Bull Gin Complex Fires

Government Fire: 2,413 acres; 0% completion
Billiard Fire: 1,125 acres; 6% completion
Isabella Lake Fire: 285 acres; 0% completion

HIGHTLIGHTS: Northern Rockies Team 2 assumed command of the Bull Gin Complex at 6:30 AM today. While incident command is changing, today’s firefighting operations and fire behavior is similar to yesterdays. The fires are expected to be fairly quiet, with minimal fire behavior continuing to move downhill in certain areas. Firefighters will continue to maintain and advance control lines and protect values at risk. Northern Rockies Team 2 thanks the community for its warm welcome and looks forward to working with you all.

Government Fire: The southeast area of the fire continues to be the most active portion of this fire. Firefighters continue to focus on reinforcing control lines, especially where the fire continues to move downhill toward Rock Creek and Rock Creek Road. Resources are actively monitoring the handline and maintaining hoselays established near the private property in this area. Chipping along also Rock Creek Road continues. Engines are patrolling and monitoring structures along Government Road, while masticators advance work along the road. Aircraft are monitoring the Rock Lake Fire, which firefighters recently controlled via initial attack.

Billiard Fire:  Firefighters completed the contingency line along Fatman Road. Dozers also completed lines along the southeast side of the fire. Resources continue to monitor the fire in relation to these lines. Masticators are improving the contingency lines along Road 2296, which connects Fatman Road and Blue Creek Road. Crews continue to patrol and monitor structures along Blue Creek, Blue Creek Bay, Hillside Lane, and Fatman Road.

Isabella Lake Fire: The fire continues to be monitored by air resources.

EVACUATIONS:  On September 8th the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office placed the residents along Government Mountain Road and Timber Ridge Road into pre-evacuation status. For status of emergency conditions, please sign up for Sanders County Emergency Alerts at 406-203-0082.

CLOSURES: Government Mountain Road and Rock Creek Road are closed to the public. The Noxon Refuse Site remains open during regular hours. Area, road, and trail closures are in place for the Government, Billiard, and Isabella Lake Fires to provide for public safety and firefighting operations. See Inciweb for maps and closure descriptions: https://bit.ly/KootenaiNFClosures.

WEATHER:   Today’s forecast is calling for a cooler but dry day, with continued cloud coverage. Today’s winds will be westerly, with gusts up to 15-20 mph on ridgetops. A dry cold front is expected to set in tonight, causing the wind to shift in direction from west to northeast. Wind speed will be similar tonight. A wetting rain (¼ to  ½ inch) is anticipated Wednesday evening, but conditions could change.  

Information Phone Line: 406-426-9644

Email: 2022.bullgin@firenet.gov

Bull Gin Complex Fires

Government Fire: 2,414 acres; 0% containment

Billiard Fire: 1,125 acres; 6% containment

Isabella Lake Fire: 285 acres; 0% containment

The Bull Gin Complex is currently 3,824 acres. Billiard fire containment increased to 6% as firefighters further secured the western edge.  Warming temperatures and drying conditions contribute to a gradual increase in fire activity after the rainfall last week. To date, over 104,250 hours of firefighting efforts and incident support have occurred on the Bull Gin Complex. Northern Rockies Team 7 will transfer command of the Bull Gin Complex to Northern Rockies Team 2 at 6:30 AM on Monday, September 19, 2022.

Government Fire: Firefighters saw a slight uptick in fire activity yesterday afternoon including isolated tree torching and active surface flame. The fire was most active in the southeast, where active surface fire was burning heavy dead-and-down fuels and backing downslope towards the cobblestone in Rock Creek and containment lines. Sprinklers and water conveyance systems are in place in an old growth cedar grove southeast of the fire’s edge. Heavy equipment and crews completed chipping efforts from the intersection of the 150 road and 150A road to Rock Lake Trailhead and will continue fuel-break improvement, working south on the 150 road chipping slash and hauling brush to designated areas. Mastication was completed in the 2763 road system. On the west side, engines continue to patrol and monitor structures along the Government Road. 

Billiard Fire: Firefighters observed increased fire activity, with surface fire backing downslope towards dozer line above Fatman Road. Handcrews and skidgines patrol, secure, and mop up the fire edge in the northwest area near the Billiard cabin. Slash removal work continues to the west of the fire along Blue Creek Road and Fatman Road. Mastication along the 2293 road system is complete and crews will remove slash to improve containment lines to the south. Engines patrol and monitor structures along Blue Creek, Blue Creek Bay, Hillside Lane, and Fatman Road.

