The Divide Complex Daily Update 07/17/2021
* The Ellis fire is currently at  approximately 955 acres with 15% containment, no injuries or structures lost*
 
The Divide Complex, consisting of the Balsinger Fire and the Ellis Fire, has a total of 192 personnel assigned. This includes four Type 2 handcrews, one Type 1 hotshot crew, eleven Type 6 engines, one Type 5 engine, two Type 4 engines, three dozers, one skidgen unit, and three water tenders.  Special thanks to the Cascade County Sheriff, Meagher County Rural Fire Department, Monarch and Neihart County Rural Fire Departments, and the Rockin C Ranch for their help on these fires.

Important: The Balsinger Fire and Ellis Fire are being managed as a complex. A Type 3 Incident Management Team is in command of the fire led by Incident Commander Zach Saavedra and trainee Brad Tausan. 

Safety of fire personnel and protection of human life is the priority. 

Operations:

The Divide Complex, consisting of the Balsinger Fire and the Ellis Fire, has a total of 249 personnel assigned. This includes five Type 2 handcrews, one Type 1 hotshot crew, sixteen Type 6 engines, one Type 5 engine, two Type 4 engines, one Type 3 engine, three dozers, one skidgen unit, and three water tenders. For the next operational period, resources on the Balsinger Fire will focus on securing/ mopping-up existing fireline, fuels reduction on the Divide Road, and suppression of the northern flank. Structure assessments/preparation continues in the Belt Parkway area. On the Ellis Fire, mop-up and securing existing fireline continues. Some firing of green islands within the fire perimeter may occur. Air resources are being shared between the two fires. Two Type 2 helicopters and two Type 1 helicopters are available for bucket drops and other support missions.

Weather: Upper level high pressure will keep hot temperatures, light winds, and low RH percentages in the forecast for the remainder of the weekend and into next week. Minimum RH percentages will drop into the teens each afternoon with poor to fair recoveries overnight enhancing the development of mid-slope thermal belts. Dry conditions prevail through Monday morning with a slight chance for showers or thunderstorms Monday afternoon and evening. 

Closures, and Additional Information: An area closure is in place for public and firefighter safety on the Balsinger Fire,  Firehttps://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/hlcnf/alerts-notices/?aid=67271 . From the junction of North Pilgrim Creek trailhead #304 following Belt Creek East to the convergence of Belt Creek and Tillinghast Creek, south along Tillinghast Creek to the intersection with road 6511, along the Harley Park Connector trail to the intersection of Road #586, then moving West connecting to Trail 347, following trail 347 to where it meets Trail 342, then following Tenderfoot Creek west to Trail 343, following Trail 343 to Trail 341,then North along Trail 341 to the intersection of Road #268 and Road 839, following Road 839 north connecting with Trail #304. Visit: https://go.usa.gov/x6SWS to view a copy of the closure order and map.

·        Sign up for emergency alerts at https://sheriff.meaghercounty.net/ and  https://www.cascadecountymt.gov/283/Sheriffs-Office

·        For wildfire preparedness information visit firewise.org and wildlandfirersg.org

·        For information about returning home after a wildfire, visit: www.ready.gov/wildfires#after

·        For information on air quality and smoke maps, visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ and http://svc.mt.gov/deq/todaysair/

Visit the following sites for more information on the fires:

Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/hlcnf/

Ellis Fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7625/

Balsinger Fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7624/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HLCNF

A Community Meeting will be held Monday July 19, 2021 at 4:00 PM in Neihart Community Park. Seating is limited, individuals may want to bring their own chair.

Maps and updates will be available for both the Balsinger and Ellis Fires.

If you have specific questions, representatives from the Incident Management Team and the Forest Service will be available to answer them.

The Balsinger Fire and Ellis Fire are being managed as a complex. A Type 3 Incident Management Team is in command of the fire led by Incident Commander Zach Saavedra and trainee Brad Tausan. Safety of fire personnel and protection of human life is the priority. Mapping on Inciweb is out of date due to lack of IR flights for the last two days.

