Wedge Canyon Complex

News Release -August 6, 2003 at 7am

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

FACT SHEET 19

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 25,561 acres

Containment: 50%

Estimated Containment Date: Unknown

Threats to Human Life/Safety: Whale Creek Residents along the North Fork Road, Trail Creek Residents (approximately 100 homes/cabins), historic buildings, 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 ankle injury.

Jurisdiction: USDA Forest Service (Flathead National Forest), Flathead County and Glacier National Park Other Cooperating Agencies: Montana DNRC, BIA, and BLM.

Resources on Fire: 33 hand crews, 5 helicopters, 61 engines, 11 dozers and 17 water tenders. Equipment used as needed includes feller bunchers, skidders and excavators. Total support and overhead positions are approximately 1,286 personnel.

Remarks: To date: 7 houses/cabins, 29 outbuildings were lost, and 1 house/cabin damaged.

Firefighters constructed direct handline on the north flank of the fire using helicopter support.
Firefighters continue to improve lines and mop up 100' to 200' from the fire edge.
Rehabilitation efforts will continue in areas of the fire where interior control lines can be rehabilitated.
Mandatory evacuations have been reduced to precautionary from Moose Creek to the Canadian border. A burnout operation in Division Y, near Whale Creek, was conducted to reinforce control lines.
Wedge Canyon fire costs to date are estimated at $13,100,000.

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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