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Home : Fire Information : Robert Fire : Morning Update

Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest Fires
Robert Fire-Trapper Creek, Middle Fork
and Rampage Fire Complexes

For fire information, contact the Joint Information Center
406-755-3910
www.fs.fed.us/nwacfire

Robert Fire Information 406/892-0946
For Road Closure & Evacuation Information:
Flathead County OES Public Information Line: 406/758-5606

Headlines

Within the complexes, 8 fires continue to burn for a total of 111,396 acres. Light rain fell throughout the area beginning early this morning, and today’s forecast calls for a continued chance of showers. A weather front is expected to move through the area today. Suppression priorities are to prevent fire from crossing the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and to diminish the threat to structures in Pinnacle and Essex; to stop the westerly spread of the Middle Fork fires towards West Glacier; and to keep the Rampage Complex from spotting over the Continental Divide.

ROBERT FIRE: The Robert Fire is located in Flathead County, about 8 miles north of Columbia Falls, Montana. Crews on the Robert Fire will be working west of the North Fork Road, mopping up hot spots and dropping snags. Active surface fire could continue to burn in the Camas Creek area and throughout the northeast end of the fire.

• Today’s Reported Acreage: 57,570 acres.
• Yesterday’s reported acres: 57,570
• Containment: 60%
• Expected Date of Containment: 10/01/2003
• Date started and cause: Started July 23 at about 4:30 pm; cause under investigation

RAMPAGE COMPLEX: These fires started 15 miles east of West Glacier, Montana, north of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Crews will raft across the Middle Fork of the Flathead River to work on the Rampage complex as the fires continue to move slowly downhill toward the Middle Fork of the Flathead River.

• Today’s Reported Acreage: 23,497 acres (Double Mountain – 22,967 acres; Riverview - 530 acres)
• Yesterdays reported acres: 23,497
  Containment: 0%
• Expected Date of Containment: 10/01/2003
• Date started and cause: Started August 19 at 10:00 pm; lightning

MIDDLE FORK COMPLEX: This complex is located three miles east of West Glacier, Montana, north of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. The fire should continue to slowly move downhill toward the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Helicopter work will support firefighters working in hot areas of the fire, and rehabilitation efforts are underway near Lincoln Creek. The Nyack Creek area continues to hold heat.

• Today’s Reported Acreage: 11,179 acres (All three fires have grown together).
• Yesterday’s reported acres: 10,977.
• Containment: 5%
• Expected Date of Containment: 10/01/2003
• Date started and cause: Started August 19 at 10:00 pm; lightning.

TRAPPER CREEK COMPLEX: The Trapper Creek Complex is located in Flathead County 45 miles northeast of Kalispell, Montana in Glacier National Park Crews will monitor the Trapper Creek fire, and a helicopter will work underneath Trapper Creek Falls.

• Today’s Reported Acreage: 19,150 acres.
• Yesterdays reported acres: 19,150 (Trapper Creek fire).
• Containment: 45 %
• Expected Date of Containment: 10/01/2003
• Date started and cause: started July 16 at about 2:00 am; lightning.

FIREFIGHTING RESOURCES
The Robert complex of fires has the following resources: 20-Person Fire Crews – 7; Helicopters – 6; Engines – 21; Water tenders – 12; Total Personnel – 519
Firefighting resources will continue to be moved to priority areas within the complexes, as the situation requires.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
An update on the Robert complex of fires will be presented at the Blackfoot Lake Complex public meeting on Friday, September 12 at 7:00 p.m., at the Canyon Elementary School in Hungry Horse.

WEATHER
A chance of rain returns to today’s forecast. Skies will remain mostly cloudy throughout the day with winds increasing late in the afternoon. The relative humidity will be in the 45% to 55% range, and temperatures are expected to reach the mid-60s. Winds will be southwest to west.

COOPERATORS
Blackfeet Nation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Canadian Park Service, National Park Service, National Weather Service, Department of Defense, Montana DNRC, Montana National Guard, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, the Flathead County Office of Emergency Services, Fire Departments of Flathead County, Burlington Northern Railroad.

RESTRICTIONS AND CLOSURES
National Park Areas: The temporary no-stopping restriction on the Going to the Sun Road has been lifted; it is open from West Glacier to St. Mary. However, there are several closures and restrictions of trails and facilities within Glacier National Park. For more information and up to date conditions, contact the park at 406-888-7800 or check www.nps.gov/glac/
National Forest Areas: The burned area between Big Creek and Glacier Rim remains closed to public use, including the North Fork road and National Forest lands on the west side of the road. For more information, contact the Forest Service Ranger Station at 406-387-3800.

• The Middle Fork River is open; however, there is no use on the Glacier National Park side of the river from the Paola river access site to West Glacier river access site.
• The North Fork of the Flathead River from Sondreson Meadow to Big Creek is open. It is mandatory that the public must take out their watercraft at Big Creek. The river remains closed below Big Creek and from the Canadian border to Sondreson Meadow.

Other Areas: U.S. 2 is open; however, stopping is not allowed between West Glacier and the flashing sign at the Cascadilla river access.