Single Publication

Northern Rockies Team 5, Incident Commander Joe Sampson  

Location:3 miles south of Springer Memorial Community, in the East Fork 

Start Date: 7/25/2024      

Cause: Lightning       

Size: 6,679 Acres     

Completion: 46%       

Total Personnel:153       

Current Status 

Area closures surrounding the fire area are still in effect. These closures are necessary to protect the safety and welfare of the public and provide for safe firefighting operations and access. Fire managers are working in conjunction with Bitterroot National Forest officials to assess the need and potential boundary changes, shrinking the affected area within the closure. 

Crews will be using an excavator to begin repair work on the equipment lines within the fire area. Firefighter focus will shift to repair work over the next week. Firefighters will work to remove remaining equipment off of the line. Crews will continue to patrol the west side of the fire, searching for pockets of residual heat. Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) have been lifted over the fire area and are no longer in effect.

Weather and Fire Behavior 

There will be a slight increase in fire conditions over the weekend. Temperatures will rise slightly and be in the 60s today and tomorrow. Relative humidities will also see somewhat of a drop to about 40 percent on mid-slopes. Winds up to 20 mph on ridgetops are possible. Late Monday another storm system is expected and will likely remain through Wednesday. This storm system could bring up to an inch of rain. 

EVACUATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, CLOSURES  

• Area closures are in effect for both sides of the East Fork Road, the East Fork Guard Station, Martin Creek Campground, and a multitude of trailheads. More information on Bitterroot National Forest area closures can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bitterroot/alerts-notices 
• The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness within the Bitterroot National Forest is currently in Stage I Fire restrictions.