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News Release - August 17, 2003 at 7:30am |
Incident
Information Contacts: |
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Fact Sheet 30Thanks to cooler temperatures and rain in the area, crews made good progress securing line and adding hose lays in the Trail Creek Road area. Rains also slowed growth of the southeastern portion of the fire in Glacier National Park. Many crews and equipment will be released today and Monday to comply with safety requirements for rest periods. As the Wedge Canyon Fire continues to respond to an extreme fire situation region wide, resources will be shared with other fires that threaten property on a larger scale. Work on Sunday will focus on patrolling contained areas of the fire, laying out sprinklers and hose, and reinforcing existing lines in the Trail Creek Road and North Fork Road areas. No large runs or crown fires are expected due to cooler temperatures and higher humidities. The North Fork Road remains closed north of Glacier Rim to all traffic except residents, firefighters, and emergency vehicles. Although temperatures have cooled and the fire has slowed, the forest closure still remains in place. The fire area is hazardous and residents should exercise extreme caution. CURRENT SIZE: 40,586 acres CONTAINMENT: 60% 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: None STRUCTURES: 7 houses/cabins, 29 outbuildings were lost, and 1 house/cabin damaged. RESOURCES ON FIRE: 19 hand crews, 7 helicopters, 32 engines, 3 dozers and 20 water tenders. Equipment used as needed includes feller bunchers, skidders and excavators. Total support and overhead positions are approximately 882 personnel. JURISDICTION: USDA Forest Service (Flathead National Forest), Flathead County and Glacier National Park OTHER COOPERATING AGENCIES: Montana DNRC, BIA, and BLM. CONTACTS
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Glacier
National Park |
Flathead National Forest |
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Wedge
Canyon Complex