Thorne Creek Fire Statistics

• Location: 5 miles NE of Thompson Falls
• Date of Origin: 7/7/2021
• Cause: Lightning
• Acres: 38,688
• Containment: 15%
• Injuries: 5

Resources

• Crews: 2
• Dozers: 1
• Engines: 16
• Skidgens: 2
• Helicopters: 5
• Water Tenders: 14
• Masticator: 0
• Personnel: 321

Summary: The West Lolo Complex (Thorne Creek Fire) had minimal fire activity yesterday. Heat throughout the fire area continues to produce smoke as it consumes heavy fuels; however, wet fuels led to little fire spread. The sun may dry out some fuels today, but fire behavior is expected to be quiet again.

The Ashley area has been removed from the Pre-Evacuation status. There will be no restrictions on this area and residents may come and go as normal. The ACM road is now open for travel. The Snider and Copper King communities are still in the Evacuation Status.

Thank you,

Tom Rummel
Sanders County Sheriff

Thorne Creek Fire Statistics

Location: 5 miles NE of Thompson Falls

• Date of Origin: 7/7/2021
• Cause: Lightning
• Acres: 38,688
• Containment: 21%
• Injuries: 5

Resources

• Crews: 2
• Dozers: 1
• Engines: 18
• Skidgens: 2
• Helicopters: 4
• Water Tenders: 14
• Personnel: 333

Summary: The overall strategy for the West Lolo Complex (Thorne Creek Fire) is to limit fire spread so that it does not impact state and private lands. Additional firing operations are unlikely as rain continues to drive fire activity down and containment goes up.

Cooler temperatures, as well as moisture on the fire, led to minimal fire activity for a second day in a row on fire yesterday. Containment increased to 21 percent thanks to ongoing work in Division November. Heavy fuels elsewhere on the fire smoldered and produced some smoke. Firefighters are working to create a continuous fuel break from Thompson River Road to Fishtrap to slow eastward progression of the fire onto state and private lands.

The Forest Service opened the ACM Road. Thompson River Road, the Deer Horn and Beatrice Road systems, and West Fork of Fishtrap Creek Road (including the campground) remain closed.

Today’s smoke report is expected to be the last one for the Thorne Creek Fire.

Yesterday: Fire activity was minimal for a second day, although heavy fuels in some areas smoldered and produced smoke. Even though firefighters found several hotspots, they increased containment through the Division November break, as well as mopped up behind structures and pulled excess hose. Fallen rocks and snags have created safety hazards in the area, which crews are working to mitigate. In Division Juliet, two crews worked to suppress the slopover on the north side of the mechanical line. In Division Hotel, crews assessed the 7685 Road system for necessary improvements in case it is needed a future control line. Division Echo used a dozer to clean up hazards along the 7685 Road system. Crews also removed excess hose and sprinklers west of the 2014 Spruce 2 footprint so that equipment can move to areas where there is still heat.

Today: Divisions Charlie/Zulu/Papa will continue to mop up, remove excess equipment and monitor fire activity and spread north of Cougar Peak Road. Division November will mop up around structures and assess and patrol around Copper King. In Division Juliet, firefighters will continue to suppress and mop up the slopover north of the mechanical line along Sundance Ridge. They also will evaluate needs for improving Fishtrap Creek Road. Division Echo will continue installing line off the old Deep Creek Fire footprint and begin tying in to Fishtrap Creek Road. Additional equipment is inbound to support these efforts.

Evacuations: 30 residents in the Thompson River Zone remain under evacuation orders. Color-coded evacuation maps are on InciWeb and Facebook. The Gold Team continues to coordinate with local law enforcement and emergency management officials to return residents safely to their homes as soon as possible. The Red Cross Shelter is available in Thompson Falls. Call 800-272-6668 for assistance.

Weather: Expect some warming and drying with a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. By early Saturday a fast-moving system will bring wetting rain to the fire, as well as potential thunderstorms. Sunday is expected to be breezy with winds from the southwest. Early next week temperatures will slowly warm to the mid-70s and relative humidity will drop back down to 20 percent by mid-week.

