Single Publication

CURRENT STATUS
Yesterday on the southwest flank of the fire, there was minimal fire activity. Crews monitored the edge of the fire, holding fireline and looking for hot spots and signs for increasing fire behavior as the area starts to dry out following recent precipitation. Today, crews will continue to hold and improve line, looking for any remaining hot spots that need to be extinguished. Improvements on the Weasel Creek Trail are complete and the crews will begin pulling the hoselay from this area.

To the southeast, crews chipped woody material along the 8013 trail in order to clean and clear areas of larger fuels that may carry fire, which extends beyond the end of the 5071 road. With recent burning operations, this fuel break now has a depth from 50 to 150 feet from the trail. Today, hand crews will continue clearing and chipping the trail, and looking for hot spots.

Crews have successfully directed the fire into previously burned areas to the south where fire intensity will be lower. On the north and northwest flanks of the fire, the fire is contained and is now in patrol status. 

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
A dry, cool day, and breezy day is expected over the fire area today. High pressure will begin to build in on Monday, bringing a warming and drying trend. The fire area is still benefitting from recent heavy precipitation and fire behavior will be minimal with creeping and smoldering.

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.