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News Release - August 15, 2003 at 7:30am |
Incident
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Fact Sheet 28Fire suppression efforts kept pace with the continuing growth of the Wedge Canyon Fire on Thursday. Containment remained at 70% as fireline construction kept the southeastern fire front away from North Fork Road. Of the fire’s 39,513 acres, 38% have burned in Glacier National Park. Firefighters continue to make every effort to protect the park’s resources. All fireline in this area is constructed using Minimal Impact Suppression Tactics (MIST). Also on Thursday, firefighters applied protective covering to a historic cabin at the north end of Kintla Lake after paddling across in a canoe. Their approach avoided the risks of a helicopter landing in smoky conditions near a tree containing a fledgling bald eagle. In the problematic Trail Creek Road area, water drops kept hot spots at bay while firefighters continued to improve the Trail Creek streambed as a firebreak. As a last-resort contingency, preparations are underway for a burnout along the south bank of Trail Creek. On Friday, a morning inversion is again predicted to lift by early afternoon. The day’s most serious concern will be strong and unpredictable winds at the end of the day, followed by thunderstorms. Firefighters continue to benefit from the use of radiometric acquisition equipment, which detects heat precisely. The equipment reduces the amount of steep and treacherous terrain firefighters must traverse while searching for hot spots on foot. As the regional fire situation worsens, the Wedge Canyon Fire will continue to share resources with other fires in support of regional fire suppression priorities. The North Fork Road remains closed north of Glacier Rim to all traffic except residents, firefighters, and emergency vehicles. CURRENT SIZE: 39,513 acres CONTAINMENT: 70% WHAT: Wildfire, lightning-caused ESTIMATED CONTAINMENT DATE: Unknown STARTED: July 18, 2003 reported 1:25 P.M. LOCATION: About 42 miles north of Columbia Falls, 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 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 back injury. STRUCTURES: 7 houses/cabins, 29 outbuildings were lost, and 1 house/cabin damaged. RESOURCES ON FIRE: 21 hand crews, 7 helicopters, 39 engines, 3 dozers and 20 water tenders. Equipment used as needed includes feller bunchers, skidders and excavators. Total support and overhead positions are approximately 990 personnel. JURISDICTION: USDA Forest Service (Flathead National Forest), Flathead County and Glacier National Park OTHER COOPERATING AGENCIES: Montana DNRC, BIA, and BLM. CONTACTS
Community Meeting: 8:30pm at Polebridge |
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Glacier
National Park |
Flathead National Forest |
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Wedge
Canyon Complex