Operations:

The Divide Complex, consisting of the Balsinger Fire and the Ellis Fire, has a total of 209 personnel assigned. This includes three Type 2 handcrews, one Type 1 hotshot crew, sixteen Type 6 engines, one Type 5 engine, two Type 4 engines, one Type 3 engine, three dozers, one skidgen unit, and three water tenders. For the next operational period, resources on the Balsinger Fire will focus on securing/ mopping-up existing fireline, continuing fuels reduction and structure preparation along the Divide Road and providing suppression of the northern flank. If conditions are favorable, ignitions will be used to meet objectives. Structure assessments/preparation continues in the Belt Parkway area. On the Ellis Fire, mop-up and securing existing fireline continues. Some firing of green islands within the fire perimeter may occur. Two Type 2 helicopters and one Type 1 helicopters are available for bucket drops and other support missions.

Weather: Southwesterly flow aloft will continue to bring mid-level monsoonal moisture to the region tonight through Wednesday. Mostly dry conditions at lower levels will limit the amount of rainfall this evening but continued advection of moist air will bring a slightly increased chance for a wetting rain Tuesday night through Wednesday. There is a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon on Tuesday, bringing gusty and erratic winds to the region. Afternoon minimum RH percentages are expected to remain above 30 percent with fair to good overnight recoveries.

 Divide Complex Fire

(Balsinger and Ellis)

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest July 21, 2021

Albuquerque Zone Type 3 Team

Zach Saavedra- Incident Commander

Information Line: (406) 272-6349, 8 AM - 8 PM

Important: The Balsinger Fire and Ellis Fire are being managed as a complex. A Type 3 Incident Management Team is in command of the fire led by Incident Commander Zach Saavedra and trainee Brad Tausan. Safety of fire personnel and protection of human life is the priority. Mapping on Inciweb is out of date due to lack of IR flights for the last three days.

Operations:

The Divide Complex, consisting of the Balsinger Fire and the Ellis Fire, has a total of 209 personnel assigned. This includes three Type 2 handcrews, one Type 1 handcrew, sixteen Type 6 engines, one Type 5 engine, two Type 4 engines, one Type 3 engine, three dozers, one skidgen unit, and three water tenders. For the next operational period, resources on the Balsinger Fire will focus on securing/ mopping-up existing fireline and continuing fuels reduction.  Multiple types of equipment are being used along the Divide Road to prepare for holding operations. If conditions are favorable, ignitions will be used to meet objectives. Structure assessments/preparation continues in the Belt Parkway area. On the Ellis Fire, mop-up and securing existing fireline continues. Personnel will rehabilitate firelines and collect/transport used supplies off the fire. Two Type 2 helicopters and one Type 1 helicopters are available for bucket drops and other support missions.

Weather: Expect a partly to mostly sunny start to the day today, with another round of showers and thunderstorms possible again during the afternoon and evening. Any thunderstorms could produce gusty, erratic winds. Winds should generally be on the light side outside of thunderstorms, but occasional gusts to 20 mph are possible tomorrow afternoon. 

Closures, and Additional Information: An area closure is in place for public and firefighter safety on the Balsinger Fire, https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/hlcnf/alerts-notices/?aid=67271 . From the junction of North Pilgrim Creek trailhead #304 following Belt Creek East to the convergence of Belt Creek and Tillinghast Creek, south along Tillinghast Creek to the intersection with road 6511, along the Harley Park Connector trail to the intersection of Road #586, then moving West connecting to Trail 347, following trail 347 to where it meets Trail 342, then following Tenderfoot Creek west to Trail 343, following Trail 343 to Trail 341,then North along Trail 341 to the intersection of Road #268 and Road 839, following Road 839 north connecting with Trail #304. Visit: https://go.usa.gov/x6SWS to view a copy of the closure order and map.

·        Sign up for emergency alerts at https://sheriff.meaghercounty.net/ and  https://www.cascadecountymt.gov/283/Sheriffs-Office

·        For wildfire preparedness information visit firewise.org and wildlandfirersg.org

·        For information about returning home after a wildfire, visit: www.ready.gov/wildfires#after

·        For information on air quality and smoke maps, visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ and http://svc.mt.gov/deq/todaysair/

Visit the following sites for more information on the fires:

Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/hlcnf/         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HLCNF

Ellis Fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7625/    Twitter: @LewisandClarkNF

On Friday, July 23, 2021, at 6 a.m. the Southern Area Incident Management Gold Team assumed command of the Divide Complex (Balsinger and Ellis Fires) and the American Fork Fire under the leadership of Incident Commander Debbie Beard. The leadership from the Helena-Lewis and Clark and the Custer-Gallatin National Forests would like to express their sincere thanks to the Albuquerque Zone Type 3 Team and the national forest employees, cooperators and partners who have been supporting the fire suppression efforts.