Isabella Lake Fire: The fire remains unstaffed and monitored.

Evacuations: On September 8th the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office placed the residents along Government Mountain Road and Timber Ridge Road into pre-evacuation status.  

Closures: Government Mountain Road and Rock Creek Road are closed to the public. The Noxon Refuse Site remains open during regular hours. Area, road, and trail closures are in place for the Government, Billiard, and Isabella Lake Fires to provide for public safety and firefighting operations. See Inciweb for maps and closure descriptions.

Government Fire 2,376 acres  0%

Billiard Fire  1,119 acres  3%

Isabella Lake Fire  280 acres  0%

The Bull Gin Complex is currently 3,775 acres. Firefighters are working to secure lines to achieve containment where the fires reach constructed or natural control lines. Containment is achieved when a fire can be left unsupervised with no risk of spreading beyond control lines. The west side of the Government Fire continues to experience burning materials ‘rolling out’ and falling over the control line. Fire activity across the complex is reduced with minimal surface fire due to dewey mornings and less solar heating during the day.

Government Fire: Along Rock Creek Road and the 2763 road system, firefighters and heavy equipment are removing slash created from fire line construction using masticators and chippers. Government Creek is providing a natural control line on the northwest perimeter. Yesterday evening was the last night shift, where firefighters and engines patrolled and monitored the southern portion of the fire. The Rock Lake Fire is controlled and in patrol status.

Billiard Fire: A portion of the west side of the fire, from Fatman Saddle north to Broken Hill Road, is secured and contained. Firefighters extinguished areas of heat 30 to 60 feet inside the control line and removed fire weakened trees that could potentially fall over the line. The Aravaipa Hotshots are constructing handline directly along the fire edge north of Broken Hill Road. Crews and heavy equipment completed line construction to the south in the 2293 road system, tying line to a natural rock scree feature. Chippers and masticators are mitigating slash from fireline construction along Fatman Road and to the west along the Blue Creek Road. Engines patrol structures in Blue Creek, Blue Creek Bay, Hillside Lane, and Fatman Road.

Isabella Lake Fire: The fire remains unstaffed and monitored.

Evacuations: On September 8th the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office placed the residents along Government Mountain Road and Timber Ridge Road into pre-evacuation status. Please sign up for Sanders County Emergency Alerts at 406-203-0082 to stay informed on the status of emergency conditions.

Closures: Government Mountain Road and Rock Creek Road are closed to the public. The Noxon Refuse Site remains open during regular hours. Area, road, and trail closures are in place for the Government, Billiard, and Isabella Lake Fires to provide for public safety and firefighting operations. See Inciweb for maps and closure descriptions.

Weather: Partly cloudy with a low chance for an isolated shower or thunderstorm in the afternoon. Temperatures low to mid 60s with southwest winds 5 to 10 mph and gusts up to 15 mph switching to north 4 to 8 mph on the ridgetops after 6:00 PM.

Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires

Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires

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Updates for the Goat Mountain 2 Fire will be posted weekly on Thursdays.
Additional updates will be posted when significant changes occur.

Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires

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Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires
September 29, 2022
Daily Update – 8:00 AM

Highlights: Yesterday saw an increase in fire behavior across the fires. Today crews will assess those active fire areas and resources stand ready to respond to any changes. Overnight precipitation and more moisture today should substantially reduce fire activity.

Double Creek Fire: 161,510 acres, no change | 89% contained | 436 personnel assigned
The northern region was very active yesterday in the Cow Creek and Lightning Creek drainages. The northern portion received wetting rains overnight, and crews will assess fuel conditions in those areas today to determine resource needs for the next few days. Along the western side of the fire, suppression repair is nearly complete.

Eagle Cap Wilderness Fires Sturgill Fire: 21,103 acres, no change | 72% of objectives achieved | 60 personnel assigned
The fire was very active yesterday and burned towards the Stanley Guard Station. Helicopters dropped water to slow fire spread and firefighters were in place to protect structures. The fire also moved toward Red’s Horse Ranch yesterday, where a structure protection task force remained in place. Active monitoring will continue today.

Nebo Fire: 12,602 acres, no change | 78% of objectives achieved | 0 personnel assigned

Goat Mountain 2 Fire: 548 acres, no change | 0 personnel assigned
Quiet for 13 days, the Goat Mountain 2 Fire made a run to the east, slopping over a ridgeline and backing down the west side of the Lostine River drainage. Helicopters made several water drops to slow the fire growth. This area will also continue to be monitored today.

Weather: A cold front moved through overnight bringing precipitation, higher relative humidity, and much cooler temperatures that will linger into Friday. Over the weekend, a gradual warming and drying trend is expected.

