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Hog Trough Fire Daily Update August 16, 2022
Hog Trough Fire
Publication Type: News 08/17/2022
CURRENT STATUS
The Central Montana Type 3 team will take over command of the Fuse Lake Fire today. The Fuse Lake Fire was detected on August 14th and is actively burning in timber. The cause has not been determined. A Type 2 helicopter was utilized to drop buckets of water throughout the day and a wildland fire module was diverted to the area for direct attack on the fire. A Type 2 initial attack crew will arrive today to provide additional firefighting capacity.
The Hog Trough Fire actively burned in the southwest yesterday, continuing to burn toward the interior of the main fire and also slowly back down into Weasel Creek. The Signal Rock area also saw moderate perimeter growth yesterday. Helicopters concentrated on water drops in this area yesterday and crews attacked the fire directly where safely able to do so. Chipping operations will resume on the 75 Road today. Fire staff will continue to monitor the north flank where fire activity is minimal.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
Dry, warm high pressure will be over the fire through Wednesday. Hot afternoon temperatures, relative humidity values near single digits in the afternoon and poor overnight relative humidity recovery will dry available fuels. Expect creeping and smoldering fire behavior to continue, across both fire areas with limited single tree torching during the primary burning period in the afternoon.
CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES
Skalkaho Highway (Highway 38) is open.
- Skalkaho Road (Forest Service road 75) and
- Forest Service road 711 are both closed at the junction of Skalkaho Highway, including the ancillary roads leading from the 711 Road. Skalkaho Road is open past Mile Marker 5 (Skalkaho Creek-Jerry Lake Trailhead #503).
- Forest Service roads 5070 and 5071 are closed.
- Railroad Creek, National Forest System Trail #77 to Trail #313 at the gate.
- Weasel Creek, National Forest System Trail #156 from milepost 0.00 at its junction with NFSR #461.
- A section of the Bitterroot Rock Creek Divide Trail #313, National Forest System Trail #313 where it intersects Trail #77 Railroad Creek, Weasel Creek Trail #156.
- Skalkaho Creek – Jerry Lake Trail #503, National Forest System Trail #503.