 
Current Situation: Firefighters on the Balsinger Fire are securing and strengthening existing fireline and reducing fuels along the eastern edge and along Divide Road in anticipation of the fire’s potential movement in that direction. Structure groups along the Belt Parkway, 89-corridor area, are assessing structures and developing a protection plan. On the Ellis Fire, crews continue to mop-up and secure existing fire line and rehabilitate dozer line created during suppression efforts. Helicopters are available for support, including monitoring the fires by air.

On Thursday the American Fork Fire moved north into the 2017 Blacktail Fire footprint. Crews continue holding the fire off private land on the east side. Aerial resources continue to address slop-overs on the west and south ends of the fire. Crews are looking for opportunities to mitigate fire spread towards the Smith Creek and Shields Valley communities to the west.

Weather: On the Divide Complex, a RED FLAG WARNING is in effect today from noon to 9 p.m. After poor humidity recovery overnight, near critical to critical fire weather conditions are expected with wind gusts of 15 to 20 mph as relative humidity drops to around 15 percent. On the American Fork Fire, very hot temperatures will continue with poor recovery of relative humidity at night. Long-term drought conditions are anticipated to continue.

Resources: As of today, 189 personnel are assigned to the Divide Complex including hand crews, aircraft, engines, dozers, a skidgen unit and water tenders. The American Fork Fire has 85 personnel including multiple engines, dozers and hand crews with more on order.

Closures: Area closures, including trail closures, are in place on the Balsinger Fire and on the American Fork Fire (see links below). Temporary flight restrictions are in place on the Balsinger Fire and American Fork Fire.

Advisories:

• Do not fly drones over the fire. If you fly, we can’t.

• Please respect road closures. Traffic on closed roads creates safety hazards for firefighters and other vehicles.

• Firefighting resources are limited. It is critically important that we all do our part in preventing additional fire starts by following all campfire restrictions and fire-related closures.

• The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest and the Custer Gallatin National Forest are under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, which includes the use of charcoal grills. The Custer Gallatin also has restricted campfires in all locations. Visit www.MTFireInfo.org for statewide fire restriction information.

Current Situation

On the Divide Complex yesterday, several spot fires caused the Balsinger Fire to grow past James, Horn and Tillinghast Creeks into Belt Park, where the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation order. Today firefighters continue structure protection, securing and strengthening existing firelines, and preparation work along Divide Road in anticipation of the fire’s potential movement in that direction. Their objective remains to keep the fire north of Divide Road. On the Ellis Fire yesterday, firefighters picked up hotspots and continued to repair and rehab firelines. Although winds will be lighter today, isolated torching is expected.

On the American Fork Fire yesterday firefighters started mopping up on the northeast and east firelines and worked to hold the fire on the top ridge to the south. Today firefighters continue suppression and firing operations towards the 2017 Blacktail Fire footprint where little fuel is available to burn. Firefighters are holding the fireline along the east and using aerial resources to pick up spot fires and aid suppression on the north, south and west edges. Crews will also be preparing for structure protection south of the fire.

Current Conditions
 
Under red flag conditions, the Divide Complex grew substantially on Friday. The Balsinger Fire made a long, sustained run north and east for about two miles, nearly doubling the size of the fire in six hours. Intense fire behavior with crowning and long-range spotting occurred. Firefighters worked to tie in a dozer line in the Wilson Park area to Belt Park for a solid containment line. Although the fire continues to push east, retardant drops in the grassy areas have slowed its movement. The evacuation order for Belt Park, issued by the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, remains in place.

Today firefighters will reassess the fire perimeter to establish new anchor points, continue structure protection, secure and strengthen existing firelines, and work to keep the fire north of Divide Road. On the Ellis Fire, firefighters yesterday worked on rehabilitating interior line and patrolling for hotspots and anything threatening containment lines. The fire continues to smolder and creep, producing smoke. Tree torching is still possible. Today firefighters will continue to repair and rehabilitate firelines and hold and improve containment lines.
 
The American Fork Fire is actively spreading southwest into the Shields Creek drainage, home to the endangered Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Yesterday firefighters extinguished hotspots on the northeast side, made progress on handline on the southeast side, and worked with aircraft and handcrews to keep heat in check on the southern tip of the fire. Pockets of fire on the northwest side near Lebo Peak put up visible smoke. Today firefighters will continue suppression efforts on the east and south sides towards the 2017 Blacktail Fire footprint, holding constructed line along the east and preparing structure protection in the south. Aviation resources will pick up spot fires and aid in suppression on the north, south and west.

