[logo]. National Park Service[logo]. USDA Forest Service.Wedge Canyon Complex

News Release - August 19, 2003 at 7:30am

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

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[logo]. Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team

Fact Sheet 32

Monday provided for warmer conditions that saw an increase in fire activity in the southeast portion of the fire within Glacier National Park. Many divisions of the fire are in a patrol and mop up status. Crews within the Trail Creek Road residential area continue strengthening fire lines using sprinklers to wet forest vegetation that raises relative humidities and reduces threats of fire spotting. Advanced radiometric mapping was conducted Monday using a helicopter that assists ground crews in efficiently locating and suppressing hotspots around the fire perimeter. Today’s focus will be on securing and patrolling fire lines and continuing residential structure protection efforts in the Trail Creek and North Fork road areas. There is a red flag warning in effect for higher winds that may result in increased fire activity. Relative humidities are expected to be low with warming temperatures. The North Fork Road remains closed north of Glacier Rim to all traffic except residents, firefighters, and emergency vehicles.

CURRENT SIZE: 41,196 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: Private homes and property, Timber, Recreation, Fisheries, Wild & Scenic River Corridor.

INJURIES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS: 2

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

RESOURCES ON FIRE: 9 hand crews, 3 helicopters, 29 engines, 3 dozers and 20 water tenders. Equipment used as needed includes feller bunchers, skidders and excavators. Total support and overhead positions are approximately 642 personnel.

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

OTHER COOPERATING AGENCIES: Montana DNRC, BIA, and BLM.

CONTACTS

  • Wedge Canyon Fire Incident Command Information: 801-413-0525
  • Wedge Canyon Fire web site: www.fs.fed.us/r5/fire/ciimt5/ac/
  • Joint Information Center for all fires within Glacier N.P. and Flathead N.F: 406-755-3910
  • Northern Rockies Regional Fire Information: 1-800-781-2811

 
Earlier News Releases:

 

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 3rd Avenue, East
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406)758-5200
(406)758-5363 - FAX)
(406)758-5367 - TDD)

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