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

News Release - August 24, 2003 at 7:30am

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

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[logo]. ORCA Interagency Incident Management Team

Fact Sheet 37
7:30 AM, Sunday, August 24, 2003

FIRE UPDATE

Yesterday was mostly overcast and breezy, with no rain.  Fire activity was the same as the last few days, with low to moderate fire activity.  All of the fire activity is a slow backing fire in three locations: in the Trail Creek area; along portions of the south side of Kintla Lake; and along the southeastern portion of the fire.  Many divisions of the fire area remained in a patrol and mop-up status. 

Today the focus will be on building containment firelines to connect the meadows on the southeastern portion of the fire, securing and patrolling fire lines and continuing residential structure protection efforts.  The weather is slowly changing to a warming and drying trend, with relatively strong Southwest winds on the ridgetops.

Public meetings were held yesterday at two locations with 60 people in attendance. Future public meetings at Polebridge will be held at 8:00 PM.

The North Fork Road remains closed north of Glacier Rim to all traffic except residents, firefighters, and emergency vehicles

CURRENT SIZE:   41,600 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:  0

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

RESOURCES ON FIRE:  6 hand crews, 4 helicopters, 15 engines, no dozers and 19 water tenders. Equipment used as needed includes feller bunchers, skidders and excavators. Total support and overhead positions are approximately 388 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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