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FLATHEAD NATIONAL FOREST

NEWS RELEASE

August 28, 2003                                                                                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                                                                Contact:  Dale Luhman 406-758-5376

Increased Fire Activity and Hotter Fire Weather Expands Bob Marshall Wilderness Closures

The Flathead National Forest is increasing the areas of closure on the Spotted Ranger District.  These additional closures are due to the increase in size of many fires over the past few days, anticipated weather, and the concern for public safety.

The existing closure from the northern section of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex Area, South Fork Flathead River Drainage from Mid Creek (3 miles south of Meadow Creek Trailhead), will be expanded to include the remainder of the wilderness portion of the South Fork Flathead River drainage on Spotted Bear Ranger District. 

This closes Gorge Creek Trail 218, Lion Creek Pass Trail 25, the rest of Little Salmon Trail 29, and the rest of East Side Trail 80.  Up the Spotted Bear River drainage Spotted Bear River Trail 83, Trails 87, 173, 177, 359, 92, 143, 90, 229, 447, as well as the upper end of White River Trail112 and 176 are also closed.

Outside of the wilderness on the Spotted Bear Ranger District, the West Side Road 895 remains closed because of numerous fires.  The East Side Road 38 closed last night because of fires that spotted across the East Side Road near Abbot and Emery Bay from the Doris Beta fires.

We are accommodating public use in the open areas as best we can, but we are also concerned with public safety during these extreme conditions.

Trails and areas affected by the fires will be reopened as soon as trail crews can remove debris and ensure that traveling in the area is safe.  Current maps of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex trail closures can be found at the websites below.

For more information about closures associated with these fires, please call the Spotted Bear Ranger District at 406-758-5376 or visit the following websites:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/flathead/fire/new/fire_index.htm

http://www.fs.fed.us/nwacfire/

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