Single Publication

Northern Rockies Team 5, Incident Commander Joe Sampson               

Fire                                       Cause                                       Size                         Completion                    Phone #                           Personnel

Johnson                             Lightning                                   6,687                      42%                             406-401-0286                    90

Sharrott Creek                 Lightning                                  3,204                       83%                              406-403-7976                   218

Daly                                  Undetermined                            6,813                      25%                              406-403-7971                    25

Railroad                          Undetermined                            1,007                      35%                              406-403-7971        (shared with Daly)

Area closures surrounding the fire areas are still in effect. These closures are necessary to protect the safety and welfare of the public and provide for safe firefighter and equipment 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 areas within the closures.

All three incidents are downsizing as resources demobilize due to increased moisture and limited fire activity.

Current Status 

Johnson (3 miles south of Springer Memorial Community, in the East Fork)

Firefighters continue to work alongside resource advisors from the Bitterroot National Forest to implement suppression repair efforts using hand tools to pull back berms on constructed firelines. Three excavators are working to pull in berms on equipment lines constructed during initial attack. 

Sharrott (3 miles west of Stevensville)

Firefighters are coordinating with resource advisors from the Bitterroot National Forest to implement suppression repair efforts using hand tools to pull back berms where crews constructed firelines. Excavators continue to pull back berms on the northern and southern equipment lines constructed during initial attack. Wood chippers are working to break down large branches and tree trunks into smaller pieces, scattering available fuels alongside the constructed fireline. 

Daly and Railroad (Railroad and Skalkaho Creeks confluence, 26 miles southeast of Hamilton)

Minimal fire activity is present, with no expected spread on the Railroad and Daly Fires. Crews removed structure protection equipment in the Gem Mountain area on Sunday and will continue with hazard mitigation along the Skalkaho Highway (Highway 38).

Weather and Fire Behavior 

Temperatures in the valley will reach the mid 60s with mostly cloudy skies. Minimum relative humidity will be in the lows 50s with northeast winds sustained around 12 mph, gusting up to 35 to 40 mph. Unstable conditions will lead to thunderstorms, coming from the south, are expected to move into the area around 3pm, bringing brief, moderate rain storms and will continue moving through the area into the evening and night.

Fire behavior will be creeping and smoldering, primarily in stump holes, large logs, and accumulated fuels. 

EVACUATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, CLOSURES  

• Area closures are still in effect for all fire areas. 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.