Single Publication

Railroad-Daly Fire Update

Type 3 Incident, Incident Commander Justin Abbey, ICT3 Trainee: Chris Kramer

Location: Bitterroot NF: Railroad Creek/ Skalkaho Creek confluence, 26 miles southeast of Hamilton
Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF: 20 Miles northwest of Georgetown Lake Dam off Skalkaho Hwy 38
Start Date: 7/25/2024
Cause: Undetermined

Daly Fire Acres: 11,234 Railroad Fire Acres: 1,583 Completion: 56% 

Total Personnel: 265 

NOTE: Official Transfer of Command took place today @ 0700 to Justin Abbey & Chris Kramer.

CURRENT STATUS
Yesterday minimal fire behavior was observed with internal heavy fuels burning and isolated tree torching. During the night hours fire backed down closer to Hwy 38. A Fire Engine remained in that area to monitor progression towards values. Multiple helicopters aided firefighters with buckets of water to suppress areas of heat along fire perimeter.
In efforts to prevent hazard trees from falling across Skalkaho Hwy 38, sawyers continued cutting standing dead trees and used a woodchipper to shred limbs into smaller wood chips.
Today, crews will hold and monitor previous firing operations. Sawers will continue clean up above Skalkaho Hwy 38 removing the amount standing dead snags and will continue chipping ground fuels. Crews will continue constructing a shaded fuel break along coal creek road. Crews will also continue constructing a fuel break along Hwy 38 to keep fire north of Hwy 38 and east of FS Rd #75. Construction of dozer, hand line will continue along Gird Creek Ridge. Aerial resources will remain engaged to slow fires spread down canyon towards values.
Fire Crews will remain in place along Hwy 38 monitoring fire activity during the night hours.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
Today will be the last of the warm and dry days this week. Elevated fire weather concerns are still anticipated for Wednesday afternoon as gusty winds increase, and low relative humidity remains. There is a decent chance of wetting rains on the terrain Wednesday night as a cold front passes through. Cool and wet conditions will continue into Thursday. Thursday night will bring snow to 4,000 feet in the Bitterroot. EVACUATIONS
On October 9, 2024 the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office issued an Evacuation Warning for residents off of Skalkaho Highway (1700-2500 block) due to the Railroad-Daly Fire. For more information on evacuations visit the Ravalli County Sheriff Facebook page.
To register your phone number for emergency notifications in Ravalli County visit, http://hyper-reach.com/mtravallisignup.html.

CLOSURES
The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has issued an Area/Road/Trail Closure effective October 4, 2024.
The Bitterroot National Forest has also issued a road closure effective October 10, 2024.
These orders are for public and firefighter safety during fire suppression efforts on the Fire.
Closure information and maps are posted on the Bitterroot and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests’ website www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices and www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bitterroot/alerts-notices.