Incident Publication

Containment for the South Yaak Fire increased from 74% to 77% as fire has slowly made its way to previously constructed handline. The perimeter of the South Yaak Fire measures 30 miles, with 22 miles of containment line. The Burnt Peak Fire perimeter is 22 miles, with 9 miles of containment line. Area, road and trail closures remain in place for your safety while heavy equipment completes road repairs.

Current and Planned Activity

Firefighters along with heavy equipment operators continue with suppression repair. On the Burnt Peak Fire, crews are working on clearing ditches and culverts of debris, processing logs, and repairing roads near Goat Mountain . Crews on the South Yaak are constructing water bars on handlines along Arbo Creek Trail while road graders and dozers repair the Kilbrennan Lake and 17 Mile roads. Work continues South Yaak to secure, monitor and patrol areas of heat along handlines. Fire fighting resources are assisting a local Forest Service unit on initial and ongoing attack of a fire in the Three Rivers Ranger District.

Weather: Monday winds increase around the region with gusts of around 25 mph possible on the high ridges and more wind-prone valleys. Temperatures for the next few days remain above normal with the valleys near 90 by Tuesday. 

Closures: Please remember, the USFS Three Rivers Ranger District has several area, road, 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/kootenai

COVID-19: Daily screening, masking, and social distancing protocols are in place at the Incident Command Post.

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Firefighters have spent hundreds of hours repairing roads, trails and firelines no longer needed on the Burnt Peak and South Yaak fires. To date, firefighters on the Burnt Peak Fire have repaired 99% of the firelines constructed by hand; and 73% of firelines constructed by bulldozers. On the South Yaak Fire, firefighters have completed 78% of the repairs to firelines constructed by bulldozers and 16% of repairs to firelines constructed by hand. Area, road and trail closures remain in place for your safety while heavy equipment completes road repairs.

Current and Planned Activity: In addition to suppression repair work, firefighters on the South Yaak Fire continue to patrol, monitor and secure areas of heat along the fire edge. A 20 person hand crew is monitoring low intensity, slow moving ground fire near Arbo Creek as it approaches previously constructed fireline. An infrared flight occurred over the South Yaak Fire early this morning and showed isolated pockets of heat scattered throughout the fire. Crews focused on suppression repair work are constructing water bars on firelines along Arbo Creek Trail while road graders and dozers repair the Kilbrennan Lake and 17 Mile roads. Suppression repair is complete on the east side of the fire area. Firefighters along with heavy equipment operators continue suppression repair efforts on the Burnt Peak Fire. Crews are working on clearing ditches and culverts of debris, processing logs, and repairing roads near Goat Mountain.

Weather: Winds should be above normal through late Monday before reducing Monday night. Given higher winds along with hot and dry conditions, higher fire weather concerns are expected. Closures: Please remember, the USFS Three Rivers Ranger District has several area, road, 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/kootenai

COVID-19: Daily screening, masking, and social distancing protocols are in place at the Incident Command Post.

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Good News…Containment of the South Yaak Fire has now reached 89%. Fire personnel verified the fire reached previously constructed handline on the east flank of the fire perimeter and effectively stopped the fire at the line.

While fire suppression efforts continue, actions to repair road and trail damage as well as minimize soil erosion and impacts resulting from fire suppression activities have taken place. These important efforts to repair roads, trails, staging areas, safety zones, dozer and handlines utilized by firefighters during fire suppression efforts began over two weeks ago and will continue when the current Incident Management Team departs.

Current and Planned Activity

The South Yaak Fire still contains isolated pockets of heat scattered in multiple locations across the fire area; however fire activity is low with only creeping and smoldering. A crew on the north side of the fire will monitor active ground fire backing down slope toward constructed line to ensure the line holds. Suppression repair continues as heavy equipment pulls back berms of soil created during dozer line construction, installs water bars, and covers bare soil with woody debris. Arbo Creek Trail repair work is expected to be completed today. Currently, 79% of the repair work on the 8 miles of dozer line is completed. On the Burnt Peak Fire, repair work on 73% of the 10 miles of dozer line is currently completed. Heavy equipment continues work on the east and north sides of the fire.

Weather: Today’s temperature is expected to reach a high of 90 degrees, which is about 10 degrees above normal for this time of year. The afternoon heating will bring terrain driven winds of 10-15 mph in the afternoon.

Closures: Please remember, the USFS Three Rivers Ranger District has several area, road, 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/kootenai

COVID-19: Daily screening, masking, and social distancing protocols are in place at the Incident Command Post.

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The area and road restrictions have been modified for the Burnt Peak Fire. Closure Order D04-077-S-21 is effective September 3, 2021 through December 31, 2021 or until rescinded.

~~ FINAL UPDATE ~~

This will be the final daily update for Burnt Peak and South Yaak Fires

Slight acreage increases for both fires are due to more accurate mapping. An infrared flight last night showed pockets of isolated heat on both fires. Remaining areas of heat within the Burnt Peak Fire are concentrated in Benning Creek with some areas of heat near Burnt Peak and Survey Mountain. Within the South Yaak Fire, remaining areas of heat are located north of Kilbrennan Lake and along the northern perimeter near Arbo Creek Trail.