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Temporary Area Closures:  Closure orders are in effect for the Double Creek, Nebo, and Sturgill Fires. Closure Orders and Maps are available here. Roads within area closures and Forest Service Road (FSR) 8250 east to the junction with FSR 8250-040, FSR 3900-100, and FSR 3900-200 remain closed.

Road Closures: Upper Imnaha Road, Hat Point Road, Lower Imnaha Road, and Dug Bar Road are closed.

Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in place for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Campfires should be in fire pits surrounded by dirt, rock, or commercial rings. Flammable material shall be cleared within a 3-foot radius and avoid overhanging limbs. Attend fires at all times and fully extinguish when not attended.

Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM            
Phone: 541-216-4579                  
Email: 2022.doublecreek@firenet.gov

Double Creek Fire
InciWeb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8366/
Facebook www.facebook.com/doublecreekfire2022
YouTube https://tinyurl.com/Double-Creek-Fire

Eagle Cap Wilderness Fires
Sturgill Fire InciWeb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8364/
Nebo Fire InciWeb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8363/
Goat Mountain 2 Fire InciWeb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8380/
Facebook www.facebook.com/SturgillNemoGoatMountain2Fires
YouTube https://tinyurl.com/Eagle-Cap-Wilderness-Fires

Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires
September 28, 2022
Daily Update – 8:00 AM

Highlights: Today will be very similar to yesterday with hot, dry, and breezy conditions and lower fuel moistures with increased fire behavior where pockets of heat remain. Close monitoring of areas of concern will be conducted and resources are pre-positioned to respond quickly as conditions change. Post-fire suppression repair will continue in portions of all fire areas as safety and conditions allow.

Double Creek Fire: 161,510 acres, 3,697 acre increase | 89% contained | 407 personnel assigned The northern edge of the fire remains active with some movement into the Cow Creek Drainage overnight. Monitoring of this area continues with crews prepared to respond as needed. Substantial daily progress is being made in suppression repair along the western edge of the burn area and should be completed within a few days. Change in acreage due to growth and adjustment for accuracy.

Eagle Cap Wilderness Fires Sturgill Fire: 21,103 acres, 191 acre increase (adjusted) | 72% of objectives achieved | 60 personnel assigned Less active burning occurred in the northwest corner yesterday with little movement. Additional crews have been deployed to Red’s Horse Ranch to reinforce existing structure protection as a precaution.

Nebo Fire: 12,602 acres, 2 acre increase | 78% of objectives achieved | 0 personnel assigned

Goat Mountain 2 Fire: 548 acres, 12 acre increase | 0 personnel assigned Will continue to monitor these fires from aircraft as smoke and weather permits. The Goat Mountain 2 Fire generated most of the smoke observed yesterday with rocky terrain and bordering fire scars limiting fire spread.

Weather: High temperatures will be from the mid 70s to mid 80s in most valleys, and up to the mid 90s below 3000 ft. Ridgetop temperatures will be in the 70s with relative humidity in the 10 to 20% range for all elevations. Breezy winds expected with gusts to 28 mph at ridgetops and to 23 mph in valleys. Humidity recovery will be good tonight with valley relative humidity reaching 70 to 90% and 60 to 70% on ridgetops.

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Temporary Area Closures:  Closure orders are in effect for the Double Creek, Nebo, and Sturgill Fires. Closure Orders and Maps are available here. Roads within area closures and Forest Service Road (FSR) 8250 east to the junction with FSR 8250-040, FSR 3900-100, and FSR 3900-200 remain closed.

Road Closures: Upper Imnaha Road, Hat Point Road, Lower Imnaha Road, and Dug Bar Road are closed.

Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in place for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Campfires should be in fire pits surrounded by dirt, rock, or commercial rings. Flammable material shall be cleared within a 3-foot radius and avoid overhanging limbs. Attend fires at all times and fully extinguish when not attended.

Fire Information
Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM            
Phone: 541-216-4579
Email: 2022.doublecreek@firenet.gov  

Double Creek Fire
InciWeb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8366/  
Facebook www.facebook.com/doublecreekfire2022  
YouTube https://tinyurl.com/Double-Creek-Fire

Eagle Cap Wilderness Fires
Sturgill Fire InciWeb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8364/
Nebo Fire InciWeb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8363/
Goat Mountain 2 Fire InciWeb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8380/
Facebook www.facebook.com/SturgillNemoGoatMountain2Fires
YouTube https://tinyurl.com/Eagle-Cap-Wilderness-Fires

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