InciWeb
Wildfire
Prescribed Fire
Burned Area
Response
Other
The Big Knife fire was started by lightning on July 24, 2023. It is approximately 5 miles east of Arlee, Montana. Local resources responded and have been taking suppression actions. Hot dry and windy conditions caused fire growth on several fronts. Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3 assumed command of the fire August 2 at 6 am.
| Current as of | Tue, 08/29/2023 - 10:55 |
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| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | 5 miles east of Arlee, MT |
| Incident Commander | Brad Bergman, Northern Rockies Team 8 |
| Incident Description | Wildfire |
| Coordinates |
47° 8' 31'' Latitude
-113° 58' 1
'' Longitude
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| Total Personnel: | 116 |
|---|---|
| Size | 7,276 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 17% |
| Estimated Containment Date | 09/30/2023 |
| Fuels Involved | Timber (grass and understory), Closed Timber Litter, Timber (litter and understory). Fuel Models 2, 8, and 10 represent the three most common fuel types within the fire area: Fuel models 8 and 10 are the dominant fuel types with isolated areas of 2. Fire is primarily carried by surface dead and down fuels and live brush that is nearly fully cured and showing signs of heat stress in discolored leaves and the start of some defoliation.
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| Significant Events | Minimal Creeping Single Tree Torching Smoldering Warm, dry, light and variable conditions were over Big Knife today. Creeping and smoldering was mainly observed in Division X. Fire behavior in all other Division consisted of some smoldering. |
| Planned Actions |
Div-Z: Completion of dozer line rehabilitation. Div-A: Rehabilitate suppression impacts and monitor fire ctivitv above the S canal road. Div X: monitor, unstaffed. |
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| Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Deep duff and heavy time lag fuels will continue to creep and smolder with the potential for single tree torching in Div X. 24 hours: Cloud cover and precipitation will move over Big Knife. Forecasted precipitation may be upwards to .80" that will have a significant impact to any remaining heat. 48 hours: Cool and wet conditions will prevail over Big Knife limiting any fire behavior. 72 hours: Transition to warmer and drier weather pattern. Fuels will begin to dry but fire behavior will be minimal due to fuels being moist. Anticipated after 72 hours: Precipitation is forecasted that will limit an fire growth and fire behavior. |
| Remarks |
Preparing for transfer back to local unit, transfer of command will occur on Wednesday, 8/30 at 0600. |
| Weather Concerns | Current weather: Sunny and hot with afternoon highs 82 to 90 degrees. Afternoon humidity readings lowered to the 19 to 27 percent range. Highest gust recorded was 10 mph. Forecast: A strong cold front arrives Tuesday near the end of the shift. It will bring dry thunderstorms for the late afternoon. This will change over to rain with embedded thunderstorms possible, for Tuesday night and most of Wednesday. Total rainfall during the period should range from 0.26 to 0.87 of an inch. More showers and thunderstorms arrive over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
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