InciWeb
Wildfire
Prescribed Fire
Burned Area
Response
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The Forest received a smoke report in the Bowles Creek drainage area, following a lightning storm on the evening of July 20, 2023. Ground resources and a helicopter flight confirmed the location. Additional smoke reports, received by the Bitterroot Dispatch Center, were checked and confirmed by ground resources.
Ground resources and an early morning helicopter flight on July 21st estimated the Bowles Fire to be approximately 50 acres and the Daly Creek fire on the Bitterroot side of the divide to be approximately 1-2 acres. Initial attack resources lined and “plumbed” (with water and hoselays) the Daly Fire. Fire operations officials pulled those individuals off the active fireline for safety reasons. Due to this active fire behavior and resulting growth, these fires have merged and will be referred to as the Bowles Creek Fire. Active fire behavior due to receptive fuels and hot and dry weather conditions resulted in extensive fire growth throughout the day.
The fire is located approximately 27 miles southwest of Philipsburg MT and three miles southwest of Skalkaho Pass in the Sapphire Wilderness Study Area (WSA) in steep terrain.
| Current as of | Mon, 09/25/2023 - 12:40 |
|---|---|
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | Twenty-seven miles southwest of Philipsburg, MT |
| Coordinates |
46° 11' 25'' Latitude
-113° 48' 45
'' Longitude
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| Total Personnel: | 4 |
|---|---|
| Size | 6,988 Acres |
| Fuels Involved | Fire danger indices are all at or below normal due to the recent rains. With the predicted weather forecast, indices are expected to continue this trend. |
| Significant Events | No visible fire behavior, with periodic light smoke interior to the fire's edge. |
| Planned Actions |
Fire personnel will continue to patrol and monitor.
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|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity |
Low fire activity and behavior expected. |
| Remarks |
Fire Update: 90% completion of objectives The Forests rescinded the area closure on September 8, 2023. Command of the Bowles Creek fire is under local resources from the Bitterroot and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests. Updates will be posted to the Forest Facebook pages and the Inciweb site. Frequency of updates will be dictated by fire activity and/or changes to operations and closures.
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| Weather Concerns | Seasonal fall weather, with cooler temperatures and shorter days. |
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