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 7 will return both fires to the Kootenai National Forest on Thursday, September 9th at 6:00 AM. The local Three Rivers Ranger District will take over management of both fires. Facebook and Inciweb will be updated as needed. Closures will remain in effect. The Incident Command Post at 2031 Bull Lake Road will be deconstructed by the end of the week and returned to a hay pasture.

By the Numbers                      Burnt Peak                                  South Yaak

Size (acres)                                4,099                                             12,489

Containment                                 41%                                              89%

Containment line (miles)                 9                                                  26.5

Perimeter (miles)                           22                                                   30

Dozer line constructed (miles)        10                                                     8

Dozer line repaired                      100%                                              79%

Handline constructed (miles)            3                                                    12

Handline repaired                         100%                                               93%
 

Weather: Today is a heads-up fire weather day as hot temperatures, low humidity, and increasing winds are expected across the region. Temperatures will be in the upper 80s and low 90s with southwest winds at 15 mph and gusts up to 20.

Closures: Please remember, the USFS Three Rivers Ranger District has area, road, 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/kootenai

Beginning Thursday September 9th, direct any questions to the Three Rivers Ranger District at 406-295-4693.

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Fire Information: Three Rivers Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest

 Monday-Friday 8:00 - 4:30

                                406-295-4693

Inciweb

Burnt Peak: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7619/

South Yaak: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7696/

Facebook: Kootenai National Forest

The Burnt Peak and South Yaak Fires are being managed by local Type IV teams

 as of 9/9/2020. Updates will be posted to Inciweb and the Kootenai Facebook page as needed.

Closures: As depicted on the map attached to Order D04-077-S-21, it is prohibited to be on any National Forest System Land or Roads within the following areas:

• Montana Principal Meridian T30N R34W Sections 7-10, 14-18, 19-24, 26-30; T30R35W Sections 11-14, 23-26, 35, and 36
• Boise Meridian (Idaho) T57N R3E Section 3 and Section 4 to the Idaho Panhandle National Forest boundary; T58N R3E Sections 15, 16, 21-28, 33 to the Idaho Panhandle National Forest boundary and 34.

Road closures include: NFSR 404 (North Fork Keeler Creek) and NFSR 473 (Keeler Creek-Rattle Creek Road) from their junction with NFSR 4735 (Lime Butte) to their respective termini.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd951253.pdf

Contact: Kate Jerman
(406) 552-7944

Response to Lightning Strike Wildfires Continues; Type 1 Incident Management Team to Arrive by Tomorrow

Missoula, MT, July 8 - Firefighters across the Lolo National Forest, in coordination with local cooperators and response partners, continue to actively engage on multiple fire fronts due to yesterday’s thunderstorms.

The western portion of the Forest, which includes the Superior and Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger Districts, experienced the most lightning activity. Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 1 has been ordered and will take command of multiple wildfire incidents located on the Superior and Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger Districts by tomorrow.

“Our firefighters worked tirelessly throughout the day and into the night to respond to multiple new fire starts across the Forest,” stated Carolyn Upton, Lolo National Forest Supervisor. “We train and prepare for moments like this. We made the decision to add capacity to suppression efforts by bringing on a Type 1 Incident Management Team due to the volume and complexity of the wildfire situation on the western side of the forest. As always, our priorities are the safety of the public and our firefighters.”

Firefighters continue to prioritize response efforts and suppression resources on wildfires that are nearby or threatening values at risk such as infrastructure, buildings, recreational facilities, or private property. Yesterday, fire managers utilized several helicopters, Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs), one Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT), smokejumpers, ground crews, engines, heavy equipment, helitack and air attack during suppression efforts. Aerial resources were shared between multiple emerging incidents and were used to slow fire spread while crews worked to assess and gain access to these fire areas.

Firefighters are expecting new wildfires to emerge over the coming days due to increased temperatures and drying fuel moisture. Fire managers will continue efforts to detect, confirm, and respond rapidly to new wildfires.
 

Closures:

·         Stark Divide Trails are closed, (Trails #50/51/52). Closure order will be forthcoming.

·         Sunset Trail #234, Trail #203, Trail #1195 are closed. Closure orders and maps will be forthcoming. 
 

For continued updates please follow us on Facebook or on Twitter at @lolonf.

West Lolo Complex Lolo National Forest Northern Rockies Incident Management team 1Mike Goicoechea, Incident Commander, July 9, 2021 

Contact Information

Information Line: 208-274-9674, 8 AM - 8 PM

Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7620/

Facebook: facebook.com/WestLoloComplex

Twitter: twitter.com/LoloNF

Email:  2021.westlolo@firenet.gov

#LoloNF
 

Fire Statistics

Location: Multiple locations

Date of Origin: 07/6/2021

Cause: Lightning

Total fire acres: 220                  

Containment: 0%

Injuries: 0

Structures Lost:0

Structures Threatened: 0

Resources

Crews: 2

Engines:

Helicopters: 6

Water Tenders:

Skidgens:

Personnel: 140

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 1 took command of the West Lolo Complex at 6:00 a.m. this morning.  Fires under the West Lolo Complex, meaning information on multiple fires burning on the Superior and Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District, will be provided under one incident name.

