Wedge Canyon Complex

News Release - August 21, 2003 at 7:30am

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

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Fact Sheet 34

Wednesday’s weather resulted in an inversion that held smoke in the valley.  This condition led to more subdued fire activity throughout the day.  Many divisions of the fire are in a patrol and mop up status.  Crews within the Trail Creek Road residential area continue strengthening fire defense using sprinklers to wet forest vegetation.  This raises relative humidity and reduces threats of fire spotting.  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.  Relative humidity is expected to be low with temperatures in the 80’s to 90’s.  Fire activity is expected to continue in the southeast portion of the fire perimeter within Glacier National Park.  The North Fork Road remains closed north of Glacier Rim to all traffic except residents, firefighters, and emergency vehicles. 

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:  8 hand crews, 3 helicopters, 18 engines, no dozers and 19 water tenders. Equipment used as needed includes feller bunchers, skidders and excavators. Total support and overhead positions are approximately 547 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:

• Fact Sheet 33 - August 20
• Fact Sheet 32 - August 19
• Fact Sheet 31 - August 18
• Fact Sheet 30 - August 17
• Fact Sheet 29 - August 16
• Fact Sheet 28 - August 15
• Fact Sheet 27 - August 14
• Fact Sheet 26 - August 13
• Fact Sheet 25 - August 12
• Fact Sheet 24 - August 11
• Fact Sheet 23 - August 10
• Fact Sheet 22 - August 9
• Fact Sheet 21 - August 8
• Fact Sheet 20 - August 7
• Fact Sheet 19 - August 6
• Fact Sheet 18 - August 5
• Fact Sheet 17 - August 4
• Fact Sheet 16 - August 3
• Fact Sheet 15 - August 2
• Fact Sheet 14 - August 1
• Fact Sheet 13 - July 31
• Fact Sheet 12 - July 30
• Fact Sheet 9 - July 27
• Fact Sheet 7 - July 25

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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