Closures and Additional Information:

• NEW: A larger temporary flight restriction is in place and available at tfr.faa.gov.
• The ACM Road is open. Thompson River Road, the Deer Horn and Beatrice Road system, and the West Fork of Fishtrap Creek Road (including the campground) remain closed.
• The Thorne Creek Fire is a No Drone Zone! If you fly, we can’t! Visit www.knowbeforeyoufly.org. 
• Air quality and smoke monitoring information is available at https://sites.google.com/firenet.gov/wfaqrp-airfare-tools.
• Information Boards are in Thompson Falls at Ainsworth Park, Harvest Foods and Wild Goose Landing and in Plains at the U.S. Forest Service Ranger District. Local businesses also are posting maps and updates and sharing information cards.
• KNOW BEFORE YOU GO! Forest closure information is available on InciWeb under the “Maps” and “Closures” tabs.
• STAGE 2 fire restrictions are in effect. Visit mtfireinfo.org to learn more.
• Ready, Set, GO! Wildland fire preparedness for ranchers and farmers can be found at www.dnrc.mt.gov.
• Residents can reduce wildfire risk by following Firewise building construction and vegetation management principles. Visit www.firewise.org for more information.

Sanders County Residents: The Thompson River evacuation order is now changed to pre-evacuation status and open to residents only. Thank you for your cooperation. Sanders County Sheriff's Office

Thorne Creek Fire Statistics

• Location: 5 miles NE of Thompson Falls
• Date of Origin: 7/7/2021
• Cause: Lightning
• Acres: 38,688
• Containment: 24%
• Injuries: 5

Resources

• Crews: 3
• Dozers: 1
• Engines: 21
• Skidgens: 2
• Helicopters: 4
• Water Tenders: 14
• Personnel: 364

Summary: The overall strategy for the West Lolo Complex (Thorne Creek Fire) is to limit fire spread so that it does not impact state and private lands. Additional firing operations are unlikely as rain continues to drive fire activity down and containment goes up.

Showers and isolated thunderstorms kept fire activity to a minimum for the third day in a row yesterday, allowing firefighters to increase containment to 24 percent. Heavy fuels continued to smolder and smoke.

Firefighters are working to create a continuous fuel break from Thompson River Road to Fishtrap to slow eastward progression of the fire onto state and private lands if it reaches that area.

The Thompson River Zone is now pre-evacuation status and open to residents only.

Thompson River Road, the Deer Horn and Beatrice Road systems, and West Fork of Fishtrap Creek Road (including the campground) remain closed.

Yesterday: Showers and isolated thunderstorms kept fire activity to a minimum for the third day in a row yesterday allowing firefighters to increase containment to 24 percent. Division Charlie/Zulu/Papa continued mop up and removing excess supplies. Division November moved up Thompson River Road, hitting hotspots, mopping up and removing supplies. In Division Juliet crews finished putting in line around the 17-acre slopover north of the mechanical line along Sundance Ridge. In Division Hotel, crews assessed the 7685 Road system for a potential future control line. Division Echo worked on construction of the line connecting into the road system. The Structure Protection Group completed their assessment of Fishtrap and Big Prairie and converted to an Initial Attack crew to respond to any new fires within the area.

Today: Division Charlie/Zulu/Papa will continue to mop up and repair where appropriate and remove excess equipment. Division November will continue mop up, secure containment lines and evaluate the need to leave structure protection in Snider and Liver. Division Echo will continue improvements to create a potential control line along the 7685 Road system to Fishtrap Creek Road. Divisions Hotel and Juliet will reduce fuels along Fishtrap Creek Road and scout for control features north of Priscilla Peak. In Division Juliet, firefighters will also continue to mop up the slopover north of the mechanical line along Sundance Ridge.

Evacuations: The Thompson River Zone is now in pre-evacuation status and open to residents only.

