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Blodgett Lake & Mill Lake Fires Update Sept 19, 2022
Mill Lake Fire
Publication Type: News 09/19/2022
Blodgett Lake 2290 acres
Big Creek 153 acres
Bear Creek 232 acres
Kootenai Creek: 1 acre
Summary:
Work is progressing well in the Bitterroot Valley for fire crews improving indirect control lines as fire activity slows.
Fire activity remains light as wet weather moved into the Bitterroot Valley yesterday, accompanied by brief gusty winds and lightning. The wet conditions continue to moderate fire spread; however, firefighters expect some smoldering fire behavior in the mid-afternoon today.
Crews continue to work on the shaded fuel break along the forest boundary. Much of the larger fuels have been removed, and work is now shifting to chipping smaller limbs and debris. The fuel break is the first line of defense in case weather and winds align to drive this or future fires east towards the valley.
Firefighters are widening fuel buffers on road #1327 using wood chippers to clear brush in vulnerable locations. Crews completed work on a hand line from the south end of road #1327 to the rock cliff face above Fred Burr Creek. Crews will continue work on a continuous indirect control line along the Forest Service - Private Property boundary from Mill Creek south to Blodgett Canyon, utilizing heavy equipment. Crews also completed a hand line north of Bear Creek Trailhead along the FS boundary to road 1325. A structure protection group continues coordination with Fire Departments to scout structures adjacent to Forest Service land east of Big Creek, Bear Lake, and Blodgett Lake fires. The Bitterroot Hotshots are doing line improvement near Don Mackey Point.The Forest has implemented trail closures across the fire area. Refer to the Bitterroot National Forest website for details https://www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot
Weather:
Thunderstorms moved into the area with cool and unsettled conditions predicted across the Bitterroot Valley. Weather remains cool and unsettled through Thursday, which has the best chance of a wetting rain.
InciWeb: Mill Lake Fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8392/
Bitterroot National Forest Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot
Air Quality: https://fire.airnow.gov/