Weather

A red flag warning is in effect today with wind gusts 20-30 mph and low relative humidity. Tomorrow, more clouds with warmer temperatures are expected. Much-needed moisture and higher relative humidity may move into the region by the middle of next week.

Resources  
 
The Divide Complex has 207 personnel including crews, aircraft, engines, dozers and water tenders. The American Fork Fire has 149 personnel including crews, engines and a dozer. Recently ordered resources, which continue to be scarce across the country, are trickling in to the Balsinger Fire.
 
Closures
 
Area closures, including trail closures, are in place on the Balsinger Fire and on the American Fork Fire (map) including Big Elk Creek Trail and Trailhead. Temporary flight restrictions are in place on the Balsinger Fire and American Fork Fire.
 
Advisories 

• The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest and the Custer Gallatin National Forest are under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, which includes the use of charcoal grills. The Custer Gallatin also has restricted campfires in all locations. Visit www.MTFireInfo.org for statewide fire restriction information.

• Firefighting resources are limited. It is critically important that we all do our part in preventing additional fire starts by following all campfire restrictions and fire-related closures.

Current Situation

National competition for resources remains extremely high. As a result, firefighters continue to face challenges in suppressing the Divide Complex and American Fork Fire due to lack of appropriate resources. Protecting human life and safety is the priority and overriding incident objective.

Under sustained red flag conditions, the Divide Complex grew again on Sunday. The Balsinger Fire increased by almost 500 acres as it continued to push east toward the community of Neihart. To the north, the fire made several runs up Thunder Mountain. Intense fire behavior with crowning and spotting continued. Aviation resources helped firefighters hold the containment line in the Wilson Park area. Heavy equipment wrapped up work on the Divide Road.

Today firefighters will focus on protecting the communities of Belt Park, Deer Creek Estates, Monarch, Neihart and the Hwy. 89 corridor to avoid loss or damage to private property / lands and critical infrastructure. Where possible, they will use mechanized equipment to establish and improve control lines. 

Although it exhibited increased smokes and smaller pockets of fire activity yesterday, the Ellis Fire remained steady as firefighters continued to patrol containment lines and put out hot spots. Today they will continue holding and improving containment lines, attacking any hot spots, mopping up and keeping the fire in check.

The American Fork Fire saw a dramatic increase in fire activity again yesterday as it more than doubled in size, mainly south in the American Fork drainage. Aviation and on-the-ground resources worked to hold the fire on the northern edge. Yesterday afternoon, firefighters and resource advisors who were scouting out contingency lines had to be extracted by air to ensure their safety. A smoke column was visible by 5 p.m.

Today’s fire behavior has a Haines Index of 6, which indicates the highest potential for large wildfires to experience extreme behavior. With safety foremost in their minds, crews will construct direct line along the southern edge of the fire to slow progression into the south fork of American Creek. In the east, they will work hard to keep the fire on Forest Service lands and towards the 2017 Blacktail Fire footprint to protect and limit the impacts to adjacent private property. Once again, aviation resources will support firefighter activities on the ground.

Evacuation Notices

• An evacuation order for Belt Park, issued by the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, remains in place.
• A pre-evacuation order was issued last night from the Belt Creek Ranger Station to Monarch and from west of Monarch to the confluence of Pilgrim Creek and Belt Creek.

Community Meeting

• A community meeting about the Divide Complex (Balsinger and Ellis Fires) will take place tonight at the Neihart Community Park at 7 p.m. This event will be recorded and posted on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest’s Facebook Page.
• Conditions today are conducive for extreme fire behavior. The incident management team has established trigger points that, if reached by the fire, will initiate an evacuation of the Neihart community. In that event, we will cancel tonight’s community meeting.

Weather

Temperatures will be hotter today with highs in the low to mid-80s and relative humidity and winds similar to yesterday. Some moisture will try to move back into the region by the middle and latter half of the week with much needed higher relative humidity and increased cloud cover. Thunderstorm chances also will increase throughout the week.

Resources

Competition for scarce resources nationally remains high. The Divide Complex has 222 personnel including crews, aircraft, engines, dozers and water tenders. The American Fork Fire has 164 personnel including crews, engines, a dozer and a water tender. Private rancher dozers are also supporting the suppression efforts.