Weather: A low pressure system moved in very early this morning and already has brought in 0.1-0.5 inches of rain on the fire. Rain will continue throughout the day with cooler temperatures. Scattered thunderstorms are likely and could have erratic gusty winds. Breezy southwest winds will develop as rain exits the area beginning a slow warming and drying trend for the start of next week.

Closures and Additional Information:

• A temporary fight restriction is in place and available at tfr.faa.gov.
• Thompson River Road, the Deer Horn and Beatrice Road system, and the West Fork of Fishtrap Creek Road (including the campground) remain closed.
• The Thorne Creek Fire is a No Drone Zone! If you fly, we can’t! Visit www.knowbeforeyoufly.org. 
• Information Boards are in Thompson Falls at Ainsworth Park, Harvest Foods and Wild Goose Landing and in Plains at the U.S. Forest Service Ranger District. Local businesses also are posting maps and updates and sharing information cards.
• KNOW BEFORE YOU GO! Forest closure information is available on InciWeb under the “Maps” and “Closures” tabs.
• STAGE 2 fire restrictions are in effect. Visit mtfireinfo.org to learn more.
• Ready, Set, GO! Wildland fire preparedness for ranchers and farmers can be found at www.dnrc.mt.gov.
• Residents can reduce wildfire risk by following Firewise building construction and vegetation management principles. Visit www.firewise.org for more information.

Thorne Creek Fire Statistics

• Location: 5 miles NE of Thompson Falls
• Date of Origin: 7/7/2021
• Cause: Lightning
• Acres: 38,688
• Containment: 24%

Resources

• Crews: 3
• Dozers: 2
• Engines: 20
• Skidgens: 2
• Helicopters: 4
• Water Tenders: 5
• Masticator: 1
• Personnel: 353

Summary: Significant precipitation led to little fire activity again yesterday. Containment figures will be updated after an infrared flight scans the area for heat. Firefighters will continue mop up and suppression repair.

The Thompson River Zone remains in pre-evacuation status and open to residents only. Thompson River Road, the Deer Horn and Beatrice Road systems, and West Fork of Fishtrap Creek Road (including the campground) remain closed.

Information boards in Thompson Falls will be removed over the next two days.

Yesterday: Substantial rain yesterday led to little fire activity. Division Charlie/Zulu/Papa worked on suppression repair and removed equipment. Division November extinguished burning heavy fuels around homes and removed equipment. Division Juliet monitored the slopover north of the mechanical line along Sundance Ridge. Division Echo continued improvements to create a potential control line along the 7685 Road system to Fishtrap Creek Road. Division Hotel crews thinned brush on Fishtrap Creek Road near residences.

Today: Division Hotel firefighters have been reassigned to other divisions and a Repair Group has been added. Divisions Charlie/Zulu/Papa will continue suppression repair. Division November/Repair Group/Initial Attack Group will be removing structure protection equipment along the Thompson River Road. Division Juliet will continue mop up on the slopover north of the mechanical line along Sundance Ridge and reducing fuels along Fishtrap Creek Road. Division Echo will continue improvements along the 7685 Road system to Fishtrap Creek Road. Air resources will fly over the entire fire perimeter collecting infrared data to assess heat. Many resources will be demobed after today—most will be reassigned to fires with greater needs.

Evacuations: The Thompson River Zone is now in pre-evacuation status and open to residents only.

Weather: Over the last five days, the fire has received 1-3 inches of rain. Today will start with morning showers; warmer, drier weather will move into the area with temperatures in the 70s. West winds will be 10-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph, slowly drying things out today. The warming, drying trend will continue Monday with the potential for gustier winds.

Closures and Additional Information:

• A temporary flight restriction is in place and available at tfr.faa.gov.
• Thompson River Road, the Deer Horn and Beatrice Road system, and the West Fork of Fishtrap Creek Road (including the campground) remain closed.
• Forest closure information is available on InciWeb under the “Maps” and “Closures” tabs.
• STAGE 2 fire restrictions are in effect. Visit mtfireinfo.org to learn more.

