Wedge Canyon Complex

News Release -August 12, 2003 at 7am

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

Fact Sheet 25

Wedge Fire Information ICP 801-413-0525
Website: 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 Tepee Creek drainage of the North Fork Flathead River.

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

Current Size: 27,524 acres

Containment: 70%

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 knee injury.

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

Fire Update:

An inversion (a "lid" of warm air holding cooler air in low-lying pockets) trapped smoke in low-lying areas, reducing visibility and limiting aircraft use until 3:00 PM.
After the inversion lifted, fire activity increased, burning pockets of unburned fuel inside control lines. On the southeastern perimeter, the fire continued to burn farther into Glacier National Park, south of Kintla Lake.
High temperatures, strong winds and low humidities are predicted to continue for several days. Today’s inversion is expected to lift earlier than yesterday’s. Firefighters will continue to strengthen existing lines and monitor areas of concern. The public should expect to see more smoke in the days ahead.
The North Fork Road remains closed from Glacier Rim to the Canadian boarder.
Firefighters will use Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics (MIST) on the fire perimeter in Glacier National Park. These techniques are designed to reduce the environmental impact of fire suppression, such as limiting use of heavy equipment to existing roads.
This firefighting effort brings together resources from states as far away as Florida, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and Alaska.

Resources on Fire: 27 hand crews, 5 helicopters, 34 engines, 3 dozers and 19 water tenders. Equipment used as needed includes feller bunchers, skidders and excavators. Total support and overhead positions are approximately 1,089 personnel.

Jurisdiction: USDA Forest Service (Flathead National Forest), Flathead County and Glacier National Park

Other Cooperating Agencies: Montana DNRC, BIA, and BLM.

COMMUNITY MEETING 8:30 P.M. at Polebridge.

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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