 |
Crazy Horse Fire |
September 4, 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.
Resources on Fire: There are 260 people, including two 20-person hand crews, assigned to the fire. Equipment includes four helicopters, twenty engines/water tenders, and fourteen 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.
A transition plan is being developed to return fire suppression operations back to the Montana-DNRC and Flathead National Forest. A tentative date of Saturday, September 6, at 6 a.m. is being discussed.
Yesterday’s Activity: The north, south, and east flanks of the fire have been contained for several days now. Many portions have had extensive mop-up and fireline rehabilitation measures completed. Crews continue to patrol and mop-up, as necessary, in these areas.
Inside the Wilderness, a contain and confine suppression strategy utilizing natural barriers is being implemented on the west flank. The upper reaches of Hemlock Creek continue to burnout with isolated torching and creeping ground fire. A majority of this west flank is now considered contained.
A public meeting, hosted by Chrisman’s IMT, was held at the Swan Valley Community Center to update the community on the current fire situation. Approximately 31 residents attended.
Today’s Plan: A low-pressure system is beginning to build which has the potential to increase cloudiness with lower temperatures and higher relative humidities in the coming days, with some lightning potential.
Crews will continue patrolling and doing mop-up, as necessary, on all flanks of the fire. Rehabilitation of firelines continues on all flanks of the fire area. Helicopter water bucket drops will be used to cool hotspots as needed.
The last information meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the Swan Valley Community Center.
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 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
[ Back to Top ]