Incident Publication

 The Burnt Peak and South Yaak fires will be managed by the Kootenai National Forest until Northern Rockies IMT 7 arrives in a few days.

Current and Planned Activity

Burnt Peak Fire
Final cleanup work will continue today along Keeler-Rattle Road in the Halverson drainage. Excavators are continuing to repair dozer line in Benning Creek. Masticators will continue cleaning up vegetation along the shaded fuel break up Surprise Draw and Carr Draw on the northeast corner of the fire, working toward Goat Mountain. Excavators will carry on with repair of contingency lines in the Iron Grouse Road system, cleaning culverts, and piling slash for later removal.

South Yaak Fire
An excavator will move to the area around the Yaak Mountain Lookout to begin dozer line repairs. On the northwest edge of the fire near Arbo Creeks, crews will continue to hold and improve direct line and construct indirect line. On the northeast corner of the fire perimeter, crews working from both the Prospect-Gunsight side and the Wee Lake side successfully tied off handlines at Arbo Mountain and will continue cleanup today. Engines will patrol and mop up as need along Kilbrennan Lake Road. 

Weather: A new low pressure cold front will arrive Thursday with slightly cooler temps, moderate humidity, and increased winds. Potential rain after midnight with stronger gusts and potential thunderstorms Friday.

Closures: The USDA Forest Service Three Rivers Ranger District has several areas, roads, and trails closed or restricted for public safety due to fire management activities related to the Burnt Peak and South Yaak fires. Closure orders and maps may be viewed on the Kootenai National Forest web page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/kootenai/alerts-notices.

COVID-19: Daily screening, masking, and social distancing protocols are in place at the incident command post.

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Current and Planned Activity

Burnt Peak Fire Heavy equipment will continue to improve the road along Keeler-Rattle Road. Excavators are continuing to repair a dozer line in Benning Creek. Masticators will continue cleaning up vegetation along the shaded fuel break on the northeast corner of the fire. Excavators will continue repairing contingency lines in the Iron Grouse Road system, cleaning culverts, and piling slash for later removal.

South Yaak Fire Crews will continue work along the north and east edges of the fire constructing containment lines on roads and trails. Suppression repair will continue on the dozer line on the western edge of the fire around Yaak Mountain Lookout. On the northwest edge of the fire, near the Arbo and Prospect Creek area, crews will continue to hold and improve lines. Engines will patrol and mop up as needed along Kilbrennan Lake Road.

Weather: Thursday transitioned from warming and drying back to a cool and unsettled pattern. Increasing winds, cooler temperatures, and slightly higher humidity were all characteristic. Rain showers are expected after midnight Thursday, followed by storms during the day Friday. The low-pressure system will pass early Saturday, giving way to warming and a slight drying trend for the weekend.

Closures: The USDA Forest Service Three Rivers Ranger District has several areas, roads, and trails closed or restricted for public safety due to fire management activities related to the Burnt Peak and South Yaak fires. Closure orders and maps may be viewed on the Kootenai National Forest webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/kootenai/alerts-notices.

COVID-19: Daily screening, masking, and social distancing protocols are in place at the incident command post.

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Current and Planned Activity

Burnt Peak Fire Heavy equipment will continue to improve the road along Keeler-Rattle Road. Additional heavy equipment will hold and improve roads east of the fire and work on primary containment lines northeast of the fire to the top of Goat Mountain. Masticators and dozers will continue repair work and cleanup along with hauling slash this weekend and for several days next week.

South Yaak Fire Crews will continue work along the north and east edges of the fire constructing containment lines on identified roads and trails. Suppression repair will continue on the dozer line along the western edge of the fire and around Yaak Mountain Lookout. On the northwest edge of the fire, crews will continue to hold and improve lines. Engines will patrol and mop up as needed. Heavy equipment, engines, and crews will work the eastern side of the fire.

Weather: Thursday brought approximately a quarter inch of rain at fire camp near Highway 56 and a tenth of an inch on the Burnt Creek and South Yaak fires. A break from the rain showers occurred late morning to midday before scattered showers and a few storms formed in the region. A warming and drying trend is expected moving through the weekend with clearing skies and temperatures rising to near normal.

Closures: The USDA Forest Service Three Rivers Ranger District has several areas, roads, and trails closed or restricted for public safety due to fire management activities related to the Burnt Peak and South Yaak fires. Closure orders and maps may be viewed on the Kootenai National Forest webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/kootenai/alerts-notices. COVID-19: Daily screening, masking, and social distancing protocols are in place at the incident command post.

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Current and Planned Activity

Burnt Peak Fire Heavy equipment will continue to improve the road along Keeler-Rattle Road. Additional heavy equipment will hold and improve roads east of the fire and work on primary containment lines northeast of the fire to the top of Goat Mountain. Road repair and cleanup continues this weekend. Suppression repair will continue along the southwest edge of the fire.

South Yaak Fire Crews will work along the north and east edges of the fire constructing containment lines on identified roads and trails. Rehab will take place on Yaak Mountain Lookout and Kilbrennan Lake roads, along with road maintenance on 17 Mile Road today. High moisture continues to contain much of the fire. Engines will patrol and mop up as needed.