Thorne Creek Fire Statistics

• Location: 5 miles NE of Thompson Falls
• Date of Origin: 7/7/2021
• Cause: Lightning
• Acres: 38,688
• Containment: 80%

Resources:

• Crews: 3
• Dozers: 2
• Engines: 19
• Skidgens: 1
• Aircraft: 2
• Water Tenders: 2
• Masticator: 1
• Personnel: 193

Summary: Yesterday’s infrared flight resulted in a significant increase in containment to 80 percent. Firefighters will continue mop up as needed and conduct suppression repair in the contained portion of the fire. The Southern Area Gold Team plans to transfer command back to the Lolo National Forest on August 25 at 7 p.m.

The Thompson River Zone remains in pre-evacuation status and open to residents only. Thompson River Road, the Deer Horn and Beatrice Road systems, and West Fork of Fishtrap Creek Road (including the campground) remain closed.

Information boards in Thompson Falls will be removed on Tuesday.

Yesterday: Saturday’s rain kept fire activity to a minimum which allowed firefighters to secure most of the fireline, bringing containment to 80 percent. Divisions Charlie/Zulu/Papa worked on suppression repair and finished removing equipment. Division November found and extinguished several hotspots and removed structure protection equipment along the Thompson River Road. Division Echo continued improvements along the 7685 Road system to Fishtrap Creek Road. Division Juliet mopped up the slopover north of the mechanical line along Sundance Ridge.

Today: Repair Group will rehabilitate fire line along the fire’s western containment edge. Division November will continue to hold and improve line, and look for opportunities to mop up. Division Juliet will continue mop up on the slopover north of the mechanical line along Sundance Ridge. Division Echo will continue improvements along the 7685 Road system to Fishtrap Creek Road.

Evacuations: The Thompson River Zone is now in pre-evacuation status and open to residents only.

Weather: Today, winds will be gusty out of the southwest, switching to northwest late in the evening when they will start to diminish. Expect abundant sunshine today with temperatures in the mid-70s. Tuesday will be mostly sunny with less wind.

Closures and Additional Information:

• A temporary flight restriction is in place and available at tfr.faa.gov.
• Thompson River Road, the Deer Horn and Beatrice Road system, and the West Fork of Fishtrap Creek Road (including the campground) remain closed.
• Forest closure information is available on InciWeb under the “Maps” and “Closures” tabs.
• STAGE 2 fire restrictions are in effect. Visit mtfireinfo.org to learn more.

Thorne Creek Fire Statistics

• Location: 5 miles NE of Thompson Falls
• Date of Origin: 7/7/2021
• Cause: Lightning
• Acres: 38,688
• Containment: 80%

Resources:

• Dozers: 2
• Engines: 4
• Aircraft: 1
• Water Tenders: 2
• Personnel: 216

Summary: The temporary flight restriction was lifted yesterday afternoon. Firefighting aircraft still may be used so private aircraft should be cautious in the area. Firefighters will continue mop up as needed and conduct suppression repair in the contained portion of the fire. The Southern Area Gold Team plans to transfer command back to the Lolo National Forest on August 25 at 7 p.m.

The communities of Snider and Copper King in the Thompson River Zone have been removed from pre-evacuation status. These areas have no restrictions and residents may come and go as normal.

The roadblock on the county side of Thompson River has been moved to the end of the pavement above Copper King where the road remains closed. Please exercise caution when traveling on this road as the Forest Service is still moving heavy equipment in this area.

Information boards in Thompson Falls will remain at Harvest Foods and the Forest Service Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District Office.

Yesterday: The temporary flight restriction was lifted in the afternoon. Repair Group completed three miles of suppression repair along the fire line near Silcox. Division Echo removed all equipment along the 7685 Road system and cleared it for use. Division November, using the infrared flight data, found and extinguished a few hotspots and pulled all remaining hose. Division Juliet continued mopping up the slopover north of the mechanical line along Sundance Ridge.

