Single Publication

CURRENT STATUS
The Hog Trough fire perimeter is slowly moving south between Weasel Creek to the west and the Signal Rock area to the east. In order to prevent the fire from turning to the north, the primary firefighting focus is on the southeast and southwest flanks of the fire. To the southeast, the Helena Hotshot crew will build a fuel break utilizing the existing Signal Rock Trail from cold black areas of the fire perimeter and tie in with the 5071 Road. On the southwest flank of the fire, two Wildland Fire Modules will open and clear the Weasel Creek Trail to create a fuel break connecting to the 75 Road. Aerial resources will provide bucket drops in the Weasel Creek and Signal Rock areas in order to slow fire progression and allow crews to focus on tying fireline in to the existing road systems. 

Yesterday on the Fuse Lake Fire, fire crews built fireline, and installed water tanks and hose lays. Today, crews will focus on finding and extinguishing remaining hot spots near the fire perimeter. Little to no perimeter growth is expected. Helicopters will fly supply missions and fill water tanks with buckets. Yesterday, aerial resources and a fire crew were diverted from the Hog Trough Fire for initial attack on a new fire start about 10 miles to the northeast of the Hog Trough Fire.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
Slightly cooler temperatures and increased relative humidity values will reduce fire behavior, though dry fuels and light ning are likely to result in new fire starts. Saturday brings the best chance of rain for the next few days. Fire behavior on the Fuse Lake Fire is minimal with smoldering. The Hog Trough Fire will see moderate fire behavior with single and group tree torching and short-range spotting along the south flank and minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering in other areas.

CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES

• 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.