Montana National Guard Training Nebraska Students: The incident management team would like to acknowledge the incredible work happening behind-the-scenes at the incident command post to support ongoing firefighting efforts. Beginning this week, four units from the Montana National Guard are training and mentoring 12 students from the Nebraska National Forest, Pine Ridge Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center. These camp crews are busy refurbishing equipment from the fireline and assisting with supply distribution.

Weather: After the Friday rains, clouds cleared late Saturday morning giving way to warming temperatures under mostly sunny skies. The pleasant sunny conditions are expected to persist through Monday before changes arrive.

Closures: The USDA Forest Service Three Rivers Ranger District has several areas, roads, and trails closed or restricted for public safety due to fire management activities related to the Burnt Peak and South Yaak fires. Closure orders and maps may be viewed on the Kootenai National Forest webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/kootenai/alerts-notices.

COVID-19: Daily screening, masking, and social distancing protocols are in place at the incident command post.

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Current and Planned Activity

Burnt Peak Fire Heavy equipment will hold and improve roads east of the fire as well as work on primary containment lines northeast of the fire to the top of Goat Mountain. Road repair, hauling slash, and cleanup continues this week. Suppression repair will be a focus along the southern and northern edges of the fire.

South Yaak Fire Monday crews will work along the north and east edges of the fire constructing containment lines on identified roads and trails. Rehab will take place on Kilbrennan Lake Road, along with maintenance on 17 Mile Road. Suppression repair will be a focus along many areas of the fire. High moisture continues to contain much of the fire. Engines will patrol and mop up as needed.

Weather: Sunday we saw warming temperatures under mostly sunny skies. The pleasant sunny conditions are expected to persist through Monday, though southwesterly winds will pick up in the afternoon as the next weather system nears. While the core of the system stays to the north, cooler air, higher humidity and a slight chance of rain will all be present for the middle of the week. Humidity and temperatures may slowly rise the second half of the week.

Closures: Please remember, the USDA Forest Service Three Rivers Ranger District has several areas, roads, and trails closed or restricted for public safety due to fire management activities related to the Burnt Peak and South Yaak fires. Closure orders and maps may be viewed on the Kootenai National Forest webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/kootenai/alerts-notices.

COVID-19: Daily screening, masking, and social distancing protocols are in place at the incident command post.

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Restrictions for Callahan Creek Road have been lifted near the Burnt Peak Fire. Please see official termination order HERE.

Current and Planned Activity

The incident management team would like to sincerely thank the surrounding communities for their ongoing support of our firefighting efforts. Thank You!

Burnt Peak Fire
Heavy equipment continues to improve roads east of the fire as well as work on primary containment lines northeast of the fire to the top of Goat Mountain . Road repair, hauling slash, and cleanup continues this week. Suppression repair will be a focus along the southern and northern edges of the fire. Good news from the USDA Forest Service (USFS), Callahan Road has reopened. Termination of the original closure order can be found at fseprd948978.pdf (usda.gov).

South Yaak Fire
Today, crews will work along the north and east edges of the fire, handling hot spots and constructing containment lines on identified roads and trails. Suppression repair to dozer and hand lines will take place on Kilbrennan Lake Road , along with maintenance on 17 Mile Road . Improving roads and the natural landscape will be a focus along many areas of the fire. Engines will patrol and mop up as needed.

Weather: Monday saw warming temperatures with sunny skies and increasing winds throughout the day. Gusts of 25 miles per hour were observed on the ridgelines with moderate winds in the lower elevations. Today, winds will remain elevated, while temperatures drop 10 to 15 degrees and humidity will be up several percent. Warming and drying is expected the second half of the week.

Closures: Please remember, the USFS Three Rivers Ranger District has several areas, roads, and trails closed or restricted for public safety due to fire management activities related to the Burnt Peak and South Yaak fires. Closure orders and maps may be viewed on the Kootenai National Forest webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/kootenai/alerts-notices.

COVID-19: Daily screening, masking, and social distancing protocols are in place at the incident command post.

 Burnt Peak and South Yaak

September 1, 2021

8:00 a.m.

Current and Planned Activity

Burnt Peak Fire
Heavy equipment continues to improve roads east of the fire as well as work on primary containment lines on the northeast edge. Road repair and cleanup continues this week. Suppression repair will be a focus along the southern and northern edges of the fire. Communication will continue with local emergency management personnel on fire behavior.

South Yaak Fire
Crews will work along the north and east edges of the fire, handling hot spots and constructing containment lines on identified roads and trails. Suppression repair to dozer and hand lines will take place as needed. Repairing roads, trenches and dozer lines will be a focus along many areas of the fire. Engines will patrol and mop up as needed.

Weather: Breezy winds continued Tuesday. Temperatures were down 10-15 degrees as northwesterly flow brought in cooler Pacific air. The second half of the week features a gradual warming trend. Another frontal passage looks possible over the weekend bringing increased winds back to the region.

Closures: Please remember, the USFS Three Rivers Ranger District has several areas, roads, and trail closures for public safety due to fire management activities related to the Burnt Peak and South Yaak fires. Closure orders and maps may be viewed on the Kootenai National Forest webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/kootenai/alerts-notices.

COVID-19: Daily screening, masking, and social distancing protocols are in place at the incident command post.