Today: Firefighters will assess any suppression repair needs, continue mop up and conduct repair operations.

Weather: Today will be less windy and slightly warmer and drier than yesterday with temperatures in the mid-70s and relative humidity around 20 percent. Wednesday is expected to be the warmest and driest day of the week with a high of 80 and relative humidity in the teens. Thursday through Saturday will be cooler with higher humidity.

Closures and Additional Information:

• Thompson River Road remains closed above Copper King. The Deer Horn and Beatrice Road system and the West Fork of Fishtrap Creek Road (including the campground) remain closed.
• Forest closure information is available on InciWeb under the “Maps” and “Closures” tabs.
• STAGE 2 fire restrictions are in effect. Visit mtfireinfo.org to learn more.

Thorne Creek Fire Statistics

• Location: 5 miles NE of Thompson Falls
• Date of Origin: 7/7/2021
• Cause: Lightning
• Acres: 38,688
• Containment: 80%

• Dozers: 2
• Engines: 4
• Aircraft: 1
• Excavators:2
• Personnel: 172

Summary: Even though yesterday was dry and breezy, fire behavior was minimal because of damp fuels. Drier conditions today may cause heavy fuels to smoke. Firefighters will continue to mop up as needed and conduct suppression repair in the contained portion of the fire.

The Southern Area Incident Management Gold Team will transfer command back to the Lolo National Forest today at 7 p.m. This will be the last daily update from the team. The final update for the incident will be on Aug. 27 unless conditions change significantly.

The Gold Team would like to thank all of the firefighters and the public, as well as the local communities, businesses and organizations who supported this successful effort.

Yesterday: Division N sought out and extinguished hotspots. Repair Group rehabilitated handline and 4.5 miles of dozer line.

Today: Division N will continue to mop up and improve fireline. All other resources will work in the Repair Group repairing fireline in the contained area of the fire.

Weather: Today will be the warmest and driest day of the week with a high of 80 and minimum relative humidity in the upper teens. Some smoke from fires to the west will likely drift into the area. A trend towards cooler conditions with more moisture will start Thursday.

Closures and Additional Information:

• NEW: The Lolo National Forest will lift Stage II Fire Restrictions on Thursday, August 26 at 12:01 a.m.
• Thompson River Road remains closed above Copper King. The Deer Horn and Beatrice Road system and the West Fork of Fishtrap Creek Road (including the campground) remain closed.
• Forest closure information is available on InciWeb under the “Maps” and “Closures” tabs.

This will be the final update for the West Lolo Complex (Thorne Creek Fire) unless changing fire conditions warrant.

August 27, 2021 Update

Contact Information

• Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7620/
• Facebook: @WestLoloComplex
• YouTube: West Lolo Complex YouTube

Thorne Creek Fire Statistics

• Location: 5 miles NE of Thompson Falls
• Date of Origin: 7/7/2021
• Cause: Lightning
• Acres: 39,053
• Containment: 80%

Narrative

The progression of the Thorne Creek progression has stalled due to recent rain events. The current East/Northeast side of the fire is largely halted in place and is in rugged inaccessible terrain. This area of the fire will continue to be monitored closely. If any areas become active an appropriate fire suppression strategy will be determined and initiated at that time.

August 26, 2021: Division N sought out and extinguished hotspots. The Repair Group rehabilitated handline and 4.5 miles of dozer line.

August 27, 2021: Division N will continue to mop up and improve fireline through the weekend. All other resources will work in the Repair Group repairing fireline in the contained area of the fire.

Weather

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm on Friday, with a high near 70. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

A warmer and drier weather pattern is expected through the weekend, with temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s.

Closures and Additional Information

• The Lolo National Forest lifted Stage II Fire Restrictions on Thursday, August 26 at 12:01 a.m.
• Thompson River Road remains closed above Copper King. The Deer Horn and Beatrice Road system and the West Fork of Fishtrap Creek Road (including the campground) remain closed.
• Forest closure information is available on InciWeb under the “Maps” and “Closures” tabs.