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Crazy Horse Fire |
September 5, 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: 11,200 acres
Containment: 80%
Small incremental increases in fire size will occur daily as the fire creeps toward the scree slopes west of Hemlock Lake, well inside the pre-determined fire confinement area.
Estimated Containment Date: 9/15/03
Structures Threatened: none at this time
Injuries to date: 3
Resources on Fire: There are 200 people, including two 20-person hand crews, assigned to the fire. Equipment includes four helicopters, eighteen engines/water tenders, and eight 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 transition date of Sunday, September 7, at 6 a.m. has been set.
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 suppression strategy to contain and confine the fire utilizing natural barriers is being implemented on the west flank. The basin area west of Hemlock Lake continues to burnout with isolated torching and creeping ground fire. Helicopters continue to make water bucket drops on hotspots west of Hemlock Lake as needed to confine the fire inside the confinement area. A majority of this west flank is now considered contained.
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 in the Hemlock Lake area as needed.
The last public information meeting, hosted by Allen Chrisman’s IMT, 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 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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