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Contact: Flathead National Forest, Spotted Bear Ranger District,
406.758.5376.
Little Salmon Creek Fire Complex Information Incident Command Post:
406.758.5376 and www.fs.fed.us/r5/fire/ciimt5/ac/
What: Wildfire, lightning-caused
Started:
- Little Salmon - July 16, 2003. Reported on July 18, 2003
- Pagoda – July 16, 2003. Detected on July 20, 2003.
Location:
- Little Salmon - About 25 miles south of Spotted Bear Ranger Station, along
the South Fork Flathead River 1 mile north of the Little Salmon Creek junction
stretching south 7 miles to Scarface Creek.
- Pagoda – About 25 miles southeast of Spotted Bear Ranger Station, just
east of Pagoda Mountain, on the divide between the South Fork Flathead River
and White River.
Legal Description: Portions of T22N, R14W and R13W; and T21N, R14W,
and R13W, in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.
Current Size:
- Little Salmon, approximately 14,300 acres.
- Pagoda – approximately 151 acres.
Containment: not applicable. This is a Wildland Use Fire that is being
managed for resource benefits in the Wilderness.
Estimated Containment Date: not applicable.
Threats to Human Life/Safety: Trail and river closure order along the
main South Fork Flathead River drainage and side trails from Mid Creek south 35
miles to Brownstone Creek south of Big Prairie effective since August 4, 2003.
Resource Effects: This is a natural ignition and is being managed and
monitored to promote natural processes in the Wilderness. Short term effects on
Recreation, Fisheries, Class 1 Air shed, and Wild & Scenic River Corridor.
Injuries in the last 24 hours: None
Jurisdiction: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service - Flathead
National Forest, Spotted Bear Ranger District.
Other Cooperating Agencies: National Park Service crew from
California.
Resources on Fire: 10 person Wilderness Fire Use Team (Cook) has
prepared short and long term analysis for the fire and was managing the fire
under area command effective 8/5. Rath Wilderness Fire Use Team assumed command
of complex 8/7 6 pm. District and other resource overhead and field people doing
visitor contact, patrol, structure protection for a total of approximately 77
personnel directly related to this fire complex.
Remarks:
- 8/8 ~14,300 acres estimated. On south end of Little Salmon Fire, east and
west edges show the most heat. Structure protection work complete at Black
Bear. Structure protection work to begin on Shaw, Pendant, Hahn and Basin
Cabins tomorrow. Some Creek grew to 150 acres. Una and Charlotte are still
spots. New lightning starts discovered on Gordon Creek, Independence Park,
Salmon Point, and Limestone. 77 people on fire. Non-wilderness fires on Cedar
Creek, Lake, North Lake, and Divine Peak. The first 3 were suppressed today.
- 8/8 151 acres Pagoda – little change in fire. More precipitation in the
past few days has slowed progress of fire.
- 8/7 ~14,300 acres estimated. On south end of Little Salmon Fire, east and
west edges grew maybe 100 acres. New fire starts discovered on Charlotte, Some
Creek, and Una. Dick Rath Wilderness Fire Use Management Team assumed command
of complex. Structure protection work complete at Indian Point and Rock Creek
Cabins. Work almost completed at Black Bear and Big Prairie. 44 people on
fire.
- 8/6 ~14,300 acres estimated, winds up to 49 mph blew last night, with
0.24" rain at Big Prairie and 0.10" at Spotted Bear. Little Salmon not much
increase in size. 44 people on fire. Lightning caused starts in wilderness at
Meadow Mountain, Cathedral, and 2 on Black Bear Mountain. Non-wilderness fires
on Stoney Mountain and Horse Ridge. All are suppression fires.
- 8/6 151 acres Pagoda – little change in fire. Lookouts flown into Pagoda
Mountain to monitor fire.
- 8/5 11,789 acres (net decrease in acres due to better mapping) Little
Salmon Creek - fire grew slightly west, north of Holbrook Creek, and east on
Pine Creek. Crews continue implementing structure protection plans on Big
Prairie and Indian Point Cabin.
- 8/5 151 acres Pagoda – little change in fire. Crews are in the process of
implementing structure protection plans at Rock Creek Cabin.
- 8/4 12,564 acres (+339) lower temperatures dropped into the 70s, light
rain, and higher humidity’s slowed growth. 36 people on fire planning,
monitoring, patrolling, and structure protection. Crews have finished wrapping
Black Bear and Salmon Forks administrative cabins, and Little Salmon Creek
Bridge; and set up sprinkler systems on Big Salmon Creek and Black Bear
bridges. Crews are in the process of implementing structure protection plans
at Big Prairie and Indian Point Cabin.
- 8/4 Little Pagoda has grown to 151 acres and continues to grow slowly
downhill and is ˝ mile from White River Trail #112. Crews are in the process
of implementing structure protection plans at Rock Creek Cabin.
- 8/3 12,225 acres (+5,753) late night winds on 8/2 shifted and blew fire to
the southeast, grew 4 miles and went south past Holbrook and Woodfir Creeks,
and 1 mile past White River. Fire burned Holbrook Cabin.
- 8/2 6,472 acres (+909) grew south to Lamoose Creek.
- 8/1 5,563 acres (+2,602) grew north ad west, south to the eastern edge of
Big Salmon Lake. Burned through Salmon Forks Cabin site. Wrapped cabin and Big
Salmon Creek suspension bridge survived.
- 7/31 2,961 acres (+578) grew north to Damnation Creek.
- 7/30 2,383 acres (+812) grew a little south and north.
- 7/29 1,571 acres (+1,437) grew across Little Salmon Creek, across the
South Fork Flathead River and mostly stopped burning east after fire ran into
the 2000 Lewis Creek 2 Fire.
- 7/25 134 acres, grew down to Little Salmon Creek and South Fork Flathead
River.
- 7/21 Pagoda Fire detected just north of Pagoda Mountain.
- 7/18 Little Salmon Creek Fire detected just south on ridge at mouth of
Little Salmon Creek.
- 7/16 Little Salmon Creek and Pagoda Fires started by lightning.
Community meetings: none scheduled.
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Little
Salmon Creek Complex