Single Publication

CURRENT STATUS Today on the southwest flank of the Hog Trough Fire, crews will continue brushing the Weasel Creek Trail, to clear flammable materials away from containment line. A dozer has started improving the 1135 Road, north of the Weasel Creek Trail, for crews to better gain access to the fires edge. To the southeast, crews finished cleaning up a slop-over fire that crossed the Signal Rock Trail and backhauled remaining supplies. Crews will continue planned firing operations off the Signal Rock Trail if weather and wind directions allow. The goal of the firing operation is to bring fire slowly down the hill in a controlled manner creating a fuel break to halt wildfire progression to the north. When completed, the fire line along the Signal Rock Trail will tie into the 5071 Road at a wet riparian area. Fire crews have contained the fire along the northwest and northern edge and put it in patrol status. The Fuse Lake Fire has shown no growth for the past few days and has been cold-trailed several times by the line resources. At this time the Fuse Lake Fire will be put in patrol status for the next several days, which will allow resources to be better utilized on the Hog Trough Fire. There will be no further daily updates on the Fuse Lake Fire at this time.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR Showers and thunderstorms are expected around late afternoon. Winds will be generally light, terrain driven, with increased gusts with the incoming storm. With changing weather conditions, we can expect a wind shift from northeast. This change in wind will be favorable for burning operation on southeastern edge. 

CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES

Skalkaho Highway (Highway 38) is open. 

Road Closures:

• 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.

  Trail Closures:

• 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. 

  Fire Restrictions: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions on all Bitterroot National Forest lands in Montana. See mtfireinfo.org for more specific restrictions information.