Wedge Canyon Complex

News Release -August 2, 2003 at 7am

Incident Information Contacts:
(406)755-3910 (voice) and (406)755-3931 (fax)

FACT SHEET 15

Wildfire Update - Flathead National Forest

Contact: Flathead National Forest, Supervisor’s Office 406.758.5252,

Wedge Fire Information ICP 801.413.0525 www.fs.fed.us/r5/fire/ciimt5/ac/

JIC (Joint Information Center for all fires within Glacier N.P. and Flathead N.F.) 406.755.3910

What: Wildfire, lightning-caused

Started: July 18, 2003 reported 1:25 P.M.

Location: About 20 miles east of Eureka. Montana, and 6 miles south of the Canadian border, primarily in the Teepee Creek drainage of the North Fork Flathead River.

Legal Description: Portions of T36N, T37N, R22W and R23W

Current Size: Approximately 22,187 acres

Containment: 30%

Estimated Containment Date: Unknown

Threats to Human Life/Safety: Whale Creek Residents along the North Fork Road, Trail Creek Residents (approximately 50 homes/cabins), and Kintla Campground

Resources Threatened: Timber, Recreation, Fisheries, Class 1 Airshed, Wild & Scenic River Corridor and Private Property.

Injuries in the last 24 hours: One transport due to knee sprain.

Jurisdiction: USDA Forest Service (Flathead National Forest), Flathead County Fire Protection District

Other Cooperating Agencies: Montana DNRC, BIA, BLM, NPS, and Glacier National Park

Resources on Fire: 28 hand crews, 4 helicopter, 72 engines, 18 dozers, 15 water tenders, 4 feller bunchers, 6 skidders, 1 excavator, numerous support and overhead for a total of approximately 1,146 personnel.

Remarks: To date: 7 houses/cabins and 23 outbuildings were lost, and 1 house/cabin damaged.

Yesterday’s spot fire over the line on the NW corner will be today’s concentration for crews in Division A. Type 1 (Hot shots) crews continue to construct line in this area.
Firefighters plan to burnout between Teepee Creek and Whale Creek to establish a secure area.
Fireline rehabilitation of portions of the fire area is underway, and a Burned Area Evaluation Recovery team has been ordered to begin assessing longer term rehabilitation needs.
Air Support was not utilized yesterday due to the low inversion layer.
Water drops from Kintla Lake are planned to control the hot perimeters in that area of Glacier National Park.

Community meetings at 10:00 A.M. and 8:30 P.M. at Polebridge.

There is no scheduled meeting for the Wedge & Robert Fires today at Columbia Falls.

Glacier National Park
P.O. Box 128
West Glacier, MT 59936
(406)888-7800
(406)888-7808 - FAX
(406)888-7806 - TDD

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Flathead National Forest
1935 3^rd Avenue, East
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406)758-5200
(406)758-5363 - FAX)
(406)758-5367 - TDD)

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