st.
Today’s Plan: A stronger high-pressure system will rebuild bringing warmer temperatures with lower relative humidities. Crews will continue mop-up operations on the north, east, and south flanks of the fire. Rehabilitation of firelines continues on these portions of the fire area, outside the Wilderness. As weather conditions become warmer and dryer, expect to see isolated torching of trees in unburned interior islands in the coming days. These situations will be monitored and pose no threat to the fire perimeter.
With yesterday’s burnout near Hemlock Lake, helicopter water bucket drops will be used to cool and contain the west edge of burnout area.
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.
The Crazy Horse Fire Area Closure is still in effect, but the affected area is much smaller. A new map has been published by the Flathead NF to show the changes. Call the Condon Work Center @ 406-754-2295 for details or check the website listed below. Maps are also being posted at several bulletin boards throughout the Swan Valley.
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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