Closures

Area closures, including trail closures, are in place on the Balsinger Fire and on the American Fork Fire (map) including Big Elk Creek Trail and Trailhead. Temporary flight restrictions remain in place on the Balsinger Fire and American Fork Fire.

Advisories

• Firefighting resources are limited. It is critically important that we all do our part in preventing additional fire starts by following all campfire restrictions and fire-related closures.
• The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest and the Custer Gallatin National Forest are under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, which includes the use of charcoal grills. The Custer Gallatin also has restricted campfires in all locations. Visit www.MTFireInfo.org for statewide fire restriction information.
• Visit www.airnow.gov for more information on air quality near you.

Current Situation

On the Divide Complex, the Balsinger Fire exhibited extreme fire behavior yesterday resulting in growth of more than 1,500 acres and long-range spotting. The fire reached the top of Thunder Mountain and started backing down into the field on the other side. Here and at Belt Park Road, where the fire is also pushing into the fields, firefighters successfully caught spot fires. Aviation resources also dropped retardant to help reduce fire’s spread. In the Wilson Creek area, where the fire intensity is high, the fire moved slowly east where firefighters successfully caught spot fires. Critical burning conditions are expected again today. Firefighters will be actively working on the east and southwest sides of the fire and scouting ahead in the north to prepare for the fire’s possible movement that direction. Structure protection will continue with assistance from local volunteer fire departments.

Patrolling for hot spots and mop up continued on the Ellis Fire yesterday. Firefighters also consolidated piles of debris from suppression efforts. Today they will continue holding and improving containment lines, attacking any hot spots, mopping up and keeping the fire in check.

After it’s significant run on Sunday, the American Fork Fire continues its movement into the south fork of the American Fork River drainage yesterday. Firefighters worked the fire’s edge as it came out of the river bottom. Strategic firing operations helped push the fire back. Today firefighters will continue suppression operations along the east and southern edges and toward the 2017 Blacktail Fire footprint as conditions allow. Aviation resources will continue to pick up spot fires. Structure protection for areas to the south will continue with support from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the local fire department.

The reduction in acres on the American Fork Fire is due to more accurate mapping.

Evacuation Notices

• An evacuation order for Belt Park, issued by the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, remains in place.
• A pre-evacuation order was issued for the area from the Belt Creek Ranger Station to Monarch and from west of Monarch to the confluence of Pilgrim Creek and Belt Creek.

Weather

Today will be hot with temperatures in the 80s to near 90. Minimum relative humidity will be a little higher as more moisture moves into the region. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms are possible. Wednesday will be much cooler.

Resources

The Divide Complex has 165 personnel including crews, aircraft, engines, dozers and water tenders. The American Fork Fire has 183 personnel including crews, engines, a dozer and a water tender. Private rancher dozers are also supporting the suppression efforts.

Closures—New

The Belt Creek-White Sulphur Springs Ranger District, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is closing the following area for public safety near the Balsinger Fire:

• All National Forest Systems lands within the boundary of the following area, except Forest Service (FS) Roads 839 and 268:
• From the junction of Monarch and Hwy 89 heading south and all lands west of Hwy. 89 following FS Road 3412 south to junction of FS Road 839;
• Then west and north along FS Road 839 to the junction of FS Road 586 and along the Harley Park Connector trail to the intersection of FS Road 586;
• Then moving west connecting to Trail 347, following Trail 347 to where it meets Trail 342;
• Then following Tenderfoot Creek west to Trail 343, following Trail 343 to Trail 341;
• Then north along Trail 341 to the intersection of FS Road 268 and FS Road 839, following FS Road 839 north connecting with Trail 304.

Additional area closures, including trail closures, are in place on the Balsinger Fire and on the American Fork Fire (map) including Big Elk Creek Trail and Trailhead.

Advisories

• National competition for resources remains extremely high. As a result, firefighters continue to face challenges in suppressing the Divide Complex and American Fork Fire due to lack of appropriate resources. Protecting human life and safety is the priority and overriding incident objective.
• Help prevent additional fire starts by following all campfire restrictions and fire-related closures.
• The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest and the Custer Gallatin National Forest are under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, which includes the use of charcoal grills. The Custer Gallatin also has restricted campfires in all locations. Visit www.MTFireInfo.org for statewide fire restriction information.
• Visit www.airnow.gov for more information on air quality near you.