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Firefighters Work with Hand Tools to Create Defensible Space Work Around East Fork Road Homes. Photo: Mike McMillan/USFS
Helicopter Dips From Pond with Fire Column in Background. Photo: Mike McMillan/USFS
The Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 5, Incident Commander Joe Sampson, assumed command of the fire at 6:00 AM on Monday, September 9, 2024.
The fire was started on 7/25/204 by lightning and is located three miles south of the Springer Memorial Community in the East Fork. The majority of the fire area is within the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness to the east.
The primary values at risk are the private properties in the nearby Springer Memorial Community. The eastern portion of the fire is burning in remote terrain in the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness
| Current as of | Thu, 09/12/2024 - 12:11 |
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| Incident Time Zone | America/Denver |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | 3 miles south of Springer Memorial Community in the East Fork of the Bitterroot |
| Incident Commander | Northern Rockies Team 5, Incident Commander Joe Sampson |
| Incident Description | The Johnson Fire is being managed under confinement strategy and is 25% complete. |
| Coordinates |
45° 51' 59'' Latitude
-113° 42' 51
'' Longitude
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| Total Personnel: | 236 |
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| Size | 6,662 Acres |
| Fuels Involved | The fire is currently burning in parts of the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness. The fire is burning in the Vapor Creek, Orphan Creek, and to the bottom of East Fork Creek drainages. |
| Significant Events | Primary carrier of fire is heavy and down fuels in areas that have limited or no historic fires. Hot and dry conditions are contributing to fire growth. Expect active fire behavior where winds align with drainages and short upslope runs. The fire will continue burning interior fuels. |
| Planned Actions |
Crews will continue patrolling the fire’s western edge, searching for any areas of remaining heat along the fire’s perimeter. To the south, crews will search for areas of remaining heat along the containment line firefighters used for strategic burning operations over the last few days. Along the fire’s northern edge most available fuels have been burned and natural features prohibit growth. Firefighters will work to hold the fire to the 5771 road and construct fireline from Swift Creek to the 73615 Road. |
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| Projected Incident Activity |
Mop-up, monitoring, and reinforcing containment lines continues on the fire's northern and southern perimeters. The area east of the Spring-Memorial and Bonanza Communities, where the fire has displayed minimal activity, mop-up and monitoring proceed. The fire will likely continue to back in the Swift Creek drainage and near the 5571 Road. Precipitation is expected with up to 1 inch of rain possible. This wetting rain will likely hinder the fire’s ability to move substantially for a week or so or until fuels along the fire’s perimeter dry out. Expect minimal fire behavior, with some creeping and smoldering.
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| Remarks |
The Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office has issued an Evacuation Warning for Frog Pond Basin and Little East Fork Road. Sign up for evacuation alerts at http://hyper-reach.com/mtravallisignup.html Area closures are in effect for both sides of the East Fork Road, the East Fork Guard Station, Martin Creek Campground, and a multitude of trailheads. More information on Bitterroot National Forest area closures can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bitterroot/alerts-notices The Bitterroot National Forest within the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness is currently in Stage I Fire restrictions. |
| Weather Concerns | Hot and dry conditions are expected to continue Wednesday morning. Temperatures will climb to the lower 70s in the fire area before the first round of precipitation arrives. Beginning after 1400, the chance for |
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