All fires are being managed under a full suppression strategy. The fires have been prioritized by the values at risk. Public and Firefighter safety is the number one priority. In addition, minimizing impacts to local communities, private property and structures, timber resources, highway corridors, and recreation improvements are included in the prioritization of these fires.

Multiple large fires are burning in Montana and Idaho.  Seven incident management teams have been mobilized since Monday to address fire activity in our local area.  Nationally the Northern Rockies area is the highest priority due to multiple new large incidents. Fire activity is high in many locations across the country and fire resources are limited. To view summary of fire activity nationally and incident management team assignments please visit https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf.

At this time, limited firefighter resources are focusing their efforts on fires located on the Superior Ranger District due to the high probability of success in containing these fires which include Sunset, Thompson, and Deep Lookout Mountain.

Superior Ranger District:

Sunset Fire: located up on the Dry Creek Divide, eight miles south of St. Regis.

Deep Lookout Mountain Fire: located on the upper reaches of the Deep Creek Drainage, north of I-90, 12 miles east of Superior, and five miles west of Stark Mountain Lookout.

Thompson Fire: The fire is located 2.5 miles southwest of Superior, MT on the east side of Thompson Creek, approximately 1.5 miles up the Thompson Creek drainage from Superior.  The fire is holding at 3-5 acres.

Resources are working to gain access to the Sunset and Deep Lookout Mountain fires.  Heavy equipment is being utilized to clear or improve existing roads to access the fires’ perimeter.  It is anticipated that firefighters will gain access to these fires today and begin direct fire suppression efforts. Two Type 1 or Hotshot crews will arrive in the coming days.

Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District:

Siegel Fire: Located 3-4 miles up the Siegel drainage northeast of Quinn’s Hot Springs

Quinns Fire: Located about ½ mile east and on the ridge above Quinn’s Hot Springs

Sheep Creek Fire: located on the west of the Clark Fork River across from Quinn’s Hot Springs, ½ mile of the ridgeline, and visible from Highway 135 and Highway 200.

Winniemuck, Thorne Creek, and Deep Creek:  North East of Thompson Falls in the Cube Iron/Silcox area

Aviation resources will be utilized on the fires in the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District to limit fires spread with water drops and retardant. Smoke will be visible from these fires and, at times, could be significant. Fire managers are continually monitoring all fires and will reprioritize the use of limited resources if values at risk change.

Firefighters are making good progress on the Sheep Creek and Quinns fires constructing containment lines around the fire perimeters. This suppression activity from yesterday will continue today. A plan is being developed for access to and suppression of the more remote Siegel Fire. Quinn’s Hot Springs is not threatened, no other structures or infrastructures are threatened, and there are no closures in place at this time.

A closure order is anticipated for the remote Siegel fire between and including the Graves Creek Road, Marmot Peak trail, and Priscilla Peak/Sundance Ridge trail. The Thompson River Roads will remain open.  Please monitor the West Lolo Complex InciWeb and Facebook pages and the Lolo National Forest Webpage.

Resources have been ordered and a plan is being developed for a full suppression response to Winniemuck, Thorne Creek, and Deep Creek fires.

Weather: There is a chance of thunderstorms across the fire area today, followed by a warming trend with hot dry weather this weekend continuing into next week. Warm, dry, and windy conditions will support active fire behavior in all fuels, elevations, and aspects.

Evacuations, Closures, and Additional Information:

·         Know before you go! In the coming days area and road closures will be issued for areas impacted by fire on the Lolo National Forest.   Closure information will be updated on the Lolo National Forest webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/lolo and for the West Lolo Complex on InciWeb  inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7620/.

Contact Information

Information Line: 208-274-9674, 8 AM - 8 PM

Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7620/

Facebook: facebook.com/WestLoloComplex

Twitter: twitter.com/LoloNF

Email:  2021.westlolo@firenet.gov

 #LoloNF


A Community Meeting will be held at the fairgrounds in Superior, Sunday, July 11 at 6:00 p.m.  This meeting will be open to the public and streamed live on the West Lolo Complex Facebook page.

A Complex of ten fires, meaning information on multiple fires burning on the Superior and Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District will be provided under one incident name, West Lolo Complex. These fires are visible from the communities of St. Regis, Thompson Falls, Superior, and Plains and travel routes in between.

All fires are being managed under a full suppression strategy. The fires have been prioritized by the values at risk with public and firefighter safety as the number one priority. Other considerations include minimizing impacts to local communities, private property and structures, timber resources, highway corridors, and recreation improvements.